USPS Tracking Experience Needed

[Capt Caveman]

Ding, ding, ding ... we have a winner!

If you want it shipped fast and accurately tracked use Fed Ex or UPS as their bottom line depends upon it.

USPS is great if you do not need it fast or on a specific date but if you do ... case in point: I purchased an item from a vendor specifically because the vendor was close (75 miles) and I knew I would get it FAST, right? Wrong! USPS took 5 days to get the item to me. I am not complaining ... I use the USPS for those cases when I do not need it to be there on a specific date.

I just shipped something in state via Priority Mail, b/c it's in state, they made it Priority Mail 1 Day for me.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Do they even call it "tracking"?

I thought USPS always called it "delivery confirmation"...... A confirmation of delivery is not the same as tracking of a package.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Got an email update on the tracking of my packaged that I mailed out by priority mail, yesterday. The tracking appears to be really good, imho.

Date & Time Status of Item Location

December 17, 2013 , 10:01 am Sorting Complete xxxxxx, MA xxxxx

December 17, 2013 , 5:05 am Arrival at Post Office xxxxxxx, MA xxxxx

December 16, 2013 Depart USPS Sort Facility BOSTON, MA 02205

December 16, 2013 , 10:29 pm Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility BOSTON, MA 02205

December 16, 2013 , 7:44 pm Dispatched to Sort Facility xxxxxx, MA xxxxx

December 16, 2013 , 11:37 am Acceptance xxxxxx, MA xxxxx

 

[Capt Caveman]

Just got a new email notification. I'm impressed.

December 17, 2013 , 10:11 am Out for Delivery xxxxx, MA xxxxx

 

[7window]

usps provides good service.

 

[notposting]

Few months ago I remember seeing how they were making some permanent changes in time for the holiday season, Priority mail would have specific delivery guarantees (not "ehh 2 or 3 or whatever days"), basic insurance, and tracking automatically included. Specifically to compete against Fedex/UPS.

Just shipped out 3 packages via Flat Rate Priority. The 2 in-state (Michigan) were 3-Day, and the one to Spokane, WA was 2-Day. Both arrived in the 2-Day timeframe though. Tracking was superb, also:

December 16, 2013 , 4:01 pm
Delivered
HOUGHTON, MI 49931

December 16, 2013 , 8:39 am
Out for Delivery
HOUGHTON, MI 49931

December 16, 2013 , 8:29 am
Sorting Complete
HOUGHTON, MI 49931

December 16, 2013 , 5:34 am
Arrival at Post Office
HOUGHTON, MI 49931

December 15, 2013
Depart USPS Sort Facility
KINGSFORD, MI 49802

December 15, 2013 , 12:35 am
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
KINGSFORD, MI 49802

December 14, 2013
Depart USPS Sort Facility
OAK CREEK, WI 53154

December 14, 2013 , 5:21 pm
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
OAK CREEK, WI 53154

December 14, 2013
Depart USPS Sort Facility
ALLEN PARK, MI 48101

December 13, 2013 , 2:26 pm
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility
ALLEN PARK, MI 48101

December 12, 2013 , 6:36 pm
Acceptance
LIVONIA, MI 48152

December 12, 2013
Electronic Shipping Info Received

Edit: OP, have seen stuff like that before though. USPS got really confused this summer when I had company send me two packages on accident, same tracking number.

 

[Tweak155]

I'm looking at houses near Livonia.

 

[John Connor]

usps provides good service.

LOL! Is that an oxymoron?

 

[NoTine42]

usps provides good service.

Newman, is that you?


Honestly, my current mail "service" is something only Newman would love.
Amazon estimated delivery (shipped 11/23) 11/28-12/2....actually received 12/9.

When somebody sends me something in the mail, then (after a reasonable amount of time) is shocked I didn't receive it, yet.. I have to tell them its normal for us.

For instance, on Wednesday, we receive a weekly advertising mailer....do I ever get normal mail on Wed?....no, but frequently get more than normal on Thu. And if Fri is nice, I don't get any mail til Sat (when I think the weekend person actually works)

 

[7window]

I would say that at one time USPS were arrogant because of its monopoly. Since ups and fedex are clawing into usps business they stepped up and are more efficient.

I once shipped a book to louisiana from arizona but the package went to california and of course the usps caught the mistake and still deliver the book on time. It probably cost the usps more money but at least they tried to rectify it.

Their tracking now is a lot better too.

 

[Yreka]

Well, I called + they were no help..

They know what the website shows, which is "Shipping info received". Problem is, since according to them they have never received it the insurance wouldn't do me any good either.. I understand they can't simply allow you to file claims this way otherwise everyone would simply order shipping tickets and file for insurance without actually shipping anything...


Had another package I sent the week before, also tracking and delivery confirmation that is stuck on "Delivery Status not Updated". This means according to the post office "Oh the carrier likely forgot to scan it when he delivered".. Fantastic, lets hope the buyer is honest and doesn't key in on this as a chance to double dip. (If it even did show up, who knows ?) So then Delivery Confirmation is what exactly ?

I have used USPS for years and years, I thought I knew what to expect. Sure seems like I am either having bad luck with them lately, or they are going to shit. (or both)

If it doesn't show up, I guess I'm just out $400 lesson learned: use UPS/Fed Ex and get a receipt !

 

[destrekor]

Everyone complaining with very recent USPS shipping delays, must have missed a critical piece of information: severe winter storms severely impacted shipping times pretty much everywhere, unless you were lucky. Either major routes got delayed so seemingly "in the clear" packages got delayed with the rest of the planned route ("logistics" makes it work this way), or you had packages actually going through parts of the country that were, for all intents and purposes, cut off from the rest of the country.


Also - it uses to be "Delivery Confirmation", but Priority Mail now includes true Tracking. It can be effective, it can be utter shit - it's still sort of new for them.

 

[dud]

I have used USPS for years and years, I thought I knew what to expect. Sure seems like I am either having bad luck with them lately, or they are going to shit. (or both)

If it doesn't show up, I guess I'm just out $400 lesson learned: use UPS/Fed Ex and get a receipt !

I may seem pessimistic on USPS based upon my previous posts but I am sure that it will (eventually) show up. The question is ... was it worth any monies you might have saved from using an alternative method?

Me thinks not ...

 

[John Connor]

If it doesn't show up, I guess I'm just out $400 lesson learned: use UPS/Fed Ex and get a receipt !

Fuck! For 400 bucks I would have used UPS or FedEx. Never EVER use the USPS for anything over $100. NEVER!

 

[John Connor]

Everyone complaining with very recent USPS shipping delays, must have missed a critical piece of information: severe winter storms severely impacted shipping times pretty much everywhere, unless you were lucky. Either major routes got delayed so seemingly "in the clear" packages got delayed with the rest of the planned route ("logistics" makes it work this way), or you had packages actually going through parts of the country that were, for all intents and purposes, cut off from the rest of the country.


Also - it uses to be "Delivery Confirmation", but Priority Mail now includes true Tracking. It can be effective, it can be utter shit - it's still sort of new for them.

Something tells me that when US Airmail first came around you got your letter or parcel in the mail. Now there's so much red tape and cluster fuck union bull shit it's no wonder the USPS functions at all.

 

[Weird01]

December 25, 2013 , 1:33 am
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
TAMPA, FL 33605
December 21, 2013
Depart USPS Sort Facility
OPA LOCKA, FL 33054
December 21, 2013 , 12:17 am
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
OPA LOCKA, FL 33054
December 20, 2013 , 3:27 pm
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
OPA LOCKA, FL 33054
December 15, 2013 , 5:24 pm
Dispatched to Sort Facility
REDFORD, MI 48239
December 14, 2013 , 6:51 pm
Acceptance
REDFORD, MI 48239
December 14, 2013
Electronic Shipping Info Received

My package has been out for 11 days and it's Christmas now. The web site says to get it by 12/24 you need to send it by 12/21. I guess I sent it a week too early!

 

[Old Hippie]

It doesn't look like it will be delivered 'till Thur.

 

[Old Hippie]

To summarize: USPS DOES NOT provide "tracking".

I use them all the time. I stand by my original statement.

You're welcome to stand by anything you want but in this case with all the other info to the contrary, it makes you look anything but a person that can read and comprehend.

 

[John Connor]

I bought my mom something on eBay and it is being delivered via USPS from California, I live in Colorado. Guess where it's at right now. Fucking Texas. Looks like I will be giving here my gift latter in the week.

 

[dud]

You're welcome to stand by anything you want but in this case with all the other info to the contrary, it makes you look anything but a person that can read and comprehend.

I can comprehend plenty. My latest delivery from USPS only reinforces my stance. A USPS delivery (within state) of 75 miles took 5 days. There are times when you need something fast and those times that you can wait ... but the USPS seems (in my case) to have a meter that detects my level of anticipation and delivers at a rate inverse to the need for the item.

BTW ... the USPS just announced that you get to pay more for their service in 2014. Stamps are going up 3 cents.


Ridiculous ...

 

[Meghan54]

Priority Mail has never been nor is it currently guaranteed delivery in a certain time frame. The only guaranteed delivery service the USPS offers is Priority Express, usually guaranteed overnight, but only from and to certain zip codes. If the sending and/or recipient zip code is too rural, it turns into a 2-day guaranteed delivery. But the price is competitive with UPS/FedEx for 1-2 day shipments, esp. if remember Saturdays are delivery days with the USPS.

Priority Mail remains a non-guaranteed service. The Postal Service does not provide a money-back guarantee if items sent via Priority Mail fail to arrive by the scheduled delivery date. However, Priority Mail Express continues to provide a money-back guarantee service for most domestic destinations.

Their tracking is pretty much meh. Works, but usually never scanned as often as a USP/FedEx shipment, which can cause great consternation. But usually the package trudges its way to you eventually. Just don't expect wonders from an organization that moves waaaay more volume than UPS/FedEx.....~160B pieces delivered in 2012 (incl. packages) vs. 4.1B pieces delivered by UPS in 2012.