I sold a large and expensive video game item recently to someone in Arkansas. I packed it up in a large box and sent it, with tracking #, from the northeast US to Arkansas. The package hasn't been delivered yet, and in fact the locations its been look like this: 1) Accepted at my local post facility 2) Departed my local post facility 3) Arrived at USPS sort facility in Richmond, California (3000 miles away from me and 2000 miles away from the buyer) (blackhole) The package is now a couple days overdue to be delivered. Why the heck would the USPS ship my item clear across the country, far away from the delivery location? There are more than enough sorting facilities much closer to either the northeast US, southern US, or midwest that are all much closer and on the way to the buyer. Here are my speculations: -USPS mistake, where they intended for it to go to a sorting facility in Richmond VA -The size of the cardboard box necessitated it going to a specialized facility -An xray or other scan of the item made it seem suspicious and Richmond CA is a facility where they are equipped to investigate package contents -The package is stolen by USPS employees I have no doubt that I wrote the correct address and zip on the package, in fact my receipt from the post office shows the correct address. Anyone have any experience that would suggest one of my speculations is more likely than the other in this bizarre context? A google search turns up that this facility in particular receives numerous complaints for lost packages and packages being delivered weeks and months late, and packages exhibiting signs of having been opened or inspected, but its usually for people expecting delivery on the west coast, so its still the local sorting facility for these people.
I'm curious to find out too. I received a couple of packages in the past in which the tracking informations indicate they traveled seemingly wrong/opposite direction during their shipment.
Might've gotten on the wrong plane, thing is I don't think there is a mail sorting center out in Richmond, CA. There is one in West Sacramento and Oakland (not sure about further south) but not Richmond. Packages can and do get redirected to weird places on occasion but I'd suggest calling USPS up and finding out what's going on.
Looking at the status again, it actually didn't say sort facility, just "usps facility" Ah well, probably a fruitless call to customer service is in order.
Not sure if I can post here but I have an order for an XDK with Sidecar, when I received it, there a big hole at the side of the box and the Sidecar and XDK was DETACHED by itself! Small broken plastic can seen as I unbox the unit further. Cant imagine the rough handling of the USPS staff. Thanks god, it wasn't stolen by them!
Call them and request an investigation for a package that hasn't been delivered. Surprisingly, I had this happen, it was black-holed in PA for over 2 weeks. After I called it magically showed up to the buyer in CA in 4 days.
Tracking can sometimes never work, this is the issue with a lot of things I order. You're best to call customer service.
I recently had a similar issue and my package got bounced between sorting facilities for a month, ended up in the Bahamas and I got it nearly four months later and in the whole span of time the tracking hadn't been updated outside of being bounced between the facilities. I'd give them a call regardless.
The item actually appears to have made it to Arkansas and was delivered today. Hope its all in one piece
Good to hear! Assuming everything showed up as you said, that's a pretty decent conclusion. Glad it didn't up in the USPS black hole or limbo.
I feel you, I mailed a package to someone 2 hours away and it came to them in pieces. I sent a replacement and it came to them crushed again.... USPS I'm not your buddy, pal.
It's crazy but sometimes taking a longer route is cheaper. USPS seems to do this from my experiences.
