# How would Amazon have more tracking info than USPS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347 "2011-11-18T15:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/1 "2011-11-18T15:25:09Z")
I ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon and through their site I was getting current, updated tracking info for one of my packages all the way across the country and currently says my package is already at my local post office “waiting for delivery.” When I plugged the tracking number into USPS’s site throughout it’s travel time, I would (and still) get only: > [@](#): > > The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on November 17, 2011 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later. Why would Amazon have current information available but somehow the USPS doesn’t? Is it just a matter of Amazon constantly updating their site and the USPS not? Just strikes me as odd. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/2 "2011-11-18T15:52:25Z")
Did you try the number on the FedEx or UPS sites ? Sometimes Amazon says the item is shipped “USPS” when they really ship it FedEx Mail Innovations or the equivalent UPS service, where the package ships from amazon to a local post office or postal sorting facility via FedEx or UPS and is then actually delivered to you by your mail carrier. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/3 "2011-11-18T15:55:45Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Is it just a matter of Amazon constantly updating their site and the USPS not? Just strikes me as odd. More than likely. The USPS web site is a quagmire, IMO (and my old ad agency used to do some work on it). ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/4 "2011-11-18T16:03:21Z")
For a myriad of reasons private industry runs businesses better than government does. Always has. Always will. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/5 "2011-11-18T16:06:06Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > Did you try the number on the FedEx or UPS sites ? Sometimes Amazon says the item is shipped “USPS” when they really ship it FedEx Mail Innovations or the equivalent UPS service, where the package ships from amazon to a local post office or postal sorting facility via FedEx or UPS and is then actually delivered to you by your mail carrier. Ok, I see. It went through FedEx. I didn’t know they did that. Thanks! That was really confusing me. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/6 "2011-11-18T16:12:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Ok, I see. It went through FedEx. I didn’t know they did that. Thanks! That was really confusing me. Yup. The USPS is required to deliver to every mailbox; the private delivery services aren’t. FedEx and UPS have what’s called a “last mile” contract with the USPS to handle those packages that would be too costly/annoying for the private services to deliver. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/7 "2011-11-18T16:22:04Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > For a myriad of reasons private industry runs businesses better than government does. Always has. Always will. Yeah…except for militaries. And postal service to every person in the country. And weather forecasting. And except for all the other exceptions, private industry has always run things better than government. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/8 "2011-11-18T16:23:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > FedEx and UPS have what’s called a “last mile” contract with the USPS to handle those packages that would be too costly/annoying for the private services to deliver. That’s interesting, considering that FedEx and UPS routinely deliver stuff to my house. What is the advantage of passing it on to the Postal Service if FedEx is going right past my house anyway? Just to lighten the load, so to speak, on their drivers? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/9 "2011-11-18T16:29:56Z")
I think the advantage is that they can drop off multiple packages at the post office instead of having to deliver each to individual homes. Businesses, on the other hand, typically receive multiple packages to a single address. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/10 "2011-11-18T16:42:43Z")
Yeah, for stuff that goes between known distribution hubs, it can be a lot cheaper. FedEx isn’t really set up to pick up packages from every possible location. They offer pickup services, but they’re not set up for it. Likewise, they’re pretty well set up for drop offs to a limited number of businesses but not for delivery to every mailbox. “Lightening the load” on drivers really is what it’s all about. That’s the most complicated part of the logistical challenge. The postal service does a great job at this (since it’s their primary job), and they’ve got dedicated postal workers for each route (which covers every mailbox). But it’s one of the more complicated and time-consuming parts of a FedEx type business, since no driver will have a fixed home delivery route each day. To guarantee on-time arrival with that many packages, they’d need more drivers. Further, those drivers would have to handle different routes each day, depending on that day’s deliveries. There’s not necessarily a need to go to the trouble, if the postal service is already near optimally set up to handle that type of job. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/11 "2011-11-18T16:54:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > That’s interesting, considering that FedEx and UPS routinely deliver stuff to my house. What is the advantage of passing it on to the Postal Service if FedEx is going right past my house anyway? Just to lighten the load, so to speak, on their drivers? at $7 or more per package cost the delivery services come to your door, that takes time and costs money. the post office goes to (or by) every address every day. for lower cost shipping they deliver multiple packages to local post offices. both UPS and FedEx have this method available. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/12 "2011-11-18T17:52:33Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Yeah…except for militaries. And postal service to every person in the country. And weather forecasting. > > And except for all the other exceptions, private industry has always run things better than government. Good point. None of that refutes the USPS poor tracking system - which was the point in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/13 "2011-11-18T18:35:53Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > None of that refutes the USPS poor tracking system - which was the point in this case. Sure. Just refuting the (other) irrelevant posting that used a clearly fallacious argument that private enterprise is somehow always superior to government (or, in this case, a government controlled private enterprise that answers to federal requirements). I’ve never been all that thrilled with the USPS tracking system, but I also couldn’t let a slide an unsubtle dig that the USPS is poorly run. It’s still amazing to me that it manages to deliver so much mail with so few errors while answering to a set of outdated and archaic federal regulations. And at a low cost, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/14 "2011-11-18T21:28:11Z")
The USPS tracking system actually works fine, if you are paying for it - Express mail is the only service that they actually promise “tracking” for - all the others promise only “delivery confirmation” which is just when it got into the system (if accepted at a retail post office) and when they deliver it, with anything in between not guaranteed. As to why they don’t provide an added cost service that does full tracking in between Express mail and Delivery confirmation, you would have to ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/15 "2011-11-18T23:53:48Z")
Look at the current retard in the White House (or the previous one, who isn’t a whole lot smarter) and you will understand why private industry is better than a government. Monopolies are slow to respond to customer’s needs, private businesses basically have to or someone else less stupid takes their place. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/16 "2011-11-19T00:29:59Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > For a myriad of reasons private industry runs businesses better than government does. Always has. Always will. Wow! So you know of a company that can pick up my mail at my doorstep and send it to any doorstep in the country for less 44 cents, or is this just some stupid Libertarian propaganda that you chose to slip in? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/17 "2011-11-19T00:43:36Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Look at the current retard in the White House (or the previous one, who isn’t a whole lot smarter) and you will understand why private industry is better than a government. Monopolies are slow to respond to customer’s needs, private businesses basically have to or someone else less stupid takes their place. I’m convinced; let’s privatize the VA, all police and all fire departments as test cases. If that works out, we can consider others. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/18 "2011-11-19T00:56:50Z")
[The real reason is because **platforms are what Amazon does now**](https://plus.google.com/112678702228711889851/posts/eVeouesvaVX): > [@](#): > > That’s what Bezos was up to with his edict, of course. He didn’t (and doesn’t) care even a tiny bit about the well-being of the teams, nor about what technologies they use, nor in fact any detail whatsoever about how they go about their business unless they happen to be screwing up. But Bezos realized long before the vast majority of Amazonians that Amazon needs to be a platform. It’s kind of long, but not too long, and it lays out just why Amazon can do that. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/19 "2011-11-19T01:10:37Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Look at the current retard in the White House (or the previous one, who isn’t a whole lot smarter) and you will understand why private industry is better than a government. Monopolies are slow to respond to customer’s needs, private businesses basically have to or someone else less stupid takes their place. **MODERATOR WARNING**. A rather inappropriate contribution to an OP asking for factual information. If you wanted to add opinion, we have a forum just for that. If you wanted to slam the political process, we have a forum for that. This is a warning to NOT do this again. **samclem** , Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347/20 "2011-11-19T02:25:40Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > None of that refutes the USPS poor tracking system - which was the point in this case. But it wasn’t the **case** in this case. The USPS was only paid to deliver this package. It wasn’t paid to provide tracking info, which you can get if you pay for that service. FedEx told Amazon “hey, we dropped that off at the guy’s post office, we’re done.” So Amazon reported that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-amazon-have-more-tracking-info-than-usps/603347.md?page=2)