Is there such think as USPS Priority Mail tracking?

powernoodle

powernoodle

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I am aware of Priority Mail with delivery confirmation, which basically lets you check online to see if the package has been delivered. But it does not let you watch it move from city to city like UPS tracking does.

I was told by a buyer (good guy) that there is such a think as "tracking", which is not the same as delivery confirmation. I won't say who he is, but he is certainly free to chime in if he cares to.

I have no found any such thing at the USPS website, and the 2 post offices I called seemed to be staffed by retarded monkeys who could not give me a direct answer.

So is there some flavor of Priority Mail "tracking" which is different from delivery confirmation? I think not, but would like your input. I'll use it hereinafter if it exists.

thanks :thumbup:
 
yeah i have used USPS package tracking before. it was more or less the first scan and the last scan. in my opinion it is not on par with say UPS. but none the less it is tracking.
 
Actually, Delivery Confirmation will show you intermediate scans if you click on Detailed Information. The problem is, it usually doesn't get updated until after the package has been delivered. For example, here are the results from Track and Confirm on the last package I shipped Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation:

Detailed Results:

Delivered, October 17, 2009, 12:02 pm, GOLDEN, CO 80403
Out for Delivery or Available at PO Box, October 17, 2009, 10:01 am, GOLDEN, CO 80401
Sorting Complete, October 17, 2009, 9:31 am, GOLDEN, CO 80401
Arrival at Post Office, October 17, 2009, 6:21 am, GOLDEN, CO 80401
Processed through Sort Facility, October 17, 2009, 1:30 am, DENVER, CO 80266
Acceptance, October 15, 2009, 10:14 am, LIBERAL, KS 67901
 
There is no tracking for priority mail. Only delivery confirmation. The postal service is working on a real tracking system for it according to my local postmaster. I think they want to provide some serious competition to UPS and Fedex. We'll see how they do.
 
What about Priority Mail with Signature Confirmation...that usually gives me a lot of tracking info.
 
Thanks yab and Knife Outlet. Good stuff. And BCCL, in my instance the buyer did not want to have signature confirmation. Thanks again.
 
USPS Priority now has almost real-time tracking, with updates throughout the day. It is still called Delivery Confirmation but works in a very similar fashion to UPS or FedEx tracking, except that it does not give you the intermediate scans information.
In other words, you know when and where it has been shipped, when it reaches the departure sorting facility and when it reaches the final sorting facility.
In my case (Miami), I know when the package has reached the main sorting facility in Opa Locka, usually the day before actual delivery. On the day of delivery, it will show when the package reaches my local P.O., then when it has been sorted for the day's delivery.
Actual delivery confirmation usually is delayed until the mail man goes back to the P.O. at the end of his route and uploads the information, so the package may have been delivered in the morning but it will show as delivered after 5 or 6 PM.
 
I just sold a flashlight on candlepowerforums, and can see online using delivery confirmation that it has made it to the buyer's post office. Thats pretty cool. This must be a newish feature, because in the past all I got was that it had been delivered.
 
IMO a package that has tracking does nothing for the shipper because it can still get lost. Same goes for priority. Best thing is to insure it and ship it regular 1st class mail. This way it seems to always get there or USPS is responsible for the price of the insured amount.


I think what happened in your case is the priority mail messed things up. Normal 1st class can be had with tracking. Priority only works well if you are shipping coast to coast or to remote places. Still they do not guarantee the delivery time. They only do that with standard overnight (express) which costs more but is guranteed by a certain time. If it is not there by that time you get a full refund.

Also the verbage used by postal employees can be confusing as they don't want to take the time to explain all the different services and definitions to each customer. Some have been working at the post office so long (too long) they just expect everybody knows their jobs.


If you go to the usps website there is a large box you put the tracking number in just like the UPS site has. I have used it hundreds of times and it works just fine.


www.USPS.com
 
Priority works well only to remote places or coast to coast? I have found highly reliable to get a package anywhere in CONUS in 2-3 days. Plus you have the option of insurance, signature acceptance and/or DC. Not much to dislike. And its faster than 1st class.

As for "tracking" being an option with 1st class mail, USPS must be hiding it from me because it is not listed as an optional service. Link.

As for the "track and confirm" box, thats where I input a DC number. I don't know what other number could be inputted there.

:thumbup:
 
powernoodle said:
Priority works well only to remote places or coast to coast? I have found highly reliable to get a package anywhere in CONUS in 2-3 days. Plus you have the option of insurance, signature acceptance and/or DC. Not much to dislike. And its faster than 1st class.

.

:thumbup:
Click to expand...



Yes for coast to coast it works well. But for clser by states it does not make much difference wether you use 1st class or proiority as they will get there in the same amount of time.


Have you tried using 1st class to a nearby state and then tried priority to the same location? It really does not make it any faster. For instance if you shipped a box from one state to a neihboring state it would probably be 2 days whether you use Priority or 1st class.



My advice is to have the postal worker check the estimated time it takes for package to arrive first class. And then check to see if priority is any faster. If 1st class gets there in 2-3 days there is no reason to use Priority.
 
powernoodle said:
As for "tracking" being an option with 1st class mail, USPS must be hiding it from me because it is not listed as an optional service. Link.
:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Depends on the size of the package. You can't put tracking on flat first-class mail. I've been sending out lots of job applications in manila envelopes recently, and I have to upgrade to Priority for $5 to get delivery confirmation, or send the app certified mail for a couple bucks extra.:rolleyes:

Otherwise, first-class is great and on par with Priority as far as speed of delivery. These days, first-class and Priority are basicly the same, just depends on the weight of the package. Over 14 ounces goes Priority automatically, with the extra costs involved.:thumbdn:
 
I may give 1st class a try. It has never been on my radar screen. I have always been under the assumption that it is slower than Priority, or at least can be slower. But I'll compare it to Priority next time I have something to send.

But I still don't see any "tracking" for either flavor of shipping, other than delivery confirmation. So absent some objective evidence that it exists, I have to conclude that it does not. I would be happy to be proven wrong, though, as I really dig UPS-style tracking. Delivery confirmation seems to be headed in that direction.


thanks again, guys
 
Okay i just went to the post office and here is what I got.

Delivery confirmation -the same thing as tracking.

Signature confirmation-for packages 3/4" or thicker only. Reciver must sign for it.

Registered- out of country tracking

Certified-sign for it- (not sure what the difference here is with singanture confirmation).
 
To summarize:

1 - USPS offers Delivery Confirmation, which used to tell you only that a package was delivered. It now appears to give some additional, limited information. According to one poster, and a USPS employee, the USPS hopes to provide more comprehensive information with Delivery Confirmation in the future. Thats a good thing.

2 - USPS does not offer any service called "tracking". If you ask for that, they give you Delivery Confirmation.

3 - the USPS website has a field called "Track and Confirm", in which you may input a Delivery Confirmation number.

Oy!

I am satisfied. I declare my participation in this thread concluded. Thanks again, everyone.

:thumbup:
 
I have my own packaging materials so when I ship, and many times trade, I use 1st class w/ delivery confirmation and give the buyer the option for insurance. Items worth more than $201+ requires a signature upon delivery(DONT BUY SIG CONFIRM IF YOU INSURE IT FOR THIS MUCH). Some people, me included, would rather not have to sign since Im often away from home, that and I live in a pretty decent spot of town so Im not worried about my packages being thieved. I hate it when I miss the mailman and have to wait a whole day (one day is eternity when you want it NOW :D) & waste my gas/time having to drive across town, lets not forget those awesome PO lines :barf:

Id say I use first class (always w/ DC) 75% of the time and have NEVER had a problem with shipment times.

Ive actually made trades, both traders ship on the same day, I use 1st class, other party used Priority & my package gets there first. With exception to the free boxes & Colubrids points concerning coast to coast & bigger cities, I think Priority is a joke as far as delivery times are concerned.
 
powernoodle - I know you're done...:p....but one option that wasn't discussed is "Certified Mail".

If you add this to anything it HAS to be signed for at every destination along the way. It is the very best option to guarantee shipment of an item. It is a pain and hassle and slows it down and costs a little more - which is why you don't see it used much. But it works great.

It does require a signature but is quite different from signature confirmation.


2nd thing:


If you use "Click-n-Ship" online you have a place where you can put your email in and USPS will send you a nice little email when you item has been delivered, or attempted delivery.



That's all...


You can all go back to ignoring this thread now.

:D


Dan
 
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