topic Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks... in Buying

Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:49:24 GMT

I bought a ring (not very valuable) from the UK 4 weeks ago, and the seller posted it a couple of days later with a tracking number.

Usually I find packages from the UK arrive in 2-3 weeks via airmail, but when I enter the tracking number for this particular item, I have been getting the following message:

Your item, posted on 22/05/13 with reference RU*********GB has been passed to the overseas postal service for delivery in AUSTRALIA.

Nothing has changed in 4 weeks, and I'm beginning to wonder why it's taking so long. Should I be concerned? It seems to be a legitimate number as it shows up as being on the way when entered into the Royal Mail website, but there is no evidence of it having arrive in Australia at all, just that it was posted.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

foxette-in-sox — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:13:31 GMT

I would ring AP today & ask them to check.If no joy,open a Paypal dispute ASAP.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

lyndal1838 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:44:16 GMT

That is the message that you get when the service used is International Signed For and it is only trackable within the UK.

You will not get anything more until it is delivered here in Australia and is signed for (if it ever is signed for).

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

yesh1976 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:27:30 GMT

I would be very careful. I have had a few instances where I have waited patiently for overseas parcels to arrive, contacted the seller who assured me that it was on its way and to be patient, only to find that in believing the seller, the time to file a dispute passed, the item never arrived and I was too late to even leave negative feedback! I was too slow granted, but in the last case, there was a tracking number that simply said that it had been posted but no further information. So I thought, given it had a tracking number, it must be legit.WRONG! So I would say file a dispute before the time expires REGARDLESS of what the seller says or whether there is a tracking number. I have been screwed over so many times on Ebay, I'm not sure why I come back 🙂

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

retailtherapist_8 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:28:06 GMT

In 2013 I find it ridiculous that it can take a month to receive mail from GB.

terroxyboy, I too have had to wait a longgggg time for items sent royal mail & had the same message you are getting, but I wouldn't wait any longer if I were you.

Hope all goes well for you! 🙂

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:17:13 GMT

The seller has responded promptly, with tracking details - but it shows nothing further than the item having arrived at Heathrow Worldwide DC on 23/05/2013.

Hopefully the ring has not been lost in transit or stolen, because it would appear that the seller has done all the right things. Not sure what to do next if it doesn't turn up.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

chezzy — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:01:26 GMT

I used to find UK > Aust mail fast, usually within a week, but times have changed.

I also don't think tracking is comprehensive and is sometimes only tracked within the country of posting and not the entire journey.

Regardless of (or in addition to?) the ebay/paypal process I would suggest starting a Missing Article Enquiry with Australia Post. I found a link for it online (hope it works):

https://contactus.auspost.com.au/app/enquiry/ArticleSearchLanding/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzExMjA3OTczL3NpZC9iTmthUHV6aw%3D%3D

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 06:27:45 GMT

Still no package. I'm lodging a missing article enquiry, and then will be opening a dispute next week if nothing turns up. That makes me feel a bit lousy, because the seller has done all the right things so far including responding promptly to messages, but I'm not sure how else to proceed as I don't think I should be handing over 50 bucks for thin air.

Is this a common occurrence, jewellery going 'missing' in the post?

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:06:21 GMT

Have you tried putting the tracking number in the AP site? Sometimes they will show, sometimes not.

It has been long enough since it was posted in the UK so i would just open the dispute after emailing them and telling them you are not prepared to wait any longer and would like a refund, assure them that should it arrive after you get a refund you will resend the payment.

The only problem you may have is if somebody else (and that can be the AP courier) has signed for the parcel and so the seller will be able to get seller protection and your refund will take a bit of effort. You may need to supply a Stat Dec stating you have not received the item or even go as far as reporting it to the police and getting a crime number, that should only happen if the seller provides proof that there is a signature .

Hopefully opening the dispute will lead to the seller making the refund, if they don't leave them a neg and escalate to a claim.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

max-power-models — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:15:18 GMT

The only time I have had an item never turn up was sent by Royal Mail. The seller told me it wasn't an unusual occurrence for things to go "missing". If you ever read Viz comics you would be familiar with Postman Plod and his antics. Apparently not far off the truth.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:34:49 GMT

Ugh. I have wanted to buy jewellery on ebay for a while now but was worried about theft, and finally decided to take the plunge after 8 or so years of buying many many items and only 2 items never turning up (both bad sellers who got booted not long after). This is very disappointing.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

retailtherapist_8 — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:38:39 GMT

Hi Terry, I am still waiting too. It s snail mail and the only thing "royal" about it is the pain in my a&%^@ it is........X-(

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

dotcomdotayu — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:16:20 GMT

the only thing "royal" about it is the pain in my a&%^@ it is........X-(

LOL! :^O

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:38:28 GMT

It doesn't usually take long for airmail parcels to reach Australia from the UK, it does however often take them a long time to clear customs and be delivered by AP. Not defending Royal Mail here but I have never had a parcel take longer than 3 weeks and never had one go missing either from sellers or from family and friends.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:03:01 GMT

I once had a small package arrive from the UK, paid on Friday, here by Tuesday! Faster and cheaper than getting it sent from within Aus.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

whipstick12 — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:23:01 GMT

I recently purchased a book from the UK by surface mail to see what the difference would be over airmail,(was quoted up 3 months for delivery)and of course it was cheaper.

Imagine my surprise when I received it in 7 days!

Me thinks some surface mail comes on the silver bird.;-)

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

lyndal1838 — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 16:45:56 GMT

I have had that happen too whipstick....and I have also had airmail packages that have come by surface mail.

Mistakes happen everywhere and you should not count on it happening every time you try to save some money.;-)

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

terroxyboy — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 04:18:03 GMT

After calling AP they have confirmed that the package has not reached Australia after almost 6 weeks. Dispute has been opened, which I hate doing but I did my best to locate the package and now it's in the sellers hands. I wonder what happened to it? The AP operator I spoke to this morning said that it wasn't registered as being a parcel, so maybe they sent it as a letter and it was maimed in the sorting machine?

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

tjw1945 — Sat, 06 May 2017 01:03:21 GMT

I have been waiting over 3 weeks for a parcel from U.K. to arrive in Australia.I find Australian post and Royal mail offer a very poor service.Fedex only take 3 days-5 days if held up.

Re: Royal mail tracking number - no progress after 4 weeks...

lyndal1838 — Sat, 06 May 2017 01:16:54 GMT

*sigh* Another old thread resurrected for no particular purpose.

You do realise that FedEx is a courier service and as such is very much more expensive that Royal Mail and Australia Post. It is also faster but you need to balance the extra expense against the speed. You really cannot compare a courier service with ordinary mail services.