USPS tracking for OS countries

[rowdy]

I've had something shipped from the US today, when I try to view the tracking information it says:

Tracking Number: LZ*********US
USPS Tracking™ is unavailable for this product for AUSTRALIA.

Tracking has worked before, at least up to when the package leaves US shores.  Now it doesn't look like I can get any tracking info.

There's another package that allegedly has been in transit or something since July, and I could see that info, but now that package reports the same error as above.

Has anyone not in the US noticed this?

Does anyone in the US know about this?

Thanks

[suicidal_orange]

Tracking from the US has been crap for a couple of months - I had that "no tracking available" on all three of my packages.  When they hit the UK local tracking changes from "unknown number" to "no details available, come back later" and then stuff just arrives, but even that doesn't trigger a tracking update!

The only exception is my latest package from Bro which is sat on "label created" while I'm pretty sure it was sent with other packages which have arrived in the US, the first on Friday.

Not very impressive

[zombimuncha]

It's working OK for me in the UK.

[raymogi]

LZ is usually customs number only. Sometimes it's trackable but most of the time it's not.

I have this happen to me all the time as well. Sometimes even Priority Mail packages is only trackable when they're still in the US. I guess you'll just have to wait rowdy, unless it's already 3 weeks or more.

[SpAmRaY]

I haven't shipped internationally lately but my CONUS items seem to sit for days before updating lately. Not sure if USPS is slowly falling apart or perhaps changing things, whatever they are doing it is causing delays.

[trees]

I haven't shipped internationally lately but my CONUS items seem to sit for days before updating lately. Not sure if USPS is slowly falling apart or perhaps changing things, whatever they are doing it is causing delays.

This... I have stuff tracked that just sit or disappears from the tracking system for days. Sometimes without updates until its delivered to someone. Its a system falling apart.

[CPTBadAss]

Seems like since they changed the rules so that tracking came with all packages, the tracking has gone downhill. Like ray said it takes a while to update now.

[VinnyCordeiro]

What I do when I buy products is to use a specialized tracking site that aggregates many international post tracking systems. I use 2: Muambator (Brazilian site) and 17track (Chinese site, I suppose).

[engicoder]

If its sent as a first class package, you only get tracking until it hits US export, then nothing.
It has to be priority international to get full tracking and then as people say, its flaky.

[jerue]

Yeah, this is a thing and it's really annoying. The last few INTL packages I've sent out had 0 tracking until it reached their customs office, which then had ALL tracking...hmmmm...me thinks suspicion. It would always error out just like you said. People complained...so I mostly only do INTL if it's something agreed upon, like a trade.

[Signature]

I can't usually track my packages to Sweden 

[Nai_Calus]

So while all Priority mail is supposed to have tracking, arty some recent point this has become untrue internationally.

Small flat rate boxes, and perhaps others, do not have international tracking. Found this out sending caps to Australia. Online I believe you can get a thing that will note delivery, but if you need to do it at the post office, there's not.

[saturnotaku]

USPS used to offer tracking for first-class international parcels to certain countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and S. Korea. I'm pretty sure they don't do that any more. Global Priority small flat-rate boxes have never been able to be tracked.

Seems like since they changed the rules so that tracking came with all packages, the tracking has gone downhill. Like ray said it takes a while to update now.

There's also the fact that USPS has closed many different sorting centers all over the country, and the ones that remained were notoriously poor in the first place. It used to never take more than 3 days for a priority mail package to reach me or my buyers' destinations, in the continental US anyway. Over the last year or so, I've had more than a few priority shipments take 5 days or longer. One took 10. It's even worse for first-class, especially if I'm shipping an item to New York City and its general vicinity. I've been sticking to UPS lately. It's more convenient for me, more reliable for my buyers, and not all that much more expensive. The peace of mind is worth the extra cost.

[Elrick]

If its sent as a first class package, you only get tracking until it hits US export, then nothing.
It has to be priority international to get full tracking and then as people say, its flaky.

Very unreliable and I purchase a lot of stuff from the US and UK and beyond.

Gave up trying to track and trace anything other then to see and wait when anything arrives, if nothing has turned up after 4 weeks (automatic notification within my outlook calendar), then Paypal kicks in solid to take a look at what has happened.

Remember it's always the seller that is responsible 100% for delivery of your item, regardless of where you bought it.

[SpAmRaY]

Remember it's always the seller that is responsible 100% for delivery of your item, regardless of where you bought it.

But once a seller ships they to are at the mercy of the shipping company.

I can do everything right but how is it my fault if USPS screws up?

[rowdy]

I did used to get tracking info until the package left US shores, then nothing for a week or two, and suddenly it would turn up.

Actually that was pretty reliable, if a little vague.

Now I get nothing.  Absolutely no tracking whatsoever, just the message "USPS Tracking™ is unavailable for this product for AUSTRALIA.".

I used to sign up for tracking updates too - that used to work well.  Used to.

[suicidal_orange]

But once a seller ships they to are at the mercy of the shipping company.

I can do everything right but how is it my fault if USPS screws up?

So true.  I guess you should all start claiming for packages that arrive safely with tracking but doesn't prove it?  If it starts costing them money they'll surely have to fix it, and you get paid for your effort as the recipient got their goods.  That or they'll lose more, cut more, and eventually implode...

[SpAmRaY]

One thing I will give USPS credit for is their domestic 'My USPS' notifications are spot on lately, I've been getting text messages before I even know someone is sending me something. Perhaps they have transitioned resources to improve on that system at the expense of others systems.

[Elrick]

But once a seller ships they to are at the mercy of the shipping company.

I can do everything right but how is it my fault if USPS screws up?

Paypal is there MOSTLY for the Buyer hence we who sent the money expect the bought item to be delivered within a month or so.

They (Paypal) are only concerned if we the buyers actually received the item(s) and nothing else.  Also depends upon the person we buy from, if it's someone trusted then we tend to allow greater time to pass BUT if it's a complete stranger, then Paypal shall be used to sort out any mess quickly, not that Paypal moves all that quickly to settle anything.

Paypal is nothing more than an insurance policy taken out for buyers mostly and like all insurance policies, you hope not to use it.

[rowdy]

It has just become known that tracking is suddenly available again.

Weird - maybe a glitch on the part of USPS?

[Belfong]

Yeah, the Dolly V2 tracking is now showing progress.

[zombimuncha]

It's working OK for me in the UK.
(Attachment Link)

...or maybe not. IT says it was delivered 5 days ago, but I didn't get anything yet. Do you think it's in customs, or is it time to follow up via the sender?

[zombimuncha]

It's working OK for me in the UK.
(Attachment Link)

...or maybe not. IT says it was delivered 5 days ago, but I didn't get anything yet. Do you think it's in customs, or is it time to follow up via the sender?

LOL - exactly 3 minutes (three!) after post the above, I received a customs fee notification card.

[rowdy]

I received a "package delivered" email yesterday.  My other half is het to check to PO box to see if it is really there though.

[vivalarevolución]

Maybe some other government employees can contribute, but as a government employee myself, you notice that managers and certain employees do not stick around based on things like efficiency and effectiveness.  This translate to a lack of efficiency and effectiveness in the services and products offered by the government.

So it's a government service.  Don't expect it to work well.  If it doesn't get to where it is going, then you should be mad.