Is The Post Office Tracking History Reliable?

AprilSun

AprilSun

Senior Member
I have been shopping on Ebay for several years without any problems. A week ago today, I made a purchase from a seller with a good reputation. I received an email with a tracking number Monday that it had been shipped via USPS. It was being shipped from Indiana and it showed it had been picked up. It has been showing the same information every day and still today nothing has changed. It still is only showing where it was picked up. This makes me suspicious and I wonder if it's been lost. I've checked the tracking history when I was logged in to Ebay and it showed it should have been delivered today but it wasn't. I thought I would wait a few days before I contacted the seller or Ebay. I just wondered if anyone has had this problem?
 

It sounds like a typical Post Off. lost package thing. Once I ordered some stuff via USPS. They traced to some P.O. in Indiana, or some place, so I figured I'd get it. Nope. Apparently, my package joined the P.O. witness protection system.

I hate getting stuff via the P.O. Not that they are bad or anything, But I live in a development where everybody has a locked box in this big square metal thing. If you get a package, they put a slip in your mailbox. You have to drive to the Post Office to get your stuff. I have to drive by a Post Office that is 3 miles from me, but that isn't my P.O. My P.O. is the one 9 miles from me. If I buy something on line , so I won't have to pay for the gas, by not going to the mall, 9 miles from me. I have to drive to the P.O., 9 miles from me. (18 miles all together) AHHHH!
 
If I were in your position, April, I'd contact USPS first.

Hope you track it down.
 

Does the tracking say delivered? It doesn't matter if the site gives you a should arrive by date, if you have a tracking number, is there an actual trail showing something like out for delivery and then delivered. I've had should be delivered on ebay including them saying shipped without out it meaning a hill of beans. But then it could also mean a lost package, but not necessarily. Weather has been crazy int several areas.

Like Wrigley suggested, the one to contact first would be USPS they'll want your tracking number to look it up.

I've been up and down this road many a time, I understand how frustrating it can get. Good luck.
 
I've used EBAY for many years, and have had good results with shipping, etc. EBAY tracks the shipment, and will send You an email when it is delivered, or you can track it yourself on the USPS, UPS, FedEx web sites. I've only had one package in 15 years get delayed, and that was due to a damaged shipping label. Sometimes in the Winter, due to bad weather, an item may be a day or two late, but that is understandable. I would wait for at least a couple of days, after the due date, before getting concerned. USPS tracking is Not as "detailed" as UPS, but you can follow the package on their web site to/from the major USPS hubs.
 
My online shopping experiences have been very positive, Canada Post seems were competent and reliable and I can track my parcels almost the day after ordering, to the point when I know exactly when they will arrive at my door.
 
I've had several packages delivered to me that were not addressed to me. Usually they're for a person in the next block up, and I just take 'em up there. But it sure doesn't make me have a lot of faith in the USPS.
 
Last week I ordered something from walmart.com

When I got the e-mail saying it had shipped, for the first time it said "Unknown shipper."

It was scheduled to arrive next Monday. Every time I tried to track the order, it kept saying "Unknown shipper" and that the package could not be tracked.

It arrived today, in my mailbox, having been shipped USPS.

I don't think they're tracking much these days!

The best shipper for tracking used to be FedEx, but nowadays they are delivering everything via USPS anyway instead of their own trucks.
 
AprilT said:
Does the tracking say delivered? It doesn't matter if the site gives you a should arrive by date, if you have a tracking number, is there an actual trail showing something like out for delivery and then delivered. I've had should be delivered on ebay including them saying shipped without out it meaning a hill of beans. But then it could also mean a lost package, but not necessarily. Weather has been crazy int several areas.

Like Wrigley suggested, the one to contact first would be USPS they'll want your tracking number to look it up.

I've been up and down this road many a time, I understand how frustrating it can get. Good luck.
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't say "delivered". It says "In Transit" and the last location was the "Pick Up" location which is where the seller lived. The tracking information is the same when I check it from Ebay and the Post Office. It is still showing this morning that the delivery date "will be", Thursday, June 23 and today is the 24th. Since I made this post yesterday, I did find that in some locations, the tracking information is not updated until it is delivered. I will give it a few days and then start doing something. I've never had this problem before and I've been shopping online for years including Ebay. Thanks everyone for your replies. If you have any ideas, feel free to share them with me.
 
Ken N Tx said:
I use Amazon a lot and have lost faith in USPS Tracking...
Click to expand...

What caused you to loose faith? Was it that they lost your packages or the tracking was incorrect or both? I just checked the tracking again, and it still says "last scan date" June 20th. That doesn't look good if it is correct.
 
AprilSun said:
What caused you to loose faith? Was it that they lost your packages or the tracking was incorrect or both? I just checked the tracking again, and it still says "last scan date" June 20th. That doesn't look good if it is correct.
Click to expand...

tracking was incorrect
 
If the customer can track it so can the employer ie the USPS. That means employees and departments are being tracked as well. Wouldn't put it past some employees to advance or complete the delivery of a package for productivity statistics/ job security reasons.

Certain branches or areas of the country service is inconsistent. I've learned to stay away from certain branches only using certain ones if I know the letter or package is time sensitive/near a deadline.
 
It wasn't all that long ago, I had some postings on the subject, I've experienced several bad experiences with USPS and FedEx who sometimes passes off their delivers to USPS. I've had them input items delivered when they actually put the item back on the truck. I could argue the case because there were workers right outside my door who vouched there wasn't any delivery person who ever came to my door plus I was home the whole time. They for some reason don't even knock when they do come to the door most of the time in this area, they just drop it.

Now mind you this isn't due to the policy, it's due to the individual workers who don't take pride in their work and couldn't care less. Some places won't ever experience these issues and some areas it's a day to day occurrence.

I've posted these videos before, but, just for the enjoyment of those who haven't seen them and my sadistic pleasure.

don't expect to get these packages, like ever.
This guy is really pissed off, holy moly

can't blame usps on these






And if you haven't had enough
Link to dozens more
https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=SBTqAwA%3D&q=usps+missing+packages
 
Wait, wait, my old favorits



Have to say though, this guy made me smile, I think most postal workers are more like him and are dedicated to the job, just some bad apples make our heads spin now and again.

 
I've ordered a lot online in the past few years. I have Amazon Prime. Fortunately most of my stuff has been delivered via UPS or FedEx. I've always hated getting stuff via the Post Office. But sometimes I had no way of knowing who the shipper was till after it was shipped.

I lived in an apartment building in Maine. It was hellish receiving packages from the Post Office. Packages were kept in a locked closet. We had to go downstairs and look for the "package person." She was supposed to be there for 15 minutes in the morning, and 15 minutes in the afternoon. Sometimes she wasn't there, but didn't bother to let anyone know. Other times she argued with me and said I didn't have a package! One time I argued with her for 3 days before she finally found my newest cane!

Things are much better now that I've moved to Minnesota. We have "package" lockers, but mostly, the Mail delivery person delivers packages to our door! The Post Office isn't required to do that, but I surely appreciate the effort!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top