Pony Mail Nightmares?

[Heelys]

At the beginning of this month, I finished up a pair of customs a trusted friend of mine commissioned and mailed them over to her with the agreement that she'd pay when they got there. I haven't requested up-front payment yet, but it's now been twenty days, and it seems that they've been lost in the mail. I sent a lost mail request at the two week mark, but I've been told that it also takes about two weeks to process such a request. I didn't request tracking on the package for two reasons:
1. It was my first time using stamps.com and there was a fee, and
2. The recipient lives less that twenty minutes away from me. I figured it would take, like, two days.

Has the Pony Express ever left you feeling heartbroken? What are your mail stories?

[lovesbabysquirmy]

ooooooh no.  in the middle of a pandemic was the worst time to NOT put tracking on a parcel
all you can do is wait... and hope that your package is a pile of others waiting to escape the backlog.

ugh it's the worst feeling, I am sorry to hear you are experiencing it

[Heelys]

ooooooh no.  in the middle of a pandemic was the worst time to NOT put tracking on a parcel
all you can do is wait... and hope that your package is a pile of others waiting to escape the backlog.

ugh it's the worst feeling, I am sorry to hear you are experiencing it

At least I've learned my lesson... I've got another pony to ship out soon to a couple cities over, and this whole mess is making me anxious. I guarantee I'll do tracking this time.

Side note: I'm currently ten minutes in to the hold music on the phone with USPS. At least this time I got someone to pick up and transfer me to the Lost Mail department instead of going to a busy tone.

EDIT: gave up on the call after two hours on hold.

[Pumpkin_Tart]

If this makes you feel better, I have had packages that had not had tracking updates for weeks but then suddenly get tracking updates and/or arrive after I have submitted a where is my package request. Sometimes it helps packages get moving..I am so sorry that happened to you! I am crossing my fingers that your package makes it to it’s destination!

[SkyCakes]

I really feel for people who just can't pay the extra for trackin even if it peace of mind knowing the package will get there. I  hope it goes to the person. I think this is always a problem. :/ I signed up for a mail small business card for this reason.

[starbritesprinkles]

This girl was lost over 10 years ago and never recovered. I had to remake her. The tracking code said it was out for delivery, but it never updated to show it was actually delivered. 

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[Heelys]

This girl was lost over 10 years ago and never recovered. I had to remake her. The tracking code said it was out for delivery, but it never updated to show it was actually delivered. 

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Oh god. That’s awful! She must have taken you so long!

[banditpony]

Sorry to hear that. :/

Just as a tidbit, I've noticed if I'm sending to somewhere close, a package sometimes goes to a large sorting facility first 50 miles away just based on how logistics are... even if it's only going to a few towns over.

If you have paypal, you should be able to ship through there with https://www.paypal.com/shipnow if someone hasn't paid you yet. It'll give a bit of discount off retail, and it will always have a tracking number.

I had no idea people could still ship without tracking numbers as it's bundled into retail price these days.

Out of the 100s of packages I've sent, only 2 have disappeared. 1 to an ex, and the other was for a big lot of ponies sent internationally in which I was a middleman for making no profit. u_u;

I once had an incoming package get severely delayed because there was a mercury spill at the facility and they closed it for a few weeks. o_o; Hopefully your delay is just something similar, due to covid...

[Carrehz]

oh nooo, sorry to hear that I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's just the pandemic holding things up. I had a heck of a time trying to get a parcel from the US a few months ago - that had tracking, but it did go AWOL for a while (tracking not updating, etc). Turned up safely in the end, though - I hope yours does, too

[aquamarinemolly]

I would double check your original USPS shipping...I believe that ALL packages are assigned a tracking number now.

"USPS® package tracking is automatically included with all USPS domestic shipping products with the exception of commercial Standard Mail packages (tracking feature can be added for an extra fee)." From here: https://online-shipping-blog.endicia.com/usps-package-tracking-information-fedex-ups-usps-shipping-comparison/#:~:text=USPS%C2%AE%20package%20tracking%20is,starting%20at%20the%20postal%20facility.

[Leave a Whisper]

I sent a pony off and she was stuck in Los Angeles from the 13th to the 29th. Ugh. I hope she gets to her destination soon.

[Heelys]

I would double check your original USPS shipping...I believe that ALL packages are assigned a tracking number now.

"USPS® package tracking is automatically included with all USPS domestic shipping products with the exception of commercial Standard Mail packages (tracking feature can be added for an extra fee)." From here: https://online-shipping-blog.endicia.com/usps-package-tracking-information-fedex-ups-usps-shipping-comparison/#:~:text=USPS%C2%AE%20package%20tracking%20is,starting%20at%20the%20postal%20facility.

My trouble was that I didn't use a USPS shipping label, I was trying out Stamps.com. I sent out another package today and was sure to use USPS with tracking and insurance, wish me the best!