What's your experience with USPS international first class mail?

thanks a lot!!

I didn’t realize this thread is still going on :-p
Well, two new incidences to share (actually two types since each of them happened more than once, unfortunately…)

1. An international package disappeared and there was no further tracking information other than that a label was created. It looks like it has disappeared forever, since 5 months already passed.

2. A domestic package disappeared for 2 months, there was no further tracking information other than that a label was created. It never left my city and was returned to my mailbox after 2 months, without any email or phone notice. Since I don’t check out my postal office mailbox frequently, it took another 4 weeks for me to discover it. Still I’m glad that it came back and didn’t disappear like the first one.

And I heard both types of things happen a lot these days :-S

USPS Priority Mail International
Early February I bought an oscilloscope on eBay, I should receive it here in Thailand last end of Februar month.
Therefore I have for more than a month trying to locate, track my package from the United States at the Thai Post.
I also said something not so nice about its performance. Have also been forced to cancel my work here in Thailand.
My last track goes back beginning with the sender,
What are my item of mail still doing in Chicago, a month after I should receive the package.
In 14 days I have to leave Thailand, there is no one to receive the package. My ugly words about the Thai, I can instead use on USPS.
Last day in Thailand is 12th April, more than 2 months after the package is shipped.
There is a world outside US, wake up, make the mail/email more user-friendly.
Packages take less than 10 days from China and Europe.
The answer from USPS: This service is temporarily unavailable.
Benny

We send many packages to Holland via USPS International. No problems. I have no idea why there seems to be such a big difference in service from our experience and those of other users. By “our” I mean my household.

I have an eBay store (not selling tea), and I’ve never had any problems with USPS first class international. But eBay provides tracking numbers, and the packages I send are insured.

I have had a package coming from china sitting as “sorted” in the first Chinese post office for over two weeks now. Im not very optimistic…

I have recently sent a package to Singapore, a tea swap. I was told by the post man that a tracking number would cost me a lot of money so I took a risk. If I was sending something someone had paid for with Paypal I don’t think I would have been willing to ship without tracking.

The big advantage to Priority Mail International Express packages over International First Class involves the USPS not sitting on the package for an extended period of time. EMS packages, once they get to the USA are delivered quickly. Sometimes the post office will keep a first class package in the ISC sort center for weeks at a time. You know they are not actually doing anything with the package, it is just standing still. I have had packages stay in the ISC for three weeks at a time and have heard horror stories about them being there for two months or more.

I have sold on ebay for 4 years now. Ebay does not do full tracking on first class international. It’s not ebay but USPS. The ONLY WAY you can get full tracking is express. You will get a customs number if sent priority or first class. customs numbers start with either LK or LZ. They only track up to the point they leave the USA. LZ numbers will howerever will show the package has been delivered, but there is no trail or little trail if any. Please do Check closely on the LZ numbers if you get a buying claiming they didn’t get their item. But allow plenty of time because shipping IS NOT CONSISTENT INTERNATIONAL.

Most recent tryings here. I had a small package shipped from SF to a China major city, and it has been 36 days already, still not there yet. I think it is lost. Called customer service of USPS, they let me to contact China Post. I said I don’t have a receipt from China Post, the response I got is almost “NONE OF MY BUSINESS”.

1 year ago, I lost my sun glasses with around $500’s value with local trackable shipping of USPS. It said delivered in my mailbox and i saw nothing. I should learned by then.

BTW, I may used USPS for less than 10 times in total so far. Maybe just bad luck. Maybe..