USPS (Non-)Tracking Service

Posted on September 9, 2009 by under Customer Service USPS

Last week I ordered a laser pointer an online retailer.  I received an email from them on Sep 1st that my package had shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS), and a tracking number was provided.  I tracked the package on the USPS website.  Here’s the tracking information:

Label/Receipt Number: xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xx
Class: Package Services
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™
Status: Electronic Shipping Info Received
The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on September 2, 2009 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

This is exactly what I expected to see.  When I tracked the package that first time, I doubt the USPS actually had my package in their possession yet.  No surprise at all here.

However, it is now four business days (we had a three-day weekend over Labor Day, remember) later and the tracking information still has not been updated.

This is not the first time I’ve had this experience with the USPS.  I once, out of curiosity, continued to track a different USPS package after it had already been delivered to my house.  It was finally marked as delivered three days after I received it.

The first part of this entire process is fundamentally flawed.  Why does the USPS allow companies to send them this electronic data BEFORE the package is actually given to the USPS?  Stop that immediately. That’s the first step.

I see three possibilities for why the tracking information is not being updated: 1) Packages are not actually scanned at every step. 2) The tracking software simply doesn’t work, so scans along the way don’t show up. 3) The USPS never took possession of my package from the seller. If it’s #1, why isn’t the USPS scanning packages at every step? If it’s #2, why isn’t the USPS demanding that the software be fixed? If it’s #3, why in the world are they making tracking information available for packages they don’t have yet?

This is not something that will be easy to fix, but the service as it is now is completely useless.  Package tracking has been around for a long time.  Old hat.  It’s mind boggling that the USPS’s is so lacking.

  • http://locknet.ro aurelian

    Just a question: in the end did you get your laser pointer?
    I have the same thing with some device, where delivery to Spain, Europe is 7-12 working days, but after the first 5 days, the page on USPS did not update (same old message). Howeverm I *hope* that I'll get my gadget in that timeframe.

  • jharbert

    I did receive the laser pointer. It was delivered on Sept 11th, and the tracking information was made available *after* delivery. I posted a follow-up here: http://barsetting.com/index.php/2009/09/15/usps…

    Thanks for the question and comment.

  • MrFrustrated

    I am experiencing the exact same thing this very moment.
    Waiting for an item to be shipped from USA to Australia. I am so sick of seeing the below paragraph….

    —————————————————————————————————————
    The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on September 22, 2009 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.
    —————————————————————————————————————-

    I have been told (from the seller) that it has definitely been sent and they no longer have the item (obviously). How damn frustrating!! This situation not only make USPS look like idiots, but makes the buyer paranoid that the seller is telling the truth….

    Thank you for the post……it's nice to know (and not nice) that someone else has gone through this trauma as well.

  • http://blog.jeffharbert.com/ Jeff Harbert

    Thanks for the comment. You're absolutely right about the impact to the seller. Merchants likely rely on packing tracking services even more than their customers because the performance of the carrier impacts the reputation of the merchant.

    That makes two parties being poorly served by this barely functioning tracking systems – merchants and their customers. There's no way I'd use the USPS to ship my products if I was a merchant.

  • MrFrustrated

    I am experiencing the exact same thing this very moment.
    Waiting for an item to be shipped from USA to Australia. I am so sick of seeing the below paragraph….

    —————————————————————————————————————
    The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on September 22, 2009 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.
    —————————————————————————————————————-

    I have been told (from the seller) that it has definitely been sent and they no longer have the item (obviously). How damn frustrating!! This situation not only make USPS look like idiots, but makes the buyer paranoid that the seller is telling the truth….

    Thank you for the post……it's nice to know (and not nice) that someone else has gone through this trauma as well.

  • http://blog.jeffharbert.com/ Jeff Harbert

    Thanks for the comment. You're absolutely right about the impact to the seller. Merchants likely rely on packing tracking services even more than their customers because the performance of the carrier impacts the reputation of the merchant.

    That makes two parties being poorly served by this barely functioning tracking systems – merchants and their customers. There's no way I'd use the USPS to ship my products if I was a merchant.

  • Anonymous

    A blind date can be an exciting way to meet blind date uncensored someone new. However, if you’re dating someone you know next to nothing about, you will need to approach the date with care and discretion if it is to have any chance of success. Here are some of the things you need to think about if you are embarking on a blind date.

  • patria

    Label/Receipt Number: LJ64 xxxx 209U S
    Service(s): International Letter
    Status: Electronic Shipping Info Received

    The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on January 7, 2010 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

    that is my tracking status, why there is no Class in there? is the seller not sent my item yet? i was waiting for my Blackberry Storm…….. please help..

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7FTFHZ6LE2E2ILEPKRQDXFBAKQ juan m

    usps is a B.S…….. I will never use no more USPS They think they working for FREE …!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7FTFHZ6LE2E2ILEPKRQDXFBAKQ juan m

    USPS is a B.S they are scrap.

  • http://twitter.com/urbansurvivals0 JIMMY

    I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND AN I am having same problem’S + company odorma does same it is bull .
    especially you live in urban apt area were packages get stolen asap ,they need do something or people will either not order or start using ups as they are shipping company period an insured for all i believe they make sure package makes it to your stairs an 3 ,i live on second floor mail boxes along side house they will not even bring package 99.9 percent he makes up pickup slip i caught him last time said he DONT walk upstairs no older then 33 -36 come on we pay taxes to get are mail my gramps told me as he delivered in 50-60 they come right to door walked everywhere,no such thing as cant come up the stairs knock thats bull so if DONT have tracking correct i do not have time frame to catch him an need go 50 miles get a packager no cost me extra 20.00 an time i mean its bull USPS needs straighten up or ship there own ass out.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QSAM73ZMSJDSPPZOXXA6PH7ZOQ Zach H

    Isn’t there any way to speed it up? Because I have the same problem with a videogame I and I was planning on calling the last place Streamlite mentioned so I can see where they shipped it too and then call them to make sure my package gets sent to me by Saturday

  • Souleiman Benhida

    What’s interesting is that I’m buying (small) parts to fix an iPod; I bought the screen assembly off Amazon and the tools from another site. I ordered both Thanksgiving morning. The tools shipped on Friday and the tracking worked perfectly; I got them on Monday. The screen(small) shipped Saturday morning but still hasn’t  even updated the tracking. The seller assures that they HAVE GIVEN the package to the USPS. Both are using First-class mail and both are from california. (I live in MA)

    It’s pretty hit and miss, and frustrating for the seller and the end-user as well.