A recent Letter to the Editor at eCommerceBytes regarding USPS Tracking contained numerous statements that required a response.

In a reply, USPS set the record straight.

Claim: USPS charges customers who scan items at local Post Offices.

Truth: Every item accepted at the retail counter at a local Post Office that has a USPS Tracking number must be scanned, whether the customer requests it or not. However, Post Offices don’t charge customers to scan prepaid eBay packages.

Claim: There’s no tracking on delivery confirmation or signature confirmation until a package reaches its destination.

Truth: This is incorrect information. USPS replaced “Delivery Confirmation” last year with “USPS Tracking,” which better reflects end-to-end tracking from the acceptance of a package to final destination, including confirmation of delivery.

By the time a package leaves a processing site, it will have received at least two scans. The package will have received four more scan events by the time it’s delivered.

Claim: Packages at mail processing plants may not be scanned if barcodes aren’t visible.

Truth: This also is incorrect information. In some instances, if the barcode is not visible, the package will be re-oriented by hand. However, the majority of package mail volume is processed by equipment that scans 360 degrees and validates the barcode at the same time.