What Good Is USPS Tracking?

I'm disappointed with the new eBay tracking for postcards and inexpensive items. This is some sort of custom/non-standard tracking they've worked out with USPS. Why I'm disappointed, is that the item ALWAYS registers as "Delivered" well before (a whole day or two) before it ACTUALLY arrives in my mailbox. It cannot be depended on like REAL tracking to indicate that USPS actually thinks they delivered it to your mailbox (very bad for return items or delivery guarantee).

Much like other 'discount' services (i.e. Media mail), USPS only tracks 'start' and 'end' locations. My experience is that the 'end' location is the regional distribution center and NOT my local post office. As such, it shows 'out for delivery' 2-3 days before the item is actually in my town (especially if it is on the weekend or holiday).
Don

Occasionaly an eBay purchase will have an eBay tracking number.

eBay Delivery Services tracking #ESUS44444444
Jan 4, 2022
8:48pm
In Transit
Newton Falls, OH 44444
Jan 4, 2022
4:44am
Tracking number provided

Above is an example of the information they initially provide but I have never had one updated with ANY additional information
I click on the Track icon and the information NEVER changes.

What good is it???

It meets the minimum eBay requirements. If folks want end-to-end tracking, then they can pay for one of the more costly shipping methods. Discounted services do not include end-to-end tracking.
Don

I find it interesting as to how the same tracking number can show different information when accessed through eBay and accessed using the postal carrier's site. I have had a situation where the eBay info shows the item "In Transit" for weeks after shipment, never showing "Delivered" while the postal carrier site shows "Delivered" several weeks earlier.

I currently have a package mailed from Canada to Virginia. The eBay tracking shows the parcel arriving and leaving San Francisco on Jan. 9th, arriving in Anchorage Alaska on Jan. 12th, leaving Alaska on Jan. 13th and arriving in Richmond, VA on Jan 16th. The Canada Post tracking info does not show any of the Alaska detail. So this makes me wonder, did the parcel actually go from Canada to California to Alaska to Virginia, and why such an awkward routing? Also why is there such different information when accessing from different sites?

One of the problems with tracking is that it we do not know many of the distribution details. While a tracking report might not seem to make sense geographical, there can be numerous other reasons that parcels get routed that we do not have visibility into (i.e. weather related delays, resource shortages in some centers, other delays on certain routes or with distribution centers).
Don

...train robberies...

It is a shame that the USPS has lost what reputation it once had for being accountable. I have done some mailing using eBays system and the results are satisfactory. They just are so much less that what used to acceptable service.

Agreed that eBay's tracking is frustrating. I have had to explain to buyers literally dozens of times that the eBay tracking tends to show "delivered" once it has passed through the final distribution center, which is usually a day or two before delivery. Would be nice if eBay would explain this for buyers.

That said, I don't think I've had one go permanently lost and I haven't made any insurance claims on them.

This is why I think their delivery performance numbers can be misleading. They do not track the time from pick up from mail box to the first scan. For our mail, it would likely be Greensboro and the same applies for inbound. I have seen the inside of our town post office and there is no space for scanning for all the mail. For Informed Delivery, I usually get most of the mail in the email (likely from overnight scans in Greensboro) but sometimes it may be the next day. This delay likely gets missed in their measurement data.

As inaccurate and confusing as it is, it is better information than not that too long ago.

What a disaster. This package was supposed to go from Chicago to Toronto....Expensive stamps inside of course.

UPDATE - now in Canada after 30 days. Done whining...

January 17, 2022, 2:00 am
Departed
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
Your item departed a transfer airport in METROPOLITAN AREA, SEATTLE, UNITED STATES on January 17, 2022 at 2:00 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.
January 5, 2022, 8:59 pm
Departed
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
January 5, 2022, 3:21 pm
Arrived
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
December 29, 2021, 6:11 pm
Processed Through Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 29, 2021, 6:11 pm
Arrived at Regional Facility
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 28, 2021, 6:28 pm
Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
December 18, 2021, 7:19 am
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
CAROL STREAM, IL 60197
Shipping Partner: GlobalPost
December 18, 2021, 7:12 am
Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
CAROL STREAM, IL 60199
Shipping Partner: GlobalPost

Being a retired insurance adjuster I am curious as to whether or not anyone has had a claims experience? Who handled it and how did it go?

I received a tracked envelopw today and I saw the mailman deliver it at 2:15 pm. The tracking # says it was delivered at 12:20 pm. Wow, it was delivered 2 hours before the mailman got there. Amazing!

That kind of thing happens a lot, unfortunately. I've seen packages that didn't arrive until the next day be claimed to have been delivered the day prior. I have no clue what these people are doing. I don't think they know either.

I've got 3 tracked items coming and ALL three are delayed with NO arrival estimates
***No partisan politics please***