USPS - Tracking stopped May 20th (its 13th June)

[neorichieb1971]

Just putting this here for reference in case any other folk want to chime in with experiences.

May 18th a package was sent to me, by May 20th it states

Your item departed a transfer airport in
Heathrow, London, United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on May 20, 2024 at 06:13am.
The item is currently in transit to the destination.

I've asked the sender to put a search on it as I am unable to as I don't have a USA address to sign up. I suppose I could make one up but that would be wrong.

There are reddit and quora forum hits for this when I search it. So its definitely happened to others as well.

So we either have a thief in the airport, or its just got lost. Its kind of crazy because at the stage neither USPS or Royal Mail (UK) take responsibility. One says its not in our country, the other says it hasn't arrived until its cleared customs. Which hasn't happened yet. It really pisses me off because you can buy a freakin Chinese Ali Express or Temu and pay $12 all in and it gets to you quickly. You pay for USPS International priority mail and it gets lost or doesn't update.

USPS tracking has quite a few weather warnings come up. Are they legit? I've not seen on the news anything extremely bad in the weeks that have passed since it was posted. The other thing that my mind is thinking is that the tracking current status is perhaps a pigeon hole in the USA Chicago depot for the UK, rather than package actually being in the UK but I'm not sure.

There are no search hits for Heathrow having a huge backlog either. I've got email/text updates on so I will know straight away if it starts moving. Some reports state that if it gets lost it can takes months to arrive. I Am wondering if some bits are actually going on a ship when you paid for air? I wouldn't mind that as it means its not lost.

So has anyone had a similar experience? Did you get your package in the end?

Thanks.

[BareKnuckleRoo]

USPS is pretty reliable, never had any issues. Depending on sorting volume it may be some time for a mail shipment to be transferred to the UK's local mail service. I know when I order from USA to Canada that when it does finally arrive in Canada you can find it under the USPS tracking number on the Canada Post website. It's not unusual for there to be a backlog in customs and it being held up there either.

When it was originally shipped, if it was sent with a method with a tracking number, it should have had an estimated delivery date listed with it (generally accurate to about 2-4 business days). Do you know what date it was estimated to be delivered when it was shipped?

[neorichieb1971]

USPS is pretty reliable, never had any issues. Depending on sorting volume it may be some time for a mail shipment to be transferred to the UK's local mail service. I know when I order from USA to Canada that when it does finally arrive in Canada you can find it under the USPS tracking number on the Canada Post website. It's not unusual for there to be a backlog in customs and it being held up there either.

When it was originally shipped, if it was sent with a method with a tracking number, it should have had an estimated delivery date listed with it (generally accurate to about 2-4 business days). Do you know what date it was estimated to be delivered when it was shipped?

It was sent international priority mail. Which says up to 20 days but usually within 10 days.

The thing is, the tracking has just stopped since May 20th. I understand it might take a bit longer with a 5 day period of non movement, but 20+ days seems a bit ridiculous. If its a customs thing it should flag it up on the tracking but nothing. I've had about 8 packages sent to me from the same person without issue. If I was a shipping company I would ask the system to tell me what hasn't moved in x amount of time and pre emptively send some kind of message to the tracking. Its a bit crap if you're just waiting and waiting with zero updates.

In 2007 I bought a PS3 and it took 2 months to arrive, but the guy sent it via ship. I am sure Priority International is an air service?

[neorichieb1971]

https://www.reddit.com/r/usps_complaint ... with_this/

Found this. 2 days ago, so someone else is having issues. I'm glad its not just me.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, with USPS International Priority Mail and even regular Priority Mail shipped within the USA itself, items can get delayed or "lost". It's very expensive for USA residents to ship out mail via International Priority Mail with insurance + tracking number indeed. I've shipped out items internationally and it's quite something, especially nowadays but it is what it is. The USPS keeps running in the minus and have increased the cost of postage to try to keep afloat -- there's talk about cutting back on actual shipping days and having it take longer for domestic mail arrive at it's final destination.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BareKnuckleRoo]

You could try reaching out for more info and make a lost package claim, but by my count you're at the 18 day mark. I would wait until mid to end of next week before worrying. Fingers crossed!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

At least with UPS, Fedex and DHL, they have/own their own delivery plane fleets for shipping internationally. If you want to ship something overnight via USPS Priority Mail which can be done if it needed be, it ain't cheap and very expensive, especially nowadays.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[orange808]

Given the concentrated effort to defund and dismantle the American post, it's really no surprise the USPS is falling behind. That was always the plan--funded by lobbyists for UPS, DHL, and FedEx.

[XtraSmiley]

When we upgrade our cell phones, our carrier provides a pre-paid box to mail our old phones back. Last year I mailed both my phone and my spouses phone. Mine never made it. Went with hers (different boxes), tracking says it arrived at the Texas center for processing, then nothing.

Note that to mail back phones you have to unlock them.

A few months later (I had already been provided a refund, but it was a paperwork headache), a story broke that an employee was just stealing them b/c they were unlocked and selling them.

So, no system is perfect. Good luck to you in your transaction.

[neorichieb1971]

The sender has put in a missing package notice. Hopefully it's just under a stack.

People stealing in the postage system tells me the staff were not vetted.

[orange808]

The sender has put in a missing package notice. Hopefully it's just under a stack.

People stealing in the postage system tells me the staff were not vetted.

What do mean properly vetted? American jobs don't pay shit. I imagine the USPS cuts their hiring pool in half with marijuana tests. Most places still test and weed is a Schedule 1 narcotic in America. The state law doesn't matter. It's a federal job. Then, there's a second filter of diversity quotas. Finally, there's no full time jobs or benefits.

So, it's difficult to get the job, it doesn't pay a living wage, there are diversity quotas, most young people smoke weed, and there's no benefits. There's obviously no career path. They're paying low wages at 20 hours a week.

Yes, it's not going to be well vetted. It's not a good job, anymore.

[GaijinPunch]

USPS is pretty reliable, never had any issues. Depending on sorting volume it may be some time for a mail shipment to be transferred to the UK's local mail service. I know when I order from USA to Canada that when it does finally arrive in Canada you can find it under the USPS tracking number on the Canada Post website. It's not unusual for there to be a backlog in customs and it being held up there either.

When it was originally shipped, if it was sent with a method with a tracking number, it should have had an estimated delivery date listed with it (generally accurate to about 2-4 business days). Do you know what date it was estimated to be delivered when it was shipped?

It was sent international priority mail. Which says up to 20 days but usually within 10 days.

Royal Mail is shit. I sent something last year (about this time) and it went cold. They held it for a good 3-4 weeks, then had the recipient come down and pay a duty on a $20 gift.

[neorichieb1971]

USPS is pretty reliable, never had any issues. Depending on sorting volume it may be some time for a mail shipment to be transferred to the UK's local mail service. I know when I order from USA to Canada that when it does finally arrive in Canada you can find it under the USPS tracking number on the Canada Post website. It's not unusual for there to be a backlog in customs and it being held up there either.

When it was originally shipped, if it was sent with a method with a tracking number, it should have had an estimated delivery date listed with it (generally accurate to about 2-4 business days). Do you know what date it was estimated to be delivered when it was shipped?

It was sent international priority mail. Which says up to 20 days but usually within 10 days.

Royal Mail is shit. I sent something last year (about this time) and it went cold. They held it for a good 3-4 weeks, then had the recipient come down and pay a duty on a $20 gift.

My tracking isn't with Royal mail yet. They don't take responsibility until customs clearance has been made. Unfortunately the Royal Mail handles customs fees and they put £8 administration costs on it before adding the tax.
These are government rules its a bit harsh to blame the messenger.

The problem with my package is that there is no movement at all in the tracking. Information is better than no information and if its being held it should be scanned to say its held/parked or whatever. Everyone says i'll get it eventually and hearing things like "its been held for 4 weeks" gives me hope a little bit. Better than not receiving it at all. I'm heading off to Japan soon, you watch it move as soon as I am on the plane.

[GaijinPunch]

Just b/c there's no update on the tracking doesn't mean one side is off scott free.

These are government rules its a bit harsh to blame the messenger.

Isn't that literally the only thing you can do in this case?

[neorichieb1971]

2 days ago I wrote to my local MP (Politician) to investigate why folk on reddit and Quora have experienced 2 month delays in getting packages.

Rumour is that USPS packages are being scanned for marijuana which is now legal in many states in the USA.

Although its been just 2 days and I haven't heard back from him, my package scanned today. I'm on night shift so I woke up at 18:30 and checked my phone and the package scanned, I was rubbing my eyes in disbelief. I still can't believe it.

The package is now scanned at Langley, which is Heathrow airports customs holding area which was the rumoured hold up area which is causing delay.

So either 2 things have happened, either my MP has heard my voice and done something about it, or its just taking 2 months as per everyone else. I'm so happy its scanned it means its less than 5 days away, but I still want an official answer. For anyone who found this thread via google, I will update till the end with all my findings.

[neorichieb1971]

And touchdown.

I received my package today.

The next tracking that appeared on July 13th was Langley HMRC. Which was the area reported to have the hold ups. I believe they have months of backlog of packages there.

I have not heard from my MP, but there is a good chance he intervened but I don't have evidence of that.

So, if you purchase something from ebay.com or a USA vendor and they use USPS or you expect it to go through Langley at Heathrow airport, please beware your package might take up to 2 months to appear.

Reasons might be -

Brexit in full swing, all EU packages now entering Langley, which does not have the capacity to process the incoming packages.
The USA has legalized cannabis and as a result the USPS packages are sidelined for further "thorough" processing slowing the operation down.

Right now, I am in 2 minds as to what do do on my next shipment from the USA. Because I am nervous of the long wait again. If I hear from my MP i'll let you know.

[neorichieb1971]

My local MP is now looking into it. Will be interesting.

[GaijinPunch]

Congrats. Perhaps I jinxed myself but I sold some stuff on Ebay recently and one of the packages has yet to arrive, and the tracking hasn't updated in about 2 weeks -- it's domestic as well. Most of what I sold was irreplaceable stuff (old game posters) but luckily these were the cheapest of the bunch. I'll be out $60 after insurance... but I'll have to spend even more time than I have on it now.

Heathrow / Weed

How ridiculous. I know everyone defends Heathrow as "the busiest airport in Europe" but it is run with embarrassingly horrible efficiency - and it's one of the most expensive airports in the world. 5 pounds to drop someone off. 175 pounds give or take for airline employees to fly out of it on a free pass. And with all that money they still can't figure out how to pull their heads out of their asses. I'm stuck with it coming over from the US, and technically I'm a paying customers since my "free" tickets actually cost fucking money. Horrible. There are EDIT: actually only 2 airports as of 2023, but 2 in the same vicinity in the US that do more volume, and even the shittiest one (O'Hare most likely) is leaps and bounds better.