USPS Tracking a scam?

[RealBlackStuff]

I've had a few arguments with the USPS about tracking packages.
When you buy Priority Mail postage online, either from eBay via PayPal, or direct from the USPS website via Click-N-Ship, you get an email confirmation that you BOUGHT postage and printed a shipping label.
Both of them state that you get free email delivery confirmation, and they give you a tracking number.

Roaming through the USPS website I found this:
http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/r ... 0000000000}

Tracking

To track an item, you can go to the Track & Confirm site, enter your label/receipt number, and click the “Go” button, or enter your label/receipt number below and click the “Submit” button.
....
Tracking provides detailed progress of Express Mail, Global Express Guaranteed, and Express Mail International packages while enroute to their destination. Some of the statuses you may see when viewing your tracking information include:

* Acceptance - This scan means the package was received by the Post Office for mailing
* Arrival - This scan means that the package arrived at the Post Office for delivery
* Delivered - This scan means that the letter carrier has delivered the package to the location on the mailpiece

Notes:

* Regular mail, such as First Class Mail or Priority Mail cannot be tracked
* Items that are mailed from any international country may be trackable in that country but not here in the USA
-------------------------------------

I quite often have the following situation:
- Have a Priority Mail package for abroad
- Buy postage online and get Tracking #
- Have email confirming buying postage
- When checking on the delivery status of an item, you may see something similar to:

"The United States Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper or shipping partner on January 1, 2007 at 1:01 a.m. to expect your item for mailing"

This indicates the intent to mail an item, not the actual mailing date or time itself.

Note:

* Electronic option Delivery Confirmation (including Click-N-Ship) does not provide actual mailing or acceptance information as part of this service.
* Confirmation of delivery or attempted delivery will be provided after a delivery or attempt has been made.
* Confirmation information in the electronic file is often consolidated and sent at one time during the day, usually in the evening.
* If you are the addressee, you should contact the sender for more information.

- When I deliver my package with electronic postage to the post office, they refuse to scan it, so I would have proof that I physically handed it in.

- Apparently USPS does not scan it at all, if the package goes abroad! It's the Customs people who scan it (IF they think about it), both here in the USA, and hopefully also the Customs abroad!

- If you want to buy additional service at the post office, let's say signature confirmation upon receipt, you can't, they refuse to give it to you, because you already bought electronic postage! All they offer in this case is, cancel your electronic postage and hope to get a refund, and then buy the new postage at the post office.

I FIND THIS A SCAM!

[Purcy]

I agree, it is pretty bad. Probably a lot people are misled by that "delivery confirmation" thinking they can track their package. But truly all it does it show the date and time the package was delivered, God help it if it gets lost, because that tracking number means nothing short of delivery. What I have had to come to do, is for packages that I really need to keep tight monitoring of, just first off purchase signature confirmation AND insurance. Those are two things they must scan in at the post office. Our post office will still scan a package if you buy delivery conf. in person, at least that way the website shows the package was handed to a postal clerk, with the date and time.