USPS service November 14, 2018, 12:30:45 pm For many years the post office has been scanning the covers of all the mail sent. No news there. A few days ago I found out about this service call 'Informed Delivery'. They, the post office, will email you daily a copy of that image and also allow you to tack assorted packages.Welcome | USPS
Re: USPS service Reply #1 – November 14, 2018, 01:22:27 pm Color me skeptical. My experience with USPS tracking has been that it borders on useless.I buy a lot of things from Amazon--dozens of orders per year--and I track everything using the handy macOS/iOS Delivery Status apps. Amazon uses USPS, FedEx, UPS and (on the west coast) OnTrac. UPS and FedEx tracking is generally excellent; it's easy to find out where your package it at any stage of its journey. OnTrac tracking isn't quite as good, but it's still usable. USPS tracking generally amounts to "Yeah, it's on the way," with no further details. Fairly often I've seen USPS say that a package is still on the way even after it's been delivered!The combination of incomplete and (sometimes) incorrect information makes the Postal Service the worst of package delivery services, in my experience. 1 Likes
Re: USPS service Reply #2 – November 14, 2018, 01:25:53 pm Since we are on the subject, the postal service was just approved for a variety of price increases for 2019. Forever stamps will increase to .55 from .50 so buy your stamps now!https://www.foxbusiness.com/financials/usps-gets-record-high-stamp-price-hike-as-losses-mount
Re: USPS service Reply #3 – November 14, 2018, 02:32:43 pm I have been using Informed Delivery for about two years. I find it useful.As Andy indicated, USPS package tracking is less than stellar (barely useful). I use the Informed Delivery service to determine what normal sized pieces of mail should be in my mailbox each day. When I’m traveling, I know when bills, checks, or other important mail pieces are expected to arrive and can get help with handling the paperwork (from others in the household). When I’m home, I know if some of my mail has gone missing (this has only happened once since I started Informed Delivery and I used the service to report the item missing). There have been a couple of days where an image of the mail piece was in my morning email and the item didn’t arrive until the following delivery day. Rarely, a piece of mail will show up when it was not included in the morning email (large envelopes, and some flyers and the like are not included in the email). Using informed delivery, I can also review what should have been delivered in the last week (there is no forward looking information except for the marginal information about packages).There are some snooping security concerns (see USPS ‘Informed Delivery’ Is Stalker’s Dream — Krebs on Security). USPS claims to be making the signup process more secure.Sue 2 Likes
Re: USPS service Reply #4 – November 24, 2018, 08:56:11 pm Apropos of the Postal Service's tracking, I just had to share this informative USPS message about a recent Amazon order:In Transit to Next Facility: Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered to its final destination. It is currently in transit to the next facility.Status updated yesterday.Delivery date unknown."We don't know where it is or when you'll get it, but everything is fine." Thanks a lot! 1 Likes
Re: USPS service Reply #5 – November 25, 2018, 07:41:39 am I also find USPS informed delivery to be pretty useless. Never have had a day when all pieces of a days mail were scanned and sent to me in an email.In todays world of electronic banking, and our frequent different residences or locations, I have set up all my finances electronically and don't depend on mail catching up with us. Also allows for easy checking on all accounts at any time or place.Tom
Re: USPS service Reply #6 – February 02, 2019, 12:30:28 pm Just signed up for the free Informed Delivery service through USPS and so far am liking it. Just started it so not sure if they scan all the mail but it's kinda neat being able to see what's in our PO Box as we only "get to town" once or twice a week!
Re: USPS service Reply #7 – February 02, 2019, 03:25:47 pm Quote from: HiLola - February 02, 2019, 12:30:28 pmJust signed up for the free Informed Delivery service through USPS and so far am liking it. Just started it so not sure if they scan all the mail but it's kinda neat being able to see what's in our PO Box as we only "get to town" once or twice a week! I have used it for a couple months and it works OK. It will be useful when away from home if we are waiting for something important. Most of the first class mail gets scanned as well as some the third class stuff. Flyers do not get scanned.Larry
Re: USPS service Reply #8 – February 02, 2019, 03:53:30 pm It’s only been a couple of days, Larry, but they did scan a Costco flyer which surprised me.
Re: USPS service Reply #9 – February 03, 2019, 09:07:21 am We've been using USPS Informed Delivery for a few years. Works great as far as our needs are concerned. Very helpful and fairly accurate. If we're traveling it's nice to be able to see what's coming and let our neighbor know if we need anything forwarded or opened which is rare. I keep it going while we are home based too. Handy service to have.