Millions of Americans rely on USPS annually to have their packages delivered safely and on time. As the volume of e-commerce grows and more porch pirates haunt neighborhoods, lost packages and missing packages become a maddeningly common experience.
Delayed arrival, lost shipment, or a delivery failure, understanding how USPS handles such situations can walk you through the process and protect your deliveries going forward.
This article explores two real customer experiences with USPS lost packages shared on Reddit.
These instances highlight the issues users face and provide guidelines on how to prevent such issues.
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One of the customers indicated that he tracked a FedEx SmartPost package that had been routed through USPS on Reddit. The package was shipped on September 17 and remained silent for 11 days before showing a mysterious update that the package "was handed over to USPS." Unfortunately, the customer never received a USPS tracking number, and the original FedEx tracking number did not work with the USPS tracking website.
Even though the tracking had the package in their state already, the date of delivery was listed as October 20th, far past what was reasonable. Package stealage was a problem in their area, so the customer wanted to ensure they would be home when the package arrived.
After FedEx was contacted, they told the customer that once the package had been turned over to USPS, only USPS could provide an update. But a call to USPS was placed, and they said that the package wasn't in their system, likely because it hadn't been scanned in yet. The merchant, when contacted, apologized and stated delivery would occur within 3-5 business days, but the customer doubted they would get much further help.
This story points out one of the typical traps of SmartPost and other hybrid delivery carriers, after a package has been switched from one carrier to another, visibility is lost. Tracking systems will not always be in real-time synchronization, and customers are left guessing if their package has been lost or just delayed.
In a second Reddit complaint forum on r/usps_complaints, a user shared the story of a USPS Ground Advantage package sent from Livonia, Michigan, to Lynnwood, Washington. 56x6x6 inches in size, the package was an unusual shape but of utmost personal importance.
After sitting dormant for 10 days without any tracking movement, the package mysteriously appeared at the Anchorage, Alaska Distribution Center, thousands of miles off its intended path. The customer was afraid it could be merely a routing error that would get fixed soon, but another 8 days passed and nothing else happened. Desperate, they requested a USPS missing package inquiry from USPS and sought advice on what else they could do from the Reddit community.
Like most others whose packages were lost, te=hey wondered whether the nonstandard size had delayed processing. Large or irregularly shaped packages occasionally require special handling, and this kind of treatment can lead them to bypass automated scan checkpoints. But misrouting to Alaska suggested a more basic sorting network logistical issue.
Their story is familiar to many shoppers who've had misrouted or missing USPS packages, evidence that even a national postal service sometimes gets items significantly off track by way of errors in barcode scanning, mechanical sorting, or human mistake.
If a USPS package goes missing or takes days in transit with no status updates, the following are the possible reasons:
a. Scanning Delays
Sometimes packages aren't scanned in transit at each transfer location, creating seemingly empty tracking "gaps." The package might still be en route, but without notice, customers assume it is lost.
b. Routing Mistakes
Misrouting is a common issue, especially at high volumes, where one poor barcode scan can send a package across the country.
c. Size or Shape Abnormalities
Big or oddly shaped packages can be sorted through automated systems, requiring sorting manually. This is likely to result in delays and missed scans.
d. Address Problems
Incorrect or poorly written addresses can result in packages being held, returned, or withheld.
e. Carrier Transfers
Hybrid delivery options like FedEx SmartPost or UPS SurePost involve a handoff to USPS for final delivery. Oversight falls apart here, with customers receiving minimal visibility.
If your package has not been updated in several days, or appears to have gone missing, there are critical steps you can take:
Step 1: Check Tracking Carefully
Check most current scan history detail. If it indicates "In Transit," it likely is still in transit, despite no update in a while.
Step 2: Wait a Reasonable Amount of Time
Some shipments, especially Ground Advantage or Media Mail, may be slow. Wait at least a couple of days past the estimated delivery date before calling in reinforcements.
Step 3: Call USPS
Call USPS or visit your local post office. Provide the tracking number and other details, such as the senders' address or the kind of shipment. Sometimes the postal clerks can locate internal tracking data that is unavailable to customers.
Step 4: File a Missing Mail Request
You can file a Missing Mail Search at the USPS website. Enter accurate information, dimensions, contents, and photos if available. USPS will search and notify you via email of the result.
Step 5: Contact the Sender or Merchant
If your shipment was an online purchase, alert the seller. Companies usually have a policy of replacement or refund once USPS reports a package as lost.
Step 6: Check Nearby or Alternative Delivery Locations
Packages in the "Delivered" status sometimes wind up at a neighbor's place, a package locker, or behind the furniture on your porch. Always check thoroughly before reporting theft.
Porch piracy is among the most rapidly growing crimes in the United States with thousands of incidents reported every day. Porch pirates generally stalk delivery trucks or prowl around neighborhoods during peak delivery times. If you believe the package has been stolen, take the following steps:
Report the Theft
Prevent Future Thefts
Other than missing packages or missing USPS packages, most users get missed packages or missed deliveries, particularly with signature confirmation. Carriers sometimes attempt to mark an item as "attempted delivery" if the recipient was present.
To correct missed deliveries, customers are able to:
Missed or delayed delivery is inconvenient, but taking initiative and using resources available through USPS can minimize inconvenience.
With more and more individuals doing their shopping online, more demand for safe package storage and protection of deliveries follows. While USPS has taken steps to improve tracking and delivery, customers can only do so much once the parcel is beyond the hands of the sender.
To prevent disappointment in the future due to misplaced, stolen, or lost packages, it is a wise idea to explore alternative delivery options such as:
These solutions offer the confidence that your packages arrive safely, not sitting around on your front door.
For customers fed up with lost packages, missed deliveries, and package theft, Stowfly is a brilliant, sensible solution. Stowfly is a nationwide package receiving service designed to eliminate the stress of home deliveries..
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Benefits of Having Stowfly
No matter whether missed packages are something that happens frequently, you worry about porch pirates, or require reliable package storage, Stowfly offers relief and convenience.
The agitated USPS customers' complaints reveal how lost packages, disorienting delivery, and limited monitoring visibility are transforming normal shipment into a traumatic process. From the misplaced packages to delivered carrier delays, these issues are far from rare.
While USPS is still an integral component of the national delivery network, customers can take an active role themselves, e.g., use package lockers, pay rent on a mailbox space, or sign up for Stowfly, to have their packages delivered safely and securely.
As there's more package theft and inconsistent delivery performance, companies like Stowfly are no longer just a convenience, they're a necessity for protecting your valuable shipments to avoid Amazon missing packages, UPS lost packages, FedEx stolen packages, and USPS missing packages.