USPS Postal Inspectors tracking "lost" mail.

February 25, 2025 | Dr. Franklin

[Dr. Franklin]

If something is mailed without a tracking number, can US Postal authorities track missing mail? The issue is a government agency denying receipt of two different items mailed on different dates, from different places, to different offices. The letters were never returned to sender long after mailing. Can the postal inspectors trace these letters? Complaint was filed with the inspectors with all info from postal receipts.

[TexasGator]

Did you check with the USPS?

[11th_VA]

All I know is you only have 30 days from when you mailed the he package to file a claim - and the web site isn’t always up

[Mark]

Newman!

[Republican Wildcat]

It’ll probably arrive in a few months...

[Jeff Chandler]

The USPS should emulate Amazon’s system.

[Jeff Chandler]

Heck, why don’t we just outsource our postal requirements to Amazon?

[Dr. Franklin]

Did you check with the USPS?

Complaint filed for "lost" mail. I don't believe it was lost. I think some government employee made it disappear.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Research Informed Delivery.

USPS photographs every piece of mail in the mainstream.

But not sure it or they will tell you where the pieces were lost.

[Dr. Franklin]

The USPS should emulate Amazon’s system.

If the USPS could effectively track letters, then they couldn't make more money on more expensive mailing methods with tracking numbers. I know that every piece of mail gets photographed, and there are bar codes on the envelopes. I just don't know how easily letters can be tracked if the postal inspectors want to track it.

[Vermont Lt]

Not really.

If they got reports from various people that could be tracked to a particular carrier or post office they could put them under surveillance.

If the item had a tracking number they could track the scans. The issue is that they are not always scanned at every step.

For a single piece of mail? Without tracking? Or special handling (Priority or Express or Certified) I think you are out of luck.

[Jeff Chandler]

If the USPS could effectively track letters, then they couldn't make more money on more expensive mailing methods with tracking numbers

I didn't think of that.

[Dr. Franklin]

Research Informed Delivery.
USPS photographs every piece of mail in the mainstream.
But not sure it or they will tell you where the pieces were lost.

I don't think anything was lost. Courts and government agencies, etc. likely have higher security. Things sent there get X-rayed and radiated to prevent terrorist biological attacks. I am pretty sure things get photographed at such places too. So if the government office wants to blame the USPS for something they don't want to admit they received, I am hoping the postal inspectors can show it was delivered.

[Secret Agent Man]

Possibly. If it makes it to a local post office, some places take photos of everything that comes through, so they might be able to figure out its last location.

[rlmorel]

Remember how in 2020 they wanted $10 billion dollars for the USPS in some giant continuing resolution, ostensibly to assist with the mail in balloting?

I do think they got that money in the end. They lost nearly $10 billion in 2020.

I don’t trust them with regular mail (even though I still use it) and I definitely don’t trust them with mail-in ballots.

[webheart]

One night many long years ago I was driving at night from San Francisco to Sacramento. I think it was after a MacWorld Expo. I was running over things while pieces of paper were blowing around. Some of the things I ran over were quite substantial. This went on for several miles from just after the Bay Bridge until almost Vallejo. Finally I caught up with a semi truck owned by the United States Postal Service with the back door open. It was pulled over to the side of the road. It occurred to me that lots of the mail that had been strewn all over the road over about 100 miles would never be accounted for.

[cableguymn]

Amazon would probably charge me 1.99 to place my mail in my mailbox. Otherwise they will just say “business closed. Will redeliver”

[The Louiswu]

I order scale models and books on occasion and the last 3-4 orders have either been lost in the mail or sat at some facility for 10+ days. Mail delivery is getting lousy, except for the bills.

[Dr. Franklin]

Amazon would probably charge me 1.99 to place my mail in my mailbox. Otherwise they will just say “business closed. Will redeliver”

Only the USPS and its contractors can legally put mail in your mailbox. That's government property, even though you paid for it. It took a special USPS regulation to allow people to have a second box for a newspaper on the mailbox post.

[granite]

This was sent 1 month ago today, it is still on the merry-go-round.

Moving Through Network

In Transit to Next Facility

February 24, 2025

Arrived at USPS Facility

INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219

February 18, 2025, 7:50 pm

Processing Exception

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 17, 2025, 8:32 am

Processing Exception

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 13, 2025, 11:27 am

Processing Exception

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 13, 2025, 12:05 am

Processing Exception

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 12, 2025, 11:59 pm

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PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 12, 2025, 4:41 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 12, 2025, 3:15 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 12, 2025, 2:15 am

Processing Exception

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 11, 2025, 6:19 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 11, 2025, 6:09 pm

Missing Mail Search Request Initiated, Missing Mail Search Request ID MRC 25 2024 0660

February 10, 2025, 2:57 pm

Processing at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 10, 2025, 2:44 pm

Arrived at Post Office

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 8, 2025, 8:58 am

Arrived at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 8, 2025, 7:36 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 8, 2025, 6:33 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 8, 2025, 3:57 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 8, 2025, 3:35 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 7, 2025, 10:43 pm

Processing at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 7, 2025, 4:51 pm

Arrived at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 7, 2025, 5:10 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 6, 2025, 4:55 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 6, 2025, 2:06 am

Processing at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 5, 2025, 3:39 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 4, 2025, 10:12 am

Arrived at USPS Facility

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

February 3, 2025, 12:02 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 1, 2025, 3:22 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

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PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

February 1, 2025, 9:40 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 31, 2025, 4:11 am

In Transit to Next Facility

January 31, 2025, 3:43 am

In Transit to Next Facility

January 30, 2025, 11:37 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

WARRENDALE PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 30, 2025, 8:54 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

WARRENDALE PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 30, 2025, 4:46 am

In Transit to Next Facility

January 29, 2025, 12:41 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

January 28, 2025, 9:40 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

MORENO VALLEY CA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 28, 2025, 6:12 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility

MORENO VALLEY CA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 27, 2025, 6:37 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility

SAN BERNARDINO CA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 25, 2025, 8:50 pm

USPS in possession of item

BEAUMONT, CA 92223

January 25, 2025, 12:52 pm