USPS and their shipping.

[Fragil1ty]

Hey there guys, just a quick question and wondering if someone could help me out.

I ordered a keyboard from mechanicalkeyboards.com for shipping to me here in England, I paid the $44.99 for the shipping which was USPS International First Class and according to the tracking details, it has not changed since Wednesday.

Why I'm asking is because when I bought my Noppoo Choc Min off qtan in 2012 (January), I would check the tracking every 2 days (OCD) and the information would change, it was rather precise.

Scan History
Date   Time   Location   Status
July 31, 2013   16:43:00    FAIRVIEW, TN 37062   DISPATCHED TO SORT FACILITY
July 31, 2013   15:49:00    FAIRVIEW, TN 37062   ACCEPT OR PICKUP

I'm just wondering if this is a cause for concern as the tracking information has not changed in just over 5 days now, I've heard stories of USPS losing your parcels and crap like that?

[Photoelectric]

Sometimes they are slow to update the system--that's a known thing.  Their tracking is not true tracking.  Your keyboard may be already off the continent.  Check again on Monday.  I'd also check with your local tracking system--whoever USPS hands off its packages to (Royal Mail?).

[The_Beast]

From what I've been told, once it leaves the US, it cannot be tracked very accurately.

[Fragil1ty]

Sometimes they are slow to update the system--that's a known thing.  Their tracking is not true tracking.  Your keyboard may be already off the continent.  Check again on Monday.  I'd also check with your local tracking system--whoever USPS hands off its packages to (Royal Mail?).

Alright my man, I'll give royal mail a call on Monday, see if I can find out any new information. Thanks

From what I've been told, once it leaves the US, it cannot be tracked very accurately.

Oh, I'm starting to notice that now.

[tjcaustin]

I wouldn't be so worried since it's only been 2 days.  First class is the slowest of all options and it'll pause at an export facility before making the trip by sail boat (kidding) to the UK.  Royal mail is one of a handful that properly use USPS tracking so it'll show, but it'll be slow going.

[Photoelectric]

I would expect or it to show that the package has left that sort facility and is / was on the way elsewhere (another facility or an airport) before it becomes untraceable by being handed off to another carrier (although I think there's still tracking even abroad if an appropriate service was selected by sender).  But there are 3 possibilities:
- the package is far beyond its stated location, and USPS is slow to update, as usual
- the package is already in its destination country at the customs or beyond, and you just won't get good updates until it arrives
- the package is for some reason still in that sorting facility

[Fragil1ty]

I wouldn't be so worried since it's only been 2 days.  First class is the slowest of all options and it'll pause at an export facility before making the trip by sail boat (kidding) to the UK.  Royal mail is one of a handful that properly use USPS tracking so it'll show, but it'll be slow going.

That's true, but it does continue to ship to it's destination regardless of the day, I guess I'm just a little bit disappointed? as I've paid $44.99 for the postage and I thought I'd be getting some good quality service! I take it USPS is a bit of a .. crap company or?

I would expect or it to show that the package has left that sort facility and is / was on the way elsewhere (another facility or an airport) before it becomes untraceable by being handed off to another carrier (although I think there's still tracking even abroad if an appropriate service was selected by sender).  But there are 3 possibilities:
- the package is far beyond its stated location, and USPS is slow to update, as usual
- the package is already in its destination country at the customs or beyond, and you just won't get good updates until it arrives
- the package is for some reason still in that sorting facility

Oh man, I hope it's not the third option, that'd be an extreme disappointment. I was going to wait until Wednesday and if no change, my Girlfriend lives in the states, so I he offered to phone up for me and get a clue about what's going on.

[Photoelectric]

USPS is good.  But First Class Mail is not their top service at all.  Priority Mail is faster (and more expensive), and there's even be something over that (Global Express).  First Class is more like average-cheap.  What you paid is probably what MK charges.  And international shipping is generally expensive.  I remember looking up how much a Storm Trigger would cost to ship to the UK, and it was something like $56 via the cheapest method.

From USPS' own description:
"First-Class Package International Service
 
First-Class Package International Service™ (FCPIS™) is our most affordable international service for small packages. Send anything up to 4 lbs (cannot exceed $400 in value) to more than 180 countries. Delivery time varies by destination."

[Fragil1ty]

USPS is good.  But First Class Mail is not their top service at all.  Priority Mail is faster (and more expensive), and there's even be something over that (Global Express).  First Class is more like average-cheap.  What you paid is probably what MK charges.  And international shipping is generally expensive.  I remember looking up how much a Storm Trigger would cost to ship to the UK, and it was something like $56 via the cheapest method.

From USPS' own description:
"First-Class Package International Service
 
First-Class Package International Service™ (FCPIS™) is our most affordable international service for small packages. Send anything up to 4 lbs (cannot exceed $400 in value) to more than 180 countries. Delivery time varies by destination."

Oh damn, well that's disappointing. I'll have to look into shipping services next time, didn't realise I chose a bad shipping option , ah well, hopefully it'll be here by next Friday. If not, then I guess I wont be using this service again.

[fohat.digs]

First Class International is not a bad option, it is air mail. There used to be a big difference between First Class and Priority service, but not so much any more.

All the rates have gone up considerably, I am astonished that a keyboard can be shipped international for $44, but I am accustomed to shipping ancient IBM iron.

USPS tracking is often several days behind, and is usually updated in the middle of the night, and not every night.

Packages are often delivered to my PO box while tracking is still showing them halfway there.

FedEx has the best tracking, by far.

[elton5354]

But any international shipping with FedEx, UPS, Purolator, etc is going to cost over $100.  Also you don't want your boxes to be tossed by FedEx, do you?

[Photoelectric]

^ that's true. And USPS is my favorite, as they are more gentle with their packages over other carriers I've seen (notably UPS).  I'm sure accidents happen, but in 16 years that I've been using USPS, nothing ever got lost or damaged during shipping from me or to me.

[SpAmRaY]

^ that's true. And USPS is my favorite, as they are more gentle with their packages over other carriers I've seen (notably UPS).  I'm sure accidents happen, but in 16 years that I've been using USPS, nothing ever got lost or damaged during shipping from me or to me.

I loathe USPS, I've had stuff lost both ways.

I still subscribe to the belief there is a postal worker with one heck of a tricked out keyboard.

[Trent]

Never lost anything with USPS...  *knock on wood* And I've shipped plenty through eBay sales.

Y'all must have bad luck.

[Tarzan]

Never lost anything with USPS...  *knock on wood* And I've shipped plenty through eBay sales.

Y'all must have bad luck.

USPS rocks for me.  I ship stuff to my brother (currently working a power line project in the Mojave desert) all the time, never had an issue.  Had one inbound package from an eBay seller that got lost between Florida and Virginia, but a call to Customer Support, and they located it within 24 hours.

YMMV, of course. 

[Halvar]

With First Class International option, you only get one tracking point at the beginning that basically shows that USPS got the package. After that, there is no tracking any more.

Shipping times vary dramatically. I've been waiting for a package from WASD keyboards for seven weeks now, I guess it's stuck in customs somewhere, but I've also have had deliveries that merely took 10 days from the US to Germany.

[RabRhee]

Generally, what I have found with USPS to the UK, is that the tracking is fairly accurate until it leaves the US, and then nothing much after. My last one was a WASD first class, and I was checking every day for an indication it was in Britain, when it just arrived at the door about 4 days after it was still showing as departed Sort Facility.

I am in the same position with 2 other parcels now, one showing Depart USPS Sort Facility - July 31, 2013. I expect it to arrive at the door sometime soon, even if the tracking is off. The other one has about 3 different tracking places, last departed 2 days ago.

[jameslr]

Even in the US I often don't get proper status updates until after the package has delivered. For the most part USPS is pretty fast, but I have no idea about international. I imagine to UK it's pretty quick. If you want real tracking you'll have to pay for FedEx, DHL or UPS.