Tracking never updating

[airsheep]

Has anyone else noticed a rash of this lately?  I'm used to things getting stuck in a shipping container for weeks (and sometimes never coming out), so I can be patient.  However, the last 2 weeks I have 2 out of 5 items where a tracking number has been provided, but it never gets past that.  One is coming from overseas (Europe, not China), and the other is coming from the US.  Both have theoretically been in transit for around 10 days.  The US one has passed ebay's guesstimate of arrival, so I contacted the seller to see if he could give me a status update, but so far, no progress.  It's relatively heavy, so might be stuck in shipping container limbo, but I can't even find out what shipping company was used (drop shipped, perchance?)

I'm not sure if I'd rather have a tracking number that does nothing, or no tracking at all.  Thoughts?

[a_c_green]

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@airsheep wrote:

I'm not sure if I'd rather have a tracking number that does nothing, or no tracking at all.  Thoughts?

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You know that tracking is technically for the seller's protection rather than the buyer's, but clearly it's nice to have the reassurance that the thing is on the way. 

Even if the seller hasn't bothered to upload a tracking number, if you have signed up for Informed Delivery at usps.com (free), you can opt in to getting notifications of inbound tracked packages, even if you don't know the tracking number or were not even expecting a package. Sign up and see if either of your packages are on their way to you already.

I'd say that if you're approaching a week since the latest Expected Date of Delivery and you're getting nothing useful in reply from the seller(s), file the Item Not Received dispute.

[deech21]

there is a huge backlog with US customs office,due to this China tarriff talk,so dont expect speedy clearance.

For USPS,you can get the tracking number and call 1-800-USPS number,they have more information than we can see online 

[airsheep]

Okay... after the second polite message I sent to the US seller asking if they were able to find out who the shipper was for my purchase, they said since the first package has seemingly disappeared, we'll send you another one, and here's the new tracking number.  Oddly, they didn't say who the shipper was for the second package either, and it doesn't seem to be UPS, FedEx, DHL, or USPS, as none of them recognize the number.  The seller has an excellent record, but I'm really starting to wonder about their shipping.

BTW, the package from Europe shows tracking via Romanian Post, so that is a bit of worry lifted.  Too bad it doesn't show movement on ebay's side.

[a_c_green]

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@airsheep wrote:

BTW, the package from Europe shows tracking via Romanian Post, so that is a bit of worry lifted.  Too bad it doesn't show movement on ebay's side.

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eBay interpretation of tracking data has very little capability beyond displaying the basics from the major carriers, but once your Romanian package reaches the U.S., you may be able to see it via USPS, and possibly even via eBay.

The other one sounds like a Chinese dropshipper. Be sure to file your Item Not Received dispute if you're getting close to 30 days from date of payment.

[pjcdn2005]

I agree with the other poster that the first seller may not actually be shipping from within the US.  If that's the case, there's a good chance that a replacement was not mailed.   Have you tried putting the tracking number into an international site?

https://track24.net/

Has the tracking on the Romanian site shown that the package has left the country?  If so and its still not showing up on USPS it's possible that it is a registered parcel which is not always tracked internationally.

You can file an item not received claim for up to 30 days after the last expected delivery date.