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  #1  
Old 11-13-2018, 11:56 AM
pagedr pagedr is online now
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Default Help with USPS tracking

I bought a guitar in late October on eBay - the seller shipped on November 2nd via USPS, and it initially showed an expected arrival date of November 9. On the 7th the tracking showed the guitar had just arrived in Washington DC (shipped from Maryland). Today it showed that it had arrived in Philadelphia, which makes very little sense to me, especially since it is to eventually arrive in California.

Has anyone experienced issues like this with USPS? Is this a potential scam method or is USPS notorious for being this inefficient with shipping large packages? USPS tracking doesn't show the destination or weight of the package, so for all I know it could just be an envelope being sent up and down the east coast.

Last edited by pagedr; 11-13-2018 at 12:04 PM.
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  #2  
Old 11-13-2018, 12:05 PM
frankmcr frankmcr is offline
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SOP for USPS these days.

They once shipped a Priority Mail envelope from Chicago to Milwaukee by way of St. Louis.

That was an exception, in the sense that USPS Tracking usually doesn't even tell you where the item you're shipping is. Just "In transit to next location."
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:12 PM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
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USPS tracking is by far the worst among all the services. Your experience is not unusual.

My wife did get a little more information tracking a guitar from Ireland Post into the US using the app on her phone, when the USPS web site showed nothing new. Hope that helps, but I think you just have to be patient and elt things play out.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:16 PM
HeyMikey HeyMikey is offline
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Go to your local PO and ask them to check it because you are concerned it is going to the wrong location. Their internal system often can show more information.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:24 PM
Athens Athens is offline
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Default USPS

My experience with USPS tracking is that it's not even close to real time and I've received my article says before the web site shows it being delivered.

All it shows is "In Transit" and is eventually updated, but again, many days later.

Almost useless.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:50 PM
pagedr pagedr is online now
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Thanks all! Figured it was just their system being crappy but wanted to make sure I wasn't being duped.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:55 PM
Paddy1951 Paddy1951 is offline
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One thing to realize...

Often, shippers bounce an item around from one (illogical) place to another. Its just part of a larger picture. What works FOR THEM.

Rarely, does a package go directly from place A to place B. Yes, they all do it.

Fed X, USPS, UPS, etc.
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Old 11-13-2018, 03:20 PM
Steadfastly Steadfastly is offline
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Yes, don't believe everything the tracking tells you. I once had a package shipped from the USA to Canada and the day before it was to arrive, it went back to NJ. It didn't but that's what the tracking said. I got the package the next day.
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Old 11-13-2018, 03:25 PM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
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Nothing new ! yes you local office can give you the accurate location -
I many times see packages awaiting pickup and its delivered latter that day or the next-
makes no sense- but thats the post office !
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Old 11-13-2018, 03:40 PM
Brendan @ Heartbreaker Guitars Brendan @ Heartbreaker Guitars is offline
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We use USPS for International shipping. Tracking is not very good, but in 8 years we have never lost a package. Granted when USPS delivers to another country they hand it over to local mail. I still manage to get some sort of tracking on it and it never fails. Now domestically i don't have much experience with USPS. But from what i hear they do this kind of thing from time to time. Hang in a bit longer. Good luck!
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Old 11-13-2018, 03:45 PM
Osage Osage is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeyMikey View Post
Go to your local PO and ask them to check it because you are concerned it is going to the wrong location. Their internal system often can show more information.
This isn't true. They know exactly what the USPS tracking web site shows.

I ship about 125 items a month via USPS, including many guitars and I agree that their tracking is not the best but they are the most reliable service out of the big three. I won't ship a guitar through any other carrier at this point. It does seem a big long if it were shipped on the 2nd but I wouldn't be worried yet if I were you.
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Old 11-15-2018, 04:18 PM
pagedr pagedr is online now
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Update: I just got an alert that the package has arrived in Jersey City. So in two weeks of the package being with USPS, it has traveled about 4 hours northeast of its original location. I'm starting to feel like something isn't right here..
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Old 11-15-2018, 04:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl49 View Post
USPS tracking is by far the worst among all the services. Your experience is not unusual....
On any given day, any of the shipping companies could claim that "honor"....
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Old 11-15-2018, 04:25 PM
hairpuller hairpuller is offline
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Sounds like the makings of another guitar mystery. Please keep up posted!
Good luck,
scott
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Old 11-15-2018, 04:38 PM
Taylor Martin Taylor Martin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pagedr View Post
Update: I just got an alert that the package has arrived in Jersey City. So in two weeks of the package being with USPS, it has traveled about 4 hours northeast of its original location. I'm starting to feel like something isn't right here..
I would start by calling USPS then depending on the response, if you can get one, I would go to your USPS office and see if you can get an answer. I haven't bought anything from ebay for a few years now, but you may consider filling a complaint through them before time runs out. I assume the seller had lot's of positive selling reviews?
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