Hokay. I ordered something online waaaaaay back in early September. I waited a month and got no word on it. So I've been fighting the company for a tracking number since the 10th of this month. Finally, on Tuesday (the 20th) they gave me a tracking number. However, I'm not familiar with the US postal system, and despite the USPS site's massive glossary, it doesn't help explain a couple of things. I'm more than a little suspicious that the company gave me some random tracking number just to shut me up. So, this is exactly what the tracking number's come up with:


Class: First-Class Mail International
Service(s): International Letter
Status: Acceptance

Your item was accepted at 3:47 PM on October 20, 2009 in CANOGA PARK, CA 91304. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.


I understand that, in transit, items may not get updated for days on end - I've run into that before. But I'm a bit antsy about it; I don't think I can trust the company. To my knowledge, "International letter" means lettermail, not a package. I should be receiving a package - it's a 6" globe. And I'm a little confused about the status as well. I'd assume "accepted" means accepted by the post office, but I hope you understand my paranoia. Can anyone clear this up for me? If I am being given the runaround yet again, I need to know asap so I can contact PayPal and hopefully get a refund.

What did you order, by chance?

Sometimes things take longer if they have to clear customs or something like that.
I know at my job, we have customs in there a lot checking things out and clearing freight to be delivered.
Acceptance makes me think that they dropped the package/letter off and they're waiting for it to go out for delivery.

If you have international calling, i'd suggest calling the post office in Canoga Park, CA and asking about it.

It's a globe inlaid with semi-precious stones. I know things can get held up at customs, so its prolonged absence didn't even cross my mind til a month after it was supposed to have been sent. With the email I got from the company on the 20th that gave me the tracking number, they told me it had just been sent out that day. I'm just paranoid, because it's been like pulling teeth trying to get any answer out of the company in the first place. I plan to contact the USPS by email to inquire about this as well. Hopefully they can shed some light on the situation. Calling costs too much, and I've wasted enough money already by attempting to call the company I ordered from. heh

I work for Purolator Courier (it's a Canadian company, so a little different), and in my opinion, I'd cancel and try to get a refund. Our scans are different than what you have there, but you seem to be right about it being a letter. There should have been a scan way back in September, and the fact that there is a scan the same day you talked to the shipper is a little concerning. Perhaps the shipper is sending you a letter explaining that they don't have the product, or something? Is it a reputable company, or just a small hometown type thing?
Either way, I'd try and get your money back.

Just say that you're Canadian too, so I guess you're familiar with Purolator ;).

Err, saw* rather than say.

They claim that the item had been on back order from their supplier until early this month. There'd be no point in sending me a letter, since I've been communicating with them via email already. IF it's legit, I think they've just been dragging their asses, and there's been a massive miscommunication somewhere down the line.

Fortunately, I have until the 7th to decide what to do before PayPal closes my open dispute. Gives me plenty of time to get some feedback. Thanks, by the way :D

No problem. I hope it works out for you!

I know that the USPS tracking system sucks, and whenever I try to track a package the only thing it tells me is that they have received billing information and then I receive the package a couple days later. It's not like if it was tracked by UPS where it tells me where it is at the end of the day, so I think if it's showing that they received something then you're okay.