scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147 
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 9, 2021 17:57:51 GMT
I placed an order Thursday evening that was filled and put in the hands of the post office Tuesday evening. Estimated arrival (according to the USPS tracking) was listed as Thursday, and expected to be “on time.” I thought that was a bit optimistic, especially following a holiday weekend, but when I looked at the tracking history this morning, it showed the same expected arrival date, and my package appeared to be on its way to my state. I am really looking forward to these items, so I have to admit, I started to get excited. I should know better. I just had another look. The estimated arrival has changed to Friday, and it still says “on time,” as if it never could have suggested anything else. It will probably arrive on Saturday or Monday, and based on past experience, it will probably continue to say “on time” no matter how late it actually turns out to be, even when the package takes the “scenic route” like gramma’s did recently. On the other hand, I guess it’s better than them posting “just be glad if it eventually shows up on your doorstep, you ingrate.” I know, I shouldn’t gripe. They do pretty well, all things considered. I just find it easier to be patient when they don’t get my hopes up that it will come sooner. Do your packages’ tracking usually show an earlier delivery than you actually get? How realistic are they? |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,159
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Post by lindas on Sept 9, 2021 18:30:19 GMT
I’ve learned not to trust the date they give me that way I’m not stalking the mail and getting disappointed. If my package actually does show up ‘on time’ instead of a day or two later it’s a happy surprise.
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Post by kiera on Sept 9, 2021 18:43:42 GMT
Depending on where you are, it's possible that logistics and deliveries are being disrupted by Ida and the damage she left behind. Some of my customers have called to ask similar questions and it turned out that the storm messed up the chain and caused delays.
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Post by Ryann on Sept 9, 2021 20:50:50 GMT
I often get packages a day earlier than USPS tracking will show, up until the day of delivery.
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Post by tinksmommy on Sept 9, 2021 20:53:44 GMT
I am tracking three packages right now and the tracking has been really accurate on USPS.com. One package was delayed but I could follow it’s progress in the “tracking history” on USPS.com. I also sign up for text alerts to follow the progress. I particularly wanted the delayed parcel for a crop this Saturday. It started really moving overnight and got to my post office early this morning. All three packages are due to be delivered today and are “out for delivery”. One of the packages is being delivered 2 days ahead of what it says on the website. It is a First Class package so those move fast as does Priority Mail. I am so happy they are all coming today because I can take additional things with me to the crop now.
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Post by joblackford on Sept 9, 2021 21:05:24 GMT
Argh, that's frustrating! They do an amazing job almost all of the time, so much that we don't even notice. But sometimes they really screw up. I've had stamps that I ordered FROM THEM fly all the way to Seattle and then back to the Midwest where they started before flying back to Seattle again... and yes, the "on time" doesn't necessarily mean anything.
TBH I try not to track my packages at all. It's completely out of my control so it just leads to frustration. I do have a running list of things I'm waiting for so I can make sure nothing gets completely lost and forgotten, and I have Informed Delivery which shows me if packages are coming soon or delivered, but mostly I just leave things be. Watching stuff meander through middle of nowhere towns in the Midwest, usually on a FedEx truck, can be amusing - so many places I've never heard of - but really annoying too.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 9, 2021 21:25:34 GMT
Depending on where you are, it's possible that logistics and deliveries are being disrupted by Ida and the damage she left behind. Some of my customers have called to ask similar questions and it turned out that the storm messed up the chain and caused delays. Good point, and I would understand Ida complications, but nowhere in the shipping progress, from the origin post office to mine, should have been affected by the hurricane or aftermath. Unless it really takes the scenic route. I do appreciate being able to see the progress. It really is helpful in knowing when to watch for a package. I just wish they would leave off the “on time” comment, since that is the phrase that seems open to interpretation.  |
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Post by cbet on Sept 9, 2021 21:42:56 GMT
Mine never used to show the "on time" notation - it always had a list of which post offices it had travelled thru. Now I just get origin office, "moving thru our network and on time" and then the nearest distribution center. From there, I know it should be delivered the next day or the day after. And yes, "on time" doesn't change, even if they change the delivery day.
Except for a package last week, that showed "out for delivery" and then "forwarded" and noted that there was a forwarding order for it. Freaked me the heck out, because there is no forwarding address for my place, and I had 2 other packages arriving same day that arrived just fine . . . turned out that the distro center had misrouted that one and "forwarded" really meant "put back into the sorting stream so it goes to the right place". Had itself a little tour of Wisconsin and finally made its way back to me.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 9, 2021 23:55:15 GMT
Mine never used to show the "on time" notation - it always had a list of which post offices it had travelled thru. Now I just get origin office, "moving thru our network and on time" and then the nearest distribution center. From there, I know it should be delivered the next day or the day after. And yes, "on time" doesn't change, even if they change the delivery day. Except for a package last week, that showed "out for delivery" and then "forwarded" and noted that there was a forwarding order for it. Freaked me the heck out, because there is no forwarding address for my place, and I had 2 other packages arriving same day that arrived just fine . . . turned out that the distro center had misrouted that one and "forwarded" really meant "put back into the sorting stream so it goes to the right place". Had itself a little tour of Wisconsin and finally made its way back to me. That would freak me out, too! |
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Post by songbird on Sept 12, 2021 0:45:00 GMT
Unfortunately, I now live close enough to the Atlanta hub of the USPS that every piece of my mail gets sorted there, and it is a hot freaking mess. The holidays are going to be so fun.
The most frustrating part to me is that the USPS has no consequences for poor service, yet the prices keep going up. The “temporary” holiday postage increase is starting way too early this year IMO.
This topic always hits a nerve for me because we are powerless. I’m considering using UPS more.
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Post by Night Owl on Sept 12, 2021 1:38:32 GMT
Funny because where I live USPS is more reliable than UPS or Fed Ex. I have been having problems with Fed Ex online tracking being out of service.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 12, 2021 2:39:42 GMT
I’ve had problems with deliveries from USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Other times, I’ve had great delivery service from USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
When I have to ship something myself, I usually go to the post office. They are nearest to my home, and most of the time, this particular branch has given me good service.
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durangirl
Junior Member
Posts: 71
Location: Central California
Jul 1, 2021 19:05:23 GMT
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Post by durangirl on Sept 12, 2021 20:36:18 GMT
I used to be the same way. I would get excited and then the mail would come and no package. Now, I only check my Informed Delivery email and see what mail I will get that day. It also has come in handy when they showed a piece of mail that I ended up not getting...they gave it to the wrong address.
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,164
Location: LA Suburbia
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Sept 13, 2021 2:31:37 GMT
My packages arrive on time 99% of the time, so I feel pretty lucky. However, when things go wrong, they end up going really wrong. Case in point, my Blue Apron delivery last week that arrived with ice completely melted. 1st world problem, I know.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,352
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Sept 13, 2021 5:20:49 GMT
Sadly, my past experiences have lowered my expectations. I'm just grateful to actually receive mail/packages within a relatively reasonable time.
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Post by kiera on Sept 13, 2021 11:30:38 GMT
I ordered something from Ebay and apparently it's been sitting since September 3rd with action needed - there was never anything in my PO Box telling me that I had a package to pick up, so I'm glad I checked the tracking on Ebay because if I don't get this sorted out by Friday it'll be returned to sender on Saturday. I'm going out of town on Thursday so... no pressure!
So yeah, the tracking isn't always the best because sometimes the station doesn't even inform you when you need to pick something up. Sigh.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Sept 13, 2021 16:50:35 GMT
I just got a Christmas card from Hawaii on Friday . Only 10 months late.
It was one of peas cards.
Now I do live In canada. And Hawaii is far.
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Post by kiera on Sept 13, 2021 17:54:31 GMT
I went to my PO this morning and they found the box for me so that's sorted, thankfully. Usually they're pretty good with letting me know when something needs to be picked up but I guess that one slipped by. scrappington, that's a long time! Glad you finally got the card! |
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Post by karensay on Sept 13, 2021 22:32:25 GMT
I checked the Tracking on my ACOT package yesterday and It said it was accepted by the USPS up there. It was here today!
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