Proper action for a stolen package from a Buy/Sell/Trade transaction

[facingthelake1188]

Hi Rick,
So the postal service can actually track packages via GPS? Is that on all packages or does a package have to be shipped priority or by another delivery method? What is the GPS attached to, the label with the scan bar code? Thx for this info.
Larry

Originally Posted by buymycards

As a former Postmaster who tracked down many packages, I can tell you that if you think that a 'delivered" package was not delivered to your address, your Postmaster can tell you, within 2-3 minutes, where the package was actually delivered. There were many times when I looked at the GPS tracking, and I told my customer to look on their deck, or in the garage, or on their back porch, because the GPS shows, within a few inches, where the package and the carrier was when the "delivered" scan was made. Of course, there were many other times when I discovered that the package was delivered to 406 Oak St. rather than 406 Walnut St., or that the package was delivered to a neighbor.

[Bigdaddy]

I would assume the GPS tracker is part of their hand held scanner. Wherever that scanner is when it scans the barcode and marks the package as 'delivered', then that is the GPS location.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

I would assume the GPS tracker is part of their hand held scanner. Wherever that scanner is when it scans the barcode and marks the package as 'delivered', then that is the GPS location.

My old mail carrier would scan her packages at the truck before she put them in the bag. So its not foolproof.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by facingthelake1188

Hi Rick,
So the postal service can actually track packages via GPS? Is that on all packages or does a package have to be shipped priority or by another delivery method? What is the GPS attached to, the label with the scan bar code? Thx for this info.
Larry

All packages that have a bar-code can be tracked. First Class, Priority, Express, Registered, Media Mail, Parcel Post. The carrier's scanner scans the barcode on the shipping label, and immediately uploads the info into the tracking system. The information is available to the Postmaster within seconds of delivery and it only takes the Postmaster or Supervisor a couple of minutes to pull up a Google Map that shows exactly where the delivery scan was performed. This info isn't available to most clerks and carriers - just management employees.

The problem is that some carriers don't want to carry their scanner around the route, so they scan several packages while they are inside their vehicle, which is against the rules and doesn't provide useful tracking data. I always spot checked the scans my carriers were making to make sure they were not making the delivery scans until they were actually putting the package in the mailbox. If a customer had a problem, and the carrier didn't perform the scan properly, I would have the customer come to the Post Office so the carrier could explain why he didn't do his job properly.

When used properly, the info on Google Maps will show, within a few inches, exactly where the delivery scan was performed.

As far as what James said about some employees being too lazy to provide this information, he is correct. When I was still working, several times a day I would receive an email or a phone call from neighboring Post Offices asking me to look up the GPS information for them. I didn't mind because I loved trying to track packages for customers.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by buymycards

The problem is that some carriers don't want to carry their scanner around the route, so they scan several packages while they are inside their vehicle, which is against the rules and doesn't provide useful tracking data.

On several occasions, I've received notifications that USPS deliveries were made to me, often very late in the day, when that for sure wasn't the case, but with the items actually being delivered the next day. I assume carriers are just scanning multiple items they plan on delivering but don't want to actually spend the time scanning upon each delivery. Glad the items have all arrived, so far, in such cases but of course, until I do get them, I worry that they've been mis-delivered or stolen. Very frustrating.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by icollectDCsports

On several occasions, I've received notifications that USPS deliveries were made to me, often very late in the day, when that for sure wasn't the case, but with the items actually being delivered the next day. I assume carriers are just scanning multiple items they plan on delivering but don't want to actually spend the time scanning upon each delivery. Glad the items have all arrived, so far, in such cases but of course, until I do get them, I worry that they've been mis-delivered or stolen. Very frustrating.

Seconded - I’ve had the exact same experience, also multiple times (in the last six weeks). The false “delivered” scans are always recorded as being about 5 minutes before the official close of the day they had been scanned as out for delivery, but I get the alerts at around 4 am, so I assume it has something to do with gaming the scanning system to avoid a negative mark on a delivery record or something.

[bobbyw8469]

Your tracking number just got a hit....you have movement!!!!!!

[hammertime]

Patience is a virtue.

(one I often don't possess myself, but nonetheless)

[bobbyw8469]

Due to be delivered today!!! Did the seller already refund??? Glad to see your item has been relocated.