Registered Mail movement- is there any cause for concern here?

PeakRarities

On Thursday 11/10, I sent a $15,000 consignment to great collections via registered, insured, priority mail. The expected delivery date was 11/14. I know that mail often misses delivery dates, but I’m a tad bit concerned for this reason- the tracking initially showed movement across the country, and yesterday, on the expected delivery day, it showed it was in Irvine, CA and read “received by postal office, awaiting signature” or something along those lines. Today, I checked on it and saw that it was back in Miami at 3:15 AM? And all of the previous tracking history is gone, the package now shows that it was floundering around in Florida for 5 days?

I don’t often use registered mail and apologize if this is very common but I was just wondering if this is a typical occurrence or there might be some type of issue here?

TheGoonies1985

One thing I learned over time was to stop buying or selling between mid November and Mid January (the amount of stress is not worth it) just the worst time to be doing buying or selling. But if I had to it would be FedEx next day delivery or 2 day delivery. But like I said I am done with this annual mess of a period. I don't sell anymore anyways and only buy 3-4 times per year now. I know some hate FedEx not me always A1 service from them.

I have been following my own advice for 2-3 years and I now have peace of mind for those 2 months.

JBK

I assume the expected delivery date was possibly based on the priority mail aspect. I don't think they can guarantee or definitively estimate registered mail delivery, when it's first mailed, in any case.

nencoin

I'd say almost no cause for concern at this point. I think it's silly that the USPS puts estimated delivery dates on Registered Mail, so you can completely disregard that. We often see Registered packages go for days without an update, then suddenly its next scan is across the country (even if it we're not shipping it across the country). The tracking is not the best, but it'll get there. We tell customers that Registered Mail typically takes 7-14 days in the continental U.S.

PeakRarities

@JBK said:
I assume the expected delivery date was possibly based on the priority mail aspect. I don't think they can guarantee or definitively estimate registered mail delivery, when it's first mailed, in any case.

Of course, I was not banking on the delivery date, my only concern was based on the fact that the package showed to have been AT the destination post office, and now that history is no longer there

goodmoney4badmoney

Since it’s Registered my concern would be pretty much zero.

oldabeintx

I've had some packages take some strange detours, but all have turned out ok. Still doesn't stop me from worrying, although I'm not sure what can be done.

MasonG

USPS on tracking registered mail:

Tracking Registered Mail

Registered Mail (domestic and international) service and Registered Mail Restricted Delivery service alone cannot be tracked through the mailstream. Updated scans are not provided as the piece is processed from facility to facility. However, those mail services provide delivery information when a scan shows either a delivery status or information on an attempted delivery, which can be retrieved in several ways.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Registered-Mail-The-Basics

Just sayin'.

logger7

Nothing to worry about with this parcel. As in the Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner... it has been decided in your favor....

Bullsitter

My last registered took 21 days.

jclovescoins

The delivery date is NEVER accurate for registered mail...that is based on the priority mail aspect only. You should expect ther registered package to take anywhere from 1-3 weeks. After 3 weeks, I would be concerned - not until then.

airplanenut

I recently had one that didn’t move from its origin for two and a half weeks, then it took two days of transit to get to me. Registered is weird, and I just wait for tracking to tell me it’s available for pickup… that’s all it’s good for.

conrad99

Registered is notoriously slow. The OIG says there are other problems with it as well.

Postal Service operational controls over Registered Mail at 14 of 15 post offices visited were not always adequate, effective, or followed. Some of the post offices had multiple issues...

https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/registered-mail

2ndCharter

Well, I'll repeat what I've said in numerous threads like this - over the past 40 years, I have sent and received HUNDREDS of Registered Mail packages and never had a problem. Normal delivery time is 7 to 10 days although one time I had a package take 17 days to get from New York to Oklahoma. I don't even think about slow delivery until it gets past ten days.

DollarAfterDollar

Registered mail is required to be under lock and key when not in transit. When CAC used registered mail my stuff would be locked up in New York City for a week. I'm certain they didn't prepare it for shipment until they remembered it.

Don't sweat it, that's just how the Post Office is with Registered.

hfjacinto

I once sent a registered letter from my town to the county seat about 3 miles east. It took 17 days to go 3 miles. It stayed at the distribution center for a week and then was at the main post office in the county seat for another week. The county offices were across the street from the main post office. Only took 2 days to get the signed receipt back to me, so what you are seeing is normal. The post office maybe slow sometimes but I never had a package lost. And in the years since I had “informed delivery” I only had 1 first class letter lost.

jkrk

I agree with much that was posted here.
Most of the time tracking is accurate, often not updated. I recently had a package go across town in NYC and took a week to get there.

My advice, if you have any complaints, call the postal general and open a case and usually you will see results within a few days.

JWP

The USPS is very shaky IMHO on getting anything anywhere on time. I think close to good for them is 30 days or less. I refer to my local dist processing center as "The Shadow of the Valley of Death - what goes in may never be see again and you need to pay extra for scans". I've had them lose- I mean lose items just going across town. This day's USPS is not our father's USPS by a long shot.

BUFFNIXX

They are slow but reliable.
Your stuff will get there.
be patient.

Barberian

The last package shipped to me via registered mail took 21 days to travel 400 miles. The only problem I had was the seller wouldn't refund a misrepresented coin after two weeks, regardless of his sending it registered mail (lengthy delivery times) and when registered mail said it was delivered (a week too late)!

If there is no urgency with delivery time, then registered mail is the way to go.

1madman

No reason for concern because these are coins you’re going to sell anyway. What’s the difference if the post office pays for them, or the auction house sells them?

I’ve had a similar experience many years ago with registered mail showing bizarre tracking details, then gets cleaned up and gets to the destination.

ricko

I have used Registered Mail several times. Although no shipments were lost, a few did have very strange routes. I see above, that a post indicates that information should be ignored. I have ignored it the last few times, and all went well. Cheers, RickO

Picker1954

I ship from Pt. St. Lucie FL and have found when it hits Miami it gets "lost" for a few days.

2windy2fish

@DeplorableDan this one is odd for sure, if i were you i would give GC a call and see if by chance they have the parcel, sounds like it made it to the pick up point…

PeakRarities

@2windy2fish said:
@DeplorableDan this one is odd for sure, if i were you i would give GC a call and see if by chance they have the parcel, sounds like it made it to the pick up point…

I think I might. It seems that my post may have been unclear and some misinterpreted my worry for being about the delivery date. I couldn’t care less if the package actually was in florida for 5 days, I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen. Regardless, Thank you to all who chimed in

telephoto1

Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

But 3 parcels is 3x the change of loss:)

telephoto1

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

When I make PM labels it clearly states $5k max

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

But 3 parcels is 3x the change of loss:)

When I make PM labels it clearly states $5k max

Yes. For express and priority. It's $50k for registered.

jdimmick

Id be real concerned, if it was in irvine, and then shot to Miami, and hanging around in florida, Id bee making some calls, Make sure you entered the correct number again. if so, get investigating!!

Ive been sending registered packages and other specialty mailings for 30+ years, trust me, something is off. dont wait before at least invetigating with a postal supv, etc.

PS it is possible that is was accidentally put in the international center and sent to miami to go out of country. I had that happen to one I sent once, but luckily intervened and was able to retrieve it and get it to PCGS with no issues.

telephoto1

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

But 3 parcels is 3x the change of loss:)

When I make PM labels it clearly states $5k max

Yes. For express and priority. It's $50k for registered.

Um... hello. Did you not read my post? I was TALKING about sending via PM or EM.

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

But 3 parcels is 3x the change of loss:)

When I make PM labels it clearly states $5k max

Yes. For express and priority. It's $50k for registered.

Um... hello. Did you not read my post? I was TALKING about sending via PM or EM.

Yes. I know. You brought up the 5k again. My point of that 3 parcels had 3x the risk of loss of one parcel. So which has the higher chance of loss: one registered package which has a lower chance of loss than either priority or express or 3 parcels?

That's all I referred to. Loss not speed

MasonG

@DeplorableDan said:
I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen.

Aside from the fact that the post office says that their tracking system doesn't work for registered mail, neither can I.

PeakRarities

@MasonG said:

@DeplorableDan said:
I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen.

Aside from the fact that the post office says that their tracking system doesn't work for registered mail, neither can I.

While that very well could be the case, the postal worker originally told me that I would be able to track it since it was registered priority. And being that the tracking number showed movement initially, I had thought that the USPS disclaimer about tracking was just a broad statement regarding the accuracy. I’m sure it will be fine either way, the California scan must have been some weird error

MasonG

The post office has their own internal system for tracking registered mail that only they can access. It's clear that the packages get at least some scans along the way and that's probably why what shows up online doesn't make sense.

Also, it doesn't matter what level of service you use (First Class or Priority) with registered mail. It's processed manually and doesn't necessarily move at the speed of the chosen service class.

davewesen

If it started in Florida, I would not be overly concerned.

telephoto1

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:
Registered mail is the slowest but safest USPS method as it has to be signed for every time it changes hands and has to be stored in a secure area of the facility, truck etc. If I wanted it to get there faster, I likely would have split the $15k parcel into three $5k parcels and sent them fully insured via either priority mail or express mail. ($5k limit per pkg. if memory serves). That way they spend minimal time in the mailstream, which means less chance of a problem. jmho

But 3 parcels is 3x the change of loss:)

When I make PM labels it clearly states $5k max

Yes. For express and priority. It's $50k for registered.

Um... hello. Did you not read my post? I was TALKING about sending via PM or EM.

Yes. I know. You brought up the 5k again. My point of that 3 parcels had 3x the risk of loss of one parcel. So which has the higher chance of loss: one registered package which has a lower chance of loss than either priority or express or 3 parcels?

That's all I referred to. Loss not speed

You're trying to argue a point that wasn't trying to be made... My statement clearly reads "if I wanted it to get there faster...". I already stipulated that Registered was safer and know the max, seeing how I've been mailing things the last 4 decades.

jmlanzaf

@DeplorableDan said:

@MasonG said:

@DeplorableDan said:
I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen.

Aside from the fact that the post office says that their tracking system doesn't work for registered mail, neither can I.

While that very well could be the case, the postal worker originally told me that I would be able to track it since it was registered priority. And being that the tracking number showed movement i1snitially, I had thought that the USPS disclaimer about tracking was just a broad statement regarding the accuracy. I’m sure it will be fine either way, the California scan must have been some weird error

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@telephoto1 said:

via PM or EM.

Yes. I know. You brought up the 5k again. My point of that 3 parcels had 3x the risk of loss of one parcel. So which has the higher chance of loss: one registered package which has a lower chance of loss than either priority or express or 3 parcels?

That's all I referred to. Loss not speed

You're trying to argue a point that wasn't trying to be made... My statement clearly reads "if I wanted it to get there faster...". I already stipulated that Registered was safer and know the max, seeing how I've been mailing things the last 4 decades.

Actually, you're the one arguing some point. I just said (with a ) that 3 packages was 3 times the chance of loss. I wasn't arguing anything at all.

telephoto1

@jmlanzaf said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@MasonG said:

@DeplorableDan said:
I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen.

Aside from the fact that the post office says that their tracking system doesn't work for registered mail, neither can I.

While that very well could be the case, the postal worker originally told me that I would be able to track it since it was registered priority. And being that the tracking number showed movement i1snitially, I had thought that the USPS disclaimer about tracking was just a broad statement regarding the accuracy. I’m sure it will be fine either way, the California scan must have been some weird error

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

Agree. Registered Priority doesn't get there any faster yet costs you more money.

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@MasonG said:

@DeplorableDan said:
I was just bewildered that it showed a scan in Irvine, and then that history disappeared. I can’t think of a logical reason for that to happen.

Aside from the fact that the post office says that their tracking system doesn't work for registered mail, neither can I.

While that very well could be the case, the postal worker originally told me that I would be able to track it since it was registered priority. And being that the tracking number showed movement i1snitially, I had thought that the USPS disclaimer about tracking was just a broad statement regarding the accuracy. I’m sure it will be fine either way, the California scan must have been some weird error

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

Agree. Registered Priority doesn't get there any faster yet costs you more money.

agree. I actually think they need to educate their staff about that. I've had tellers try to upsell me on priority when it just costs more money for shipping and goes in the same frigging parcel as the 1st class package.

liefgold

@telephoto1 said:

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

Agree. Registered Priority doesn't get there any faster yet costs you more money.

Agree! So why does CAC send their packages Registered Priority? I know for a fact they have private insurance. So why not just send it Priority? Much faster, still insured.

telephoto1

@liefgold said:

@telephoto1 said:

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

Agree. Registered Priority doesn't get there any faster yet costs you more money.

Agree! So why does CAC send their packages Registered Priority? I know for a fact they have private insurance. So why not just send it Priority? Much faster, still insured.

If it's $5000 or less, Priority insured is the best bang for the buck... and if memory serves they still aren't honoring guarantees on Express so it would likely end up being same timeframe as Priority anyway, for more money. I've always had the philosophy that the less time something spends in the mail stream, the lower the chance of problems.
Registered is for someone who doesn't care about speed.

telephoto1

Also, Registered is safe but it's not bulletproof. It still can be misplaced, pilfered or outright stolen, though the odds are less by virtue of how it's handled. But it's not impossible.

jmlanzaf

@telephoto1 said:

@liefgold said:

@telephoto1 said:

Honestly, there is no difference between Registered and Registered Priority. Registered mail all travels the same way.

Agree. Registered Priority doesn't get there any faster yet costs you more money.

Agree! So why does CAC send their packages Registered Priority? I know for a fact they have private insurance. So why not just send it Priority? Much faster, still insured.

If it's $5000 or less, Priority insured is the best bang for the buck... and if memory serves they still aren't honoring guarantees on Express so it would likely end up being same timeframe as Priority anyway, for more money. I've always had the philosophy that the less time something spends in the mail stream, the lower the chance of problems.
Registered is for someone who doesn't care about speed.

Their private insurance might also have conditions.

RegistryCoin

It’s safe in Irvine, but it’s frustrating,
This location is often a slow spot for registered mail to get through.

stawick

(I had a post quoting a previous post that seems to have gone to the bit bucket. Nothing too major.)

Registered vs Registered Priority might not be a speed difference, but a postage difference, depending on box dimensions, weight, and zones crossed. The fee structure is something like Registered service + insurance + postage.
For me, the 1st time I shipped to PCGS I used a Priority flat-rate box, going cross-country.
They measured and weighed it, and it turned out quite a bit more than just using the flat-rate. So I've been doing Registered Priority ever since for that reason.

golden

Don't worry.

Picker1954

I see that it made it to its final destination.

PeakRarities

@Picker1954 said:
I see that it made it to its final destination.

Yup, post office said the California thing was just a strange error, couldn’t explain why

2windy2fish

Excellent news! i have had very similar experiences with a notice completely across the country and package delivered safely….