Royal Mail

[MikeSmith]

Does anyone know if Royal Mail is trackable like EMS? I have a parcel sent out about a week ago and the status still shows the following:

Your item, posted on xxxxxxx with reference xxxxxxxxxxxxx has been passed to the ******** postal service for delivery in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Thanks in advance!

[Etherealremnant]

I have the same question. I tried going to USPS.com and it says that I can't get package information from that site. I order from Airmailchemist...

[Jellyfish]

Royal mail will only track domestically, unless you pay for the whole shebang including geographical.

Basically it goes like this:

Parcel is sent to the PO, that parcel, along with all the others from that day have their tracking numbers input into the system, and when they come for the collection to send them to the sorting depot, that one bag of parcels will have one tracking number assigned to it, unless like I mentioned before, you have paid for the service which includes geographical tracking.
That tracking info is the only thing you will be able to track in the UK which basically just confirms when and where it was shipped from, until it get's handed over to the USPS.
It will then be scanned at the port of entry, in which it should then be trackable via your own US tracking sites (although sometimes this step is skipped)
The next bit of information you get, will be to say either that it's on route for delivery that day, or when it has actually been delivered, and signed for.
Over here, they are normally pretty good with following protocol and scanning as and when they are supposed to, although sometimes things are skipped/overlooked.
I have heard rumours that USPS is quite notorious for this, and that many don't find out where their stuff is until it's actually on their doorstap in the mailmans hands.
What kind of service have you paid for?

[mountaineer]

My orders from the UK take on a average of 7 days to show up on the USPS tracking site .Sometimes a couple days sooner and sometimes a few day more .

[Jellyfish]

Hi @mountaineer ..did you get your package?
I'm sure I read you were waiting on one for quite a while, and were having problems with the tracking going back and forth.
Did that get resolved int he end?

[mountaineer]

No I have not got my package yet .Tracking has not updated yet either .I have not emailed P4u back since I got my email Monday night were they told me to give it a few more days .I have been calling my local post office to see if it ever came in since around the 9th or 10th .I told them yesterday I would just come in Friday .I had a friend mail me something about a week ago and it should be in by Friday plus I may have some other mail I need to check on too .I have not been to the post office since last Monday .They may have shipped my order in a smaller package .I used to always order just one item like i did this time but can not remember if it was in package small enough to fit in my regular size p.o. box .I liked to keep my mail box from getting over stuffed too .My tracking label as came off before so it may be possible that I may get it anyway .I know I have saw were other people said their orders from P4U and other UK vendors did not show up until they actually got them .I know a few years back I have had already had my package for several days before the tracking ever updated .
We are supposed to have a nice warm sunny day Friday here .I like to keep myself in shape to a certain extent despite my injuries and go out anyway and hitch hike to the post office which is 10 miles away .Before I had a accident with my mountain bike I would ride it there and back .
Probably a little too much info about myself but I was sitting here bored to death any way .

Your tracking should show up in a few days .I will post back in the correct thread after I go to the post office Friday about the status of my order .

[Jellyfish]

That sux :-(

I always feel unable to help with posts about the USPS, as it's so different from ours, and I have heard such bad things, but then again, i'm sure if I looked hard enough, there would be an equal amount of complaints about Royal Mail! I suppose it also comes down to how helpful the person on the other end of the phone is, if you have to call them..here, they see people calling up looking for packages just annoying, and i've only ever come across one lady who was willing to help, and actually go and look for the missing item.
I hope you hear something soon,

[mountaineer]

That sux :-(

I always feel unable to help with posts about the USPS, as it's so different from ours, and I have heard such bad things, but then again, i'm sure if I looked hard enough, there would be an equal amount of complaints about Royal Mail! I suppose it also comes down to how helpful the person on the other end of the phone is, if you have to call them..here, they see people calling up looking for packages just annoying, and i've only ever come across one lady who was willing to help, and actually go and look for the missing item.
I hope you hear something soon,

I have been thinking that may be part of the problem I am having .My post office has new woman working there .She may sound friendly to me but I do not think she had enough time to see if my package had came .She answered me too quick .The post master answered the phone a few times too .I am not sure he checked either .I got a priority mail envelope and a express mail envelope around the first week of the month .They both were put in my box .The Express mail envelope was a little too big to go in my box in my opinion .I had to go to the post office both days anyway to pick them up .They both had confirmation of delivery on them .After I got back home I checked the tracking .It said that a signature was wavered or something to that effect .
It is too expensive for me to continuously pay someone to take me to the post office daily .I am disabled but do have my good days and bad days but not healthy enough to go to the post office or anywhere else on a regular basis .I live in a very rural mountainous area and do not have the option to get my mail any other way or any closer to another post office .

[Jellyfish]

I wish I could do something to help..:-( I know how frustrating it is, sitting here in the UK, I get mad when I have to wait more than 4 days for something, so I can't imagine what is like for someone in your position having to wait that long with no communication at all..I really, really hope you hear something soon

[MikeSmith]

I just found a interesting site:

http://www.packagemapping.com/

THIS SITE WILL AUTO YOUR TRACKING NUMBER YOU SHOULD REALY TRY IT OUT.
I FOUND IT TO BE THE BEST FOR ALL TRACKING EVEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
GIVE IT A TRY! TRACK ANY PACKAGE
IT'S SO EASY TO USE AND YOU DONT NEAD A ACCOUNT, BUT YOU CAN MAKE ONE AND IT WILL KEEP TRACK OF ALL YOUR PACKAGES.
YOU CAN NAME EACH TRACKING NUMBER AND MUCH MORE IF YOU MAKE A ACCOUNT.
CHECK IT OUT IT WILL MAKE TRACKING MUCH EASIER..

[monsterpython]

I've downloaded a few tracking apps. Currently, I'm running two with duplicate information. One of the track(ers) reacts must faster than the other but it's never instantaneous. The other track(er) has "push" notification capability. In other words when there's a change in data a message appears on my iPhone announced by a sound peculiar to that app. It can be programmed to "push" 24 hours a day or only 18--so you can sleep without being disturbed by an alarm. I keep mine on 24/7.The "push" feature is great if you want to eliminate constant checking and re-checking--however, the app itself is very slow to pick-up the change of status messages.
Eventually, someone will create an app that uses "push" and reacts quickly to data changes;when that happens, I'll buy the app.
It can be a fun experience. I'd hoped to have a delivery this morning but by a certain time I'd given up all hope of that happening--when suddenly my iPhone sprang to life with a message and a chime--it was delivered!! That was a good moment.

[grateful4wsp]

@Etherealremnant After Royal mail says "your package has been passed to the US", usually the USPS site will say "origin post preparing for shipment." Sometimes 4-5 days later it will show "processed through sort facility (City and State), then it will show up in your town, then on your doorstep. Sometimes you won't see anything after the "passed to the US....." message until it says "out for delivery" in your town. Sometimes, you won't see anything more until After the package is on your doorstep. Usually, (the last 3 times) my package is at my door no later than 7 days after Royal Mail says my package is "passed to the US for delivery." I hope that this helps you to answer your questions!

Many people were kind here at this forum for my first tracking experience in years. I know that I didn't give any specific answers, I just tried to share my recent previous tracking experiences through Royal Mail with you to help ease your mind through the waiting trauma

Patience is virtuous! You will enjoy your gift soon

[fairydust63]

Hopefully someone can answer this, a while back I read a post and someone provided another tracking site called trackr something...just hoping someone will see it and pass that info along, best tracking site ever!
For the fellow Americas...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[mmm1234]

I find Royal Mail's tracking to be excellent, the problem is when it hits the USPS. It seems to always say, "Origin Post is Preparing Shipment", even if I've received my package! USPS is awful with their tracking updates, and while PackageMapping is awesome, it only pulls the same information from the site that you can get directly from that site, so you don't get any new information, only "Origin Post is Preparing Shipment". Frustrating.