USPS tracking

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 16 Feb 2012 3:34 am

I have tracking number for an item i bought from the USA but when I enter the number al I get is the same message saying that it's still in the same place for the last 4 days, what sort of tracking is that, anyone know how to find out where I can I can track it...

Tommy Boswell · Post by **Tommy Boswell** » 16 Feb 2012 4:00 am

I've had the same problem with USPS tracking. My package was delivered just fine, but the tracking web page was never updated.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 16 Feb 2012 4:39 am

When shipping to the UK USPS tracking will often show the last domestic U.S.location. The package can very well be in the destination country going through customs, which may take a while.

h

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » 16 Feb 2012 6:54 am

Never had any luck at all with USPS tracking. It's pretty much useless. Fortunately, Priority has been very consistent in getting things where they're supposed to be.

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 16 Feb 2012 9:58 am

If you don't use tracking it seems to be a signal to postal employees that the item is up for grabs!! IMHO, that's about all tracking is good for

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 16 Feb 2012 10:14 am

USPS tracking is really slow to update, it does work, but they told me a few years back that they couldn't track an item once it left the US borders. I don't know if that's changed since then.

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 16 Feb 2012 10:27 am

Last time I shipped outside the states using USPS the clerk was glad to see it wasn't going to one of the countries where the packages just kind of disappear - Italy for one - I imagine lots of them have problems - best to get a heads up from the clerk when you drop it off next time -- or pick another carrier

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Feb 2012 2:01 pm

USPS Tracking stops once the goods have left the USA
the French postal service takes over & gives it a new tracking number
i don't know how the UK postal service does it, but it should/could be similar
i would inquire w: the Royal Mail John
just to reassure the Fo'bros', don't worry - be happy - as long as there's a tracking #, packages rarely disappear in Europa
Now Pakistan & Moldavia are another matter...

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 16 Feb 2012 3:52 pm

USPS tracking stops once it leaves the shippers hands. I've never had any luck with that and then it takes the Post Office two days to get the item from the back of the Post Office to the front and put it in my box.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 16 Feb 2012 4:54 pm

John,

USPS tracking is not meant for customer convenience. Unlike FedEx or UPS tracking, it has never provided any useful info for me.

I suppose it allows the postal service to track the shipment in case of non-delivery. Keep me posted.

Tony

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 17 Feb 2012 12:30 am

Thanks for your replies, I just wanted to be home when the item arrives....

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 17 Feb 2012 5:09 am

FYI,

I got this email from UPS the 15th:

UPS Systems Experiencing Technical Difficulties
The ability to track packages on ups.com is currently unavailable due to technical difficulties; however, packages can be prepared for shipping and given to UPS.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers.

We are treating this problem with the utmost urgency and our technical support teams are currently working to resolve these issues as soon as possible.
----------

Yesterday I got another email that said they have the issue resolved.

William Lake · Post by **William Lake** » 17 Feb 2012 6:24 am

I have had two different tracking results. One is that the tracking shows that they have no record of this number but the packages arrived just fine. The other is that it shows the tracking every step of the way including arrival at my small-town Canadian post office.
I have come to the conclusion that it is a crap shoot.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Feb 2012 7:47 am

It's no wonder that the USPS is in the shape it's in.
With UPS and FedEx, you can trace the shipment right up to the time it's delivered. I got a package the other day and I don't think the carrier had left the office yet and I got an e-mail advising me that it had been delivered.

Al Risbeck · Post by **Al Risbeck** » 17 Feb 2012 8:33 am

I pay an extra .70 cents for priority mail confirmation and it tracks it all the way every time.

If I use the tracking # on an insured package I can never tell where its at or if it has been delivered.

Al

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 17 Feb 2012 8:36 am

USPS has lost one I sent registered and it's been out there somewhere for over two years and now (because a money order was in it I had to wait 90 days for a refund and then was charged $5.00 for their screw up) another one Priority Mail is lost on it's way to me. I will avoid using the USPS for anything of importance if possible.

Geo

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 17 Feb 2012 10:53 am

Everything, no exceptions, that i've shipped priority mail has made it. But just glansing over these post. I see one word not mentioned. It's INSURANCE you gotta insure these packages. I just sent a couple of speaker cables out yesterday. I stopped by my friendly UPS store. a six pound package, to North Carolina $23.87. I sold the pair of cables for $25. Stopped by my friendly tax payer supported post office. Flat rate box, with insurance & tracking $9.00...I'll take the chance.

Just wanna edit to say. I called a handful of local organizations to try and give away the speaker cables, no one returned my calls. A local theature group, church's, schools..no thank you. Economy has gotta be gettin' better...Be Blessed

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Feb 2012 12:24 pm

let's not mix up USPS & UPS
the first is cheaper but reliable
the 2nd is darn expensive & they don't necessarily own up when they damage the merchandise

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 17 Feb 2012 7:41 pm

Ok.

I have worked for the US Postal Service for 32 years. I am a postmaster of a very large office with approximately 75 employees. I suppose that puts me in the position of knowing. I better because the buck stops with me.

In reading the posts here I see that there is a great deal of misinformation, misunderstanding, some questionable situations, and a fair amount of animosity. It is difficult to know where to start because there are quite a few different experiences mentioned. Unfortunately, I cannot address them all because there isn't enough space.

So, maybe it's best to just say a few things and start this way. A tracking number is part of almost all special service mail such as, but not limited to, Certified, Numbered Insured, Registered (a much less used or needed service) and Delivery Confirmation. It is for the customer's information and it also helps the Postal Service measure its performance internally.

Why can UPS and Fedex provide tracking all the way to foreign country destinations? Well, it's for the simple reason that they are internationally based businesses. The USPS is not. There is no USPS in any foreign country. Yes, there is SOME destination tracking available to foreign countries but, again, we do not have USPS employees in foreign countries. So, We hand international mail over to them for delivery via THEIR postal system. And, steel players, lemme tell you that some country's postal systems are not good at all.

There are definitely those who believe "if it's in any way government-related then it's gotta be bad." There's no way to convince such naysayers otherwise. They have a bad experience and they'll remember it to their grave but shrug their shoulders at the fact that thousands of pieces of mail are delivered to them every year without any problem.

Email me if you have a problem with your mail. Thanks.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 Feb 2012 11:49 pm

Eric,

The question in my mind is not the delivery performance of the USPS (which is fairly good), but the fact that you cannot use the tracking number to actually track the package's progress, like you can with UPS/FedEx.

So why does the USPS call it a "tracking" number? It's really just a package registration number.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Feb 2012 12:53 am

Eric, thanx for clearing things up
you confirm what i pretty well knew
i'm a 95% satisfied postal user & use it every chance i get
great Bang ! 4 $

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 18 Feb 2012 3:03 am

Thanks Eric , very good info and hopefully there won't be any trouble with the item getting to the UK .
I will post as soon as it arrives ....

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 18 Feb 2012 3:17 am

Eric one thing , do you know what postal company USPS hand the item over to in the UK? . might be useful to know...

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Feb 2012 4:41 am

John, did you inquire w: your Royal Mail ?
since internet is such a great ressource, you can find the answer there as well
(i have may times)
the US Postal System hands the goods over to the postal service of the country of destination who then delivers it
if there's a weight or size excess (which is not your case since you're waiting on a pu) it gets subcontracted off to germany who then sends off via a different carrier than postal to it's destination

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 18 Feb 2012 4:59 am

Crowbear, yes tried RM and ParcelForce to no avail, I'm not worried at this moment as it has been only 8 days from when it was posted. All I need to know was when it would arrive at my address so that I would be home to collect it at the door...