Is it me, or has the quality of USPS tracking deteriorated? Once a company sent me a tracking #, I used to be able to go online and get an estimate of when my order will arrive. Now they just say "In transit." I had an order of baby chicks shipped yesterday, and it would be nice to know what day to expect them so that I can plan to be around. Last year they got delayed in shipping, and I got a phone call at noontime telling me that I could wait another day for them, or they could go to a PO 40 miles away- if I go their before 3:30. I instead chose option #3, and drove 100 miles to pick them up- I wanted them live, not dead.
Tracking packages
- Thread starter Jstpssng
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oosik
Epic Contributor
Hmmm - I don't order stuff that needs USPS or UPS delivery too often but last time - about four months ago - I got an expected delivery date and time when I visited the web site with the tracking number. Things could have changed in that time though........
BlackOps
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fed ex is worse
Dftodd
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I have the same issue. Had a package sent once coming from Ohio. Package hit Jackson Mississippi and then everything went wonky. Like you, tracking just said in transit. Well, the in transit sent it to Tampa Florida instead of Little Rock Arkansas. Apparently the package needed a vacation. 
Sat for a week in Florida, then back to Jackson Mississippi, then Finally onto Little Rock.
Sat for a week in Florida, then back to Jackson Mississippi, then Finally onto Little Rock.PILOON
Super Star Member
I once tracked a parcel that spent a week in transit between the local depot and my home.
Message kept saying 'out for delivery'!
Basically it spent the week in back of the delivery truck!
I am 12 miles down a dead end road and driver was simply too lazy to do his job.
Well after I complained he had to look for another job as it seemed I was not the only complaint.
Recently learned that UPS subcontracts to smaller independent local delivery services*.
Problem then is my waiver no longer applies so I need to go pick up parcel at a local depot thus adding 24 hrs.
But that subcontractor return needs to go back to the distribution point B4 the UPS can bring to local depot and that only occurs at the end of the next day.
(Parcels sure earn a lot of 'frequent traveler points'.)
* and that seems to change often, could be even a taxi service.
Message kept saying 'out for delivery'!
Basically it spent the week in back of the delivery truck!
I am 12 miles down a dead end road and driver was simply too lazy to do his job.
Well after I complained he had to look for another job as it seemed I was not the only complaint.
Recently learned that UPS subcontracts to smaller independent local delivery services*.
Problem then is my waiver no longer applies so I need to go pick up parcel at a local depot thus adding 24 hrs.
But that subcontractor return needs to go back to the distribution point B4 the UPS can bring to local depot and that only occurs at the end of the next day.
(Parcels sure earn a lot of 'frequent traveler points'.)
* and that seems to change often, could be even a taxi service.
CajunRider
Platinum Member
UPS or FedEx tracking deteriorate whenever a package is transferred to USPS for delivery. Once a package goes to USPS, there is no telling. Where I live, when a tracking report tells me "Delivery cannot find access to my front door", I know that USPS people don't want to deliver today and will deliver tomorrow.
ericm979
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USPS tracking has been lame since they started providing it. It looks worse now because UPS and FedEx's tracking is so much better.
Here USPS, UPS and FedEx mostly actually deliver packages. It's when Amazon sends stuff vis OnTrac that there's a problem. They pay their drivers poorly and the drivers don't know the area. They are encouraged by management to meet their numbers even if it means lying. Often packages are marked as "delivered" when they didn't even try. They show up the next day or two. Sometimes to a neighbor's house. USPS has the best drivers- people with experience who know the mountains.
Here USPS, UPS and FedEx mostly actually deliver packages. It's when Amazon sends stuff vis OnTrac that there's a problem. They pay their drivers poorly and the drivers don't know the area. They are encouraged by management to meet their numbers even if it means lying. Often packages are marked as "delivered" when they didn't even try. They show up the next day or two. Sometimes to a neighbor's house. USPS has the best drivers- people with experience who know the mountains.
I mail order quite a bit, but it's just been the last couple of months that I've noticed this.
I think that might be the problem; they are so unreliable that they decided not to give prospective dates. When it's live chicks though, I need to know; otherwise I will need to take every afternoon off until they show up.I have the same issue. Had a package sent once coming from Ohio. Package hit Jackson Mississippi and then everything went wonky. Like you, tracking just said in transit. Well, the in transit sent it to Tampa Florida instead of Little Rock Arkansas. Apparently the package needed a vacation.
I ordered a breech plug wrench for my BP rifle from a place in Florida last December; just a 9" length of steel rod with a knotch in one end and fluted on the other. It must have been from a homebased business because I ordered it after supper on Sunday night and had the shipping confirmation before I went to bed. I tracked it all of the way up the eastern seaboard, and it was right on schedule until it got to Chatham, Mass; then it stopped. For 7 days it stayed there, then started moving again. The only thing I can think of is that they thought it was a bomb.
The last time that I got a projected delivery date was a couple of months ago; the item shipped on Monday, but when they said it would arrive on Thursday I said "no way". Sure enough it tracked to Mass on Wednesday night, and they kept saying " delivery by 8:00 PM." We get mail in the morning, there are no late deliveries. Finally they changed it, and that was when I noticed they didn't project a date. I finally got my item the following Monday.
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teejk
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UPS often does the "hand-off" to USPS for the final leg and tracking at that point becomes useless. FedEx "home" (they have the green in the logo) are privately owned franchises and seems that they will skip delivery if they aren't in the neighborhood. On many instances I'll get the notification a day or two after the package arrives.
hawkeye08
Elite Member
OnTrac is agreeablely the worst, but good news. The company has a web page and you can file a complaint. I did that and since, the driver is much more courteous, still late on delivery, but at least does not drive 50mph down the dirt/gravel road and lie about trying to deliver the night before. Whenever someone pulls into driveway, the dog goes crazy, barking and warning us. The last time someone actually knocked on front door, I thought the dog was going to break the door down (we don't get alot of unplanned visitors).
