# My package takes a road trip
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 24, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473 "2022-07-24T05:50:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/1 "2022-07-24T05:50:27Z")
So I order a pound of coffee from an established company on the Fourth of July, hoping to see it within a week.
While I have yet to receive it, I _have_ been following it via Fed-Ex tracking and apparently it is on a hell of a journey:
Fort Meyers, FL
Davenport, FL
Lake City, FL
Ellenwood, GA
Indianapolis, IN
Town Of Cassville, WI
Glenfield, ND
Kremlin, MT
Naples, ID
Leavenworth, WA
It doesn’t seem to be going back and forth as if it was mislabeled or misplaced. It just seems to be taking the scenic route. 😁
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### Author:  [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/2 "2022-07-24T08:14:45Z")
Did it at least start in Florida?
I wonder if it’s on a series of trains.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/3 "2022-07-24T08:36:42Z")
Yeah, it started in Florida.
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### Author:  [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/4 "2022-07-24T09:18:39Z")
heh you should see the tracking from something in china … seems every 100 miles or so it gets stopped and searched by customs, it takes about a week for something to go from Wuhan(!) to hong kong
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/5 "2022-07-24T10:51:49Z")
I have to say, I was disappointed after opening the thread.
That title had my mind going in a different direction altogether.
mmm
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/6 "2022-07-24T11:24:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> That title had my mind going in a different direction altogether.
Me too! 😉
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/7 "2022-07-24T12:47:34Z")
At least it seems to be minimal backtracking (generally north and then west). Hopefully you do not live in Maine. Cassville is pretty small (Village is 777, surrounding town is 487)
I have had packages be within 5 miles of me only to head to Minneapolis (100+ miles) before returning to the area (I understand hub and spoke, but it is still weird)
Brian
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/8 "2022-07-24T12:49:41Z")
Portland, Oregon. No backtracking…so far.
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### Author:  [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/9 "2022-07-24T15:27:57Z")
I assume they are saving money on the dry roasting part by letting the heat wave do the cooking.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/10 "2022-07-24T16:00:22Z")
This is Coal to Newcastle in so many ways.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/11 "2022-07-24T16:40:32Z")
Many companies who don’t have delivery capabilities use one of the big shippers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, or all 3, whichever is cheapest. I’m guessing the company used an independent freight handler who uses planes, trains, and buses to get a package from Point A to Point B, depending on what it is and how soon it’s supposed to get there.
Did the company promise a delivery date or time frame? I think you are due a refund if it’s a week later than they promised. Especially if there was a shipping charge (it wasn’t free shipping).
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/12 "2022-07-24T16:43:38Z")
$7.99 for shipping. The company didn’t promise a delivery date, but Fed-Ex tracking initially gave me a date of 7/19, then 7/20, then 7/22, and finally “Pending-No Delivery Date”.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/13 "2022-07-24T16:45:04Z")
FedEx is pretty reliable, and you paid $8. I smell a rat.
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### Author:  [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/14 "2022-07-24T16:57:15Z")
Looking at the track of one package went all over the place. But also noticed it went back in time at one point. A week. I emailed the company just for fun to point it out. The reply contained no explanation, but agreed it was funny.
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/15 "2022-07-24T18:30:06Z")
Last week I had a package coming via FedEx that was supposed to come Sunday. I checked Monday morning when it hadn’t arrived, and there was this big red dot on the the travel arrow saying something about client not being able to be recognized. And the package was shown in San Diego instead of Los Angeles.
I looked at the address, and it looked o.k. so I called FedEx. While I was on the phone with the agent, I finally noticed that the shipper had transposed the second and third digits of the zip code – 92xxx must be San Diego. I told the agent, and she made sure I got the package within about 12 hours. But it was a good reminder that our eyes see what they expect to see.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/16 "2022-07-25T00:40:37Z")
Update-The package is now in Seattle.
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### Author:  [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2022, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/17 "2022-07-25T11:14:27Z")
My own UPS saga from last year. 2 days from California to the destination city of Ottawa, Canada was pretty good - but then things went wrong.
11/03/2021 - Visalia, CA, United States
11/04/2021 - West Sacramento, CA, United States
11/04/2021 - Mather, CA, United States
11/05/2021 - Louisville, KY, United States
11/05/2021 - Cleared Import Customs Your package has cleared customs and is on the way.
11/05/2021 - Mount Hope, ON, Canada
11/05/2021 - Ottawa, ON, Canada
**11/06/2021 to 11/15/2021 - No information available
11/16/2021 - Your delivery will be rescheduled. Melbourne, Australia
11/19/2021 - We’re sorry this package has experienced a sortation delay. The package has been rerouted to the correct destination. Melbourne, Australia**
11/20/2021 - Botany, Australia
11/22/2021 - Incheon, Korea, Republic of
11/24/2021 - Anchorage, AK, United States
11/25/2021 - Louisville, KY, United States
11/25/2021 - Mount Hope, ON, Canada
11/25/2021 - Ottawa, ON, Canada
11/25/2021 - Delivered OTTAWA, CA
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/18 "2022-07-25T11:21:10Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#):
>
> My own UPS saga from last year. 2 days from California to the destination city of Ottawa, Canada was pretty good - but then things went wrong.
>
> 11/03/2021 - Visalia, CA, United States
> 11/04/2021 - West Sacramento, CA, United States
> 11/04/2021 - Mather, CA, United States
> 11/05/2021 - Louisville, KY, United States
> 11/05/2021 - Cleared Import Customs Your package has cleared customs and is on the way.
> 11/05/2021 - Mount Hope, ON, Canada
> 11/05/2021 - Ottawa, ON, Canada
> **11/06/2021 to 11/15/2021 - No information available
> 11/16/2021 - Your delivery will be rescheduled. Melbourne, Australia
> 11/19/2021 - We’re sorry this package has experienced a sortation delay. The package has been rerouted to the correct destination. Melbourne, Australia**
> 11/20/2021 - Botany, Australia
> 11/22/2021 - Incheon, Korea, Republic of
> 11/24/2021 - Anchorage, AK, United States
> 11/25/2021 - Louisville, KY, United States
> 11/25/2021 - Mount Hope, ON, Canada
> 11/25/2021 - Ottawa, ON, Canada
> 11/25/2021 - Delivered OTTAWA, CA -
Someone missed that left turn at Albuquerque.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/19 "2022-07-25T18:27:14Z")
I have questions about the _supposed_ trip my package is taking. For instance, Kremlin, MT which has a total population of 126 people. Why would my package spend a day there?
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### Author:  [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-package-takes-a-road-trip/968473/20 "2022-07-25T18:49:00Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Why would my package spend a day there?
Waypoint beacons. Used for tracking trucks and the contents. The list of them on your package’s journey would likely be a couple hundred locations, they only tag one for your tracking every 4 to 12 hours if there are no service centers on the route. Truck drivers hate them, especially if they get behind schedule.
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