international tracking

[audistarelectronics]

Hi all, when we purchase an overseas item and the seller supplies a tracking number, does the item then get an Aust post tracking number once it lands here, or is the item untrackable all the way to delivery? Many thanks.

[cq_tech]

In my experience the tracking number has always remained the same. However, I have read that with GSP items, this may not be the case but I can't comment on those as I refuse to pay such outrageous postage prices.

[lyndal1838]

Most tracking numbers remain the same from dispatch to delivery. 

The only tracking numbers that I know of that vary are the ones from the USA where the seller uses the GSP.  The seller gets a tracking number to send the item to Pitney Bowes in Kentucky, where the item is prepared for international delivery.  It is then given a tracking number to Australia and from there FedEx may or may not deliver it themselves.

If it is being delivered by FedEx it will remain the same but if FedEx hands it to Australia Post you will get it as an eparcel with an AP tracking number.

[audistarelectronics]

Thanks for that, it is coming from Europe, with a tracking number that I put into the Aust Post tracking system, but it just says international. I guess I will try and obtain the international freight company details from the sender.

[lyndal1838]

You need to track the item with the original courier/postal service.  Sometimes it will be trackable all the way to your door if it is an international courier.  Sometimes it is only trackable within the country of dispatch.

In all cases it will only be trackable in Australia once it has arrived here and is being handled by Australia Post.

[haolove13]

I recently purchased an item from China, it had a tracking number commencing with RP which I have used previously to track items from China Via Hong Kong.

This service is no longer offered by Australia Post as part of the pay more for less service being offered by them.

Fortuneately the parcel arrived safely but it seems to have sat around in Australia for a week longer than normal as it showed the time it was despatched from China and Hong Kong.

[cq_tech]

You should be able to track your item on International Track & Trace, regardless of which carrier was used.

Click on http://www.trackitonline.ru/ and enter your tracking number and you'll be given any information currently available.

[audistarelectronics]

Thank you for that, very helpful.

[trusteduserid]

This is how it works for me, others experience may differ.

If the item is sent by UPS, the only info is the electrinic shipping information (which does not verify that it was posted). Very rarely you can track it until it reaches Australia. Once in AU it does not update until delivery (sometimes it does not update at all). I find UPS VERY lazy with their tracking updates! Here is a typical UPS tracking number, I have already recieved the item yesterday after nearly three weeks wait-

With USPS it tracks until it gets to Australia, once in AU it only updates once delivered (which could be to the post office).

I don't think I have used GSP because of the ridiculas price of postage so I cannot comment on this.

One thing is for sure, I have NEVER been able to track an international item inside AU.

[zanadoo_56]

I have found that if the US seller uses USPS First Class International with E-DELCON then not only is it fully tracked via USPS but I can track it through Aust Post as well.  This is a brilliant service and hopefully more US sellers will ditch the GSP and use this instead as the postage costs are very reasonable and you get tracking.  It's a win-win situation.

At the moment a parcel I'm expecting from the US arrived in Oz yesterday according to USPS...and is actually at the sorting facility in Brisbane according to AP.  You can't get it clearer than that.