Pre-transit shipping status

[HandMaidsCrafts]

Hi All,

I have somewhat of an issue, I shipped out 16 orders yesterday and a lot of them are still showing "pre-transit".  I really haven't paid a lot of attention to shipping status because I have been busy.  Does anyone know how long it takes for shipping status to be changed?  I have a customer that is upset because I told her it would ship yesterday and it's still showing "pre-transit".  I did see the mail person pickup the packages but not sure why it doesn't show "in-transit" after 24 hours.

I know the post office is overwhelmed I have had shipments lost, and super late deliveries "arriving late" messages in the USPS tracking status. 

Thanks any help would be much apricated.  

[limegreenmodern]

The post office is doing very little scanning. I have tons of orders mailed 4-7 days ago, still saying pre-transit. I have some that said that, then all of a sudden they updated and show scanning near their delivery locations. So often they are still moving through the system even though they say pre-transit.

[HandMaidsCrafts]

My customer is saying she is going to turn me into Etsy and I have NO way to show her the postman picked it up.  I know he did because I saw it on our video system. 

I know the post office is swamped things are taking forever.  A priority package took 14 days to get to a customer and I even had a lost package.

Thank you I am glad I am not the only one.

[Adorabilities]

Have you clicked on the tracking numbers to see their actual status? I just looked at one of my completed orders today: Etsy's status shown on the order was "pre-transit," but when I clicked the link, it showed the actual USPS status, which was already moving along, in transit. Maybe Etsy's system doesn't update frequently -- this one had been scanned in as accepted a day beforehand. 

[limegreenmodern · Accepted solution]

I notice this too. Often I will click through to the actual USPS site and more tracking shows up then what Etsy has. 

[HandMaidsCrafts]

I did, the USPS website also shows several of my packages picked up as the same status. I had 16 of them shipped on the same day.

[RomyBianchiArt]

I agree with this and have noticed the same things many times. Etsy's API has a delay I'm sure. 

[SavvyWordsInc]

I am experiencing similar issues.  One order still shows  pretransit and customer is furious with me and wants a refund for an order placed November 24th. I have apologized and sent her tracking information and explained i have contacted Printify and the USPS. There is no reassuring with her. Sad thing is, this was my biggest order. Another customer ordered 3 similar items a day after her and theirs was delivered.  I don't understand stand it. She's calling me the lier. When do you refund? If I do this I take a loss especially if the items are delivered really late. 

[JakesWoodworkingIN]

ALWAYS take them to the post office and have them give you a receipt, that way they get into the system. The system is broken. Packages dont get scanned until they are delivered and its just a big mess.

Place a lost package inquiry into your package, it usually gets the ball rolling and they magically appear.

I am stopping using the USPS due to this issue and late/lost packages. Found out ShipStation is a much better option and I can use any carrier I want.

[CherishedBlessings]

This is a very hard option if you have 40+ packages going out a day.

[SaidInStoneOnline]

Yeah, my last post office trip was 500+ packages. They won't scan each one, I have been told I have to take them to the back dock to drop them off.  Having each one scanned works if you have some, but not a ton. I have a bunch still showing pre-transit for over a week.. and all the others dropped off the same day show in transit. It's just a total crap chute right now.

[SprinkledandPainted]

Scans have been delayed. Just ride it out.

They are overwhelmed. Its covid online buys and holiday shipping all at once.

[RamenSandwich]

Agreed. I think many POs have just stopped scanning on acceptance.

I suspect that the situation in California, just to take a particularly vivid example, is especially bad. Not only are the POs here having to deal with the increased traffic, but I'm sure they have to operate under pandemic conditions again. I ordered a gift from an Etsy seller in Northern California that was supposed to be shipped November 30, bound for Southern California. It's still showing as "Pre-transit."

[SprinkledandPainted]

@RamenSandwich  Things particularly this year... are just going to be off, behind, etc.

We just have to roll with it.

[MandyandAutumn]

I agree with JakesWoodworking above. It is a major hassle to stand in line for 20+ minutes just to get your packages scanned, but have learned the hard way that is what it takes to ensure a scan. The upside of that  is I have gotten to know a lot of other small vendors from Ebay, Amazon, and Mercari, because it seems we all show up at the same time and now recognize each other. It's my pseudo social hour. I still have items that show in my shipping from 5 years ago. That's part of the reason I wised up to get my packages scanned. There are nice reviews left by the customer on items that are supposedly still in pre-transit. It did work the other way also - occasionally would find that 2 months later my customer had never received their item and I had no way to prove I actually mailed it. Unfortunately, stand in line and get them scanned.   

[SaidInStoneOnline]

Yeah, my last post office trip was 500+ packages. They won't scan each one, I have been told I have to take them to the back dock to drop them off in the business drop area.  Having each one scanned works if you have some, but not a ton. I have a bunch still showing pre-transit for over a week.. and all the others dropped off the same day show in transit. It's just a total crap chute right now.

[mulberrymoose]

I am seeing this too. I started noticing this about a week ago and  about 10 packages I sent out all said pre transit for several days then they suddenly showed that they were in transit then delivered. Another round of several is now showing the same thing, pre transit for days.

I make my items to order and I just have to keep my fingers crossed they all get to where they are going. 

[TalisonsTreasures]

This is a year MANY are taking advantage of blaming ALL on covid. USPS has always been overwhelmed at Christmas! They normally hire more to prepare and tighten efficiency.  That was in SoCal anyway...I've retired to OR and they tend to drive around in circles delivering who knows mail...not very efficient with time or who's mail one might get, but nice as can be and make an effort. They are efficient with scanning fortunately. I've personally asked mine to scan at pick up and give them treats (to help them remember). So far has worked.lol 

Can't track an un-scanned package...free for anyone to steal. If you are having a scanning problem, I would email usps & have them address the specific post offices to be re-trained. Fees are up, no excuse for crappy service...busy or not. Just my opinion. 

[StarlitMoonDesigns]

Many post offices aren't scanning because they don't have time. The status may not be updated until it reaches the destination city or delivered.  If you have anymore packages to ship I suggest you use a Scan form and have the PO scan that. Then it shows you at least dropped them off.

[MerelaniDesigns]

I started receiving inquiries from customers today and noticed that there are days where none of packages were scanned at the post office. I hope they eventually reach their destinations, what a mess this season is. But it seems best to ask for receipts confirming acceptance during this time. 

[ScentByWest]

Hi! 

This is happening to me too. I dropped off several packages at the UPS store, watched them scan and I got all the receipts but some are showing pre-transit which makes me nervous because I’m a new Etsy seller. I emailed them all and explained their behind but I’m nervous I will get a bad review because of this. I called USPS and they emailed me generic message saying due to COVID they are really behind. I wish they would at least show “in transit” so my customers won’t think I never dropped them off. 

[SavvyWordsInc]

I received a bad review sinmy customer still hasn't received her order since November 24th. 

[HotOffHerHook]

It would be nice if we could ask an inquirer "Haven't you seen some of the pictures shown on the news etc of a "backroom" of a post office showing piles upon piles and mini mountains of boxes and parcels?  And how P.O. staff may still be down due to Covid even after all this time?"  But I guess that would have us sounding not so nice!  And we ARE advised when we are printing out labels thru Etsy of areas that are experiencing delays..........

[PonkiAndJeani]

I have several that were dropped off at the post office on Dec 4th and they are STILL under "pre-shipment"!!!  Very disheartening because I also have a customer that has sent me a convo about her package and I had to explain to her that USPS is not scanning the items and tried to assure her that her package was shipped out.  She was very understanding, but it really is disheartening!  Worst of all is one of my packages took over a month to arrive to the customer because it was sitting at the local distribution center for 3 weeks!!!