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Sometimes when you send a package with the Postal Service (or any carrier, for that matter), it ends up taking longer than expected to arrive. If you’re a sender or recipient and you’ve found yourself in this situation, here are some next steps you can take with USPS, along with some things to keep in mind for the future.
Table of Contents
- What Can I Do if My USPS Package is Delayed?
- The Delivery Timeframes are Estimates and Not Guarantees
- Consider a Quicker Service or Another Carrier in the Future
What Can I Do if My USPS Package is Delayed?
Unfortunately, the only real thing you can do in these situations is simply to wait until the package arrives. However, if your package still hasn’t arrived at its destination 15 calendar days after shipment, you may be eligible to file an insurance claim directly with USPS (depending on which service you shipped with).
Pro Tip: If you shipped Priority Mail Express, then you only have to wait 7 days before filing a claim.
The Delivery Timeframes are Estimates and Not Guarantees
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Postal Service’s advertised delivery timeframes are estimates and not guarantees. People often confuse a delivery estimate with a delivery guarantee. For example, the delivery estimate for USPS First Class Package Service is typically 1-3 business days. It’s not unusual for a package to arrive a couple of days later than this timeframe. On the other hand, we’ve also seen many packages arrive quicker than expected.
The Only USPS Service with Guaranteed Delivery is Priority Mail Express
If you’d prefer a service with guaranteed delivery, your only option is to ship Priority Mail Express. USPS Priority Mail Express is the fastest service the Postal Service offers, with overnight delivery to most locations. Also, if USPS doesn’t deliver your express package by the guaranteed delivery timeframe, you’ll be eligible to receive a full refund for your postage! So, if you’re shipping time-sensitive or perishable products, Priority Mail Express is the way to go.
Consider a Guaranteed Service or Another Carrier in the Future
In the future, the best way to protect against potential package delays is to pay for a guaranteed delivery service such as Priority Mail Express, as we mentioned earlier. There are also many other services that you can choose from other carriers like UPS that won’t break the bank, such as UPS 3-Day Select and UPS 2nd Day Air. UPS, while more expensive than USPS in most cases, often features quicker delivery timeframes. Moreover, each UPS label comes with $100 of carrier liability that you can claim if your package goes missing or arrives damaged.
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Del Lockhart
I am on a 10th day of waiting for a package. It is “delayed” in Houston, Texas. And…it’s being shipped to me from the USPS!!!!
Dolores
It is SO FRUSTRATING to be waiting 4 days or more on a package that was shipped from a town less than an hour away! Even more frustrating is when the tracking said it would arrive within two days, and then after 4 days, there’s no longer an estimate when it will arrive.
I’m in Kansas City, Missouri and the label was created on the 6th, received by the post office on the 7th. Usually it takes overnight to get to me, but lately, it’ll come from Harrisonville, spend a day or two in Kansas City MO, then is sent to Kansas City KS for another day or two, then is sent back to Kansas City MO and THEN out for delivery the next day. This is so unacceptable beings the cost of postage is so high these days. I’ll drive and pick up my purchases from now on and save the $9. I might spend that much in gas, but at least I’ll have my purchase within an hour–not 4 days and going past into the weekend!
dan utecht
mailed certified letter3/20/23 to Portland,or. about a five hr. drive, 3/27/23 still in transit arriving late.. absolutely incompetent service and the post office could care less.
Paul
I have had several packaged late by a day or two BUT I want to thank all the employees at the Post Office for showing up to work during these difficult times and working as hard as you all do. Much appreciated
Bruh
Shut up dude, literally everyone had to deal with this not just postal service workers. How do you think literally everyone else feels that can’t even go to work? They showed up because it’s their job. Same with everyone else.
Mitch
I’m just pissed you can’t provide answers and you don’t even try to.
Mitch
Neither rain, no r sleet, nor snow nor hail, shall keep an appointed postmaster from completing their rounds. What the fuck is your excuse? I paid for a service, render the fucking service and shut your whore mouth while you serve me.
Josh
So I ordered something on Monday morning only for it to sit in a warehouse for two days then to get delayed by 3 what an awful service
Maggie
Forget about using usps for packages. They use every possible excuses they could possibly use for delayed delivery. USPS is a company you can never rely on when it comes to time sensitive products.
Ray Battiston
I have shipped a package on May 3rd 2021 from NOTL, Ontario , Canada (we’re 7 minutes from the US border, but yes, I do not it has to go through Customs too. As of May 30th it still has not arrived in Cedar Park, Texas. The shipping tracking number just indicates it reached a foreign country (US) and “is in transit”. When the border was open, we used to drive the package to the US Post Office in Lewiston, and it would normally get to Texas in 3 or 4 days. Letters from Florida to Ontario are taking 7 to 14 days.
Avery Stover
I ordered a king sleeve chef coat and it has been a week since the tracking number was sent
kevin Agg
USPS lost a package I sent from the UK November 2020, then told me next time ensure proper labels for recipient and sender! Now I have Two more delayed by about 2 weeks. Through Chicago. I ship for business worldwide. USPS were so reliable a few years ago now they are the worst I have come across and that includes the likes of China, Russia and Italy.
Leanne
I had a package shipped out last Saturday from Connecticut to long island and it’s still not here 9 days later, it was supposed to take 1-3 days
Orionsune
HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHASHAHAHA EXPECT PACKAGE IN 3-5 DAYS INSTEAD?!?!?!?!?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I’m staring at a tracking number on USPS site that has been delayed for over 3 weeks and it is priority package. In fact, the past 5 packages I’ve ordered from various locations have all been delayed by at least a week if not more.
Bao
Agreed. I have bought 5 packages within the last 2 months. All of them have been delayed by atleast 1 week by the shitty “In transit, arriving late” message. They always try to blame it on the weather and covid-19, we know it isn’t fucking Covid-19 nor weather, the weather is just fine. Ever since Louis Dejoy has gotten the rank of PMG, he has been sabotaging the entire postal service.
Bridget Cafarella
I order items from Mercari and you usually get the items in 3 days,but almost all my items have been taking a week or more to get here.The seller needs to be rated within 3 days to get paid,and I am trusting I will get the packages,Thank Goodness I found out that if I do not rate them in 3 days,they still will be paid,because it is not their fault the items have been delayed and therevis proof the items have been shipped.
Billy Suter
The mail is delayed because of Covid 19, inclimate weather and every other problem that FEDEX and UPS is experiencing,but FEDEX and UPS seem to still deliver on time and actually make a profit doing it. Perhaps the USPS has outlived it’s usefulness and purpose.
BASIR
I ordered from a package store on 12/29/2020, was supposed to arrive on January 6th,2021.still I don’t have my package.when i truck my package saying it is in Philadelphia on January 12th since no more information.
Clendon Purnell
Shipped package Priority Flat rate Box 2 day To Philadelphia 12-14-2020 Still has not arrived 12/20/2020
Brenda
all my package been late 1 come for Texas To Arkansas shipped June 22 I got it July 7
2 pacage shipped July 10 and I have not got the package it be going few months I can understand if only few days late a few but all of my package Had few other packages was late to
Lissie Wickes
Hi John –
I have 3 packages I’ve shipped from the US to Canada beginning of July. At two separate customs (Miami and LA), one was processed July the 15th and two others July 24th. It’s now the 27th and they’ve all received no other additional tracking. It’s not just you! I sure hope it doesn’t take my clients 7 weeks to get their packages! I hope yours arrives soon!
John Ippolito
I ordered a small package from the Netherlands in early April. USPS tracking says that the package was processed through Chicago ISC on April 16 @ 9:49 A.M. There’s been no update since. Is there anyone else with a similar situation? I’m trying to get answers. I don’t think that it disappeared but why no update in seven weeks?
Jamie lloyd
I was supposed to get my stuff last week on Monday but then missed it. Rescheduled it for Wensday and it has been stuck in transit since.
Rajen
I sent a shipment to Sweden and it’s been sitting in Chicago since May. I am in the similar situation as well. I don’t know what to do.
Vicki Neuleib
The USPS is messing up deliveries of my stolen family treasures to others.
Craig McCall
Same here , Departed Chicago for days now NOTHING !!