DHL shipping within US

[whovian2058]

I have been purchasing text books from various sellers, who list they are shipping USPS, usually media mail. After the item ships it's a dhl shipping number. I hate dhl , and their customer service is zero. I just want to know if this is the new norm? I have asked sellers before buying but I usually get told to read the ad, which stated usps. Is this accepted by ebay?

[disneyshopper]

I am guessing that DHL must have an agreement with USPS, much like Fed Ex (with SurePost) and UPS (Mail Inovations).  I don't use either of those carriers so the name might not be quite right.

I rarely see DHL trucks here in southern California.  I wouldn't know where to find a DHL office.

If you dislike DHL so much, when you purchase these books that are coming via USPS, you might mention to the seller that you hope they are NOT using DHL!

[whovian2058]

As I said I asked the buyers and was told to refer to the ad. I realize I am covered if it doesn't arrive, just wondered why a seller would state one shipping method and not use it. I've not had a problem before, until the last couple of months. 

[disneyshopper]

Perhaps DHL was cheaper and that is why they chose it.

Once your item arrives, you might leave calm factual feedback about the change in carriers.

[ga-8370]

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@whovian2058 wrote:

I have been purchasing text books from various sellers, who list they are shipping USPS, usually media mail. After the item ships it's a dhl shipping number. I hate dhl , and their customer service is zero. I just want to know if this is the new norm? I have asked sellers before buying but I usually get told to read the ad, which stated usps. Is this accepted by ebay?

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DHL Global Mail is delivered by USPS at the last mile. So yes, it's USPS, possibly because USPS, FedEx, and UPS are the only selections on many screens at eBay. If it starts with the digit 9, try your tracking number at the http://USPS.com website to see what it says about shipping partners that do the initial work for USPS.

[whovian2058]

I think I will just wait and leave feedback. It's funny if it's supposed to be dhl the last mile, it showed dhl up until the 14 and said it was handed over to usps. So far USPS has nothing on it. Everything sent DHL has STARTED out DHL, never delivered by them. It was handed over to usps in North Carolina according to DHL so I know winter storms aren't holding it up. I'm in Tennessee. No more buying books on EBAY, lesson learned. And my tracking number starts with 5, so doesn't work on usps site.

[ga-8370 · Accepted solution]

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@whovian2058 wrote:
my tracking number starts with 5, so doesn't work on usps site.

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Enter your DHL tracking number starting with 5 at the end of this URL:

https://webtrack.dhlglobalmail.com/?trackingnumber=

For example, if your DHL tracking number is 54321, then the URL would be:

https://webtrack.dhlglobalmail.com/?trackingnumber=54321

Then look for your USPS tracking number (it's a clickable link) at the bottom or on the right of the page. Hope you get more info when USPS is delivering it.

[whovian2058]

Thank you. I got no clickable link, just your package has been rendered to your delivery provider which was usps. I contacted, but they said I need to get the new tracking number from usps, and I should have got an email with that info? They don't have my email. Anyway, I will touch base with the seller and go from there. Thank you all.

[ga-8370]

That's where your USPS tracking number is on the very colorful page:

[ms.piercing]

DHL is a (so called ) consolidator. They sort packages and deliver to USPS hubs and give it to them (basically drop packages in a big mailboxes). Service is similar to UPS SurePost and FexEx SmartPost.

It's cheaper than normal USPS rates. And it's not much worse. Once packages droped off at USPS hubs it goes with a speed of Parcel Post which is is slower but the fault is on USPS.