Trouble with USPS tracking today?

[Loubitan]

Hey, everyone... earlier today, I couldn't get the USPS tracking site to load, now it's loading, but when I try to track my package, I keep getting this error message "Delivery status information is not available for your item via this web site. A return receipt after mailing may be available through your local Post Office." Before today, I've been able to track this package via the site. Is this happening to anyone else?

@crucibelle - I bet the USPS today and tomorrow are haywire, because of holiday shipping. They are probably so overloaded.

[Sephrina]

Yes - & its driving me nuts. I get the holidays - I really do - - but they happen every year. Oh - well.

@nincompoop - love ur screen name. Made me laugh

[crucibelle]

Hey guys, I did eventually get my package (check some of my most recent posts on the thread). Only thing is, it took 23 days to get here when it normally only takes around 14. Definitely the Christmas rush.

[happyj]

I was scheduled to have a package delivered today, Saturday delivery, but the UPS tracking said "Updated: New Delivery scheduled for Tuesday December 27" which I realized that my package got caught in the holiday shuffle and now I had to wait 3 extra days so I planned for it previously, just in case. If I had timed it for today I would have to wait 3 long days for "maybe an arrival on Tuesday." I get a knock on the door 1/2 hour ago and it was UPS - it was my package from below the border. I asked the driver about their site and she said she was not surprised because even when she clears packages she still shows undelivered packages in her hand-held device, especially during the holiday rush. I also asked her about the FedEx guy who through that box with a monitor or TV over the fence and she said that guy is her hero (go figure)!

[penpilus]

I agree with Angelay that Fed Ex is much better to deal with... UPS began asking me to sign for packages even if it was a no signature required parcel. This got me spooked, as I am sure they were getting suspicious at the weekly deliveries. All of my items are now shipped via FedEx at my request, and it has been no problems or hassles.

[dayton]

I agree with Angelay that Fed Ex is much better to deal with... UPS began asking me to sign for packages even if it was a no signature required parcel. This got me spooked, as I am sure they were getting suspicious at the weekly deliveries. All of my items are now shipped via FedEx at my request, and it has been no problems or hassles.

My local UPS drivers seem to ask for signature even on no sig required packages. If i'm not there, they just leave the package there anyway. I don't receive deliveries on a regular basis from them or anything, so it probably has nothing to do with my activity. It might just be that they had problems with package theft in my area or something.

[penpilus]

My local UPS drivers seem to ask for signature even on no sig required packages. If i'm not there, they just leave the package there anyway. I don't receive deliveries on a regular basis from them or anything, so it probably has nothing to do with my activity. It might just be that they had problems with package theft in my area or something.

Well, That might make sense, but it did spook me out a bit!!! Maybe I will give "brown" another shot in the new year and see what happens!

[512Loyalty]

From my experience, it all depends on the driver and the risk of the package getting stolen. I know from experience, if you talk to your local UPS driver and get to know them, they may start to leave your packages without a signature. I have my local UPS driver's personal cell phone so I can call him and he will go out of his way to drop off my package. Leaving a note on the door usually works also.

[DeanMachine]

Yeah UPS is not perfect by any means. Last order I placed showed up 10 days late after disappearing for days from the dispatchment center. I was grumbling at first but just ecstatic that it eventually arrived and I didn't have to file a claim. With a claim the sender has to initiate it which makes the process that much more complicated.

[nincompoop]

Hmm, apparently the error message I got means 'delivered'? I don't know, but I called customer service today and they told me my package was waiting for me at the PO, and that it had been delivered there yesterday... curiously around the same time I started getting the error message on tracking. Went and picked up my package a little while ago. All's well that ends well.

'

I have the exact same error message, but it happened about 4 or 5 days after shipping. I have gotten stuff almost that quick. But I'm pretty worried. Gonna call up the local PO tomorrow and ask em I guess!

Has anyone else ever gotten the error message

Delivery status information is not available for your item via this web site. A return receipt after mailing may be available through your local Post Office.

[crucibelle]

@nincompoop -- I called USPS customer service. You will first get an automated type thing, but I think you choose "other" on the menu, and then you can speak with a live representative. The live representative can tell you where your package is, regardless of the error that is showing on the track/confirm website page. My package was sent registered mail, in case that makes any difference.

Here is the number: 1-800-222-1811

Here are their hours:

Monday thru Friday: 8:00 am to 8:30 pm ET
Saturday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Closed on Sundays and Holidays.

Hope this helps.

[Atron]

@crucibelle - Thanks, I have a package I was having trouble with too and can confirm this seems to work. I am actually rather shocked that does seem to work. I never would have thought of doing that because I've had trouble with the UPS system and called them many times and they've always said that they have no more information than the website.

Tracking in the USPS website is probably even worse, so I'll have to keep that in mind next time it isn't working. Very good tip.

[ishmael]

I'm awaiting a letter from AMC that shows up on USPS tracking as having been processed through the sort facility in my town four times. The latest, this morning! So I called Customer Service, and they said "Yep, you're right, four times, if it doesn't show up soon, you'll have to contact the shipper." Thank you very much. So near, yet so far! Frustrating...

[ishmael]

Finally, "Arrival at Unit"! It could be today!

[Alternate]

Informative thread - I am just going track all your tracking on this thread.

[nincompoop]

@crucibelle

Well, the status adjusted back to the normal 'origin post is preparing shipment' after you said that. Think I should still call? Now I'm all like... what if it's there but they didn't scan it? Haha...

I'm just anxious about an order, as we always are.

[Atron]

@nincompoop I agree with you in that I think most people here have been anxious at one point or another about a shipment. Bad tracking systems (like USPS) make the situation even more stress invoking.

I think as I’ve said before in another thread, I’ve had experiences where I check the tracking number when I wake up in the morning, it says it hasn’t left China or wherever it’s coming from, then two or three hours later the postal carrier arrives at my house with the package.

My best advice is try not to worry too much about things based only on what the tracking status is – unless it says it’s being detained by customs or something. If you’re worried about a controlled delivery, I’d imagine that when they do try to do those, they generally will try to move the package along as quickly as they can. If you order something that entered the country and it arrives at your address a month later, you’d probably be very suspicious that something funny was going on and be less likely to accept it. I don’t have any evidence of that, but it seems logical.

By the way, if anyone wants to use crucibelle’s method of calling USPS and asking them about information, I found a method that might speed things up. When you call the number instead of listening to all the options, just reputedly hit the 0 button every time the lady starts talking and eventually they’ll let you talk to a real person.

[Magnus]

I did take crucibelle's advice and talked to a live representative yesterday. The rep told me that since my package was in my city and had left the local sort facility 15 days ago; that all I could do was inform the foreign shipper and they would in turn have to lodge an inquiry into the missing parcel. There was nothing I could do the rep explained.
Still wondering why a parcel, less than 8 miles from my house, hasn't shown up in 15 days.
I could of driven to the sort facility and picked it up in less than 30 minutes.

[Atron]

@Magnus – That does sound very odd and unusual. To be honest, I can’t think of a good explanation for why that would happen.

I’m surprised that they wouldn’t let you submit an inquiry into what had happened to your parcel. I had a situation in August where a parcel wasn’t delivered and showed that it was “undeliverable at the address” due to the shipper putting a slightly different street address. They actually let me submit a report and then I had to contact another place (outside of USPS) in order to try and get the package rerouted to the right address – I don’t remember exactly, but I think it was a consumer affairs office or something and they took the correct address; even though I never did end up getting my parcel. That was express domestic mail so it might be different.

Maybe they tried to return your parcel to the sender, but it never scanned past that point. That shouldn’t happen, but there’s always an off chance.

Occasionally I’ve found that calling the post office that delivers to you can be useful. I think usually they’d not have any information, but my situation I explained above, the worker actually somehow knew that they tried to deliver it, but couldn’t - of course at that point they'd already shipped it off to be returned to the sender.

Unfortunately, the postal system is far from perfect, and it might be lost for good – I’ve had that happen twice as well.

I hope things end up working out for you Magnus, let us know if you ever find out what happened.

[Magnus]

Thanks Atron.
I've called the sort facility that it was last at and my local post office.
The last sort facility that my parcel went thru told me they couldn't give me any information, because it had already left and was in transit.
My local post office manager said, "They couldn't give me any information due to the fact it hadn't been scanned into their facility for delivery."
It's almost like it's stuck between the last sort facility and my local post office since Dec. 16th.
My original package was shipped Oct. 30th. It was sent to another country and Royal Mail showed it as "Two Delivery Attempts Made". It was finally mailed back to the IOP as undeliverable. BTW: I've used this IOP for over a year now without incident.
They reshipped it Dec. 7th. Now it's missing again.