Anyone else having trouble with USPS tracking

I recently had a package that had been my hands after delivery for 24 hours that still showed in transit.  The service has been very good but the tracking spotty.  This week I had a parcel from MD across the border to Belleville, ON in four days.

When I ship USPS I get the clerk to go ahead and scan the package so I know it is in their system and then get the receipt.  That said I have tracked Priority Mail packages that seem to sit in a post office for a day or two before they actually get shipped to the next p.o. on the way to me.  Right now I have a package that arrived in Memphis on 3/12 that was shipped from Norfolk, VA.  Now it is in Atlanta then to Birmingham and then to me.  This is crazy.  Supposed to be three days Priority Mail and now I won't get it until Monday.  Come on USPS get your act together. 

Anything I sell to the USA shows up  on tracking as soon as I have it entered at the post office here in Calgary, AB.  I shows up again when it leaves Canada and then when it goes to US Customs. The next shows up as in transit to delivery office and then the delivery time and date.  It seems to be very efficient to me. Canada expedited parcels go to Priority Mail in the USA. From here it takes USUALLY 7 to 9 days.

I've got packages coming from everywhere this week!

 

I recently got one from 3D Model Works (can't recall where Bill is located).

 

Today I got my decals from Dave from LRB Enterprises in Kentucky (Dave the decals look BEAUTIFUL!)

 

and my rollers from Crest in New Jersey!!!

 

The only package I haven't received yet is coming from Florida to Va.  It's suppose to in Saturday and the USPS page says it departed Tampa yesterday.  I'm assuming that it's on time.

 

I'm doing good I guess (also got my tax refund!).

I'll take advantage of the thread starter's prerogative to go off-topic, briefly.

 

Right now, a package I mailed yesterday to a fellow forum member who also lives in Roswell, GA (probably no more than 5 miles away) is now in a USPS facility in Memphis, TN--400 miles away.  It will, no doubt, be shipped back to Atlanta/Roswell for ultimate delivery to said forum member.

 

So, a package will move 800 miles to be delivered from party A to party B who live 5 miles apart.  There IS room for improvement in automated mail sorting at USPS.

 

And, yes, we did try to arrange a hand-to-hand delivery, but couldn't work it out.

 

Now, let's get back to the mainline; any issues with USPS tracking?

Things I've learned shipping thousands of packages via USPS.......

1. Print you postage online. When you give the package over to USPS have them do an ARRIVAL scan. This is not required. Some do it.....some don't. I have found that at times if no arrival scan is done tracking is unreliable at best. Seems the system ignores it at times.

 

2.  If you ship any method other than priority packages can be routed in odd ways. Also per USPS regulations non priority packages are 'last ones on the truck'. Truck full....package waits....IIRC per USPS regs at each sorting station it can sit 2-3 days. Luck of the draw.

 

I have had good luck with USPS. UPS and Fed Ex shipping is more than an hours drive away....so not much choice. But packages well packed, addressed and postage done online with tracking and small amount of insurance......never lost one yet I sent out.

 

One coming to me got lost. I know for a fact it was stolen from a USPS sorting center. Tracking from seller to me worked until one stop. Package disappeared.  I know it was stolen because it came from Hong Kong....custom declarations said 'gold' which was the color of the die cast 1/43 model car inside. Someone was disappointed when they got it home.

The USPS is turning into another modern day joke. People can say what they want to say. On a serious note, those folk are getting jerked around just like 90% of the American work force. A secure job with a good retirement my foot. What retirement? It's been used up and borrowed against so many times. What kind of an attitude would you have? Anymore the Ladies and Gents at the Postal Service have my respect. Goodness knows they don't get it from their superiors or most of the general public.

They haven't lost any of my stuff, yet, but they are very slow.

Last summer, a small package was mailed to me from Florida and it took 4 weeks (to Cincinnati, Ohio), the tracking said it was at the origin for 3 weeks: guessing it got lost behind some bags for 3 weeks.

A few weeks ago, it took 12 days for a letter to get to me: Even from California, it shouldn't take that long to get to Cincinnati, Ohio.

I order a lot of stuff from Tower hobbies, which is around Chicago.  When I order, I'll often order another item (that I can always use) that makes tower send it via UPS versus USPS.  If I order early in the morning, via UPS, I often get it the next day where USPS takes 3-5 days.

Last week, I had an engine sent from Florida.  I had another one sent from Oregon; it left 2 days after the Florida date and the Fedex came in a day earlier than the Florida package.  2-3 times further and got to my place in 3 days less time.

They don't seem to insure items for their full value either as items coming to me says max insurance $50 or $100 on the tracking web, when they are a lot more expensive that that.

UPS gives the first $100 insurance, free.

Besides, I just love hearing the sound of the UPS truck coming down my street: I'm like a dog, my ears perk up and I get all exited, knowing a toy is about to arrive

 

Almost forgot: one item must have been sent to the wrong address.  Last year, I had a rebate coupon worth about 30 bucks mailed to me from Menards.  After a few months, I email them and they said it was already cashed.  They were nice enough to send me another one.

Recently a package was first shipped to the wrong zip code before usps caught the error and reshipped the package to the correct zip code. The tracking showed the entire routing correctly with all shipping details noted.

I haven't had any problems, except for one package that was damaged. I had insured it, and the claim was filed and settled in a very reasonable time period. I've never used the tracking. Most of the packages I ship arrive in two to three days by priority mail. The same goes for packages sent to me. I find that the time frame is longer the farther west a shipment goes, but that's to be expected. 

Don

The key is that it is scanned by the postal employee. It will not get into the system until the initial scan takes place. i take my parcels to a local list office and Sue immediately pucks up her scanning tool and scans every one in. By the time I get home and check they are showing in the system as arrived at postal facility with the zip code. Most USPS facilities are automated and as the parcel moves through the system it gets scanned again. When I am getting a parcel, my delivery post man Frank scans each parcel and brings them to my door. The only reason for the parcels location to not be accurately reflected is failure to scan. That can be failure of the postal employee to scan the parcel at the beginning or end of the delivery, failure if a scanning device at a facility, or an unreadable bar code due to damage or shippers placing tape over it etc. I do not like ebay's system, and have only used it once. I go directly to the USPS web site and process my labels there and get the best discount. This method allows me to select between different packaging types and prices. I can also download the label before I print so I always have a copy. The USPS also offers free insurance for the first $50 of coverage. 

 

 

I had a shipment that was taking a long time, I finally used the tracking system and it read thusly:  "You are totally screwed.  Better luck next time."

 

Oh well.

We have a Christmas package from 2013 tracking says it left a California sorting facility to Washington state!
to this day it still says that and never has it been recieved by our daughter!

 Purchased 2 Items from DCC Hobby suppiler on a Saturday. Tracking emailed to me that same day.  Purchased more items from same suppilier on that Sunday (next day).  Tracking info sent to me on Monday.  Here's the twist.  2nd pkg recieved on Wed of that week (2 days).  1st pkg never gets to me and tracking info never updates beyond order received by Post Office. 2+ weeks go by and no first pkg.   Hobby shop resends 1st order to me and its comes like the 2nd order in two days.  5 weeks later the 1st pkg shows up.  

never had any good luck......

GandyDancer, at the very busy counter of the Roswell, GA USPS office the counter staff toss tendered pre-stamped packages in a nearby portable bin--no scanning takes place at the counter.

 

My reason for starting this thread is only because of recent unsettling experiences.

 

My worst experience with USPS was several years ago when my sister sent me a very nice coffee table book a week or more before Christmas.  It was delivered four months after Christmas--long after my sister or I thought I'd see the book--better late than never.  Felt bad for my sister because she sent it Overnight Express.

You mean they actually track?  I thought it was randomly made up.

Its not a failure in the software they are using, its a failure by the humans forgetting to scan the package at each time of handling.  Postal workers are supposed to scan the package each time it moves along, but for whatever reason, it often gets missed somewhere (especially at the last mile to the door of the recipient).

 

UPS and FedEx for years have done a better job at tracking packages.  For the post office, this was a extra feature that most people didn't opt for, and its taking a long time for its full adoption by USPS workers.  There was also software issues years ago so even when they did everything right, the system failed the customer.

 

Hopefully, things will get better.  I know my carrier really works hard for our neighborhood and our post office really tries its best to serve us best they can. 

 

The USPS almost always has longer lines than UPS or FedEx in my area, and I'm always thinking why can't they put more people at the counter to move the line faster like the competition, but again, we get what we pay for.

 

So far, USPS has never let me down in anyway other than losing tracking every now and then.

 

I've sold quite a few items on eBay the last couple of years, and yes .... USPS tracking has been wildly hit-and-miss for me.

 

Though, I've had no packages lost or damaged. A few very minor delays. I leave my outbound packages on my porch for my letter carrier to pick up, and he never scans them. I've never had a package not get the final "delivered" scan.

 

With all its warts, USPS Priority Mail has served me well.

I'm fortunate to live about half a mile from a USPS Post Office, so I always bring packages there to be scanned -- either individually or via a scan form that encompasses multiple labels I've printed.

 

For the most part, things go very smoothly... but there have been a few glitches from time to time... like the time a package destined for Virgina from Philly first went to Boston for a few days.    (Thankfully, this was before Boston got slammed with snow this winter!) 

 

At least the tracking info showed where the package was, but I'm sure it made both the seller (me) and the buyer a little nervous for a week. 

 

David

 

 

I ship alot of packages and have a great relationship with two ladies at my USPS Facility and when I bring a prepaid package in they scan it into the system,only had one lost package in the last twelve months and it was found.

Mikey

Yep.....I walk into the PO and they know me.....I don't even have to ask for a acceptance s can...... hand packages.....they have scanner in hand. Never lost one ph 1000's sent.

I not only ship daily with usps but also have been expecting letters/packages but lately it has been nothing but a headache!! Tracking it and says it was delivered (and I know it wasn't) and I finally get them 2-3 days later. And letters that I know we're sent never even made it to me!! Others taking 2 weeks from less then an hour away!!! It's been horrible lately

Part of the problem is the USPS system consolidation that has been going on for a few years. If I send my Dad a letter via USPS, he is 8 miles north of me same road, it now travels 300 miles before it gets to him. In the past my PO sorted it....sent it to his PO then to him next day. Today it goes from my PO to Charleston then to him. Logistics expert have convinced the USPS this is the best way to do it. Add to permitted time items are aloud to sit at any office/sort center and delivery CAN be erratic.

 

But I am still the luckiest person here on the forum as I have had a good overall experience compared to some here that claim they NEVER get anything right at USPS!!!  

The only recent experience I've had was a package that took about a three weeks to get to me, Priority Mail.  It went to Atlanta, disappeared for about two weeks, and then surfaced again in Atlanta and proceeded to me.  I just assumed the weather was nice down south and it was enjoying the sun before coming up to our frigid temperatures!

 

We ship on average 75 - 100 pkgs. a day, 24-7.  Our items are dropped off in bulk at the PO. They are normally scanned as time permits, and usually no problems. One batch was scanned incorrectly ???, and showed up as being delivered to our PO on the tracking report. Several others were routed to the west coast before being returned.

PO said it was a glitch in the person scanning. Who knows.    Harry

I'll be the first to admit the USPS has issues. The number of packages that are routed WV to NC via Texas are strangely a high number......but they do get there.....

 

FedEx and UPS are not immune to this method either. FedEx package from Chicago to me in WV went to Columbus Ohio, Charleston WV, Greensboro NC, Charlotte NC, Greensboro NC, Beaver WV then me.......but that may just be 'modern logistics'.....

Pingman, Got you beat on your 800 miles.  I ordered a part from WV, to Mi, and it went to WA state and back, almost 5000 miles.  Post office said that was the fastest way, and that maybe that was WV sorting facility.  RIGHT!!!!!

 

smp

The USPS is all screwed up. FedEx and UPS shipping prices are becoming outrageous. Recently a new shipping service has been showing up at my door. The company is called Lasership. I know little about them but they are fast.

anyone want to see what postal employees go through google

"postal employees forum"

 

the post office installed a very complicated scanning system.

google "post office scanning system"

 

direct link to an article

pass system

Lasership is a small regional delivery facilitator......very limited area. 

After DHL spent millions in the USA to establish themselves and then bailed just as fast leaving a very bad taste in many governments mouths....doubt any new lower 48 states system will come about soon.

In one case a package was placed in the "mail" by the shipper using Priority Mail.  It was delivered first back to the "sender".  Once the error was discovered it eventually was shipped correctly.  It only took one day to be received back by the sender. Another 4 days to get properly delivered as addressed.

 

The USPS tracking did indicate where the package was each point along the way. 

 

 

In another instance a package was shown on the USPS tracking as having been processed at the shippers originating PO location.  No other tracking information was ever shown on the USPS website. 

 

However the package did eventually arrive on my front porch.

 

 

Note: The USPS has changed their terminology.  The service offered with Priority Mail is now called "tracking" and not "Delivery Confirmation".

 

 

I also had a similar experience as many here, pre-printed USPS postage it was never scanned and did eventually show up.  In one case the person buying from me was very upset and I did file a claim on-line. I got a call back from the destination Post Office (Louisville, KY) who said it wasn't there yet but went into great detail of the process and how to make the most of it.

 

First rule is when you hand it over to the Post Office make them scan it. Everything is supposed to be scanned even if you use the drop bins (they actually have to scan the "empty bin" periodically. This was my mistake as I didn't want to wait in the line. I also learned that my home PO isn't nearly as efficient as my PO near work. Items I drop there always get scanned.

 

Second rule is, just like the label says, don't cover the bar-code with clear tape. As it moves through the sorting facilities it gets it's "on the way" scans. Those are not done by hand and are done via 3D scan and sort systems. If the system can't read a scan it gets moved to a "wait to be hand checked area". Sometimes that line can cause an extra day if it missed the truck before the line was cleared.

 

Finally at the destination PO the carrier does the last couple of scans. Even if all of the others were missed these "usually" work. The result is you know it's on it's way but then it arrives without any warning, or you find out about it after the fact.

 

There will always be the "whoops (or two)" with these packages, but my success rate went up as I learned some of these items.

 

Well the WORST shipping company is FEDEX my wife ordered a package and paid extra to get it the next day, well those stupid idiots had the correct address on the package but the fedex delivered the package to our local hospital, then the hospital where was package  delivered was locked until Monday. so FedEx could not get the package back until Monday 3 days later.i found out later that at Christmas time they hired young kids for deliveries and you know the younger generation they just don't care!

The ups anything i ever seem to get from them comes Smashed or broken!

USPS has been the best but i think part of the issue especially EBAY sellers put in the tracking numbers and print there labels so you think its shipped but don't actually take the package to the post office for 2 or 3 days, that's why it seems like it takes a week to get my 2 day priority packages 5 days or more, this is not usps fault it's the shipper.the few issues i have had with usps was i had a substitute delivery for the post office again around Christmas and my package was delivered as far as usps was concerned but actually the upsp substitute delivery person delivered to the WRONG HOUSE. I called the post office and told them that i never got my package and they said yes you did! well, 2 day later they delivered my package and told me it was dropped off at the wrong house, if it was luck that the person that got the wrong package gave it to the mail carrier and that's why i got the package 2 days later.

so you think only you have bad luck, how did you like reading about mine

Alan

I have never been a big fan of the Post Office but have used Priority Mail quite a bit over the last couple of years (25 or more packages). I have had a uniformly positive experience. It is faster and cheaper than UPS (sometimes by a wide margin), and I've never had a tracking problem. Knock on wood, but I'm very pleased. 

I always have luck with FedEx but lately the USPS has been misshipping my packages to wrong zip codes delaying delivery and had Priority packages go ground. This has been happening in the last couple months. If you prepay online and bring it always have them scan your package no matter what service you use since they're not responcible until it is scanned. At the Main PO here in Tampa they have a hamper to drop packages right next to the exit and I won't use it since anyone can walk out with a package.

What I like about FedEx is you can have your packages deverted to pick up at a FedEx office for free which many are open 24 hours but UPS charges $5.00 per package to be deverted to a UPS Store. This is convienant for people at work so the package isn't left on your doorstep of if a signature is required. 

I have a slightly different take on the USPS.  Apparently there is an issue with theft of envelopes from the outside remote mail boxes that you drive up to for convenience.  I recently had 4 envelopes containing checks to financial institutions stolen from the box.  Turned info over to US Postal inspector, and while no one would verify that theft had taken place, I have "jumped to this conclusion" based on the evidence.  First question I was asked was did I use the outside remote mail box.  Had to stop payment on checks and cancel checking account.  Now subscribe to a Credit Monitoring service.  Bottom line:  Bring all mail inside Post Office to be mailed, and never leave outgoing mail in a home outside mailbox.  We live in troubling times.

I suppose I've been lucky. Since December have sold about 40 items (non-train hobby) on another online forum and have always used USPS Priority Shipping. All items arrived pretty much on time and in good order.  I think there was one weather-related delay of two shipping days.

 

So far, so good.