Is it just me or do they never update this damn thing. I've been trying to track a shipment since last week and it hasn't updated itself once. It's still only telling me that they have received the shipment information but no package yet.
That means the seller has purchased the postage/delivery confirmation thing on the website.. but hasn't brought it to a post office yet or had it picked up by a carrier yet. They probably only ship one day a week.. usually to cut down on trips to the post office. If the post office doesn't have the package.. they can't scan it.. and can't update the website.
The last time that happened to me, it was because the sender entered the shipment details online but never actually scheduled a pick-up, so there really was no package yet as far as the carrier was concerned. I don't know how the US postal service works, but UPS and FedEx are both pretty efficient at updating their tracking information. Edit: Well, it wasn't redundant when I started typing it. But yeah, what the guy above me said.
Actually, there are times that I've gotten/shipped packages and they've arrived with the online status still saying that they've only recieved shipment status. I used to always sign up for the email updates (which don't work half the time anyways), but it would be days afterwards before I get notified of a delivery, meanwhile, it's already in my hands...
USPS is horrible at updating their tracking system. I remember I had a package sent to me, the status was listed as received package......for 4 days, then on the fifth day, I got it. Still no change to the tracking page.
That has happened to me a lot of the times when i would get something from USPS. They suck at updating.
Its more for shippers to know that an item has been shipped. The tracking is minimal and annoying. I like shipping by usps because its convienent for me, quick (assuming I use priority), and I get confirmation.
USPS actually doesn't even track anything but express mail. All other services fall under the "delivery confirmation" umbrella, which only requires two scans: the service is paid for, so it gets put in the system. This may not mean it's shipped yet, but the confirmation service has been purchased and a number is generated. The only other requirement is that it is scanned at delivery. The postal worker then uploads the days worth of scans at the end of the day and the sender knows that the package got to the reciever. It is not intended to be of any value to the recipient, only the sender. So if you really want tracked items, send express mail, or use another carrier.
