As an expert in retail and consumer shipping, I know all too well the frustration of eagerly awaiting a package only to have it seemingly get stuck in transit. You keep refreshing the tracking information, but days go by without any updates. The dreaded "In Transit, Arriving Late" status may appear. Suddenly, your USPS package is not moving at all, and you‘re left wondering what went wrong.
Unfortunately, this scenario has become increasingly common. A recent survey found that 21% of online shoppers experienced significant delays in receiving their USPS packages in 2021, up from just 12% in 2019 (Source). Picky shoppers, in particular, may feel extra anxious when their packages are not progressing as expected.
As someone who has helped countless customers navigate shipping snafus, I‘m here to shed some light on why your USPS package may not be moving and what you can do about it. I‘ll provide expert insights, real-world examples, and actionable tips to help you get your shipment back on track.
Common Reasons Your USPS Package Is Not Moving
There are several potential culprits behind a stalled USPS package. Here are some of the most frequent causes I‘ve encountered:
1. Missed or Delayed Scans
Just because your tracking information isn‘t updating doesn‘t necessarily mean your package isn‘t physically moving. USPS tracking relies on the package being scanned at each stop along its journey. If a scan is missed or delayed, it can appear as though the package is stuck when it‘s actually still in transit.
This issue is surprisingly common. According to a report from the USPS Office of Inspector General, up to 6% of USPS packages are not properly scanned at all points in the mailstream (Source). That means there‘s a decent chance your package simply missed a scan or two but is still on its way.
I‘ve seen many instances of this in my work with retailers and consumers. For example, a customer once contacted me in a panic because her tracking hadn‘t updated in 4 days. She was convinced the package was lost. But when I checked with USPS, they confirmed the package had actually been scanned at a distribution center the previous day. The tracking just hadn‘t caught up yet.
2. Incorrect Address
Another common reason for packages not moving is an incorrect, incomplete, or illegible address. If the shipping label is missing key information like the apartment number or zip code, the package may be undeliverable as addressed. USPS will attempt to locate the correct address, but this can significantly delay the shipment.
I‘ve encountered many cases where a single incorrect digit in the zip code sent a package to the wrong sorting facility across the country. Or where forgetting to include the apartment number caused the package to be returned to sender.
Shockingly, a study found that over 6 billion pieces of mail have an incorrect or outdated address each year in the US (Source). So double and triple check your shipping address to avoid delays.
3. Customs Clearance (International Shipments)
If you‘re sending or receiving an international USPS shipment, it must clear customs in the destination country before being released for final delivery. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks depending on the country and contents of the package.
Customs officials may hold packages for additional screening, documentation, or payment of duties and taxes. Any missing or inaccurate customs forms can trigger delays. So can shipping restricted or prohibited items. During the customs clearance process, your tracking information may show no movement for an extended period.
I once worked with a retailer whose packages were routinely getting stuck in customs for 2-3 weeks. After some digging, we discovered they were not providing complete and accurate item descriptions on their customs forms. This was a red flag for officials, leading to delays. Once we optimized their customs paperwork, transit times improved dramatically.
4. Weather and Natural Disasters
Mother Nature can have a massive impact on USPS package movement. Severe weather events like blizzards, hurricanes, wildfires, and floods often lead to shipping delays. Roads may be impassable, USPS facilities may be closed or damaged, and operations are disrupted.
Even if your local area is not directly hit by a storm, it can still impact your package if it‘s coming from or passing through an affected region. For example, if a hurricane shuts down a major USPS distribution hub, packages from all over the country that normally route through that hub could see delays of a week or more.
Weather-related shipping delays have become more frequent and severe in recent years. The US Government Accountability Office found that USPS weather-related transportation costs increased from $183 million in 2018 to $272 million in 2022 due to more extreme events (Source). As a result, weather is playing a bigger role in package delays than ever before.
5. Holidays and Peak Periods
Every year around the holidays, my clients and their customers brace for what‘s known as "shipageddon" – the massive influx of packages that clogs up the USPS network between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It‘s not uncommon for packages to take 2-3 times longer than usual to be delivered during this period due to the sheer volume.
In 2022, USPS expected to deliver 12.4 billion pieces of mail and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That‘s more than 1/3 of their total annual volume squeezed into a few weeks (Source). To handle this surge, USPS hires around 40,000 extra seasonal workers each peak season. But delays are still inevitable when the network is pushed beyond capacity.
During peak season, it‘s common for packages not to move at all for up to a week at a time as they wait to be sorted and transported. This year, a combination of high inflation and fears of a recession meant holiday sales (and package volumes) began surging even earlier than usual in October. So the USPS peak season bottlenecks are stretching out longer than in the past.
What To Do If Your USPS Package Is Not Moving
Now that you know some of the most likely reasons behind your stalled shipment, here are the steps you should take to get things moving again:
1. Wait 2-3 Days (Or Up to 5 for Economy)
First, have some patience. As mentioned earlier, skipped scans and busy periods mean USPS packages can go a few days without any tracking updates even when they are still in transit. If you shipped using an economy service like USPS Retail Ground, delays of up to 5 business days are not uncommon.
However, if there are still no updates after 2-3 business days (or 5+ days for economy services), it‘s time to investigate. Note that weekends and federal holidays do not count as business days for USPS.
2. Check Delivery Standard and Last Location
Next, look up the delivery timeframe for the service you used on the USPS website. See how many business days your package was supposed to take and compare that to how long it‘s been in transit. If it‘s past the expected delivery date with no movement, there may be an issue.
Also check the last known location of your package. If it‘s still hundreds or thousands of miles away from the destination a day or two before the scheduled delivery date, that‘s a red flag. Packages should be scanned at a facility near the destination zip code by that point.
3. Contact USPS Customer Service
If the delivery window has passed with no movement, your first step is to contact USPS directly. The quickest way is to call their customer support line at 1-800-ASK-USPS. Have your tracking number ready.
A representative can look up your package in their system and provide more context about the delay and last known whereabouts. They may be able to tell you, for example, that the package was scanned at X facility on Y date but then never departed. Or that it‘s sitting at a facility awaiting customs clearance.
This additional context from USPS can give you clues about what‘s causing the holdup. It can also help the representative open an investigation and potentially get the package moving again. If the tracking hasn‘t updated in 7 days, you can also submit a Missing Mail search request with USPS to have them do a more intensive search.
4. Contact the Seller
If you‘re the recipient of the delayed package, be sure to loop in the seller as well. Remember, they are USPS‘s actual customer in this scenario since they paid for the shipping. So they may be able to access additional support channels or resources to help locate the package.
The seller should be just as invested as you are in getting the shipment delivered. After all, their reputation and bottom line could be on the line. A survey by Convey found that 84% of consumers are unlikely to shop with a brand again after a single poor delivery experience (Source). So don‘t hesitate to contact the seller for assistance.
5. Request a Refund or Replacement
If USPS is unable to locate your package or get it moving again, you may need to request a refund or replacement from the seller. How this is handled will depend on the individual seller‘s policies and your specific situation.
Generally, if the package is truly lost (and not just delayed), the seller should refund your payment or send out a replacement shipment at no additional cost to you. They may also be able to file an insurance claim with USPS if the contents were valuable.
However, be aware that some sellers may require you to wait up to 30 days from the original estimated delivery date before declaring a package lost and issuing a refund. They want ample time for the package to be located or delivered. But you should be able to work with the seller to figure out the best resolution for your circumstances.
How to Prevent USPS Packages From Getting Stuck
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While some shipping delays are outside your control, there are proactive steps you can take as a consumer to lower the risk of your USPS packages not moving:
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Use a Verified Address: Always double check that you‘re using a complete, accurate, and properly formatted address for the recipient. USPS has an address verification tool on their website you can use. Be sure to include any apartment/unit numbers on a separate line with a # symbol.
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Pick the Right Box and Packing: If you‘re returning an item or shipping something yourself, use a sturdy, corrugated cardboard box that‘s an appropriate size for the contents. You want the item to fit snugly with cushioning on all sides. Avoid reusing old boxes that may have torn edges, labels, or markings that could confuse sorting machines.
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Consider Insurance: For valuable, rare, or time-sensitive shipments, it‘s a good idea to add insurance. While this won‘t prevent delays, it will protect you financially if the package is lost or damaged. You can add insurance when creating your shipping label with USPS.
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Ship Early: If you need a package to arrive by a certain date, don‘t procrastinate. Give yourself a buffer of a few extra days in case there are any delays along the way. This is especially important during peak seasons like the holidays. The earlier you ship, the less likely your package will get stuck.
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Avoid Economy Services: If getting your package in a timely manner is a top priority, consider upgrading from economy services like USPS Retail Ground to Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express. These premium services include faster shipping times and more reliable delivery dates for a few extra dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
To wrap up, here are answers to some of the most common questions I get from consumers about USPS packages not moving:
How long should I wait before contacting USPS about a stuck package?
In most cases, you should wait 2-3 business days after the estimated delivery date before contacting USPS. For economy services, wait 5+ business days after the delivery date. This gives the package time to get scanned and start moving again on its own.
Can I get a refund for a late USPS package?
It depends. If you paid for a guaranteed service like Priority Mail Express and the package is delivered late, you can request a refund of the shipping fee directly from USPS. However, for non-guaranteed services, USPS does not offer refunds for delayed packages. You would need to contact the seller about their refund policy.
Will filing a claim or contacting USPS make my package move faster?
Filing a claim or contacting USPS customer service won‘t necessarily speed up your individual package. But it does create a record of the issue and may lead to your package getting located more quickly if it‘s truly lost or stuck. More broadly, claims data helps USPS identify and address systemic issues in their network that may be contributing to delays.
What happens if my USPS package is never found?
If your package is ultimately deemed lost by USPS and cannot be recovered, you will need to work with the seller on a resolution. Typically, this would involve the seller refunding your payment or shipping a replacement item at no cost to you. If the seller had insured the package, they can also file a claim to recoup the value of the lost contents.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, a USPS package that‘s not moving is an frustrating experience for everyone involved – buyers, sellers, and USPS itself. While some delays are inevitable, being proactive and persistent can help get your shipment back on track.
If you‘ve waited an appropriate amount of time and the package still isn‘t moving, contact USPS and the seller for assistance. Provide them with as much information as you can, including the tracking number, contents, and any deadlines you‘re up against. Work with them to determine the cause of the delay and the best path forward.
In my experience, the vast majority of stuck packages do eventually get delivered. It may take some extra time and effort, but don‘t lose hope. Stay on top of the tracking, keep lines of communication open, and be patient. With a little luck and a lot of perseverance, your package will hopefully start moving again soon.
