Help a Canuck understand USPS

kissmybASS01 · #1 07-13-2009, 06:41 AM

Hey all!

I ordered a new bass bridge and p/u cover off E-Bay last week. The seller is shipping in a large envelope via Paypal shipping using your US Postal Service. I received my tracking number from the seller and since July 8th, the shipping status is unchanged. The status reads:

"The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on July 8, 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. "

What exactly does this mean? The dude has just told them that he will send thestuff when he's ready, or is it already in transit? I've tried Emailing him, but he seems to be slow as cold maple syrup.

I've yet to get (badly) burned on Ebay and am hoping this won't be it. Should I start raising flags?

PS I realize that there will be a delay in regards to border crossings and all that...

rustynuts · #2 07-13-2009, 07:03 AM

All it means is that he printed the label online. There is a discount for printing postage online, one of the reasons being is that the clerk at the counter doesn't have to spend any time with it, nor are they required to scan it to show that they have it in their possession.

95% of the packages we ship out are like that all the way until they are delivered. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Sometimes it never even gets scanned as it's going through customs.

kissmybASS01 · #3 07-13-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustynuts

95% of the packages we ship out are like that all the way until they are delivered. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Sometimes it never even gets scanned as it's going through customs.

That.....is not very helpful.

Yay, US Postal Service!

CrispyDelicious · #4 07-13-2009, 07:45 AM

OP

I find that USPS tracking can be terrible when dealing with items coming across our border. For example, I bought two different pedals from another TBer at different times. The first time he shipped one, the tracking was spot-on: it told me when it was received for shipping, when it hit the border, etc etc. The next time he shipped me a pedal, I got the

"The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on July 8, 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. "

message, and it stayed that way until the package arrived at my door. I guess what I'm saying is, it could be well on its way, and USPS has just done a **** job at tracking your package.

Oh, and don't bother calling USPS customer service. Even with my tracking number the dolt on the phone had no way of finding out where the item was.

rustynuts · #5 07-13-2009, 07:49 AM

Well, the option is standing in line and waiting your turn, paying more for postage and paying a lot more for the delivery confirmation. DC is not meant as a tracking tool in the first place, all it's intended to show is that the package was indeed delivered. For true tracking you'll have to go to UPS, FedEx or upgrade at the postal service to Express mail.

And as far as not getting scanned at customs, that's not on the postal service, that's on the customs clerk.

kissmybASS01 · #6 07-13-2009, 08:09 AM

Thanks guys! Waiting I shall be....

Jim Nazium · #7 07-13-2009, 08:13 AM

There's a reason we call it "snail mail"...

Unrepresented · #8 07-13-2009, 08:38 AM

The USPS tracking system is pretty bad. Never had any problems with the items getting to me, but it isn't nearly as good at giving updates and estimates as FedEx/UPS.

L-A · #9 07-13-2009, 08:43 AM

I don't find it this confusing that USPS stops tracking its packages past the border...

3506string · #10 07-13-2009, 01:05 PM

I usually get the Electronic shipping notification, the processed and left whatever the city nearest the shipper, The processed and left the nearest major city to me usually shreveport, la or jackson, ms, arrival at unit, and then delivered. It seems lately usps has become a little more detailed.

kissmybASS01 · #11 07-16-2009, 10:07 AM

I just called USPS and got lost in their automated tracking line. I ried to talk to a real person, but to no avail!

Status is still the same, and no info available. Sorry guys but USPS - you suck!

Spector_Ray · #12 07-16-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Oh, and don't bother calling USPS customer service. Even with my tracking number the dolt on the phone had no way of finding out where the item was.

In some stations, they are stuck in the past so their equipment may not be state of the art. That "dolt" may not have access to some of the tracking features on their system.

Quote:

There's a reason we call it "snail mail"...

So you expect a letter that cost you $.44 to mail from New York to California to get there overnight? It will take a bit of time to process 667 million pieces each day.

Quote:

I just called USPS and got lost in their automated tracking line. I ried to talk to a real person, but to no avail! Status is still the same, and no info available. Sorry guys but USPS - you suck!

Wow, it couldn't be because of the TOTAL mail volume we process daily. Last year, we(USPS) processed a total of 202.7 BILLION pieces of mail. That's letters, flats, boxes of checks, granny's souvenir bottle of sand from Normandy beach AND your bass.

allexcosta · #13 07-16-2009, 04:38 PM

USPS tracking doesn't work and has never worked. Your package will arrive just fine. Stop worrying.

ErebusBass · #14 07-16-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

There's a reason we call it "snail mail"...

In my experience, USPS has always been faster (if not cheaper) than UPS, FEDEX, or any other shipper I've ever used, especially for smaller packages.

MJ5150 · #15 07-16-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

Sorry guys but USPS - you suck!

Just forget about the package and go about your life as normal before you bought the item. It will show up soon, and then you'll be all excited. I don't get these people that buy something online, and then spend every waking moment refreshing the package status screen on the shippers website and being generally consumed with when the package will arrive. On the day it shows "out for delivery", it's like everything else in their life stops until the package arrives.

You know what they say kids.....a watched pot never boils.

-Mike

UnsungZeros · #16 07-16-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

You know what they say kids.....a watched pot never boils.

-Mike

There's an xkcd for everything:

kissmybASS01 · #17 07-16-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsungZeros

There's an xkcd for everything:

Hey!!! <glancing around nervously> Do you have a webcam set up at my office?

kissmybASS01 · #18 07-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Yay!! My letter FINALLY came today! My new bridge looks great and fit like a charm, and my p/u cover is nice and shiny - except for the scratch I put in it attaching it to my bass

Oh well, it was well worth the wait. BTW, the USPS tracking info still says the same thing