This post is for buyers and sellers of goods through the mail, specifically those sending or receiving their goods via USPS using Delivery Confirmation. I'm putting it here in the midst of my Classic Movie articles because despite all of the information I try to give you in that regard this is primarily an ecommerce site and I always ship via USPS.
I wouldn't be writing about this except it's now happened twice in the span of a few weeks. I know this won't be news to some of my more experienced e-commerce friends, but my hope is that it is found by buyers of all levels and sellers who haven't experienced it and hopefully it will save them a few moments of panic. I've got 11 years of online selling under my belt and have shipped somewhere between 15,000 and 18,000 packages in that time yet both of these incidents still made me nervous.
Thankfully in each case the buyer on the other end of my transaction was a repeat customer whom I'd already had an established relationship with. I was (hopefully) able to make them feel better about the outcome of our transaction in advance of their actually receiving the package because there was already some level of trust established, but I can only imagine how badly the next time might go if such an incident occurs with a brand new customer who doesn't yet have any reason for trust beyond my reputation.
Simply put, USPS Delivery Confirmation is meaningless. I suppose many of you know that, but I don't think as many are aware of why I'm going to say it's useless. First here's what I suspect you think: the tracking offered by the USPS with their Delivery Confirmation service offers no protection to the buyer or seller of the goods unless the package is insured. Without insurance the USPS doesn't want to talk to you. I know, I've been told exactly that in phone conversations before.
But that's not the problem here.
One other common Delivery Confirmation complaint which is not the specific problem I'm working up to, but is a symptom of that problem, is the fact that information on the Delivery Confirmation web pages is generally not updated until after the package is delivered. If you haven't received your package yet and are wondering where it is, chances are that when you type that Delivery Confirmation number into the USPS website the only information you're going to see is that the package was scheduled for pick-up in your seller's local home town and if you're lucky you may be somewhat soothed by a second line declaring that the package was checked into your seller's local post office later that same day or the following day. The few times that I've seen any further update prior to actual delivery have only been when there are problems with the delivery: for instance it reaches the buyer's home town post office and then no further information is posted for a week as the package is trapped in some sort of postal purgatory.
My specific problem though, and again, I've had this happen twice in the past several weeks is when Delivery Confirmation states DELIVERED and correctly lists the buyer's home town, state and zip with a time of delivery. In these two recent instances the package was not yet received by my buyers. Now I'm assuming this has happened more than twice to me, but I notice that in both of these cases the orders were for amounts in the $80-$120 range and so my buyers were very likely more anxious to know where their goods were than somebody who bought something for $5. They understandably followed the tracking, after all, that's what it's there for, no?
I say no and I say it emphatically after these two experiences.
Compare the USPS Delivery Confirmation to UPS tracking. I've been at my desk and tracked a UPS package that was listed as being "Out for Delivery" that day. I've heard someone at my door and rather than getting up to check the mail I've simply refreshed my UPS tracking screen and seen that the package is now listed as "Delivered." I get up and lo and behold, there's my delivered package. The UPS driver actually scanned the package when he dropped it on my stoop and throughout my package's UPS journey it has been physically scanned at every stop along the way keeping me apprised of its exact whereabouts if I decide to check the tracking before it arrives.
Now I've never worked for nor seen the inside track of any package on a UPS or USPS route so please keep in my mind that what follows is my assumption, but one I feel pretty sure about. The USPS isn't scanning their packages nearly as often and by my best guess what has happened with each of my packages confirmed as delivered, but nowhere to be found by the buyer, is that they are scanned when they either arrive at the buyer's local post office or perhaps when they are sorted and loaded onto the truck for delivery that day. Whatever point it occurs this final scan is coming before actual delivery yet it is stating that the package is not only "Out for Delivery" but "Delivered." If my buyer's mail carrier has a heavy load that day it might not be delivered.
In both of my recent cases of missing packages I was able to take a deep breath and tell my buyer that I was nearly certain they'd receive their package the very next day. Thankfully in both cases I was absolutely correct.
This is not fair to either the person sending the package or receiving the package. Can you imagine waiting for your $100 purchase, see the official USPS site says you should have it, yet you have nothing? I'd be pretty upset and yes, my buyers were upset. Thankfully in each instance they realized this was the post office's fault and not mine, but in each case they were already pretty sure that they were never going to see their goods. It's unfair to the sender because in my personal case, despite being rather sure the packages would arrive the next day, my position is that a buyer who pays me must receive their goods. Well, my packages were uninsured, so if they didn't eventually show up guess who's going to lose money? Here's a hint, not the USPS.
The only reasons I pay for Delivery Confirmation is because the charge is minimal and I believe that nearly 100% of the time it gives piece of mind to both myself and my customer in that we can come close to pinpointing where our package is in its journey. While I was actually aided by the incorrect Delivery information the USPS gave in these two recent examples, it's not a good sign that the only reason I knew what was going on was because I was so sure of their incompetence*. I was only able to decipher the code because I knew the service is broken! My two buyers, bless 'em, stayed with me because of my reputation and despite the USPS's reputation and to be honest I'm not sure either really believed me until their package showed up the next day!
*I will add that despite problems such as this my experience is that the USPS does manage to eventually get everything where it has to go. It's just that the journey is not sometimes without trepidation and in the examples of this post, needlessly so.
I don't want this post to seem like another empty complaint so I will offer two suggestions for USPS and their Delivery Confirmation service:
1) Scrap it
or
2) Fix it.
After this happened for the second time this weekend I figured I either really hit the jackpot in being the only guy who's had this problem not once, but twice, or far more likely others are seeing it too. I post this simply to offer an explanation to buyer and seller alike that all will most likely be well tomorrow. Sellers if you experience a false Delivery Confirmation please feel free to send your buyer here to read about what likely happened--it might help calm things down and I do like the traffic to my site.
A final unrelated word. I don't want this post to be taken as a complete criticism of the USPS or especially its mail carriers--in fact I absolutely love my own mail carrier. I've used the USPS all these years for all of those thousands of packages because I feel they are the best shipping solution for my needs. Doesn't mean that they're perfect. Making Delivery Confirmation mean something would be a great step towards an overall better service. After all, the packages are being scanned, I'm just asking the proper information actually be relayed along the way.
I use USPS for everything, mostly because of their carrier pickups and lower prices than UPS and Fedex. Their “delivery confirmation” is definitely frustrating, especially for International shipments. Concerning your main argument, with which I completely agree, perhaps that is why it is much cheaper than the other carriers and note that they call it “delivery confirmation” as opposed to “tracking” like the other guys.
Best, Tommy
All duly noted and agreed with, Tommy, except the main argument on these two cases is that the confirmed deliveries were not yet delivered.
It’s 7 years later and your article is still relevant. USPS said my package was delivered this morning, but still waiting on it. Thank you for making me feel a little better that it will, eventually, arrive!
Did it? Same thing happened to me yesterday. I’m worried sick ?
Same thing happened to me earlier today. Im keeping my fingers & toes crosses that my package will be delivered this Monday. If not, hopefully my credit card company will pull through and cover me.
Same thing happened here, two days ago, still no package, handmade goods and expensive. The package is insured but will the usps really take responsibility since in their eyes it is delivered? My buyer is freaked out for Christmas gift that she spent hard earned money on is nowhere to be found.
Same here, EAD card from DHS appears as “Delivered, to agent” almost 20 days ago.
Mine was delivered to my PO Box and states “individual picked up at post office” 10:19AM. I was out of town all morning. Went by to check my PO Box. Not there.
Did you receive it. I’m currently going through this exact situation
This happened to me just an hour ago. Had TWO packages out for delivery all day, got home from work just as the truck went by, they put junk mail in my mailbox and no packages. Both tracking numbers say “DELIVERED FRONT DOOR/PORCH” but there’s nothing to be seen. Mail lady never got out of the truck. Missing. They have a tendency to deliver stuff to the neighbors here but I checked and nothing there either. Over 100 dollars worth of stuff.
I would recommend that you contact your local Post Office and give them the tracking number and ask them to look up the delivery location for the item. Sometimes, a mail piece is delivered to 222 A St versus 222 B St. They can look it up by the GPS location where the item was actually scanned as delivered.
Mailed an overnight letter by USPS on Sunday to be delivered on Monday on a Business, 4 hours round trip from my home. USPS tried to deliver on Monday at 5 AM, didn’t find anybody, kidnapped my letter at theirs post office giving me 5 days to make 4 hours round trip to get back the letter or send back to me after 5 days. The letter was time sensitive and destination was a business, and BUSINESS HOURS ARE 0800 to 1630 or 0900 to 1700. What kind of dead brain sheep morons are USPS employee, going out of business hours, to make deliveries at Business at 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, 4AM 5AM and tell you that there was nobody. I do not care for $13.25 I paid. The damage they inflicted to me is much bigger. Government is doing nothing, they are looking other way. Next time I will drive 4 hours and deliver my letter by myself.
i shipped a laptop to passaic, nj. delivery confirmation. tracking said out for delivery on the 9th of jan. then it says no further details available. it is the 30 of jan passaic post office can not find the package. i know it did not disappear. i hear i have no recourse . what is the purpose of filling out forms at your local p.o. and all that if they do nothing. why should i have to pay for a service that was not done?
Yes, I’ve been told a few times myself that unless actual insurance is purchased there’s not a thing that can be done. Was it an eBay or PayPal transaction? The Delivery Confirmation may come in handy then through their Seller Protection (PayPal here and eBay here) though I’ve never had to file so I can’t be sure how much it will help. But as for the USPS, no guarantees are offered which I’ve always found somewhere between off-putting and irresponsible on their part. Terrible being at their mercy, best of luck!
Unfortunate to come across this article from over a year ago, as I feel the USPS’s “Delivery Confirmation” is actually getting worse. I never had a problem with it until a few months ago, when packages started being marked as “Delivered” and yet there was nothing on my doorstep. They would show up one or two days later, but I’m still baffled why it seems that as of late any time a package makes its way onto my mail carrier’s truck–“Out for delivery”–she cannot manage to get it into my hands. Makes me believe that not only is the “Delivered” portion incorrect, but the “Out for delivery” (and maybe even more steps before it) is off, as well.
@621c8d725bebd7d25803edc59118264a:disqus I agree, it’s probably all off. USPS doesn’t do a great job at explaining this but from past phone calls they’ve made it explicitly clear to me–delivery confirmation is not intended as tracking. To them the name of the service implies exactly what it says, confirmation of delivery. It’s unfortunate to hear that they still don’t have even that part of it nailed down correctly.
I can completely relate! It’s March 2016 & I’m struggling with this on going issue right now! I ordered something off eBay and it says it was delivered to my mailbox at 5:57 am, but there is nothing! That’s not right! What did the mail carrier do? Mark the package as delivered even though he hasn’t done so yet? We have now been stalking and looking for the mail carrier for the past 2 hours. I don’t think my mail has been delivered yet, for today, but that’s not the point! USPS shouldn’t claim that the package is in my mail box!!! USPS is the Worst!!!
Tisha, I totally agree….was on the phone with the post office and even they seen the package was not delivered and yet 3-hours later after the post office closed I checked the status and NOW IT SHOWS DELIVERED AT 3:59pm when my parents were HOME ALL DAY as they are both on disablity….they even said the mailman was his 1st day as he was all over the place!!! Now MY $80/PACKAGE IS UP IN THE AIR, AS I DEFINITELY DON’T HAVE IT AS THEY CLAIM I DO!!!
I have that issue going on now I ordered something up to $84 tracking my package and it said ot was delivered but i havent reveived my package at all it passed the due date and i dont know where it is and will they still deliver it , I don’t have my package yet and it said it’s delivered so I was wondering do they know that I don’t have it
Having the same crap with USPS. 3 packages worth over $500 showed delivered but nothing in my mailbox. Went to the post office to no avail. I hate the USPS with passion. Going forward I will pay extra money to have it FEDEX OR UPS. USPS is a failed Wellfare organization that cannot get their $hit together and they keep logging loses year over year. I plea to mr Trump to not give them any more financial assistance and let them fail and just disappear. What a crappy degenerate organization which lack any common sense in customer service.
Just went through the same thing. USPS tracking status said “delivered” and nothing… I have a locked gang-box so there was little chance it was stolen. I had to dispute a charge and hassle with an online retailer who stuck by the claim that USPS says the item was delivered. Acted as though I was trying to scam them and refused to make me whole in any way. The ordeal was a complete pain. In the end, USPS finally delivered the item a mere 45 days after their infallible, irrefutable system said they did.
45 days! One can only imagine.
My God Dave, with a pic like that. You have very little real worries. Lucky
i have received many packages from usps and i normally dont look through the tracking info. but this time i ordered a product with a purchase price of over $1000. and im very worried about them loosing it and me never getting it. there site says it departed from a sort facility about 9 hours from my house and has a delivery date for tomorrow which is 5 business days from the day it was “shipped” i already had problems getting the seller to ship my item on time. so here is my actual question…when usps predicts a delivery date, is it anywhere close to accurate? will i receive a package when im told i will?
Hi @ericfark. While there are no guarantees I find the USPS has been better at matching their predicted tracking info in the time since I wrote this article. I would think there’s a very good chance your package will be delivered on Monday or, if there’s a glitch with the tracking, Tuesday. With a package of that value be sure to look for a slip noting an attempted delivery in case your seller insured the package and it needs to be signed for–if you’re at work or not home the mail carrier will leave the slip instead and you can either arrange for re-delivery or pick it up in person at the local mail facility. Good luck!
Hello, and thanks for your comments here… I had the same thing happen to me today… A package from China was shown delivered, but no package… I live in an apt. bldg., and the postal person always brings stuff up to my door and rings the doorbell or knocks, then leaves it at my door… Well, today I was home all day, and no knock or ring… And no package… But it shows as being ‘delivered,’ which really ticked me off… Because if I contacted the seller, and he/she checked the tracking #, and it showed delivered, they’ve done their part of the business… And I’d be screwed out of my money… Anyway, it’s somewhat reassuring that it might still be delivered, even though they already show it as being delivered… I kinda see the postman scanning it beforehand, and not having the time to actually deliver it, which shouldn’t be done, really… I definitely think they need to get their act together on the tracking thing… Total turn-off… (m.)
Mark, glad you found this helpful–I do hope the package arrived though!
Ok, I’m kind of late posting to this article, but hey, what the heck. I’m in the same boat as many of those before me; recently I ordered two items line, two separate orders/websites/time frames. Both listed as “delivered” on the USPS tracking webpage. And yet, I got nothing. NOTHING!!! After reading this article, I’m a bit relieved, I guess? That whatever is happening to my orders, I’m not the only one. Guess the only thing I can do is wait. My question is, on average how soon is the package actually delivered after the “delivery date” listed in the confirmation?
Hi Sze,
At the time I wrote this packages would show up one delivery day after they were supposed to.
It’s been a couple of years now and I’ve found the delivery confirmation service much improved in that time. If it’s been more than a couple of days I’d probably call USPS and see if they can provide any help though.
Good luck, Cliff
@ Sze: I got my ‘delivered’ notice on a Monday, and the item showed up at my door on the following Friday. But at least it DID show up. (m.)
Good to hear, anonymous! Well, good to hear that it came; not so good that there still is such a lag with delivery “confirmation.” Thanks for the info!
I live in South Korea. My sister sent me a package via USPS and it’s showed as delivered as of 5/14. I live on a foreign compound so sometimes it will be left at the main office but it wasn’t there either. I’m glad to know that it may show up in a few days but it ticks me off that it’s showed as delivered.
Hoping that it has arrived, Anonymous! All bets seem to be off with International packages. I just had one make it to its customer in Germany today … 43 days after I shipped it (and 2 days before escalating my insurance claim!). 99% of my international shipments seem to arrive as quickly as anything I send inside the US, but there can be a heck of a lag for that remaining 1%. Good luck!
I dislike USPS. I had much better experiences with Fed Ex and UPS. I always had problems with USPS. Packages don’t arrive, people in the post office are rude and don’t want to help you. They just blame it on you. I wish no one would use USPS. They are horrendous.
Rick,
I can’t disagree with much of what you say, though I will say that I’m impressed with their rate of overall package delivery. They’re not always on time (though usually are), but my packages always seem to get where they’re going or, worst case, properly returned to sender.
Nowadays most of my delivery problems come from European customs offices, so I’m mostly satisfied with USPS itself.
Cliff
K I have been reading a lot of different things on somewhat the same topic since yesterday. Ordered a phone for my wife off E-bay was tracking it everything looked good. Made it to my post office 2 blocks away was “out for delivery” Nov2. Saturday. Mail comes no package. Figured, OK maybe Monday. Well before Monday hit, 14 hours after saying out for delivery it status changed to “Delivery status not updated”. It didn’t show up Monday the 4th either. Now its the 5th its my wife’s birthday and I’m waiting on this mail man again hoping that my package didn’t just fall off the end of the Earth from just 2 blocks away.
Ever hear of this problem and did they receive there package at all?
Some things I have read have said that the mailman delivered and forgot to scan. Well that sucks because I don’t want to look like some sort of con trying to get something free. I already informed the seller of what was going on and called my local post office twice because the first time they did not get back with me. All I have heard is well it had to be in someones hands here once. Uh DUH!!!
Well the lady at the post office called me back. Said the mail man has my package and it will be delivered today!!!! Guess the end of the Earth isn’t just to blocks from my house:)
Mark,
Glad to hear this is going to turn out well. Wonder if it was an insured package that they needed a signature on? Thanks for sharing your story–I do hope it arrived safely!
Cliff
Same thing happened to me yesterday, bought some items from a forum I frequent and USPS website and automated phone line both say it was delivered, well we checked the mail about 10 mins after and yeah we have mail but no package. Unfortunately I called the postal service number about 10 mins before they were due to close and sat on the phone for 50 mins before I decided to hang up and just call when they open again today. Hopefully I’ll get some answers on where the hell my package is and why it isn’t in my possession. We have even bern having problems with our normal mail getting delivered to the wrong houses and sent mail getting lost, its complete horse shit and there’s no excuse for it. I’ll try to update when I figure out what happened.
Totally forgot about this post. I guess an update 3 years late is better than never. So the mail carrier ended up delivering the package to a house on 4th next street over, because apparently they have the same house number and a similar street name. Had to track the carrier down and tell him that I never got my package. He looked like he fucked up and he says “hold on” jumps in his truck and takes off around the corner. I tried to follow on foot, but he was too quick for me to witness it in action. As I was walking down the street I noticed one of the houses had the same number as oura, so I went up to the door and knocked. An elderly woman answered the door and I askes if she’d gotten a package delivered by mistake. She said yes and that the mail carrier had just picked it up about 2 minutes before. I thanked her and walked back down to my house, where I saw the package sitting on the porch. The damn USPS needs to get their shit together and not just them but UPS, FEDEX and all the other parcel carriers. They just leave shit at your door and don’t bother knocking or ringing the bell. What the hell am I paying the shipping cost for, if they’re just got leave me stuff to be stolen potentially?
USPS confirmation is definitely getting worse. I’ve already lost two expensive packages thanks to my local post office. Tracking information says the packages were delivered, but I haven’t received squat. I’ve even walked into my local post office about threes times complaining about these lost packages, and of course they dont care. I can’t do anything about it either because the packages were uninsured.
Christian, I hope your packages make their way to you. I find that sometimes it’s another day before the package arrives once the info updates to delivered, though sometimes that may also mean they’ve been delivered to the wrong address. Hopefully they make their way to you at some point. Good luck!
OK I was waiting for my package which was supposed to be delivered today and nothing so I tracked it down and it shows delivered on my porch. I paid 13.25 for a 2to3 day delivery shouldn’t I get my money back it’s passed 3 days. That’s ridiculous I could have keep my money and just waited the normal wait time.
I am glad I found this post. I have 3 packages -‘delivery confirmed’ today and nothing to show for it (from 2 separate merchants). I will wait to see if they arrive in the next day or two before contacting the merchants. If something can be shown as a confirmed delivery, yet show up later, isn’t that a case for proving that delivery confirmation is not in fact confirmation of delivery by the USPS? The USPS can’t be off the hook from a confirmation that can be shown to have no validity, no?
I hope your packages finally arrived! A delay on 3 packages certainly sounds like more than a coincidence, so hopefully it was just a busy day that delayed them.
So no coincidence. Housemate had 4 packages also delivered same day, but by fedex (no signature required) … nowhere to be found. We contacted the post office, fedex, the neighbors and then I filed a police report. Someone made off with a score and they must have been in a vehicle to have moved it all. Fortunately the vendors have all made good on the packages. It was a pain in the butt and more than a little disturbing. I will certainly have any deliveries go to my office from now on. Tempts me to leave a decoy package out there… with maybe some messy dye inside along with a message.
That’s terrible, so sorry to hear it! I really hope they don’t try it again, but it sounds like you’ve got a plan if they do. Luckily there are a lot of people around my neighborhood during the day, so I haven’t heard of anything like this happening nearby, but really, it only takes them a moment.
I called customer service after having a delivery confirmation and no package. The lady told me that my package may have gotten scanned before it was even delivered and to call by if it’s still not there by the end of the day. So yes tgey are scanning them as delivered before actual delivery and it’s very frustrating
The worst. We sell online and never have I seen so many packages delivered but the buyer never received it. Unreal.. I think USPS mailmen should wear body cameras also. They aren’t the most honest people … Ijs
I have a package coming tmrw and I wanted to find out if I could get an expected delivery time? I have to sign for the package. If I can’t get an ETD on the package then what happens if I miss the delivery?
Hi Steve, no expected delivery time, tracking will just show something like “delivery before 8 pm.” I haven’t missed a package here in awhile, but I know the way it used to work is that the mail carrier would try delivery a couple of times, leaving a small card in the box when no one was home. You’d bring the card to your local post office to pick up the package. Just take a good look for that card (about the size of an index card), because I can recall them getting stuck at the corner of the mailbox and falling out of the middle of a magazine before.
Thanks a lot!! I appreciate the information and look forward to catching the postman in time 🙂
Cliff I have the same thing happening right now. USPS says delivered, I phone my guy and he hasn’t received it. He did tell me usually packages show up in the evening so that helped a little but still. value of package was over $500 dollars and it was a auto part sent for service that was going to be returned. Like you said panic set in. While I am writing my guy phones says he received it. After reading your message I was set at ease thanks for the heads up. Scrap it or Fix it.
Cheers.
Happened to today with a package showing shipped (at my office). I drive the 35 miles to pick it up and, it’s not there?!?! How frustrating. What can we do about this non sense? Who can we report this to? The president?
Hopefully my scenario is similar to this. I am currently a frustrated buyer waiting for my package that has supposedly been “delivered.” I feel a bit at ease now, thank you…
I am also waiting for two packages that has supposedly been delivered on Monday. Hopefully will get it tomorrow, One of them is insured but have read that USPS wont cover it if tracking say delivery confirmed?
My sister lives in New Jersey (near Atlantic City) and this happens to almost all of the packages that she receives through USPS. They always show “delivered to front porch” and then show up a day or two later. Just wondering if someone is cheating to show that they are delivering within the priority mail time frame.
Same here. “Delivered on Jan.21”. No package. Today is Jan. 28. I am a buyer from Amazon. My seller is careless. Amazon doesn`t care when delivery is confirmed. The seller used DHL Global. I don`t know why. USPS made the home delivery according to the tracking information. That false confirmation leaves me no rights for the postal claim or refund.
A Registered parcel delivery failure posted on my front door when we were home to receive it. Used USPS redelivery service to confirm redelivery two days latter. Received a Confirmation number with an email confirming the delivery date. A Saturday. Waited at my mailbox to sign and mail carrier said it wasn’t on the truck. An exercise in futility that seems to be the normal course as I read other reviews. As a 30 year Vet I would have had hell to pay had I said I’d be there and didn’t show. No accountability and a failing postal network. Like many things these days
did you receive it?
Sigh….yes…i’m also the victim of “delivered/front porch.” Haven’t got mine yet. I guess i’m being delayed. I’m sure other countries have better delivery system than ours. 🙁
I ordered a microphone for my home studio and I got the confirmation message saying the package was delivered but when I checked the mail nothing…both of the packages I ordered said they were delivered already but still nothing. What should I do? I don’t got a tracking number for the USPS I got the UPS tracking number but that tracking number doesn’t work for USPS and I don’t know what to do. How do i explain that to the people.?
Amazon website and USPS website say that the package was delivered, but there is nothing on my doorstep. Why in the world would they list something as delivered if it isn’t on my doorstep???
Same thing has happened to me. According to the USPS tracking my item was ‘delivered’ on the 19th of February which was a Friday, it’s now Sunday and I’ve still not received anything. I’m hoping that because it was the weekend and not working days, i’ll either receive it tomorrow (which is Monday) OR some time soon! Anyone know if i’ll receive my package!? 🙁
Hello
Just found this article and have a question that you might be able to answer. If a package say delivered but it never showed up to my door step also the package was insured for 1300.00 which would need to be signed for but again no one in say household has see or signed for a package. So the question is should I be getting the insurance money if my package is not found ?
This just happened to me today, March 2016, so it’s safe to say that the USPS isn’t getting any better. I’m an author and waiting impatiently for my final proof of my next novel so that I can get it ready for a book release in a week and a half. If I can’t get a proof of the book, I can’t say it’s ready for publication. They said on the site it was “delivered” at 2:43pm. That’s not even the normal time for my mail to be delivered. I was so excited when I got home from work at 5:15pm, only to be terribly disappointed and upset that it’s not in the mailbox at all. Why would they constantly scan things as “delivered” when they go out on the trucks in the morning/early afternoon, if their runs aren’t until the late afternoon/evening and then not even get around to delivering it? Also, when this happened to me twice last year, the people at the Post Office told me that we currently have six mail carriers for my one run. Are you kidding me? It takes six different carriers to deliver mail to my neighborhood because our main guy quit years ago and they haven’t been able to hire someone who is just as efficient?! Get it together USPS!
Thank you so much for your article. I was a consumer freaking out about my package and your article has put me a little at ease. Again thank you !
I am currently working with USPS for the same reason. The local carrier said it was delivered in my mailbox, but it was not. Worse yet, it still is not after a couple of weeks. After calling their 1800 number about this issue, I have to wait and see what is going to happen.
I have to agree that USPS’s “Delivery” text/confirmation has became worse. Mind started to happen more from 2015. At first, it said was delivered, but would be delivered a day to 3 later. Now, it’s not even there.
Yes very frustrating I was waiting for my package and didn’t receive it. So I tracked it down and it said that it was delivered. The we file a complaint the worse it gets.
Very helpful. Ordered my first international package and really thought I was screwed over. Tried going through USPS customer service but their automated voice service drove me nuts! I’m very relieved knowing it’s incompetence on the shipping company’s part and not that I’ve been robbed. Thanks!
We had a priority mail box go missing on Thursday. Said delivered to mail box. No one has seen it! This is the Tawas Point State campground in Michigan and the box has all our mail for a month in it. If we can’t find it Monday – and we planned to leave this place today (Sunday) – I will have to file a police report. This is the same post office that told us last time to have our mail sent to the campground when we had it sent General Delivery! Same lady!
Also had a package that said delivered – showed up on my porch a few weeks later – how, why, what happened? no one knows!
Thank goodness, we pay most bills on-line but there are some medical bills that might be due in that box plus bank statements and credit card statements.
This happened to me once about a year ago. Tracking status confirmed it was delivered to my doorstep but no package. I received it 2 days later I think. I am having this problem again, however. I saw the mailman earlier today, he must have been scanning packages inside his vehicle because that’s when I got the notification that they were delivered. When I went to get the mail, there were a bunch of other packages delivered (I live at an apartment complex) but none of mine! He obviously had my packages in his truck, but didn’t deliver because he had a heavy load? Makes no sense to me… Why not leave my packages?! I just hope it’s not in the wrong mailbox.
I had a new iPhone delivered to me earlier this year that said delivery confirmed, but it wasn’t there. Luckily I was actually home at the time, so I went out and chased down the mailman who was adamant he hadn’t delivered anything to me let alone anyone in my building.
A few minutes later he came to my front door with the package telling me he accidentally put it in Apt 1’s mailbox instead of mine (Apt 11) even though our names couldn’t be more different. So yes this does happen and the mailman will lie about it to save face.
I had the same experience with the mailman, he was nice enough to actually check for confirmation, but it was in the wrong mailbox at the end of the day. Luckily I ordered the usual package size so when he opened the mail thingy I could recognize it.
You may say that the packages always end up where they are supposed to go but I have had at least 2 packages with tracking in the last month that I have not gotten. They said one of them was delivered to someone else because it was a substitute mailman and yet I still have not heard back as to what they are going to do. I want to get a hold of someone who can actually do something but I do not know who. I am so frustrated that I could scream. I am tired of paying for items that I do not get.
Well this make me feel better. I’m supossed to receive a package today. It said that the package was delivered but there is nothing in my doorstep. I stayed all day long with my parents and nothing. I hope that it show ups next Monday :/. Even though I selected UPS, the final delivery was made by USPS u.u.
In the same boat as you! Package apparently delivered when I was at home all day and nothing showed. Total ridiculous – and years on from original thread, Can’t believe this company is still going!!!!!
I’m in the same boat. Ordered something over $100. Tracking says “Delivered at/in mailbox” today at 12:15pm, but there’s nothing in my box. I’m praying it’s delivered tomorrow. I’m not rich and can’t afford to lose 100 bucks so believe me, I plan to light USPS up by phone, email, social media etc. until I have the item I ordered in my hands. Hey USPS: i realize your service is dirt cheap and don’t expect perfection, but I it would be nice if you could just not pre-scan things. Takes 2 seconds for each mail person to scan it at the door instead. You’re giving people heart attacks and it’s so not cool. I’m sure this would reduce your customer support traffic as well.
So I also work for a subscription service that mails hundreds of packages every week. A lot of customers complain that packages show as “delivered” a day or even 2 days before they actually get it. I found another forum where USPS employees were discussing this issue and they copped to the reason why this is happening. One word: QUOTAS. USPS Managers have to fill delivery quotas every day or week or whatever and that pressure is transferred to the postal workers. I heard they are told to get all their Amazon packages out first (yep Amazon has that kind of power) and whatever else they can’t finish ends up getting pre-scanned as delivered to meet their quota. Something is clearly broken if they have to cheat and lie to meet their quotas. This is a perfect example of why their bad reputation lives on. This would never happen with UPS or FedEx.
Same issue here. I’ve had this happen many times before where they update the delivery to “delivered in or at mailbox / doorstep” whichever and nothing is here. Currently waiting on eBay purchase from Shenzhen China to TX, U.S. Ebay tracking says arrived at unit and handed over to customs whereas USPS website says arrived at unit and out for delivery at the exact same scan time. Now shows delivered and nothing. I wish they wouldn’t pre-scan packages if they aren’t going to arrive at the destination. I’m sure it will arrive within two days or so as past hindsight has proven that.
I sell occasionally but am mostly a buyer, but to anyone reading as a buyer, just note that at the end of the day it’s the sellers responsibility until the package is in your hands. Regardless of what the tracking says. The seller has to file a claim against the P.O if you don’t receive it. They’re at the loss but even a bigger loss if they didn’t have insurance. That’s the risk of selling and with this broken delivery confirmation we deal with, it opens the doors for dishonest buyers. The buyer can receive the package and sometimes the P.O never updates it for whatever reason. They can easily say they didn’t receive it and you have to issue a refund, knowing that more than likely they did. Ebay will side with the buyer 99.9% of the time. Kinda went off topic or swayed a little but it helps with the discussion I think. 🙂
So it turns out this wasn’t my issue. I just never got the package, which means it was either stolen or delivered to the wrong address. Thank you @jlo for mentioning that it’s the seller’s responsibility here. Gives me some comfort and ammo when I speak to their customer service.
Thanks for posting this article. I have had great luck with Sunday delivery by the USPS from Amazon a lot of times but not today. One of the items was the last one Amazon had so if it doesn’t come at all (I wondered if it was misdelivered, which could be bad if someone keeps it) I won’t have it and I REALLY wanted it. It’s not something they can restock as it’s not made anymore.
At least now I have hope it may come here later today or tomorrow. I would never have guessed that the tracking could show “delivered in mailbox” before it was delivered to anyone.
Did you ever receive your package? I hope so. I’m in the same predicament now. :/
Same boat. Same boat. This happened to me today. Did you get your package? I was so livid. I called amazon. They called USPS. USPS opened up an inquiry for me. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this happen or recieved incorrect orders. But they are few and far between. This time I needed this product immediately and for it not to arrived pissed me off.
What also made the whole thing even worse for me was when I looked at everyone elses apartments. They all had their package in front of their door. All of them. I went from apartment to apartment to check if any of those packages were mind. Not one. So they delivered everyone else but mine—as far as I know. It’s very possible someone else in my building may have the same issue.
My package is not a light box either. It’s pretty big and heavy. I bought an all in one printer with fax. Ugh…so pissed.
Just another thought on why packages may be delivered a day or two late, even though the tracking number indicates that it’s been delivered. We frequently get the neighbor’s mail because their house number is the same as ours, and although we live on different streets, we’re no more than a stone’s throw away from each other (brilliant planning, right?) In any case, on more than one occasion, their packages and/or mail were delivered to our house by mistake, and sometimes it takes a day or two before we manage to drop it off on their porch or in their mailbox. I can only assume that it’s happened to them too.
suppose to receive a package today, it already says delivered so i check my doorstep nothing! check the mail box nothing! now I’m waiting for the mail man to show up they either come around 10:30 or 3:00pm i hope he has my package and he marked by accident !!! 155 dollars can’t go down the drain :((
Did you receive your package yet? I hope you did! I’m in the same predicament right now :/
This is happening to me right now.
I hope the outcome is the same.
Amazon claims they marked my order delivered by mistake.
Hope they are right!
Does anyone know why my package to New Zealand had ‘arrived at post office’ 6 times at different times in the past 3 days?? I’m not sure why it’s being scanned so often and when its going to be delivered:(
Bought an item online and it’s shipped by USPS. The seller provided a tracking number. The USPS tracking page stated that it’s “Delivered. Front door/porch” at 2:53pm. I came home around 3:45pm. I looked around everywhere outside my house and inside my mailbox. The item was nowhere to be found. After finding this site and reading most of the comments, I waited for a couple hours. Around 5:45pm, when I was about to go out, I found the package in my mailbox. So, it’s true, I think, that USPS scans items before they are physically delivered. The item was just $6, but I was already nervous why it’s not there when it says it’s delivered. Sorry for those who never received their items because of USPS 🙁
Same situation ordered my package on November 13th and the seller provided me the tracking number said it shipped on November 14th from Chicago IL and delivered in parcel locker on Friday November 18th at 4:08pm Miami FL. Usually the mail carrier will leave a key on top of all the mail we received to open up the parcel locker and when we use the key to open it will stay stuck in the lock. So I went to get the mail and saw the key wasn’t on top so I said to myself “maybe it’s in there cluttered with the mail” I tripled checked and couldn’t find the key… So I read this article yesterday and today I went to check if the mail carrier left the key in my mailbox today but still nothing. But what I did see that one of the lockers was open with the key stuck on the lock…..I’m hoping they didn’t get confused and left the key in someone else’s mailbox.. & I’m also hoping that the locker that was opened today wasn’t my package in someone else’s hands… By the way they’re H.I.Ds but they were $135!!
A friend of mine asked me to order something for her on eBay and she would PayPal me the money. I trust my friend enough to do something like this, so I placed the order. About 4 to 5 days later, the package stated it was out for delivery. A few hours later it said it was delivered, but she never saw the package. She was home the day that the package was supposedly delivered, and she always hears the post person. I was also on a Google hang out with her when the package said it had been delivered. Neither of us ever even heard the post come up to her drive. The status of the package says “delivered at the mailbox” but to this day we have never seen a package. I contacted the seller, and he said he would contact Paypal. I also contacted Paypal. Next thing you know this case has been open and shut without them really ever speaking to me about the issue simply for the fact that the confirmation says that it was delivered in the mailbox. Now I am out the money and never has this package been received. In an effort to either shut me up or get rid of me, eBay offered to give me coupons. At this point I didn’t even want to order from eBay but took the coupons just so I can at least feel like I had been made whole. I went to go use the coupons, and found out that they only gave me a month to use them therefore they had already expired. I feel so screwed and so wronged. My payment was prompt, and I did everything that I should do as a buyer. I do not understand the way that I have been treated by PayPal and eBay. Does anyone know what I can do to try and receive some sort of satisfactory resolution in this situation? I would be very grateful for any advice that could be useful in ending this nightmare.
Thanks in advance
I’m in a similar situation with a package I’ve shipped to my buyer ( I’m
Am the ebay seller) that showed item was Delivered but buyer contacted me letting me know they hadn’t received the package. I shipped the package priority flat rate mail, and the amount of Insurance will cover my buyers expense for item I sold. I feel it’s my responsibility to find out what’s going on and help my buyer find there package or receive a full compensation for their package. I will not allow my buyers to deal with the issue alone. This is my first time dealing with this and I’m still assisting my buyer. I’m uncertain who needs to file the claim for the $50. Insurance, and I hoping that having to issue a refund to my buyer doesn’t cost me out of pocket. But I will do what needs to be done to make sure the buyer isn’t at a loss and leaves a negative feedback due to frustration from the lost package. I’m still in limbo on waiting to find out the details. Note: it’s only been 3 days since the buyer contacted me.
I also ordered a product and it stated it was delivered on Saturday december 3rd at 1:35 pm from USPS. I got home and it wasn’t in my mailbox at all. So I have to wait til Monday to contact them to see what’s going on. I just pray the mail lady didn’t give it to someone else.
Atlanta metro USPS is Notorious for marking packages delivered. I’d say a good 70% of my packages were marked as “Delivered”. When in fact they weren’t. Had to wait till next day to receive the package. Happened all the time, very frustrating. I now live in a suburb of Portland, OR. After several dozen packages, I only experienced the “delivered” phenomenon once.
Well ive found myself here after a short panic over my missing Packet ordered from the US – to the UK , which is marked as DELIVERED ..
My first worries were the lack of international Customer service form , the “whats happened to my packet” is impossible to fill in and it becomes apparent if i dont have an insurance number , theres little else to do but call them .
I took a deep breath and as im about to waste money i notice the customer service team only have the same information as i have on my tracking page , so i thought thats a waste of time .
Using Google im here reading dozens of similar instances , which does calm me down a little bit , hope everyone had a good outcome in the end . . . i dont if if its right , but i suspect USPS handed the packet to Royal Mail (after leaving customs) and thats why its now marked delivered as its no longer trackable .
I am dealing with this issue for the second time this year. In the first instance, the package never showed and USPS never really offered any assistance. The item was only $40 and the seller was nice enough to send a replacement. This time… the package was shipped from China via DHL. DHL informed me that USPS was in receipt of the package Sat, Dec 10th. I checked tracking daily, from Mon the 12th to Thurs the 15th and the package was listed as being enroute. However, on Fri the 16th, it shows up as having been delivered… on Mon the 12th! I went to the local post office branch, they deferred me to the main branch where I was told they would check and see where the package was last scanned and get in touch with me on Sat the 17th. Never heard from them, so I called and of course the person I was dealing with was not working and wouldn’t be in until Monday. So, I’m not going to hear anything about what they THINK happened to my package until 3 days after they CLAIMED it was delivered, 7 days after it was SUPPOSEDLY delivered and 9 days after it came into their possession. My confidence in seeing my item is very low.
Even years later, I’m so glad I found this article. I freaked out when I saw that the tracking had showed delivered for hours and I had never got the package, mail box or door step. I thought that it could have gotten stolen, or sent to the wrong address. I had no idea what to do. I looked up to see if the problem was strictly technical and to see if other people had the same problem, low and behold I found your article. Thanks for the reassurance. I’ll wait and see if it gets here tomorrow. Fun fact, the original expected delivery date was actually set as tomorrow, but then got changed to today. I guess they re-guessed and got it wrong.
Did you get it. I am having a similar problem. My package said it was delivered, Jan 7th at 1:25PM. And, keep in mind that this day, was the day it snowed and the roads were covered in 2inches of ice. So, unless he rode a horse and buggy, I don’t know how it could of been delivered that day. Still haven’t received it. I will call tomorrow.
This is still an ongoing problem apparently..
Similar circumstances: Tracking website via amazon says delivered 2pm but no package, people home, large porch away from street, etc.
So what do you do when you call the post office and the mailman is adamant they delivered the package to your door (left it at your front door) but you don’t have the package. I ask them to describe the door and their description was wrong. (some tenants still have Xmas decorations up).
They say to file a claim, the sender didn’t use insurance, so can’t file a claim when the first thing it asks you is for the tracking number and it doesn’t let you move forward because no insurance. USPS delivered to wrong door, so I’m out money? Wow.
I live in a tiny village, where the postal system is normally reliable. My package was marked delivered 3 hours ago, nothing there. $150 item:( I suspect he was rushing due to the below zero temps here and dropped it at the wrong house!? I’m just praying I get my package, an eBay purchase. He picked up outgoing mail, left junk mail….but no package on my porch or in my mailbox. Hopefully the driver will recall where he left it! There are only 1,400 people in our town and we live 4 minutes from the post office. I’m wondering if using a post office box is a better, safer solution? I’m not going to bother the seller. If this goes bad, it will be me who loses out. It was scanned as delivered…the seller is in the clear. USPS better fix this!!!
Call your post office and ask to speak to the supervisor. Get things rolling, mention tracking shows delivered but it wasn’t. Have the mail-person re-trace their steps and knock on neighbor’s door if they must, perhaps it’s still sitting outside.
Jessica, I hope you called your main post office and spoke to the supervisor. Don’t wait on anything. He’ll check with the person and ask them what happened. Hopefully you have honest enough neighbors, if he indeed dropped it to the wrong place.
As for ebay, well just because it shows as delivered doesn’t mean the seller is out of the clear. For $150, I expect they shipped with insurance. So you should notify them that you didn’t receive the package. If he had insurance, he will have to file a claim with USPS so he is covered. You should get a full refund then.
My priority mail package sent out last Friday by USPS. Got delivery confirmation at front door on Tuesday 5:45pm but my receiver saw nothing and still today(1week?). Went to the USPS office on Tuesday to check and get a case number then wait for 2,3 days for them to investigate(as the llafy i has spoken with said). Did my mail package get delivery to wrong address or stolen?? Only hope it’s just a slow delivery.
im having this issue right now, and its being caused by the delivery man scanning the packages as he loads up the truck.
if this is happening to you walk into a post office and file a “formal complaint” and make sure they fill out the form.
if it still happens call the usps toll free number (800-275-8777 (800-ask-usps)) number and file another complaint and make sure you let them know that this is continuing to happen after your first complaint. maybe even file a complaint about the station manager.
my other issue with USPS is with the temp mail(wo)men many times i am waiting for them to ring my doorbell, and they leave a notice instead of attempting delivery.
i file a complaint all the time on this.
i am paying them to deliver stuff, not to make me go and pick it up from them when i am waiting for it.
now fed-ex is worst of all. they will drop an item on your stoop and leave, no knock, no doorbell. they dont even know if its a safe location.
ups is pretty good, as long as you use my ups to make sure they know not to leave the package on the ground.
This actually just happened last Friday.
Bought a one-of-a-kind necklace from Etsy two weeks ago; it was very cheap, $24.57 (tax and shipping included).
Last Friday came around, and it said DELIVERED. I happily came home from my classes to find….
Absolutely nothing. I thought, “Oh, the guy must be on his way.”
Skip to today (Monday)! I’m very pissed. For 72 hours, I’ve been waiting and I’m pretty sure they’ve:
A) Delivered it to the WRONG ADDRESS (wouldn’t be the first time).
B) Got it lost in post.
Or C) One of the employees took it (It’s been known to happen).
Rachel, I’ve had the exact same experience with two Etsy purchases before (not that it was Etsy’s or the seller’s fault). Even though it’s frustrating as hell, you just have to wait. One instance, my package was delivered 3 days after the “delivery confirmation” date; the other, it was a full week later.
It’s somewhat understandable that the USPS might scan the package in preparation to put it on the truck, thus marking it as delivered, but then they weren’t able to actually deliver it that day. What is ridiculous is that they’ll mark it as delivered, and you won’t see it for several days. Inexplicable and infuriating.
I’m in the same situation right now. My employer over-nighted me a check. USPS says it was delivered in my mailbox last Friday, 2/3. Of course, it wasn’t delivered at all on Friday. Surely, I thought, it would be there on Saturday. Nope. Ok fine, absolutely 100% it will arrive Monday. NOPE.
USPS is a joke.
It’s Friday and I still haven’t found anything. So, it’s been 8 days. I’ve lost hope at this point.
And when I contacted the seller for a refund (because I don’t believe in paying for something that I never received), they’re straight-up blocking me. I’ve also filed a claim with Paypal and my bank. Now I’m just waiting for the inevitable frustration.
I wonder if USPS is marking letters/packages as delivered before they actually are as a way to skew their statistics.
Im having the same problem now. My package says delivered on front porch/doorstep. However, it is not there not on any of my neighbors who are out of town. But there is mail in the mailbox, meaning the mailman did stop by, but failed to drop off my package
Wow not much has changed since this story was posted. I ordered a product paid $115. I have purchased things and had mailed to my job where there are 14 other companies. I decided to check on status of one of my items on Monday July 24 my package it said had been delivered on Thursday July 20 at 9:53am I was off that day but was there on Friday and there was a delivered box for me but not the one they said was delivered. Make a long story short I contacted the company and local Post Office and they each said the package was delivered. I spoke to my boss the only person besides me who checks the mail and she said Yes i put the box told me name of the company, and said is on your desk! I said no that wasn’t it. I was told to ask coworkers? As if they’d seen it and to go to the other companies and ask? Then told to wait a week later incase it was redelivered. The company’s customer service said they are not responsible and that’s about it they will ask their boss.
Who is responsible? The mail lady I know her, she’s a nice older woman who does misplace mail and i usually have to place back in the mailbox. If they’re checks i usually just take to company and drop off. Accidents happen and once the package goes to another mailbox and the person who receives it decides to keep it – not much anyone can do. And I lose. USPS needs to come up with a better system I work too hard to throw away my hard earned and is not the sellers fault either. I am so annoyed right now. This is unacceptable.
If you guys worked for the usps you wouldnt bitch? Having a route with 900 boxes to service not to mention half the ppl are enternet ording bastards to lazy to go to the store then box holders every week. Then ppl call in n bitch cause you drove on there grass or did deliver it to the door. If everybody delivered the mail one day they wouldn’t bitch.
Royce, that was quite literally one of the dumbest replies I’ve ever read. Clearly, you’re a disgruntled USPS worker is part of the problem. Step 1: Do your job better. Step 2: Learn the English language.
Those “enternet ording bastards to lazy to go to the store then box holders every week” pay his salary too… He should be grateful for the “enternet” as it’s job security no matter how incompetent or broken the USPS delivery confirmation system is.
As of today, I am done with USPS. They suck. On many occasions they have put that my package was delivered and it wasn’t. One time four packages were missing for four days. They ended up being in a different pick up box that the carrier never gave me a key to. This time my two packages have been missing for three days. The local post office took my info but so far nothing. Tracking says they were delivered. Just not to me. Someone is running around with $100 dollars worth of my medical supplies. At this point I am done with eBay as no one uses Ups or FedEx there. Amazon uses Ups with prime. So for my own piece of mind, I am going to that. I am sick of the post office losing my packages or just giving them to someone e else.
Full disclosure: I sell on eBay, used to sell on Amazon but not at this time. That said, I buy a lot on Amazon. They are my top shopping destination for personal goods (as opposed to collectible-type items). But as a customer, I feel the shipping ain’t what it used to be. I’ve been a Prime customer since the day of the program’s inception–back then, two-day shipping very often meant one-day shipping. But two days is pretty good, even if two days more often seems to be 3 or 4-day shipping these days. Recently though, I guess over the past year or so, Amazon has moved from using USPS/UPS to their own shipping service. I’m expecting one of these packages today–currently it reads “Out for Delivery” and “Arriving today by 8 pm.” It’s shipped through their own shipping service which gives you a tracking number such as “Carrier: AMZL US, Tracking #:” followed by some letters and numbers–these packages are delivered by a white delivery van. Problem is, you can’t look up the number anywhere. My last package arrived at (and I’m not kidding) 7:59 pm. The one before that a few minutes after 8. Okay, I’m really not expecting today’s until sometime after dinner. Hopefully it’s here. Problem is, the two packages prior to those last two came a day late–not until after 8 pm does Amazon update their tracking to say something such as “Delivery delayed.” You can’t track the number, so you don’t know where it is or when it’s coming. Anyway, Amazon seems headed on the wrong track with this, at least in terms of customer satisfaction–I’d really like to at least be able to search the number, but I’m not sure that’s plausible since the package is just rolling around the area somewhere in a white van. I’ve found that I’ve begun ordering my pet products from other sites and my used books, which I used to buy 100% from Amazon, I get from eBay more often than not now. On the other hand, I no longer have any USPS complaints. I originally posted this article in February 2011, and I cannot remember the last time I had a problem (delay or damaged goods) from a USPS delivery. Probably a good four-plus years.
Basically, it seems results will vary.
And I’m still glad if this post makes people feel a little better when they do have a problem. Hopefully most delayed shipments still do show up the next day!
So, here it is, 2018…. EIGHT years after your original post… and this is still happening on a regular basis. The USPS has done NOTHING to fix this system. Twice in the last month it’s happened to me personally.
The part that bothers me the most is the detailed lying: the package was NOT placed in my mailbox at 6:54pm!
The USPS needs to stop lying about having delivered. The problem is not waiting an extra day… the problem is getting my hopes up, subsequently to be disappointed, and then be made anxious about whether this will be the time my package is lost or stolen.
The specificity of the dishonest text boggles my mind: “Package was placed in the mailbox at 6:54PM”…NO IT WAS NOT.
Smh….
Sorry you’re still running into this problem, MvR. As I’ve mentioned in a few scattered replies, I’ve had nothing but good luck the past few years now, but I suspect mileage is going to vary from town-to-town, post office-to-post office around the country. Out of curiosity, did the item(s) arrive the following day? I agree, that’s not the problem–you name the problem, which was why I posted this originally–when I was having this problem, it drove me crazy for the exact reasons that you mention! Thanks for taking time to post about it.
Cliff
The package arrived this afternoon (text arrived Friday at 6:55pm). I was hoping it would be delivered Saturday, but it wasn’t. Probably a different driver in a different truck, is my guess. Very disappointing though, because then I had to wait through all of Sunday and most of Monday, for this item I desperately wanted and had gotten my hopes up for Friday (“out for delivery” text, followed a few hours later by the “it’s in your mailbox! Yay!” text).
THEN I got my hopes up for Saturday, knowing that what you wrote is 100% accurate.
And it still *is* accurate, it’s not your fault the Saturday driver takes a different truck!
Anyway, I’m just glad it wasn’t really lost. I’ll give the USPS that much… it’s been years since they’ve lost a package of mine.
Im having a nice problem with this to shows my package was delivered on Thursday at 1:20 pm and I tried calling Usps and it was going to take a hour phone call to talk to someone and still haven’t had chance to talk to someone
Exactly! I hate liars too!!
Going thru the same problem now, It said it was delivered on Saturday at 1:37 pm, and it was not, hoping today Monday will be deliver, otherwise will have to open a dispute with the seller, very frustrating, 2018 and still happening.
So, adding on to the bandwagon of disgruntled customers. I’ve had a parcel marked as delivered about three days back but nothing has been received. I’m physically in Singapore and am using a comgateway forwarding address. Bought something worth about $100 and am fearing the worse. Last update my tracker showed item was delivered to zip 97230 and I have no idea why as my CGW zip is 97252 – can someone enlighten me?
I’ve spoken to CGW staff, they told me USPS has the habit of marking stuff as delivered before actually delivering said stuff. Which, is not cool. So right now I’m basically stranded with no parcel, no ETA, and living on a shred of hope that my CGW dashboard will miraculously show that my parcel has appeared.
Has anyone here encountered a similar situation? I’d like to hear what was the resolution. Of course, I’m hoping my parcel does actually show up.
– heidi
I really don’t know what to think. In my case the USPS Tracking says my shipment was delivered to my PO Box but nothing there and USPS can’t find it as of today. It’s worth $85+ and I wonder if I am simply out of luck and have lost my money.
This page was a relief to me, because yesterday I received the notification that USPS had delivered my package at 3 pm, yet when I got home, there was no package in my mailbox, in the package room of my building, or in front of my door. Today it was delivered, the day after I got my delivery confirmation. So, it looks like USPS Delivery Confirmation is the same service that it was back in 2011. *Sigh*
The USPS Tracking says my shipment was delivered to my PO box but nothing there. Contents worth $85+ and I wonder what’s next. USPS can not find it. Do I simply lose my money?
Did you get it today? I’d keep an eye out the next few days.
THIS IS INSANE
I had the same problem today! I was sleeping in pretty late but my dad was awake when my package was “delivered” Guess what, You guessed it! It wasn’t delivered.
Something seriously needs to be done about this it’s been going on for what EIGHT years now? That’s crazy! I ran around my neighborhood searching for it thinking that someone got my package by mistake but now I’m sure that it will likely turn up tomorrow. This whole thing is soo frustrating.
I am going through this now. Ordered product March 20,2018. PayPal took payment March 22, 2018. Got email package would be shipped from sellers USA warehouse Ontario CA. Package was shipped by FED EX to Connecticut and was then assigned to USPS. USPS sent email on March 30,2018 saying package was delivered at 3:55pm. At 3:57pm checked mailbox and no package. Contacted USPS at 4pm and filed complaint. On April 2, 2018 spoke with Mail Carrrier who said she did not deliver any package on March 30. Got a call that afternoon from Laura who said that the package was delivered because Carrier scanned. I told her did not receive and someone is not being truthful. She said she would speak with the Carrier and call me back Wednesday April 4. No call back. I called April 5 and spoke with Laura who said she did not speak with Carrier and said Carrier was out and she would speak with her. Told Laura I would call her April 6 to check again. Laura will not answer phone!!!! I contacted the seller, Fed Ex, PayPal, and the USPS with no results. So I guess I am screwed out of a $149.00. The USPS is a real disappointment! Does anyone have any suggestions???
4 times this month a package was deemed delivered by the USPS, first one never came and seller sent me a new item (which came), second one Amazon refunded my money, 3 and 4th yet to arrive. I went to our local post office and gave them the tracking numbers but they never got back to me. It is frustrating for me and totally unfair to the sellers because they lose money if they have to refund or replace the item
Their delivery confirmation is indeed frustrating. I prefer this because of their low fees compared to Fedex and UPS. But, tracking has been poor.
Same thing is happening to me. I ordered some stuff on Amazon. USPS tracking says delivered today at the office of my apartment complex (that’s what they do when the package is too large to fit in the regular mailbox and even the parcel locker), I went to the office today to get my package and sure enough my package wasn’t there. Maybe it will come tomorrow… I really hope so!!
Very concerned about “delivered” new checks; has happened three times. I had ordered checks in October 2017 that were never delivered to me, so I placed a reorder, which was not delivered either even though the tracking info said both deliveries were made to my mail box. I consequently place a third order to my office address, which was delivered. Now in July, tracking info says an order of checks was delivered, which I did not get. I am very concerned about what is happening to these check deliveries. It is getting expensive putting holds on blocks of check numbers
What’s funny – and by “funny,” I mean infuriating – is that we’re all replying to a post written in 2011. Seven damn years ago.
7 years without change. 7 years without progress. 7 years without improvement. #governmentmonopoly
Ahh! I’ve dealt with this twice this year so far. First back in January I sent a package via usps to a friend who lives in an apartment. They have the cluster mail boxes. Tracking said delivered to parcel locker. My friend checked and there was no key. The next day, still no key. Called the post office, they said they’d let the carrier know there was no key. Next day still no key. No one at post office answers. Friend takes the day off and finally grabs carrier as they pull in and the carrier realizes not only did she not put in a key but she put it in the next set of cluster boxes over.
We’re moving to Texas. My husband went out a month ahead and got us an apartment and started his job. I decided to test out the mail. I had a very small package sent usps first class to our apartments address. It said it was out for delivery ar 8:48 am then delivered at/in mailbox at 1:43pm. My husband checks it at 5pm and there’s no package. It shouldn’t have to be put in the parcel locker, but I suppose it’s a possibility. Though there’s no key, it didn’t say delivered to parcel locker..and property management is gone for the day so we can’t ask if they have it.
Either it’s not really there yet, it’s in a locker with no key given or someone else got it. Unfortunately my husband has to leave early in the am because he’s coming to get us a few states away with the U-Haul to move us down there. So he can’t check tomorrow. I also have another package coming there too. So frustrating.
Misery loves company so here I am…. Currently on hold with USPS (20 minutes and counting) because my $350 package says it was “delivered in/ at mailbox” at 8:52am this morning. No way this package would fit in our mailbox. We have a group of mailboxes for the street. Nothing “at” the mailbox either. Our mail usually comes around noon so hopefully “delivered” means it’s on the truck.
Mike, give yourself until tomorrow for sure and maybe even 2 days. Through my experience, I’ve had to wait 2+ days more often than 1 day after the USPS has claimed it was delivered. It’s likely still in the shipping facility. They’re BS’ing their data to hit quota/avg delivery time/whatever.
Coming back for those who might search…. Cliff’s Notes: All is well.
I called USPS and, besides the abusively long hold time, the person who answered my call was polite and handled my issue professionally. I mentioned “it’s too bad we can’t just call my carrier and ask what she did with my package”. I got a case number and was on my way. I did not expect anything to come of it.
About 15 minutes later, to my surprise, someone from the local office called to tell me that the driver accidentally scanned my package as delivered as it was loaded into her vehicle. She assured me that the package was on the delivery vehicle and would be here today.
Once the driver arrived (about 20 minutes later), I met her at the curb and she apologized for inadvertently scanning the package as delivered. I told her it was no problem and wished her a good day.
The USPS is an abbreviation for the United States Postal Services which is a vast group of members contributing towards the development of the nation.
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Since the original post in 2011 nothing has changed with the USPS. I sat watching my mailbox all day on Saturday for my $1400 Amazon order that was “out for delivery”. I met my USPS delivery person when they arrived and they did not have the box, I even watched as she searched her car trunk. I later noticed she marked it as “delivered” to my box. I hope it gets delivered by Monday but I won’t hold my breath. I have been through this too many times before. Christmas is around the corner and USPS employees want to get their shopping done early so someone should really enjoy their new Nikon telephoto lens, compliments of me. I don’t know who to blame the most, the theives at the USPS or Amazon for continuing to hire these crooks to deliver my orders.
Found your web site on USPS as I frantically searched what to do; a Christmas package from Etsy said “delivered” yesterday @ 4:15PM. In all my years of online shopping, this is also the 2nd time for me, that I didn’t get my item. The 1st time, after waiting a couple weeks, got a full refund from buyer. Two-three months later, a battered box showed up with my item. Asked the seller what to do, never heard back. I hate to think they were convinced I conned them. Now, it’s a waiting game, to see if my mom’s gift will get here. Meantime, I found an interesting web site, yours, that I bookmarked. I’ll certainly have a look around and tell my sis about it. Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas.
7 years later and this is still a problem. Online said package delivered yesterday, package shows up at noon today.
TL;DR: USPS shipping is entirely unreliable. As a buyer, I’d gladly pay more to have something to be shipped FedEx or UPS but it’s rarely presented as an option when I’m purchasing online.
Long Version: I have the same thing happen at least once a month when getting packages delivered to my office via USPS — they’ll be marked as “delivered” (and sometimes even “left with individual”) but nothing’s been received. I asked the postman about it; he said all the packages on his route are marked “delivered” when they’re put into his cart. Often times he doesn’t show up to our office until after 5:00 p.m. and no one is there to receive anything. Basically once a USPS shipment is marked as “delivered” the actual delivery is 1-3 days later, depending on when the mail carrier manages to get to us before closing time. So frustrating!
Most recent example: Our office is closed today (snowstorm) and I just received notifications that three packages were “left with an individual” — pretty sure they weren’t because nobody’s there! Who knows when/if they’ll actually be delivered.
If you actually made down this far: Thanks for putting up with my rant 🙂
This is still happening! First time for me was in December with a purchase from Amazon. Package said delivered. I waited a few days. Contacted Amazon and they refunded the purchase. In the meantime, I saw the mail carrier and gave him my tracking number. They found my package! So then I contacted Amazon again and had them take back the refund. Kind of a pain! It just happened again on Saturday. Package from Ebay said delivered. Thought it might come today, but didn’t come yet. If it doesn’t arrive, I hope I will see the mail carrier again so that I can give him the tracking number. That’s going to be tricky, also. Both purchases were around $25, so luckily not huge. But, seriously? I’m getting super-paranoid about having items mailed to my house. My daughter across town has never had a problem. I’m thinking about having things just mailed to her place. I feel like maybe it’s my mail carriers? It’s a bummer that this article is from 2011 and nothing has been updated to correct this issue.
Hey guys, a USPS package labeled as ‘delivered at 5:08pm’ actually arrived in my mailbox at 12 noon the next day. I suspect that it is probably either an inadvertent early scan and/or an effort to meet some type of quota. I have never experienced this with UPS or FedEX.
recently I also faced an issue. Amazon was showing that it has delivered but USPS have not delivered it yet :/ talked to amazon and i got refund though
And here I am this evening, brooding over my missed delivery. Only to come back home from running a few errands. And….voila! my package was in my mailbox upon my return. I worried that it was miss delivered to a neighbor. But, then I realized this has happened in the past. So, I bing’d it and found your article. Thank you for giving me the piece of mind I needed. My package was a pair of denim jeans I ordered (I gained quite a few pounds this year) for a hot date. Whew!