Internal Scans

[friendlyseller]

Hi guys,

First post looking for a bit of info if possible please. I've done a quick search on the forum and there seems to be no threads about this - Amazon's new VTR policy. Over on the Amazon forums there's a s*** s**** going on. Basically Amazon are creating a policy about sellers needing a 95% Valid tracking rate, so any items sent with a tracking number should have it input and then amazon do some sort of check with Royal Mail that it's valid. The check is that the item has a scan. Fully tracked services are all meeting things fine but they are including RM24 and RM48 (CRL code) as tracked, meaning any items not scanned at delivery then go against the seller and we will probably get suspended from selling in that category. We understand due to various reasons the scan rate isn't anywhere near 95% for these, most of us are seeing a 80% scan rate meaning we will all fail. Amazon also in their wisdom are counting 1st and 2nd class letters purchased using business accounts using STL code as tracked which is obviously rubbish as they aren't, there is no tracking id, somehow letters sent using BPL code are being exempt. There's talk that letters with the qr type code on get scanned internally by Royal Mail at various stages I assume to help with sorting etc, anyone got any insider knowledge about whether this data is going to be shared with Amazon somehow at some point in the future which would then fit in with their policy of an item being confirmed as valid and in the network? Clutching at straws here really!

Are there any internal rumblings going on about this new policy due to any repercussions from a Royal Mail perspective? Amazon are currently telling us sellers that if we fail due to Royal Mail not scanning the RM24 and RM48's then to feedback to Royal Mail through our Account Managers, so sorry to say I would imagine there may be additional pressure coming towards you regarding this.

PS Huge thanks for your continued hard work it is appreciated by online sellers.

[SpacePhoenix]

Only Tracked 24, Tracked 48, Special Delivery (9am) and Special Delivery (1pm) are tracked all the way though the system within the UK. International Signed For, International Tracked and International Tracked & Signed For get scanned throughout the system within the UK but once they leave the UK afaik it's down to what agreements that RM have with what company the item gets handed to to deliver it in the destination country

RM24 and RM 48 don't get scanned at all, not sure if deliveries might scan the 2D barcodes that some RM24 and RM48 have (but if they do it's effectively just a proof of delivery scan). Signed for (recorded delivery) as it's name suggests is only scanned when delivery is attempted

[friendlyseller]

RM24 and RM48 can get delivery scans. I just wondered about the internal processes, the funny looking QR code must be on the labels for a reason so assuming RM do scan them internally for sorting purposes etc somewhere along the line even if it's some sort of machinery doing it, otherwise there is no point them being on there, as they still have them for 1st and 2nd class letters that have no publis facing track/scan at all.

[2yearpostie]

At no point do Royal Mail share information with Amazon unless they ask for proof of delivery, all internal scans are just that, internal scans for Royal mail use.

[friendlyseller]

Great thank you for confirming. I knew they didn't currently. The new policy isn't actually about proving delivery it's about proving the tracking info is valid - why they don't just have some scripts or something that just do a check with Royal Mail that the number is valid and on the system rather than scanned is beyond me, for RM24 and RM48 anyway, letters are a whole different ball game because Amazon are now classing them as trackable!

[fb1969]

2D barcodes should be scanned on delivery but there are many reasons why it isn't always possible - creased, smudged, bent etc etc. The 2D code contains the posting date and delivery address and can be read with a QR scanner. The number can be used on the RM tracking webpage, leaving out all the gaps and hyphens.