Sunday, October 7, 2012

Postal
Delivery Confirmation
and
Tracking
 
 
This service can only track your package to a specific city and zip code.  It does not track to a specific delivery address.  
 
 
 I've gotten this same information from a post office in Wisconsin and just this week checked here in California to be sure the info hasn't changed.
 
But I kind of had to drag this specific info out of the clerk.  I'm sure she wanted to collect the money for the service if she could.  But that kind of service is a waste of money for two reasons:
 
1)  For delivery confirmation, I can contact the person I'm mailing the package to and ask them if it was received...for free.
 
2)  If this service cannot track to the address delivered to, there's no hope of getting a mis-delivered package back or delivered correctly...unless the recipient is honest and caring and returns it to the post office out of the goodness of their heart.
 
 
I know lots of folks are not going to believe me on this, so all you need do is ask a postal worker when you mail your package.  But be sure to ask very specifically if the package can be tracked to the specific physical address it was delivered to. 
 
 
You'll get information that your package was delivered within the city it was addressed and within the zip code it was addressed and on what date and at what time, but you will not be able to find out exactly what address it was delivered to. 
 
With the many varied swaps going on all over the world, the post office makes pretty big money on this service that does you no good.  I cannot count the number of times I've read that someone mailed their work with delivery confirmation and tracking.  I just shake my head and hope for them that it doesn't get mis-delivered, because this service will not help find where that package went.

May all our mail be delivered properly!
Annie

Fat Orange Cat is going to live with Ellen
 Little Red Birdie is going to live with Lesley
 
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16 comments:

  1. MicheleOctober 7, 2012 at 6:17 AM

    I did not know that and thank you so much for the information. I'm going to have to look at another option to ensure my packages arrive where they are supposed to.

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  2. RachelOctober 7, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    Hi Annie!! OK, I did know this (the first post item taught me...LOL) I send a lot of flat rate boxes, I have a kid in college, far from home :-), So I am going to add when you can pay online there is a slight discount and delivery confirmation (of flat rate boxes) is free. For those of you who don't want to trek to the PO to ask, one of the boxes arrived to her last Friday and the delivery confirmation says, "Your package arrived at CITY, STATE on Friday, October 5th, 2012 at 10:21 a.m.", nice, right? Not to write a novel here (SORRY Annie!) but this is something that drives me crazy! OK, back to my coffee, have a great day!!

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  3. RachelOctober 7, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    /\ "The first LOST item"...sigh...see I need more coffee, LOL

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  4. ellen gets craftyOctober 7, 2012 at 9:50 AM

    I am so excited about Fat Orange Cat coming to live at my house. Thank you Annie! I will keep my faith that the USPS will handle this special postcard with care and it will arrive safely at my home.

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  5. RamonaOctober 7, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    Thanks for the info - especially since I have considered sending some of my quilts back down to California where I used to live to my girlfriend down there that does long arm quilting. It would be awful to lose a quilt or any other treasure in the mail.

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  6. bohemiannie! artOctober 7, 2012 at 10:28 AM

    My hubby's by-line this last week has been, "You Americans have it made"! I have to agree. While I used to fuss about the post office, it really beats the pure D $%#%% out of Colombia's mail system...um, I mean, NON system. I am happily mailing stuff from my Florida address and believing it WILL arrive. Be looking for somethin in the next couple weeks. We will finally be settled in the same place for 10 days beginning tomorrow and I'll get busy with my mail art. Woo Hoo!

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  7. Cindy SharpOctober 7, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    I have to say it...,sometimes I purchase delivery confirmation just so that I can have the fun of stalking the package at it moves across the country. It is fun...and cheeper than a lot of other amusements.

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  8. KarenOctober 7, 2012 at 12:33 PM

    This is a hot topic for me...it is so annoying how expensive shipping is...I do alot..and it can be hit or miss on delivery at times. So weird!

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  9. carolOctober 7, 2012 at 7:27 PM

    Well, imagine that???!!! I never knew that! And here I was going to mail two packages tomorrow and get delivery conformation too. I bet if someone has to sign for it, the delivery can be confirmed though. I wonder how much that costs?

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  10. sheila 77October 8, 2012 at 5:25 AM

    I've been very lucky in that all my swaps to and from the States have arrived safely, albeit maybe taking far longer than expected. I don't see the point of tracking, registering etc. - either it arrives or doesn't. Only if someone has signed for it could it possibly be found again but I don't think the Post Office is going to spend much time searching for a little pack of fabric lost between Here and Far Away, no matter how much we pay, although wouldn't it be nice if it was otherwise.

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  11. SnoodlesOctober 8, 2012 at 8:30 AM

    Oh my goodness, I didn't know this! Thanks so much for the details, Annie! I guess from now on I will use a service that has tracking numbers, ie., not the post office, or ante up more money and have the recipient sign for it... Wow! What an eye-opener. :)

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  12. DonnaRaeOctober 12, 2012 at 11:59 AM

    The service is provided for legal reasons. If you should ever need proof of mailing in court it is acceptable proof. I know. I have used it. So sometimes, not always, it is a needed cheaper service then many others.

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  13. waggonswestOctober 13, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    Hmmmm... now that is information to make me think. Although I believe on occasion the proof of mailing is probably worth the price of the service. Thanks for sharing the information.

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  14. AnnieOctober 13, 2012 at 8:26 PM

    I can't see where proof of mailing is going to do any good either unless you are mailing something that may become a legal action. And in that case, I'd be using return signature or certified mail. So I still don't see a good reason for it.

    For little quilt swaps and sending prizes....really, are you going to go to the expense and time to sue the postal system for an error in delivery?

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  15. LesleyOctober 14, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    I am so very excited to be awaiting Little Red Birdie! And I believe that little birdie will fly gleefully from post office to post office! I check the mail every day, but nothing yet! Our little birdies usually fly south, so this little cutie may have to change course! Thank you, Miss Annie...I can't wait to see it in person! You are a sweetie and so very generous!

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  16. UnknownOctober 27, 2012 at 4:15 PM

    Annie, thanks for this information. I send a lot of swap packages and always put that extra into the Delivery Confirmations. No longer! Might as well as the extra and use it to re-send if something doesn't make it there! Love your postcards; isn't making fabric postcards fun? If you ever want to do a swap let me know.
    http://quilterinmotion.net

    ReplyDelete

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