USPS tracking is worthless

[stevej37]

Ordered a Christmas gift from the state of Washington on Dec. 11...they confirmed it and gave me a tracking number with a delivery date of Dec. 22

I was concerned that it would be late for Christmas, so I checked the box for email updates.
The first email update that they sent was this morning. It said my package is on the truck for delivery from 7am to 10am today. No updates between WA and my place?
Couldn't they send a notice that is was to be expected 4 days early?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Ordered a Christmas gift from the state of Washington on Dec. 11...they confirmed it and gave me a tracking number with a delivery date of Dec. 22

I was concerned that it would be late for Christmas, so I checked the box for email updates.
The first email update that they sent was this morning. It said my package is on the truck for delivery from 7am to 10am today. No updates between WA and my place?
Couldn't they send a notice that is was to be expected 4 days early?

I think only get change notices if they will be later than promised.

Side rant: Amazon Prime order on Monday arrives this Saturday instead of yesterday, because of Christmas. Rock Auto order yesterday arrives tomorrow.

[Gogar]

It's like plane arrival times. Set a huge window and then arrive "early" and call it a win.

[vash]

hahaha... I just lived this.

I sent a check. USPS tracking said it was moving thru the system. for a month. I finally emailed my fishing company and told them I was sending a new check and would stop my old one.

I was dialing the bank, when I got a call from Florida. those knuckleheads got the check on the 8th and neglected to tell me. plus the bad intel from USPS. (I just checked, it is still "moving thru the system")

stupid. I am OCD with mailings. my wife thinks I am like NORAD tracking incoming missles.

[vash]

I did tell the Florida lady, "you know you can set up a Vemmo, or PayPal account for payment right?"

"silence"...I think I must have spoken Chinese. my bad.

[stevej37]

Amazon has, by far, the best tracking. Just click on your orders and it tells every stop and time the order did.
Then when it's an hour or so away....it shows the little truck chugging along a map of your area.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I think only get change notices if they will be later than promised.

Side rant: Amazon Prime order on Monday arrives this Saturday instead of yesterday, because of Christmas. Rock Auto order yesterday arrives tomorrow.

Yes, Amazon has been all over the place with the day of delivery service. I rarely get a next day delivery any more.


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[rwest]

Slightly off topic, but I just got to tell someone. I had to send out a part to a customer today and went to USPS expecting a long line, but no, there was one lady in front of me who just wanted to know if her envelope was a proper size.

I was in and out in mere minutes! A win is a win.

[cabmandone]

You aren't just now figuring that out are you?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

You aren't just now figuring that out are you?

Basically, all they do is tell you the day of arrival..on that day.



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[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Yes, Amazon has been all over the place with the day of delivery service. I rarely get a next day delivery any more.


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My experience is that if you live near a couple/few depots/distribution centers, then you consistently get quick service. If you live away from a major city/distribution center, then the order --> receiving the item times go to hell starting sometime in Oct or Nov.

We have mostly been 2-3 days, but back in Oct, our shipping times went to 3-5 days. We used to get 99.9% of our orders via USPS (too far for Amazon delivery most of the time). They switched to UPS for almost everything and that added 2 days on avg.

If we ship stuff to the kids' place, they still generally get the item the next day.

I drive past one of their big distro centers when I go into the office.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Basically, all they do is tell you the day of arrival..on that day.

If you're lucky! I've had things delivered that still showed at the first scanned location.