WTF USPS tracking, this doesn't make sense

nagamitsu

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Ordered something from Highscore Saves. Tracking in USPS doesn't make sense. It arrived in Toronto, went up to the absolute north/top of Quebec (going away from me at this point), then last check in shows it back in Los Angeles?!? I don't get it. I'm in Ontario, Canada, just outside of Toronto

Tim

April 3, 2018, 12:08 am
Processed Through Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Your item was processed through our LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER facility on April 3, 2018 at 12:08 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

April 2, 2018, 12:38 pm
Customs Clearance
CANADA

April 2, 2018, 12:38 pm
Processed Through Facility
CANADA

April 1, 2018, 5:28 pm
Departed
SALLUIT, CANADA

April 1, 2018, 12:16 pm
Departed
TORONTO, CANADA
 
My experience is that USPS tracking is somewhat useless. The constancy of their services are truly mind-blowing. I order a good bit of stuff from Arcade Shop and he always sends it 2 day Priority. The last order I got in 2-3 days, the one before that... 2 1/2 weeks. He shipped, USPS "tracked it" which was for some reason in Ohio for 2 weeks, and even when it showed up on my doorstep USPS still didn't bother to mark it delivered. Where is Cliff from Cheers when you need him?
 
They have been horrible lately, when I lived in Denver I ordered a Buffer and Paint gun from a place in California, both shipped the same day from the same place, the buffer got here in 3 days, the paint gun took a trip to New York city and back. They wonder why they cant make any profit. Also our mail here where I live now, has to go to Casper WY first to be sorted (360 mile round trip) just to go across town.
 
Try the same tracking number on Canada Post's site. Once it gets handed over to them, their tracking is much more reliable.
 
Try the same tracking number on Canada Post's site. Once it gets handed over to them, their tracking is much more reliable.

Thanks! A bit better for sure, maybe more accurate, but does appear to have come here, went back to LA, then back up here again:

2018/04/03 03:18 MISSISSAUGA, ON Item processed



2018/04/03 00:08 USLAXA, USA International item has left originating country and is en route to Canada



2018/04/02 12:38 MISSISSAUGA, ON Item has arrived in Canada and was sent for further processing.



2018/03/30 06:14 USLAXA, USA International item has left originating country and is en route to Canada



2018/03/26 16:33 85382, USA International item mailed in originating country
 
USPS is the cheapest option for shipping most smaller items. Usually they are faster than other ground service. However 5-10% of shipments get weird delays or or re-routes like you are seeing. Its just the way they are. The options, for shippers or receivers, is to wait longer and pay more for UPS or FedEx ground, or pay a lot more for UPS or FedEx express.

Amazon has spoiled everybody with free fast shipping. Based on recent rate increases, everybody else is subsidizing this. USPS is the only way to remain competitive anymore.
 
Once the package cleared customs in Canada, the tracking provided to USPS may not be reliable. However, the package cleared customs, so why it was turned around back to LA is a question for Canada Post.
 
It is crazy but I have seen this type of thing happen more and more lately. At least you are being reasonable....questioning the logic of USPS and not the seller. Unfortunately, it is hard to explain to a random idiot on ebay that you have no control over the route your package travels.
 
One time UPS tracking showed a package in Boise ready for delivery the next day.

The next morning it was back in China.

Magical!
 
Once the package cleared customs in Canada, the tracking provided to USPS may not be reliable. However, the package cleared customs, so why it was turned around back to LA is a question for Canada Post.

Hey it's more fun to shit all over government agencies. That's what all the hipsters tell me at least.
 
One time I ordered from Marco Specialties which is about 5 miles from my house and it went from them, to the huge post office in Columbia, to West Columbia, to Louisiana, back to the post office in Columbia, to the West Columbia post office then it was finally delivered 10 days after it shipped. My best guess is it fell off the top of one pile into another and took an accidental joy ride.
 
This doesn't look like a USPS issue to me. This looks like a Canadian Post Office issue. I am certainly no defender of USPS as they've screwed me many times, but in this instance I see nothing wrong with what USPS did. It was the Canadian Post Office that appears to have screwed the pooch, so to speak.
 
Except the USPS isn't a government agency.

What are you talking about? From wiki, because it's just easier to cut and paste this than type it all up myself:

The USPS often is mischaracterized as a quasi governmental or private entity. It is neither. The USPS is a government agency that was created by Congress to achieve various public purposes. Federal law defines what products and services the Postal Service may offer. Additionally, the USPS's employees are federal employees who participate in the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The Supreme Court has even weighed in on what being "independent" means for the USPS, in an opinion from 2004:

The PRA's designation of the Postal Service as an "independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States," 39 U. S. C. §201, is not consistent with the idea that the Postal Service is an entity existing outside the Government. Indeed, the designation indicates just the contrary. The PRA gives the Postal Service a high degree of independence from other Government offices, but it remains part of the Government.
 
This doesn't look like a USPS issue to me. This looks like a Canadian Post Office issue. I am certainly no defender of USPS as they've screwed me many times, but in this instance I see nothing wrong with what USPS did. It was the Canadian Post Office that appears to have screwed the pooch, so to speak.

+1

Once it clears customs it is no longer in the possession of the USPS. Also if it shipped first class it doesn't have a true tracking number, only a customs ID number that gets scanned at entry and exit. USPS only offers international tracking on priority and express.

I ship about 10K packages a year via USPS, they are by far the cheapest and most reliable out there for items 4-5 pounds and under. If you think the USPS international rate is hard on the wallet take a look at UPS and Fed Ex.

My shop has maybe a 2% lost rate, if that, and the bulk majority of those are the customer's own fault with address entry.

Occasionally we will see a crazy re-route, but it's rare. Delays are far more prevalent in first class and other lesser dollar methods because of the way they sort. Also if it is registered mail (maybe certified) it is transported with separately than other mail and will get all sorts of crazy re-routes.
 
I ordered a set of tempest tubes. I tracked it to Jamaica then northern Canada and I just got an email that they tried to deliver it to my local post office at 4 am and no one was available for pickup. So hopefully they will let me know when I can pick it up.
 
At least it's not FedEx. They let it sit in the hub facility until the delivery day because there is no way in hell they'll deliver it faster than what you paid for.
 
I ordered a set of tempest tubes. I tracked it to Jamaica then northern Canada and I just got an email that they tried to deliver it to my local post office at 4 am and no one was available for pickup. So hopefully they will let me know when I can pick it up.

It's Jamaica, NY which is the east coast, US customs outpost and that's EST.
 
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