USPS Shipping delays

[FmGrowit]

We get between 6 -10 calls or emails a day asking about shipping delays. We process your order within 24 hours, the USPS picks up your order and then is supposed to deliver it.
Due to the virus, the mail-in election, and now the Holidays, there is a national backup of all mail.

Once we surrender your order to the USPS, it is quite literally out of our hands. There is no sense in calling us and cussing us out because your order is delayed. Re-shipping your order will do no good what so ever, nor is there any way we can possibly afford to stay in business if we re-shipped every order that has been delayed.

Please try to understand, there is no magic phone number we can call to find out where your order is or to ask it be expedited.

 

[Iowalez]

A lost or delayed package should be taken up with the post office. Every WLT shipment has a tracking number.

For US orders, your local postal clerk can put out an alert on the tracking number to the main regional sorting facility your mail travels through. I was told that facility often "bumps" the sorting facility where it was last scanned, with the alert.

However, my WLT package traveled from Cincinnati through Des Moines without being scanned, over 5 days (by oxcart, I think, lol). My local clerk thought it was sitting in Cincinnati, but it was scanned in Waterloo the next morning, a Saturday, and in my hands that afternoon. The Friday alert on it wasnt triggered because it wasnt scanned in Des Moines, and my tiny post office is closed on Saturdays.

So your delayed package that appears to be just sitting somewhere, is very likely moving, albeit slowly, and simply not being scanned en route, just like mine. I'm thinking some packages are being sorted by hand, without being scanned by the machines. The USPS is reeling from staff shortages due to covid 19, on top of everything else affecting mail delivery right now, my clerk said. I was afraid it had gotten lost after it left Cinncinati, thinking the worst.

My WLT package was my Christmas present to myself, so I was not happy it was delayed, but my displeasure has nothing to do with WLT. They processed and shipped my order the same day. I was like an excited kid waiting for Santa Claus to come, because its probably the only present I'm going to get, and the delay felt unbearable. However everything worked out in the end.

 

[deluxestogie]

"Today at 5:18 AM" Yikes, Don! Don't forget to sleep!

I think that every adult in the US (outside of elder care facilities) knows that shipping by USPS, UPS, FedEx and others is a mess right now.

Bob

 

[stdly]

Two weeks to Canada again gotta like it.

 

[Kokomo]

I'll admit I'm anxious but staying calm for the time being. My dad (15 mins down the road) got a notice for pickup and 1,700 something for duties to be paid. He'll be sending it back to CBSA for reassessment. My package however shows last in Cleveland and no updates since the 27th. I'll just sit here patiently but how long is too long to wait for USPS to get on the ball?

 

[Iowalez]

I

I'll admit I'm anxious but staying calm for the time being. My dad (15 mins down the road) got a notice for pickup and 1,700 something for duties to be paid. He'll be sending it back to CBSA for reassessment. My package however shows last in Cleveland and no updates since the 27th. I'll just sit here patiently but how long is too long to wait for USPS to get on the ball?

Are you in Canada? Or? I own a business and regularly ship to other countries. Once a package going across the border leaves the US and enters Customs, there are no more scans or tracking in the USPS system, because it is now in the foreign mail system.

Your package is very likely moving in the system without being scanned. It isn't just sitting in Cleveland. Clearing customs can take time. I ordered books from London one time and US Customs took a month to clear the package. If you're in the US, put out an alert at your local post office.

 

[Radagast]

Two weeks to Canada again gotta like it.

Quick question for you as a fellow Canadian..
Does Canadian customs ever charge you for Latakia as being 'processed' or anything like that?

 

[Kokomo]

I


Are you in Canada? Or? I own a business and regularly ship to other countries. Once a package going across the border leaves the US and enters Customs, there are no more scans or tracking in the USPS system, because it is now in the foreign mail system.

Your package is very likely moving in the system without being scanned. It isn't just sitting in Cleveland. Clearing customs can take time. I ordered books from London one time and US Customs took a month to clear the package. If you're in the US, put out an alert at your local post office.

In Canada yes. New Brunswick actually but born in Harlan IA. I miss the cornfields and rolling hills.
Anyways this is maybe my seventh order. I usually switch to Canada Post tracking once passed the border which will update the rest. My concern is every order heads to Akron and then to Chicago. This one that last updated the 27th went to Cleveland Distribution and that's all.
I have good supply for now but it was my biggest order yet so overly anxious for it.

 

[deluxestogie]

Imagine every person (man, woman, child) in all of Canada putting one item into the mail every day--day after day. Might be a letter. Might be a huge box. That is the kind of load that the USPS is coping with right now, while their primary, long distance carrier (cargo space in commercial airline flights) has been reduced by more than 2/3. In general, it all seems to be moving more steadily than the tracking thereof might indicate.

Bob

 

[stdly]

Quick question for you as a fellow Canadian..
Does Canadian customs ever charge you for Latakia as being 'processed' or anything like that?

No I don't believe so I order 3-4 pounds of latakia each order. The latakia has stems I was worried about the Perique but it was ok.
I never order more than 6 pounds at a time as there are restrictions on yearly and per order importing to Canada, not sure if it's enforced.
I had to pay around $28 on the last order and $9 of that was a duty service charge, that was on a 5 pound order.

 

[Radagast]

No I don't believe so I order 3-4 pounds of latakia each order. The latakia has stems I was worried about the Perique but it was ok.
I never order more than 6 pounds at a time as there are restrictions on yearly and per order importing to Canada, not sure if it's enforced.
I had to pay around $28 on the last order and $9 of that was a duty service charge, that was on a 5 pound order.

Thank you for that

 

[Iowalez]

Its great that you can track it in Canada. I do ship to Canada but my customers have never needed to track a delayed package so far. I guess they've been lucky. My shipments aren't big boxes, but my merchandise is very expensive so I insure them. My European customers have no tracking after it gets to a US depot to be put on a plane. A customer in the Netherlands is waiting for delivery now. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for him to get it. He'll let me know right away.

Lezlie

In Canada yes. New Brunswick actually but born in Harlan IA. I miss the cornfields and rolling hills.
Anyways this is maybe my seventh order. I usually switch to Canada Post tracking once passed the border which will update the rest. My concern is every order heads to Akron and then to Chicago. This one that last updated the 27th went to Cleveland Distribution and that's all.
I have good supply for now but it was my biggest order yet so overly anxious for it.

 

[stdly]

Its great that you can track it in Canada. I do ship to Canada but my customers have never needed to track a delayed package so far. I guess they've been lucky. My shipments aren't big boxes, but my merchandise is very expensive so I insure them. My European customers have no tracking after it gets to a US depot to be put on a plane. A customer in the Netherlands is waiting for delivery now. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for him to get it. He'll let me know right away.

Lezlie

I follow my packages on Canada post and USPS.
The USPS site continues to give updates after your delivery enters Canada and sometimes has updates before the Canada Post site?
Also the WLT site has tracking you can follow.

 

[FmGrowit]

Found it. Your order is...

 

[FmGrowit]

It might be time to revisit the Pony Express.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I order things online from time to time. If I have the choice of ordering from the UK, or USA, I'll choose UK. Costs less, and usually takes the same amount of time, if not less. Heck, I've had car parts from NZ take less time and cost less in shipping than USPS. At least USPS is cheaper than couriers, and don't charge a customs brokerage fee on top. So there's that.

 

[MarcL]

Where was that picture taken? I see my parcel in there!

Say lets take a moment and thank all the individuals in their efforts taken to help those in need creating this unusual experience for us.

 

[Iowalez]

I've got the board to fasten my new shredder to coming by media mail from my son's dad in Mendocino. It took a day to get scanned at the main origin facility in SF and is still there. Its supposed to arrive by the 21st. Priority mail from him is always on time, but I've never had a tracking number from.him before, so I'm interested to see what route it takes amidst the shipping crush.

 

[FmGrowit]

We have come to terms with UPS and will make the necessary modifications to the website today. Hopefully, this will offer discounted shipping costs and faster service.

 

[MarcL]

Where was that picture taken? I see my parcel in there!

Say lets take a moment and thank all the individuals in their efforts taken to help those in need creating this unusual experience for us.

No movement since 12/8. A pause on 12/12. I think it will get a move on its own time. Very busy they are.