Be advised: You must buy the ready post container at the same time as the shipping shop or you wil not be paid. I bought the envelope a day before to have everything "ready". Bad idea.

You can't buy it in advance because part of the evaluation is to see if they charge you for the envelope.

Exactly right Cubbiecat. Another reason to read the instructions thoroughly.

What? We're supposed to READ all that stuff?





I nearly blew a shop the other day because I misread something. Only by sheer luck did I happen to notice something I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for.

Be Advised that you are overlooking a simple method. Purchase an envelope in advance. Make sure the clerk stamps the back. Prepare your package for mailing. When you enter the post office pick up a second envelope. When you present your package, purchase the new envelope and have the clerk stamp the back. This makes things simple and gives you an envelope for the next shop...

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Be Advised that you are overlooking a simple
> method. Purchase an envelope in advance. Make sure
> the clerk stamps the back. Prepare your package
> for mailing. When you enter the post office pick
> up a second envelope. When you present your
> package, purchase the new envelope and have the
> clerk stamp the back. This makes things simple and
> gives you an envelope for the next shop...


Is this proper? I thought you HAD to purchase the day of your shop?

You are. Think about it...

Ahhhh Mr. Computer you are a brilliant mind! If only I would have thought of this sooner. I always take my newspapers wrapped in a Walmart bag inside and stuff them into an envelope there. So awkward...but you sir are brilliant!

It works but it borders on getting banned. It also throws off timing.... Stuff in a plastic bag ready to shove in works just fine.

IIRC, the Ready-Post scenario doesn't require the purchase of an envelope. You have to check for the availability of 1 of 4 specific items. You can purchase whatever Ready-Post product you may need to ship whatever it is. As everything in the P.O. is video taped, I go to the Ready-Post section, pick whichever package I need, do the packing there, tape it if I need to [yes I bring my own tape gun into the Post Office], then I get in line. So far I haven't been denied payment. At the same time, this gives the opportunity to eyeball the rest of the building, so it's not as obvious that you're shopping.

Counting the MSC that had this contract previously. I have done 50+ of these without any problem. Borders on getting banned? I doubt it. I complete all the requirements...

Good luck with future shops...you just told them you cheated on the last 50!


mrcomputer101 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Counting the MSC that had this contract
> previously. I have done 50+ of these without any
> problem. Borders on getting banned? I doubt it.
> I complete all the requirements...

55+ now. Cheating has nothing to do with it. I suggest you go back and reread the guidelines before making accusations.
There is a difference between, "you should" and" you are required to" This does not affect the time you enter or called to the window. ..:p

There is nothing in the guideleines that indicated the RP package you purchase and the RP mailed package must be the same item. So cheating, I don't thihink so, The guideline says you must look for RP packages listed in your guidelines but you don't have to purchase any of them. Your package is mailed in a RP mailer and you must purchase a RP enevlope. No cheating. I agree with "MRComputer101'>

The postmark stamp on the RP mailer lets the Clerk know it is paid for. The RP mailer you present at the window is a RP mailer you are purchasing. This is also the way for the clerk not to see what is being mail. Some of them don't ask all the Hazmat questions.

Thank you. Its good to see another shopper that reads the guidelines. Another benefit is you do not draw unnecessary attention to your self. A clerk tend to remember a customer shoving newspapers into a ready post mailer...

I agree with mrcomputer- I do 4 or 5 of these a month, and have for over a year. I had never thought of doing that, but it sure would make it simpler for me! My opinion is that this follows the guidelines.

I have a RP shop on Friday and was debating how to handle stuffing the item without them seeing what it was. But I may do a post office tomorrow for a scenario A so maybe I'll come back in and buy a mailer to use on Friday, and keep the Friday purchase for the next round. That DOES make sense, but I'll re-read my instructions to make sure I understand how this works.

It's people like this that annoy me. Shoving newspapers into a ReadyPost mailer, honestly. At least send an old book or some magazines to a friend. Last time I had to send a fake package I bought Halloween decorations and used a friend's address as from and shipped to my house under my son's name. If there's at least 10-15 miles distance from the location to the shipping address they count it as zone 1. Don't try this at your local or neighboring post office.

Why would anyone want to put a postal shop at risk of payment by buying a ReadyPost in advance, then making another purchase the day of the shop. You missed the point of the check on the clerk. I think it's deceitful and dishonest. It shows you don't really have integrity on these shops. One check of one video, and you are seen doing that and will be banned from [THE MSC]... [THE MSC] is one of the MSC's that actually pay a fair price for shopper's and you abuse the work intentionally... no wonder schedulers don't trust shoppers... you don't have integrity!!!!

And you reflect poorly on this business... Now... [THE MSC] will be looking at people like me... who did the shops with integrity and asking themselves... is this another shopper who has done 50+ shops like that?

I'm ashamed of you and your attitude... your timings can't be accurate because they don't reflect the actual time to make a purchase, insert your materials, addresst the envelope and wait in line to be serviced. You do know that accurate timings are paramount on these shops?

Now that I think about it... you truly disgust me.

I see the page was edited for me. My apologies and thanks... I was upset over the lack of integrity shoppers expressed in this thread.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2012 03:47PM by Ms.Baker.

Well you make a good point, I personally wouldn't try buying a mailer beforehand. As for altering the timings, I have never spent more than 3-5 minutes packaging an item before getting in line. They ask at what time you enter the location and how much time you spent in line. They aren't concerned with how long it took you to select a mailer and package your item. They just want to know how long you are waiting and how much time is spent overall at the location.

And no, they don't check the cameras. I know another shopper who was not charged for their box because the clerk couldn't figure it out and just gave it to them for free. Instead of contacting the client to check, they said it couldn't be verified and the shop was rejected. I mean really, they threaten us with security cams but don't follow through? They easily could have reviewed the tapes, seen someone pick up a box from the ReadyPost display, seal it, and then go to the counter. So long as timings are accurate, there shouldn't be an issue. If it had been me, I would have sent an annonymous letter to the postmaster and contacted the head of the company. Show them that their MS company is not giving them feedback on dishonest employees.

Ms.Baker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why would anyone want to put a postal shop at risk
> of payment by buying a ReadyPost in advance, then
> making another purchase the day of the shop. You
> missed the point of the check on the clerk. I
> think it's deceitful and dishonest. It shows you
> don't really have integrity on these shops. One
> check of one video, and you are seen doing that
> and will be banned from .............. .............. is one of the
> MSC's that actually pay a fair price for shopper's
> and you abuse the work intentionally... no wonder
> schedulers don't trust shoppers... you don't have
> integrity!!!!
>
> And you reflect poorly on this business...
> Now............. will be looking at people like me...
> who did the shops with integrity and asking
> themselves... is this another shopper who has done
> 50+ shops like that?
>
> I'm ashamed of you and your attitude... your
> timings can't be accurate because they don't
> reflect the actual time to make a purchase, insert
> your materials, addresst the envelope and wait in
> line to be serviced. You do know that accurate
> timings are paramount on these shops?
>
> Now that I think about it... you truly disgust me.

Ms.Baker.
First - Remove the name of the MSC. You are in violation of your ICA Agreement.
Second - Read your instructions. It is you who are missing the point.

Third -The timings are not affected.

You seem to be the one with a lack of integrety...

shortysgirl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's people like this that annoy me. Shoving
> newspapers into a ReadyPost mailer, honestly. At
> least send an old book or some magazines to a
> friend. Last time I had to send a fake package I
> bought Halloween decorations and used a friend's
> address as from and shipped to my house under my
> son's name. If there's at least 10-15 miles
> distance from the location to the shipping address
> they count it as zone 1. Don't try this at your
> local or neighboring post office.


I am not sure why sending old papers annoy you...I often just send paper if I have done so many of these I can't think of one more thing to mail. Granted I much prefer to mail something I need to but sometimes I don't have anything. And no one in the post office ever sees what I am mailing because I bring it in in a plastic bag, a folder, another old mailer and then put it in the ready post. It's not like I am standing there grabbing newspapers out of the trash to insert in the package.
Liz

What does the timing of purchasing a box have to do with anything? Timing is not that important after being served. Yes, they ask for an exit time, but the exit time is not THAT relevant as a shopper could run into someone who they know on their way out and have a conversation with them before they actually exit the location.

A shopper can also spend a long time packaging materials before getting in line, or a short time, depending on the individual. Again, the timing from the time you entered the location to the time that you entered the line has no relevance on the information that the client is trying to gain.

I prefer to enter with my material to be shipped, select a mailer, and prepare the package on site. That's my preference, but I won't say I think those who want to do it a different way are wrong. I don't see that a change in packaging procedure would have any effect on wait time for service. I'll continue to package on site, but if anyone feels they need clarification the MSP could be consulted for their take on this.

I never thought of the buying a ReadyPost as part of the timing but rather is the clerk charging for everything especially if you pick it up and pack something into it right away. I have always packaged my item up in the PO in a package I have not yet paid for. I have on more than one occasion had them not charge me for the packaging and I have reported it and never had any problem with it being rejected.

The question is did they charge for it, and they don't ask if you had to remind me them.

Liz

I'm not going to change the way I do this, but I do think Mr. C's idea is clever and actually a less obvious and more effective way to do this shop.

Difference in timing would result from whether you prepare the package at home or in the post office. The critical time is the wait time in line. The entry and exit times are important in that they indicate the shop was performed within its specified time window, and not because it was performed at any defined speed or any requirement existed for the shopper to be in the building for a certain length of time. I'm not seeing how finishing the shop a little quicker because the package was prepared at home would be an issue as long as a readypost product was bought during the transaction.

There's always more than one way to understand something, and Mr. C may be on to a winning method here. I always feel conspicuous preparing my package after I get to the post office. Have any of you ever seen anyone else do this? Not me. During all the USPO shops I've done, I've never seen anyone else making up a package inside the post office. Talk about standing out like a sore thumb! Shopper, shopper!! Wait, let me wear a sign!

Liz's use of newspapers is responsible, available, and economical.

Really? You've never seen anyone preparing their parcel in the post office before? Must be a regional thing.

Around here, not only do lots of customers prepare their parcel in the post office, some of them do it AT THE MAIN COUNTER. Or at least TRY to. I kid you not ~ they take their package and the stuff they're mailing, and expect to package and address it and whatever else they need to do to it at the main counter, right in front of the clerk, while everyone else waits in line behind them. But at least those a-holes are in the minority. But there's always *someone* in there preparing their parcels ~ sometimes LOTS of parcels, like they're probably eBayers; and sometimes just regular mail in regular envelopes, even.

If you're using your own boxes/envelopes, and NOT purchasing your mailer from the Post Office; it *would* seem weird to do your parcel prep there. But, if you're selecting and purchasing your packaging material from the Post Office, it seems totally normal to prepare your parcel at the Post Office.

Besides, I *prefer* the ReadyPost shops... the ones where you arrive with your parcel all ready to go doesn't give you enough time or cover for thoroughly noticing all the things you're supposed to notice. Heh. When I'm in there getting my ReadyPost parcel ready to go, I can easily glance around to see all I need to see.

And, as an aside, I prefer the word "parcel", as talking about your "package" so much just sounds funny to me, for some reason.

I like Mr. C's idea because on more than 1 occasion while I am standing there putting junk in my ready post I have the clerk telling me I don't want to use that envelope I can get a priority one for free. The first time I said thank you, and quickly sealed then envelope then I had to use it. But standing at the window asking for priority after I was just told the priority envelope was free and being charged for the ready post made me have LOSER engrained in my forehead. Sometimes when they tell me the priority envelopes are free not to use the ready post I leave and say that I forgot something at home

Really.

Yes, and I was discussing the kind of package shipped at the USPO.

Please accept my apology for offending.

When I arrive at the PO, and I am doing a Scenario B. My package is already packaged, addressed and ready to be mailed. The Clerk does not see my package until I present it to mail. That way he is not telling about the "free" mailers. After observing the clerk for awhile, finding the extra service forms, looking at the menuboards and observing the Complimentary and the RP supplies/display. I pick my "to be purchased RP" mailer. I am, at that time, ready to get in line.

Remember, in some cities the Com/RP supplies are behind the retail counter not in the lobby.

The timing is only cruical is when you wait in line. The client wants to know "How long it took for you to be waited on". That depends on the number of people in line.....>the number of open staffed stations/clerks. Your entry and exit time is just so you shop during the "Opened" time frame including the 35 minute rule. (If you run into a friend, hopefully you aren''t spending 8 hours in the PO talking with them.)

BTW, we are no longer timing when we are called to the window. To mail one 18 ounce package should not take more than 15 minutes in the PO. We are not going shopping in the PO. It is not a supermarket.

There are times when I send a RP package to my son. I tell him beforehand what it is. When I come to visit I will be mailing it back to ME, so don't open it or be very gentle b/c I need to re-use the mailer. NO Problem. Still was paid.

The instructions/guidelines says to have your package weighted, addressed and ready to be mailed upon entering the PO.




MsBaker wrote:-------->>>>>>>>I'm ashamed of you and your attitude... your timings can't be accurate because they don't reflect the actual time to make a purchase, insert your materials, addresst the envelope and wait in line to be serviced. You do know that accurate timings are paramount on these shops? ----------<<<<<<<<


MsBAKER: You must purchase a ReadyPost mailer during your shop, does not mean you have to purchase the same one you are mailing. Timing has nothing to do with make a purchase, inserting you materials and addressing the envelope.



LIZ: I couldn't figure out why SHORTYGIRL was annoyed either. I would have like somone to mail me a newspaper of their city on post election day. Still want one especially from Chicago/Illinois. And even if you were getting them out of the trash can, you are using them for weight.!!!! (Have yu ever look into a trash can at the post office----->junk mail.)

STORMCLOUD: You can prepare your package at the PO. Just out of sight of the clerk.