If you are a user of UPS and receive international packages frequently then you might have seen the “warehouse scan” on the Tracking status of your package. Do you know what it means? Do you have to do something to get your package?
In this article, we have covered everything related to Warehouse Scan UPS. Stay tuned to learn more about it.
What’s the Meaning of “Warehouse Scan” in UPS?
A Warehouse scan in the UPS indicates that your package has arrived at their regional facility. All the packages are usually scanned before they enter the facility where they are further sorted and processed based on their destination.
These facilities are mostly equipped with modern machinery(conveyor belts and robotic arms) to ease and speed up the process of scanning and sorting the packages. UPS has more than 1000 such facilities where they process millions of packages every single day.
Alone in the US, they have many sorting facilities which are located in major cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Ontario, CA, Philadelphia, and Miami. For international packages, UPS has also set up major import hubs in Louisville, KY, Cologne, Germany, Shanghai, China, and Singapore to make the process more smooth.
If you have received this update, it means your package has arrived and is accepted at the international sorting hub.
Why Do Packages Need to go through the Warehouse Scan?
Tracking
Scanning packages at various points allows the recipient to track and know where their package has arrived. Whenever a package is scanned it creates a digital record showing the package is making significant progress and getting close to getting delivered day by day.
Sorting
Mostly all the packages arrive in the destination country, within some containers either via cargo ship or plane. After that, they are transported to a nearby UPS warehouse where they are scanned and processed for further transportation to reach the recipient address within the given timeframe.
Custom Clearance
In general, International shipments get scanned to check whether they comply with customs regulations, ensuring that all necessary documentation is in order and that the contents of the package are as declared. It also prevents the entry of illegal and prohibited items in the destination country.
Security Screening
UPS also scans the packages and performs x-ray inspection to know whether the package contains something dangerous or illegal item or not. It also ensures that the content in the packages complies with the rules and regulations of the destination country.
Error Reduction
Scanning reduces the chances of human error like misrouting and sent to wrong facility by mistake. Each set of scans indicates that the package is moving closure and the content of the package is correct.
How long does a package remain in the UPS Warehouse Facility?
In normal scenarios, it usually takes around 2-3 days for a package to arrive and depart from the warehouse after getting scanned and processed. However, if they are delayed they can take as long as a week or two to depart the warehouse.
There are a lot of factors that determine how long your package will take at the UPS Warehouse facility.
Volume of Package
If the warehouse facility is experiencing a heavy volume of packages then, your package might have to wait in a queue until all the packages are sorted and processed. This type of issue mainly arrives during the peak holiday season, when the warehouse facility gets flooded with thousands of packages causing delays in the scanning and sorting process.
Custom Delays
All the International packages are required to go through the customs procedure to get a clearance. If the officials suspect your package might contain something prohibited item then they might seize the package for further inspection.
Depending on the scenario, you might be asked via your shipping carrier to provide additional documentation to prove that the package doesn’t contain anything illegal and is in compliance with the norms of customs laws.
Wrong Delivery Address
If you have provided the wrong delivery address, then the package might be held up until the recipient provides the correct delivery address. If failed to do so, the package will be returned to the original sender after 2 weeks after being at the local post office.
Damaged Content
During transportation, if the packaging of the consignment is torn or damaged then the carrier might have to put the consignment in another box so that the consignment can be delivered without
Unforeseen Circumstances
If the delivery area of the consignment is affected by extreme weather conditions like heavy downpours, snowfall, or tornado then you might have to wait until these events are over to get the package delivered. As these things are beyond any carrier’s control they can’t really do anything about it. You are only left to wait until the weather clears up.
What To Do If the Package Stays at the Warehouse for Too Long?
Be Patient(wait for at least a Week)
If your package seems to get delayed and stuck on the same issue for days then you need to wait for at least a week before taking any further action. Temporary delay can also be the reason why your package is getting delayed. If that’s the case then you just need to wait for a while.
Reach Out To UPS
If weeks have also passed and there is no such significant growth of your package then you need to contact UPS and let them know that something is wrong with your package.
Contact the Sender
If the shipping carrier doesn’t seem to pay much attention to your issue, then you can also contact the sender and ask them to contact the carrier and let me know the exact status of your package.
Check about Dues
Some packages might get held up if some unpaid dues like taxes and duties are yet to be paid. In such scenarios, the package remains in the customs facility until all the dues are cleared. So, don’t forget to check if your package status seems to be stuck to the issue for too long.