Quote Originally Posted by badger View Post
Catriona, I've often thought the same thing as well with international shipping and "lack" of tracking. But as I was explained by the postal worker, once a package leaves the country, it's no longer in their hands. I guess every country has their own tracking system, and it's not standardised. It makes sense.

So, as far as Canada Post is concerned (and likely the same for USPS), the package was sent and that's about as much as you'll get.
Well, I'd like to know that the package has been picked up & left the country and they can do that, they just don't always. Most of the time I create a shipping label and the status never changes from the following, even with me requesting delivery conformation or signature confirmation. I know this package was delivered, but it never showed up on tracking info:

Label/Receipt Number: 9121 7850 9140 1244 7240 36
Class: Priority Mail®
Service(s): Signature Confirmation™
Status: Electronic Shipping Info Received

The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on October 24, 2009 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. No further information is available for this item.





It's bunk that they can't do tracking out of the country. About 1/4th of the time I actually get tracking of a package, saying when it was picked up, when it left the country,entered foreign customs, etc. Here's a package that I sent to Canada with tracking:


Label/Receipt Number: CQ33 5695 108U S
Class: Priority Mail International Parcels
Service(s): International Parcels
Status: Delivered Abroad
Your item was delivered in CANADA at 11:43 AM on October 17, 2009.
Detailed Results:

* Delivered Abroad, October 17, 2009, 11:43 am, CANADA
* Attempted Delivery Abroad, October 14, 2009, 2:13 pm, CANADA
* Attempted Delivery Abroad, October 14, 2009, 11:59 am, CANADA
* At Foreign Delivery Unit, October 14, 2009, 8:13 am, CANADA
* Out of Foreign Customs, October 09, 2009, 4:03 pm, CANADA
* Into Foreign Customs, October 09, 2009, 11:41 am, CANADA
* Arrived Abroad, October 09, 2009, 11:41 am, CANADA
* International Dispatch, October 08, 2009, 7:03 am, FOREIGN CENTERJERSEY CITY NJ 099
* Arrival
* Electronic Shipping Info Received, October 06, 2009


Here's the tracking of a package I sent my cousin:
Detailed Results:

* Delivered Abroad, October 03, 2009, 11:55 am, GREAT BRITAIN
* At Foreign Delivery Unit, September 28, 2009, 6:38 am, GREAT BRITAIN
* Out of Foreign Customs, September 27, 2009, 4:52 pm, GREAT BRITAIN
* Arrived Abroad, September 27, 2009, 4:47 pm, GREAT BRITAIN
* International Dispatch, September 25, 2009, 11:19 am, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)
* Arrival
* Processed through Sort Facility, September 24, 2009, 8:15 pm, LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD 21090
* Electronic Shipping Info Received, September 24, 2009