Invalid Bar Codes

[izzitme]

In our office this week we have received a lot of IMP rejects for the IPS in the mornings. Processing manager says the machines cannot read the bar code as it is "invalid".
This obviously means that we have to do more manual sorting before prep. Is this same problem happening at other offices based in mail centres?

Thanks.

[DGP1]

Is that 'crash mail' - if it is then we've had loads in the past few days, maybe someone from the MC can shed light on this.

[SpacePhoenix]

Are the bar codes printed onto a white label? If so they are things that have been through a flat sorting machine. Its bar codes are not compatible with LSMs and MTTs (don't know if an iLSM could read them).

[izzitme]

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

The bar codes are printed directly onto the letters & are visible through the window on the envelope. It is starting to cause a bit of bad feeling between the delivery staff & mail centre processing staff.

Almost an "us & them" situation. This is just what the (mis)management want of course. Divide & conquer.

[SpacePhoenix]

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

The bar codes are printed directly onto the letters & are visible through the window on the envelope. It is starting to cause a bit of bad feeling between the delivery staff & mail centre processing staff.

Almost an "us & them" situation. This is just what the (mis)management want of course. Divide & conquer.

Like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_Bar_Code? Part of the address might be slipping below the window line when it goes through the machine causing the machine reject it.

[Tman]

Almost an "us & them" situation. This is just what the (mis)management want of course. Divide & conquer.

Here we go again, the same old conspiracy theory.
Many CBCs are invalid (ie can't be read by RM machines) and it's usually because the firms printing these letters don't realise the importance of the bar length and spacing in the codes.
What RM should do is to apply surcharges to all the "failed" letters as they then require extra processing. That would focus the minds of the companies sending them out.

[redgateman]

Are the bar codes printed onto a white label? If so they are things that have been through a flat sorting machine. Its bar codes are not compatible with LSMs and MTTs (don't know if an iLSM could read them).

I was wondering what these barcodes were for but nobody,including the DOM, in my delivery office could give me an answer.
Why do they often get stuck over the address? Very annoying when throwing in a delivery as you have to peel then off just to see the written address

[SpacePhoenix]

Almost an "us & them" situation. This is just what the (mis)management want of course. Divide & conquer.

Here we go again, the same old conspiracy theory.
Many CBCs are invalid (ie can't be read by RM machines) and it's usually because the firms printing these letters don't realise the importance of the bar length and spacing in the codes.
What RM should do is to apply surcharges to all the "failed" letters as they then require extra processing. That would focus the minds of the companies sending them out.

Nice idea but doubtful as to if it would work, it would more likely push them to using DSA if the items aren't already DSA

Are the bar codes printed onto a white label? If so they are things that have been through a flat sorting machine. Its bar codes are not compatible with LSMs and MTTs (don't know if an iLSM could read them).

I was wondering what these barcodes were for but nobody,including the DOM, in my delivery office could give me an answer.
Why do they often get stuck over the address? Very annoying when throwing in a delivery as you have to peel then off just to see the written address

I think the place where the bar code label is stuck is just down to what way they are facing when run through the machine. I've seen small jiffy bags with them codes printed on

[redgateman]

I appeciate what you are saying here, but sticking them over the address so it can't be read by anyone who needs to read it manually is crazy as you have peel it off which then renders it un readable by machine!

[baldrick]

Are the bar codes printed onto a white label? If so they are things that have been through a flat sorting machine. Its bar codes are not compatible with LSMs and MTTs (don't know if an iLSM could read them).

I was wondering what these barcodes were for but nobody,including the DOM, in my delivery office could give me an answer.
Why do they often get stuck over the address? Very annoying when throwing in a delivery as you have to peel then off just to see the written address

It's the flat sorting machine (TOPS 2000) that puts those barcodes on.
It's also annoying for MC sorting staff who have to peel them off to sort rejects/overflow items manually.