When is it too early to ask USPS to search for a missing package?

[someday_man]

Hi all,

I mailed out a package on Monday 2/5 by first-class from CA to TX.  As of today Friday 2/9, USPS tracking shows it is still "In Transit".  The last real scan was on the evening of 2/5, when it departed the distribution center in Santa Clarita, CA.  Since then there have been three scans, once per day (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) at the same time, just saying "In Transit". 

The "Estimated Delivery Date" given by eBay for this item is tomorrow, Saturday 2/10.

I'm slightly concerned that the package might be lost or delayed.  Partly because I am paranoid (I admit) but also because other first-class packages I mailed that day (one to WA and one to WI) were both delivered yesterday.  I've been selling on eBay for a while and something just seem right, normally by now I would have expected to see it scanned through another distribution point.

Fortunately, I purchased insurance on this package, though obviously I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

I know that it is possible to ask USPS to search for a missing package, but is it too soon to put in a request for that?  Maybe that would shake it loose?  Or would you suggest I wait a bit longer to see if it shows up in TX later today or tomorrow?

Thanks for your advice!

[city*satins]

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wrote:

Hi all,

I mailed out a package on Monday 2/5 by first-class from CA to TX.  As of today Friday 2/9, USPS tracking shows it is still "In Transit".  The last real scan was on the evening of 2/5, when it departed the distribution center in Santa Clarita, CA.  Since then there have been three scans, once per day (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) at the same time, just saying "In Transit". 

The "Estimated Delivery Date" given by eBay for this item is tomorrow, Saturday 2/10.

I'm slightly concerned that the package might be lost or delayed.  Partly because I am paranoid (I admit) but also because other first-class packages I mailed that day (one to WA and one to WI) were both delivered yesterday.  I've been selling on eBay for a while and something just seem right, normally by now I would have expected to see it scanned through another distribution point.

Fortunately, I purchased insurance on this package, though obviously I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

I know that it is possible to ask USPS to search for a missing package, but is it too soon to put in a request for that?  Maybe that would shake it loose?  Or would you suggest I wait a bit longer to see if it shows up in TX later today or tomorrow?

Thanks for your advice!

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It's way too soon.  Especially since it's not even due to be delivered yet.  But....

...if you go in person to your post office with the tracking number they can look it up on their own system which often shows location information that doesn't display on the public's USPS site.

It's good to be fastidious about ensuring your packages make it to their destination but really,  I would recommend STRONGLY against checking tracking so often.  I've been selling on eBay since 1998 and only in the rarest instances (like a thousand dollar, insured, signature confirmation package) do I check tracking unless the buyer gets anxious and writes to me.  It keeps my blood pressure at a safe level.  🙂

[zzydny]

Sometimes packages go "on tour" inexplicably.  I have occasionally had shipments that bounced around various parts of the US for a week, nowhere near where they were headed. 

Take a deep breath.  Try not to worry.  Give it another few days. 

[someday_man]

Thanks to you both.  Some good advice here.  I'll wait and see what happens today and tomorrow.   I just don't like the idea of an item I'm shipping being late.  Hopefully it won't be, and/or I am dealing with a patient buyer.  🙂

[a_c_green]

The "In Transit" entries are fillers, usually generated at 24-hour intervals up to a maximum of three times, for occasions where no scans of the package have occurred for some period of time, around 18-24 hours or so. (I'm not sure how long at this moment, but you should see that the minutes of the "In Transit" entry timestamps will exactly match the timestamp of the latest actual scan preceding them.)

The package will probably pop up again Real Soon Now, maybe today or tomorrow. Going off the radar for a few days is not unusual at all, and the USPS themselves don't consider an item to be lost until 21 days have elapsed without a sighting. Yours will pop up any day now. (Don't go asking the buyer if they've received it. If they're not asking you about it, you don't have a problem.)

[ekmadonna]

You can file a claim or an inquiry after 10 days from the date the package was mailed. in the meantime go to the USPS website and request updated tracking to your phone or computer.

[someday_man]

Thanks, that does help put my mind at ease.  In any case, I would never contact the buyer proactively.  If I don't hear anything, I always just assume all is good.  Still I like to be prepared in case there is a problem.

[sam9876]

I would enjoy a cool beverage.

[divwido]

I check every single day. I want to know where my items are so I don't lose money.

[zapp87]

The advice to go to the USPS website and request tracking updates is 'spot-on' in my opinion.  I've had a number of packages that have gone 'off-the-radar' for whatever reasons.  So far, everytime I go and ask for updates, it mysteriously appears again and makes it to the buyer.  I'm sure it's just dumb luck, but it's free, so why not do it?  Sometimes a package will take an extended trip, but it does end up in the right place almost without fail.  I live in Oregon and had a package ship to California.  After about 6 or 7 days I got an email from the buyer asking if I could please explain the tracking information.  I had no clue what they were talking about until I looked to see where it was.  The package left Oregon, went to Seattle and tracking showed that it was in New York!  It took about 5 more days to finally get to California, but it did arrive safely.  I figured it must have wanted to go to a Broadway show or something.  ; )

[sam9876]

That is called babysitting.

[ekmadonna]

I would also like to add that I have shipped well over 3000 items in the last 4 years and NEVER have I had a package lost by the USPS! many that took 2-3 weeks and were diverted all over the place but NEVER lost. So, if your customer gets antsy ask them to be patient and reassure them they will be getting it soon!

[someday_man]

That is my plan assuming it is late.   Hopefully I'll have a patient buyer.

I agree, in all my years of buying and selling on eBay, I've yet to have a package lost.  I've seen all sorts of strange tracking, packages criss-crossing the U.S., packages sent to the wrong zip code, etc. etc...but at the same time there's a first time for everything. 🙂

The package is insured, so I'm not too worried, except for the scenario where I refund the buyer and then the package eventually shows up.

[sam9876]

What's the insurance for?

[someday_man · Accepted solution]

Update - the package resurfaced this afternoon with a fresh scan in San Antonio TX, about 200 miles from the destination city of McAllen, TX. 

Most recent tracking now shows "In Transit, Delayed.  The package is delayed and will not be delivered by the expected delivery date. An updated delivery date will be provided when available. The item is currently in transit to the destination."

So it will miss the expected USPS delivery date, but at least I know it isn't lost.  At this point I'm assuming it will probably arrive on Monday 2/12, which is only one business day past the eBay estimated date of Saturday 2/10.