Thread: Postal Systems

So far I have received by international mail with tracking shaving items from the UK, South Africa and the US and also within Canada. In every case, with the exception of the US, I have gotten regular up dates when I checked and could track the progress of the item step by step from the originating country through our customs and internally in Canada. Lately from the US after it shows accepted into the system it is dead air after that and I can pick it up on the Canadian side once it is in our system. Years ago I was able to track a camera back from Florida step by step till it left the US. Are others finding this too? If so, what happened to the USPS tracking system? Other than that little foible I have found the USPS as reliable as other mail systems. Just curious.

Bob

Not sure? I used to do lot's of shipping, and found USPS the best value. Not all mail comes with tracking. Registered, Certified, Delv and Sig confirmation as far as I know. I use it when I send razors back to customers. Just the other day I had to track something, and it worked fine.

Cost cutting and increased fees to track many are simply not purchasing the tracking feature. Many only purchase delivery confirmation this tracking feature only tracks when it was dropped at the post office and when it was delivered.

Originally Posted by Castel33

Cost cutting and increased fees to track many are simply not purchasing the tracking feature. Many only purchase delivery confirmation this tracking feature only tracks when it was dropped at the post office and when it was delivered.

OK, that is the most likely thing that is happening, thanks. Live and learn.

Bob

Hey Bob
I think it's the way that it is sent because I use the USPS tracking system all the time- just used it now- and I'm always able to track my packages. Sometimes the package is picked up later in the system and other times it's picked up very early. For the most part though I'm able to track my package from beginning to end. This system however is not 100 percent so that may be what you're finding.
Tony

I have too much experience with shipping and receiving with USPS, FedEx, and UPS. I never send anything without tracking and prefer to receive parcels with tracking as well. With any of them I think it is simply a failure on the part of the carrier to update the tracking from one point to the next. Some workers are just not efficient. I'd say 90% or the time the tracking is there and it is up to date. The other 10% who knows ? IME UPS and FedEx air are the best with tracking, USPS and FedEx ground are usually good but inconsistent. Fortunately for me everything I've sent, and that has been sent to me, has arrived safe and sound.

I ship maybe 10 parcels/week,all USPS priority with tracking,Knock on wood,have never had an issue.

Never had a problem with any of the mail services not delivering the goods, touch wood. Just this peculiarity with tracking on USPS lately. I will not have an item send to me from the US by either UPS or FedEx as the broker fees they like to charge are just ridiculous. Got burned once by that many years ago on a gun stock. I have also had UPS loose a rifle for me on an internal shipment in Canada. They found it pretty quickly though after I filed a police report and gave them the incident number.

Bob

Tracking in the USPS system is relatively new and really not complete covering certain types of mail only. Even then it can be hit or miss.

What most don't realize is with Fedex and UPS the tracking between acceptance and delivery is really the batch of parcels bundled together not your individual piece.

When I ship using USPS, they tell me I can't get tracking if it's shipping out of the states, every time, maybe it's my method, but they certainly aren't offering any other option's. I'm actually having a problem with a purchase coming from the U.K, the tracking number isn't working, and in 4 days it will have been a month since placing the order. The merchant said that the tracking number would work once it got into the states? I've sent packages to Hungary and Canada and they've gotten there in less time.