Did you recently ship a package or order something and you're excitedly awaiting its arrival? Was the package shipped via Priority Mail? If you're wondering where in the world your package is, you can track your package's journey through the Priority Mail tracking tool provided by the United States Postal Service. There are several ways you can track a package that you sent via a U.S. post office.
What's Priority Mail?
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If you want to send a package, you have several options. You can use regular postage and send the package the old fashioned way, which can take from several days to several weeks, depending on its destination. But if you want a package to arrive faster, say in two to three days, the USPS offers Priority Mail service.
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For a shipping fee, the USPS will ensure your package arrives at its destination within three days. There are special boxes and envelopes for Priority Mail, and when you take the package to the U.S. post office, the package will receive a special Priority Mail mailing sticker. You'll need some information from this sticker to track your package.
Locate the Tracking Number
The tracking number is located under the bar code, the horizontal black and white lines on the mailing label. If you're shipping the item and want to track its progress, write this number down. If you are tracking a package you ordered, you should have received some form of confirmation that the package has been shipped, such as an email or a text message. Find this confirmation and make a note of the USPS tracking number.
Track Through the USPS Website
Visit the Track and Manage page on the USPS website. Enter the tracking number in the search bar and click the search icon or press "Enter." You can search for up to 35 packages at once. Once you've clicked search, any information available about the package will show up on the next screen.
Use the USPS Mobile App
You can also track a package using the USPS mobile app. It is available for both Apple and Android devices. It is located in the App Store for iPhones and Apple devices and in the Google Play Store for Android phones and devices.
Search for "USPS Mobile" and select it from the list of available apps. Once you've downloaded the app, select "Track and Manage" from the menu, enter the tracking number in the search box and click search.
Use a Third-Party Site
Other mailing service sites can also help with their "track package" tools. For example, Stamps.com has a USPS tracking feature on their site. Navigate to the "ship and track" page, enter the tracking number for the package, and hit search.
Call the USPS
If all else fails, or you're simply old school, you can call the U.S. Post Office customer service line at 1-800-275-8777. From the main menu, press 1 or say "tracking." From the next menu, press 1 again or say "tracking" again. You'll then be prompted to enter your tracking number.
If you want to speak to a customer service representative, their hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Tracking a package shipped through the United States Postal Service is easy if you have the right information and know your tracking options. Tracking your package is a good idea; in the event the package doesn't arrive at its destination, tracking can alert you to the last place the package was handled. Hopefully, though, you'll use it to watch the package travel and arrive at its new destination.