# When USPS Tracking goes astray
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 4, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631 "2021-06-04T18:11:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/1 "2021-06-04T18:11:14Z")
I ordered something a few weeks ago from an Etsy seller. I paid and the item shipped USPS, then I began watching tracking.
The package was mailed and was moving along when, in May 20 I saw:
> May 20, 2021, 10:25 pm
> Departed USPS Regional Origin Facility
> WEST FARGO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Then the message said something about a delay, package would reach destination, but later than anticipated. That message stayed up for four days, but is gone now when I view tracking history.
On May 24, tracking showed this:
> **May 24, 2021**
> In Transit to Next Facility
Then there was a pause, then the package began moving again:
> **June 3, 2021, 6:18 am**
> Out for Delivery
> FORD CITY, PA 16226
> **June 3, 2021, 6:07 am**
> Arrived at Post Office
> FORD CITY, PA 16226
> **June 2, 2021, 4:45 pm**
> Departed USPS Regional Destination Facility
> PITTSBURGH PA NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
> **June 2, 2021, 9:39 am**
> Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
> PITTSBURGH PA NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
> **June 2, 2021, 8:51 am**
> Departed USPS Regional Facility
> WARRENDALE PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER
> **June 2, 2021, 5:44 am**
> Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
> WARRENDALE PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER
> **June 1, 2021, 2:48 pm**
> Departed USPS Facility
> AURORA, IL 60502
> **June 1, 2021, 8:14 am**
> Arrived at USPS Facility
> AURORA, IL 60502
> **June 1, 2021, 7:23 am**
> Departed USPS Regional Facility
> CHICAGO IL NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
> **May 31, 2021, 8:42 pm**
> Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
> CHICAGO IL NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
So, I eventually received my thing. The box was pristine, as were the various labels and stickers.
What was going on from the 20th to June first?
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/2 "2021-06-04T18:41:30Z")
It was sitting behind something else and ignored until the something else was moved.
Just be happy you got it at all!
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/3 "2021-06-04T20:34:11Z")
I usually have pretty good luck with USPS packages, partly because our local and regional PO’s seem to be really on the ball. A package will arrive at regional in the small hours, and immediately go out to the local before 7 am, and be out for delivery that same day.
At other times, I have no idea what is going on. I currently have a small package coming from San Diego (to San Francisco). It took 2 days to get to LA, and now it is crawling up the coast stop by stop – Bell Gardens and then Santa Clarita. It’s like they’re sending it by bicycle, or city bus. The package is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. If it had just been put on a plane when it left San Diego, I would have had it two days ago. I have no idea why packages do this sometimes.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/4 "2021-06-04T21:52:36Z")
I sat patiently waiting and watching, always assuming that if it arrived the label or packaging would be damaged.
Everything was pristine. The contents, a silicone hand pipe with glass bowl insert, arrived undamaged. Works as advertised!!
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### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/5 "2021-06-05T01:06:26Z")
I had a small package stuck at that Aurora facility for 3 days a few weeks ago.
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2021, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-usps-tracking-goes-astray/943631/6 "2021-06-06T01:05:33Z")
We’ve had some weird stuff like that happen too. I ordered some glass tiles for a mosaic I was making that were shipped from Charlotte, NC (I live in central NC about 2 hours away from Charlotte). The package made it to our regional hub in Greensboro, went out of Greensboro … and then back again. Twice. After that, it finally got out of the vicious circle and to our local PO. I guess I should have just driven down to Charlotte and got it myself.
Right around the same time, my husband bought a book from someone on Ebay. It took the Great Circle Route and traveled from either IL or IN (can’t remember which now), to OH, then PA and then allll the way down to the deep south (either FL or MS, again I can’t recall which) before then being routed to GA and finally NC. When I looked at the tracking I told him it was a good thing he wasn’t in a hurry to get it.