Truth or myth - can you really get a package moving with a missing mail inquiry?

[powell-collectibles]

Maybe someone can help with a cogent explanation on something I’ve been curious about for a long time.  Maybe highly skeptical is a better description.  Here goes:

How and why does filing a missing mail or package trace inquiry help to “get a shipment moving?”  I’ve seen people swear up and down that it works to “shake a package loose.”  For me, it makes no sense.

Most of us have seen the pictures of the USPS distribution centers – huge area, packages all over.  I don’t envision Suzy Cream Cheese filing for a missing mail search, then some center in Omaha getting a system ping, then some group of USPS ninjas drop in to find the package and then update the tracking, then load it into a vehicle to the next destination.

What I hear from the believers is that you should get some movement in a package a day or after the missing mail inquiry.  For me, that makes sense – if and when something has been stuck or without scans for several days, they’ll put in an inquiry, but I’d expect most packages to “start moving” a day or two after that internal itch prompts and inquiry, or the buyer starts to complain. 

Is there anyone with a working knowledge of USPS operations that can shed some light on this knitting circle rumor? 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

There is no logical reason why it should get the shipment moving. The people who handle the case are at the destination PO. They have told me on the phone that they have no information beyond the tracking on USPS.com. They can send a message to the sending PO. Some do. They do not wait for a response before closing the case.

My local PO has been totally AFU this month. Nothing lost but irrational delays. Even my incoming mail shown on informed delivery is arriving several days later.

[simba6]

I have found it to work in a number of cases now.

[winterpalace25]

What a coincidence. I just now advised another poster to use this solution for a missing package. I have had success twice with the Missing Mail form. Last week I had a package headed for Colorado stop tracking for 4 days while still in my state of Alabama. I sent in the form and that same day it was found in Sarasota, FL and rerouted westward. Two days later it arrived. 

I had the same experience last time a package quit tracking. It was found the same day.  I will always employ this option if a package is stalled or lost.

Also, the USPS site has escalation of lost packages instructions with further, more detailed forms and searches. Their instruction tree ends with claim forms.

[toysaver]

It's appeared to work for me but who's to say it didn't just get unstuck and start to move on it's on?   It's always worth a try.

[jonathanbrightlight]

I'd say it's one of those things that would be difficult to impossible to actually prove it works (or prove it doesn't work), but there's enough anecdotal evidence that it's worth a shot.  It's not much effort, and if it works, especially with a reasonably expensive item, it was well worth it.  If it doesn't, you haven't lost much, just a little time.

[12345jamesstamps]

I have had some get stuck and not move.

I do nothing...and they eventually all get delivered at some point in time.

I feel like...in my opinion...just me now...to be time wasted doing anything.

It's like...the red light will eventually change to green to go.

Or doing a pow-wow to hope for rain and it eventually does rain.

[kalyoth]

It's a coincidence mostly. But, it tends to work many times.

[buyselljack2016]

No proof either way, but color me a non-believer.

Dave from the destination PO in Cali call me to let me know that viewing the photos that they there is nothing wrong with the label on the package that I shipped and that there was no reason for it to be "tendered to agent for return", and that all should be OK. Case closed.

Sure enough, "shook it loose". After some more "container scans" (with more  -- tendered to agent for return) -- it eventually shows some movement.  An "intercept" fails, and  89 days after acceptance the package is delivered to the buyer in Cali who no longer needs the item.  

[fern*wood]

I doubt it can be proven to help, but it makes me fell better and I have something I can tell a buyer to show I'm trying to help. 

[titipeo]

It’s a gamble, at the very least it shows effort on your part. As sellers we don’t control shipping, but it is our responsibility for the item to be delivered in timely matter, as we choose the carrier. It’s called customer service, something that has been lost.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

The incontrovertible benefit opening a missing mail case gives me is something to contact the buyer with that makes it appear that I care about their order and am doing all I can to get it delivered.

No buyer I have contacted has become adversarial over the delay.

[monica-sells]

dunno why, but the few times I have implemented it, it worked and got the parcel moving...

[powell-collectibles]

Understood that some believe that it works. No issue there. And if someone wants to do it for customer service reasons, that’s great. But the real question is why would it work? Is there someone with a knowledge and understanding of USPS operations that can give a reasonable explanation as to why hitting a button on a computer will help someone to find A package that is buried under 1000 others.  I really am curious as to whether or not there is a reasonable explanation.

[bashort]

my opinion is its a total myth, does nothing and if there was something that actually happens when you file a missing mail report it should be automated, they have all the data, they know exactly where packages are being held up. Why should someone actually need to file a report?