USPS Tracking

[destrekor]

How has it been for everyone else lately? As in, past year or two or five?

I remember they used to get a lot of hate, and perhaps it's a regional and can be blamed on regional management/training.

But for me, while it used to be very spotty years ago, as of late, while not as perfectly consistent as UPS/Fedex when it comes to simply getting everything scanned -- later I'll discuss actual shipping -- they still otherwise move things expediently with Priority Mail and 9/10 have accurate scanning history and estimated delivery dates that wound up true (or underestimated, i.e. it arrived earlier).

Just curious to see if it's a national trend, seeing improvement in regards to both tracking and shipping/handling. As a government-sponsored enterprise and not wholly government own and ran like it used to be, they seem to be taking greater steps toward improving their services and clawing back some of the market from UPS and Fedex and other smaller operators.

Now, if I was to complain about consistent tracking and shipping, I would be complaining about the smaller companies, like Prestige/Lasership, as while they can be super fast and yet cheap, that of course comes with trade offs, like a complete lack of consistency in my experience. Generally reliable but it's maddening compared to even USPS. lol

 

[Crono]

Past 5 years, yes. Short term has been the same for me.

 

[cbrunny]

Canadian here, so no clue but I can say that CanPost has gotten better since they realised that no one actually likes them. The last few years have really improved quite a lot in all around customer service & support.

No one likes them still, but at least now they're doing a bit better. It's forcing the others to also get better I've noticed, which is a good thing.

Short term, no real change though.

 

[purbeast0]

Well it is now actually tracking. It used to be "delivery confirmation" which was a lot different than real time tracking.

 

[Elixer]

Once I noticed you can sign up for basically any package that is to be delivered to your address, all has been fine.

That means, no need to enter a tracking # anymore, a e-mail notice comes automatically.

 

[destrekor]

Well it is now actually tracking. It used to be "delivery confirmation" which was a lot different than real time tracking.

It's been that way for a few years now. And delivery confirmation expanded into tracking before they officially called it tracking. It was like a trial run. But even then, half the time there was no delivery confirmation. I had the package but the website never stated it was delivered.

But even once they called it Tracking, it wasn't as consistent for me as it is today. Also they beat the shippers estimates quite often, but they give accurate estimates if sourced directly.

 

[destrekor]

Once I noticed you can sign up for basically any package that is to be delivered to your address, all has been fine.

That means, no need to enter a tracking # anymore, a e-mail notice comes automatically.

Yup, I love the "My USPS" service. I've been using it for awhile. That's where I've noticed times and scanning has become more consistent, it wasn't when they first offered that service.

 

[Crono]

Informed Delivery is pretty awesome, too. It rolled out a few weeks ago and I like being able to see my mail (only letter-sized mail, it doesn't include packages/large envelopes, though) in the daily email digest.

 

[pete6032]

Nope, it's still bad for me. It usually take 2 days or more after I get a tracking number for any information to appear on the tracking website. I've had packages come half way across the U.S. and be delivered before any kind of shipping status was posted on the tracking website.

 

[MrSquished]

It sucks for me too. UPS tracking is way better. This in the NYC metro area system.

 

[shortylickens]

UPS is overall better, but I've noticed more and more as time goes on that all the services enjoy bouncing packages around each other. Once I had an Amazon delivery go from UPS to Mail back to UPS again before reaching my house.

Another time UPS handed it off to DHL who took it clear across the country and brought it back again. Took two weeks.

 

[PJFrylar]

I've never had an issue with UPS for Fedex, but USPS is consistently incorrect when I actually check it. Most of the time I'm not really in that much of a hurry to get packages, and I just wait for them to show up whenever. USPS is inaccurate pretty much every time I do check. I guess it's better in a way. Last package I checked on said it was delivered about 3 hours before it actually was. The package before that said it was delivered, but never came that day. I asked about it the next day, and they had no idea where it was. It went back to "out for delivery" around noon and was actually delivered the next day. It's a pretty consistent issue I have with USPS.

 

[Xstatic1]

FedEx > UPS > USPS

 

[slayer202]

Thanks, this thread reminded me there was something from Ebay I never received and I had completely forgotten about it

 

[sze5003]

USPS usually is pretty accurate for me. My apartment complex though is another story.

My buddy lost 4 packages since living here. USPS would say delivered at front door and nothing was there. People at the complex here get confused with the building entrances.

Sometimes they leave it all the way out front where you need a code to get in to the actual residence hall. Pretty sure his package was stolen the other day because USPS confirmed it was delivered and they opened an investigation and the delivery driver called him back and said he left it at the door, and acknowledged he delivered there before because the apartment is only a few feet away from the mailboxes.

UPS tracking for me has been slow. I sent something back to Newegg Saturday and the tracking only updates every 2-3 days. It should arrive tomorrow but this was an RMA shipping label so maybe it's just super slow on purpose.

Amazon never failed me but I feel like I wasted money on prime living in this complex. They send a new amazon driver every delivery so they get confused which building to go to. Sometimes I've seen them looking with a package in hand, get back in their car and drive off.

I had to call and complain 3 times to Amazon before my packages finally started being delivered in 2 days. They recognized my apartment complex had an issue with the drivers that they send here.

I talked to management here at the complex and they told me this would be an issue with Amazon but now it also seems like a problem with USPS.

They refuse to take packages for residents in the main office because there are over 600 resident here.

I'm going to buy a wireless security camera soon so I can see if anyone is stealing packages. My roommate's watch got stolen not too long ago when USPS confirmed delivery to the front door. Sucks that he's out a few hundred bucks and all claims were denied because they all ask for the tracking number and respond with sorry, looks like it was delivered to your door.

 

[destrekor]

Thanks, this thread reminded me there was something from Ebay I never received and I had completely forgotten about it

I don't know whether to laugh or feel bad man. Which is it eh?


Oh and perhaps I spoke too soon I've currently a few packages that have not been updated, a bit troubling. AND I WAS JUST PRAISING YOU USPS!!

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Last USPS package I had shipped actually had
A realistic arrival time
Several useful update
Arrived on time

Unlike my past USPS tracking adventures (summary)
Picked up at x location
In process
Days later I find it in my mailbox
Day after delivery web shows delivered

 

[IBMJunkman]

Tracking is better. The problem is final delivery by a human. I get mail for same number address but 1 street over. Or she finds it in the truck when I stop her going down the other side of the street.

Advantage to being retired with external security cameras. I see the truck go by and am at the mailbox before the truck is out of sight.

 

[rh71]

Sometimes they show no movement (at processing facility) or state they haven't received it from the shipper for a long time. That's my only gripe with them. I like that they have a delivery estimate date and out for delivery just like UPS now. It certainly used to be a lot less informative.

 

[Elixer]

This is a map of my current package.
It started in Wisconsin, dest = MI.
Currently in AZ.

It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

 

[Crono]

This is a map of my current package.
It started in Wisconsin, dest = MI.
Currently in AZ.

It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

Who are you to deny your package's right to visit Arizona. It's a lovely state.

Maybe USPS is testing long range teleportation* and it does show up tomorrow.

* I had a bad experience or two with that. Long story, don't really care to go into it or finish it.

 

[destrekor]

This is a map of my current package.
It started in Wisconsin, dest = MI.
Currently in AZ.

It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

Was it always supposed to be delivered tomorrow? It probably still will be. I just had a package from UPS that ended up having a tracking number that was recycled from years ago, and that screwed up the tracking history. And of course with USPS, date time group estimates are not guaranteed, and may fluctuate based upon activity level in the region(s).

 

[Elixer]

Was it always supposed to be delivered tomorrow? It probably still will be. I just had a package from UPS that ended up having a tracking number that was recycled from years ago, and that screwed up the tracking history. And of course with USPS, date time group estimates are not guaranteed, and may fluctuate based upon activity level in the region(s).

Yeah, tomorrow is the date it should show up.
This was one of those "smart post" things, where UPS handles it first, then USPS takes over.

 

[Captante]

Crappy and getting worse

 

[destrekor]

Yeah, tomorrow is the date it should show up.
This was one of those "smart post" things, where UPS handles it first, then USPS takes over.

I have a package coming through Smart Post next week too. Had I known, I would have paid more. I avoid any service that includes a hand-off!

Such services have the worst reliability. No fault to any specific party, but having a hand-off between two distinct parties is going to introduce issues. Just about equal as when you introduce scanning to logistics when they never scanned a thing before. It's gonna be a hit and miss operation for awhile.