Shipped a rifle on the 18th and the tracking only shows that it left the sorting facility. Initial expected delivery date was the 24th going from Houston to Maine. I have insurance on it.

Should I wait until the 21 day period and just pursue as an insurance claim or should I pursue it more aggressively and try to get the geniuses at USPS to look into it?

I would wait. They're not going to do anything until then, regardless of how much you prod.

What service was used? Priority, Parcel Post, etc.? It does make a difference.

USPS tracking is usually pretty poor. I've had numerous situations where it shows it left the initial facility and then nothing until it's delivered. And, their delivery times are a bit optimistic.

Just wait. It will probably show up.

I had a similar situation with a rifle I sold to a member here. Going from WI to FL.

It was approaching the 21-day time,and it showed up.

You will get no real help before it is technically missing.

You'll have to wait sixty days to file a claim for loss. If shipped Priority Mail, go to the Post Office that you mailed it from and ask them to check it out on their system. If Parcel Post, just sit back and wait. Parcel Post goes "Space available with no time value" with no requirement to scan along the way.

Parcel post, which with Christmas and weather doesn't really surprise me. Just the fact that it indicated the 24th and no update since then is what has me concerned. Thanks for the insights.

There you go. Parcel Post sometimes gets to the destination as quickly as Priority Mail, but a lot of times -- especially during high volume times of the year -- it DOESN'T. I've had several Parcel Post items show up right at the 10-business day limit, including one package that came from less than 200 miles away from me.

You have insurance, relax for a little while.

And for everyone else who keeps referring to the USPS' "tracking system:" IT'S DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. IT CONFIRMS DELIVERY, IT DOESN'T TRACK ANYTHING.

I shipped a rifle on 17 Dec, was supposed to be there by the 2oth, just made it yesterday. Busy time of year. I just got done looking it up about 5 min ago.

I have found that ANY package that goes through TX takes for -fking -ever.
Something about that dallas Hub puts the drag on anything shipped.
I have a Sig rifle take 24 buisness days to make it to AZ once. It made it to TX in 10 days but then it got slow rolled the rest of the way.

Don't worry about it (easy to say) but I just went through this same thing.

Had my dealer ship a pistol for me (priority mail). Shipped it on the 3rd of Dec. Was supposed to be there two days later (5th) according to their system.

Arrived at the sorting facility, left the facility and was lost in limbo.

On the 13th it finally showed back up in the sorting facility close to it's final destination and was delivered on the 14th.


There's not a thing or person that will help you anywhere, so don't waste your time. I did speak with some helpful people, but they weren't any help and really can't do anymore than look at the delivery notification (it's not tracking info).


I was sweating bullets as mine was under insured and I've heard nothing but horror stories about collecting on anything firearm related.



Good Luck

Once again Bricktop rings the shipping bell!!!

As the man said, if sent Priority or Parcel Post then their "tracking" only really confirms delivery. Any scanning along the way is more or less a nicety by the person handling the package and the delivery dates given are only estimates.

Only Express mail is required to be scanned at each stop or transfer along the way and guaranteed to be delivered on a specific date.

As an aside, Priority mail really isn't a USPS priority that would be Express mail. If your package absolutely needs to be somewhere by a specific date in a short amount of time then Express is the only guarantee. Priority is actually second tier/priority to USPS and they "try" to deliver it within 3 days but no guarantees. Parcel Post is the lowest tier/priority of mail.

Source: Both of my inlaws are USPS managers with 30+ years in.

Wait it out as I'm sure your package will show soon.

bought a stock here on the 'fire a few months ago.

seller shipped delivery confirm and insured.

it didn't show up here.

seller tried to file a claim, but USPS showed it in their system as being delivered (it wasn't) and told him he was SOL.

fortunately the stock showed up on my doorstep about a month later after USPS made a delivery attempt and left me a yellow card saying they had tried.

who knows where that thing was for about a month.

it was complete nonsense that they told the seller he was SOL on his insurance claim simply b/c they showed it as delivered in their system. Fortunately it worked it.

Had a rifle shipped on 13th, usps.com showed expected delivery of 19th, it showed up yesterday. Usps.com still shows it as out for delivery as I type this.

Parcel post, I've had them take 2 weeks easy. Last one went out priority 2 weeks before Christmas and still took a week. I'd not be the least bit worried.

USPS tracking often does not catch up to the package. However, I have gone to the post office when a package did not show up and the postmaster, (small town post office) has telephoned until she found the package. I am sure that big town America post offices may not provide that kind of service but it is worth a try.

I bought a rifle from Buds in Kentucky. Tracking said it went to Chicago, turned around and went back to Kentucky where it sat for five days. I emailed Buds asking WTH and it arrived the next day here in Oregon. That tracking is worthless.

Mauser12,
You were very fortunate. I have tried to find lost packages for clients by calling back up the transportation route. In over twenty years I think I could count on one hand where this actually worked for me, and in those cases it maybe saved the client a day or two of worry.

Shortmagfan,
If your insurance amount is $200 or less it does not require a signature at the time of delivery and can be left at the delivery point. If it had been insured for over $200 it would have to be signed for by someone at the address.

Bricktop is exactly correct all delivery confirmation does is show the package was (mailed) and delivered.
Also it is presumed to be delivered to the right address. I once had a rural carrier who, when I questioned him about a specific delivery confirmation package he delivered- he told me he did not find anyone home so he left it in the green pickup parked in the yard. Got back to the customer with that info and was told "but I don't own a green pick-up". The carrier paid for that out of his own pocket because that was the kind of guy he was.

To me, the most secure way to mail something is Registered. It is a hassle to prepare the box for registered mail and it can get expensive, and is slow because every person in transportation chain has to sign for that individual piece. But sometimes it is worth it.

Assuming it gets in the correct pile. I did one registered and it ended up in the bulk rate pile of boxes and took over 2 weeks to arrive at the destination. Never once could they locate it past the post office accepting it.

Registered is a guarantee of nothing.

Agreed Steelhead, it can happen because nothing this side of Heaven is perfect. I personally found registered mail in "supposedly empty equipment". And, as hard as we tried to safeguard mail, theft still did happen as well, but fortunately it was not often.

I would still take my chances with Registered Mail for the most secure delivery. I rarely use delivery confirmation on anything. Just my observation from more than a few years spent with the USPS.

To the guys having shipping problems are you printing your own labels at home with the bar code via usps website?
I've been doing it for years and have had perfect luck shipping things all over the place.
I sent a gun out with my bar coded label out on friday 1 pm dec 21 (from central Wis) and it arrived in central florida deliverd at 11AM monday. This was the height of the xmas rush too.
I love printing my labels and either handing it to my mailman when he delivers to my mailbox or just walking in the post office...walking to the front of the line and saying "its all ready to go" and setting it on the counter.
I guess alot of people don't do it cause I usually get a somewhat surprised look from the people behind the counter when they see the label all set to mail.

I always print my own labels

In my instance that I stated above I should have put priority mail tape around my package.

My postman that people doing the sorting are just mainly looking for the red/white/blue labels that go along with priority mail boxes and that more than likely my package got shoved aside with the parcel post.


Personally I don't know why anyone would ship a rifle parcel post for the 2-3 bucks it saves?

I know some don't like ups but I have only ever had one with a problem and that was a Wi to Fl shipment that took 11 days. At least I could see it go from here to Fla and then back to Chicago and then back to FL.

Had good and bad with the USPS. Recent deal took over 3 weeks for MO to arrive. Time of year!

I've had good success with USPS shipping long guns. Fed Ex and UPS, not so much.

It arrived today! Whew! ...and still showed as being in Dallas on the delivery confirmation "tracking".

If you use Express mail it does show you where you package is and what day it is there.

Express Mail�
Delivered
December 10, 2012, 10:01 am
JAMESTOWN, ND 58401
Guaranteed By:
December 10, 2012, 3:00 PM


Proof of Delivery

Out for Delivery
December 10, 2012, 8:18 am
JAMESTOWN, ND 58401

Sorting Complete
December 10, 2012, 8:08 am
JAMESTOWN, ND 58401

Arrival at Post Office
December 10, 2012, 3:04 am
JAMESTOWN, ND 58401

Processed through USPS Sort Facility
December 09, 2012, 10:44 pm
FARGO, ND 58102

Depart USPS Sort Facility
December 08, 2012
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32203

Processed through USPS Sort Facility
December 08, 2012, 7:05 pm
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32203

Dispatched to Sort Facility
December 08, 2012, 5:27 pm

Acceptance
December 08, 2012, 10:19 am

I'm not sure if you're "in" to reading, but if you were, you'd have understood that WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING EXPRESS MAIL.

I couldn't give a damn what Express Mail offers in the way of services, hell, it's not even available in all ZIP codes.

For EVERY OTHER FORM OF U.S. MAIL, DELIVERY CONFIRMATION IS JUST THAT -- CONFIRMATION OF DELIVERY.

Actually I'm not into reading pages of BS that has been posted here lately. One could spend a week just reading garbage if they read all of it. I replied to the page I quoted with you saying it doesn't tell you anything except confirmation....I figured you couold have read enough to see that. I really don't care what you give a damn about when it comes to Express Mail and what they offer in the way of services.

And most everyone else who've participated in this discussion, vice the one you're imagining, figured you could have read enough to see we weren't discussing Express Mail. Obviously too much was placed on your abilities.

I propose that you tear into one another for another 24-30 hrs then let it go and start the new year as best buddies mmmmkay? I mean after all, we survived the Mayan calendar and still have to deal with ol' [bleep] and the Senate for the next 4yrs. Let's all be buddies and keep the shiznit as an understood thing, ya dig?

I've had nothing BUT problems with UPS and firearms..

Oh, the box will get there on time but usually in the shape of a taco.. Then just TRY to get their laughable 'insurance' to pay for it.. You'd have better success melting a glacier with a new Zippo..

Glad it showed up, I know the feeling.

I don't ship/receive a ton of firearms, but get a LOT of stuff in at the store through various shipping companies.

I've had UPS break on Remington XP-100, but it was boxed poorly and it was -38 below (yes -38) on the morning it arrived. Bitter cold, poor box and plastic don't mix well.

Really no complaints though from Fed-Ex or UPS here at the store I manage. Our UPS guy is great, Fed-Ex guy is almost as helpful.

I personally will never ship anything over a 100.00 with USPS without doing Express just so I know that it's being tracked.

The USPS problem as I see it is: there are only a few employees left that were hired under civil service guide lines, and most ( but surely not all) just do not care if school keeps or not! Jack