PhotoPass & USPS question

[Telcogirl]

PhotoPass has me on the edge right now and I am hoping that someone can at least give me the inside scoop on how the Postal Service prioritizes these packages for delivery.

My family and I returned from the World on Dec 1st. The only real photos we had of all of us together were the ones that the Disney photographers took. We ended up with two fabulous pictures that were deemed "Christmas present appropriate!" for my father. One of the photos was all of us in front of the tree in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge (gorgeous tree, I might add).

The other photo was in front of the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights. (another breath taking holiday site)

I ordered these photos on December 3rd. Photopass shows them as being shipped on December 6th. Today is December 18th and I have no idea where my photos are. I contacted the Photopass people and was told that based on their shipping policies with the USPS, the latest the photos could be delivered to me is December 24th. They told me to call back if I didn't receive them by the 24th. With Christmas being on the 25th and all, I don't know what they can do for me if the photos do not arrive by the 24th.

My father is already bugging me to see those photos that the "Disney people took." I was really hoping to surprise him with a couple of family photos for Christmas. Our trip was our first trip as an extended family! These photos will probably be the first photos of my dad, his brothers and their kids, plus my family, all together.

There is no tracking information on these at all. Does anyone know how the post office handles these items? I shipped a package to Orlando from my home state on December 7th and it arrived on December 10th. That makes me just wonder what shipping method the post office uses? Pony express???

I guess I am hoping for a little pixie dust, too!

TIA!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Is there any kind of tracking available throught the Photopass site? I ordered a bunch of stuff on Amazon this season, and you can track your package, even through the USPS so you know where it is. I haven't been to Disney since 07, and I don't think you want to wait until I go next December to get a "for sure" answer from me. Hopefully someone will be able to give you a good answer.

 

[Telcogirl]

Is there any kind of tracking available throught the Photopass site? I ordered a bunch of stuff on Amazon this season, and you can track your package, even through the USPS so you know where it is. I haven't been to Disney since 07, and I don't think you want to wait until I go next December to get a "for sure" answer from me. Hopefully someone will be able to give you a good answer.

Nope, there is no tracking info at all. I scoured the Photopass site and finally gave up and called the Photopass customer service people. They confirmed there is no tracking info.

That is why I am wondering what is the shipping method used by the USPS for these pictures? Becasue you are right Daddy_of_Princesses, you can track other items via USPS.....

Question of the day, I guess............

 

[Telcogirl]

No postal workers on these boards that can shed some light?

 

[rubato]

Hubby is a letter carrier, but he's working. He probably can't help anyway, because he just delivers the stuff. I do know that when I order things online, they will sometimes email that things have shipped, but they are actually sitting in the companies warehouse, not with the postal service yet. If photopass is guaranteeing them by the 24th, but they shipped out on the 6th, that doesn't make any sense. Unless they send them bulk rate or something like that. Even then, I don't see how that would work because I don't see how they can guarantee them.

And, just in case it helps, if they aren't there on the 24th and photopass is willing to do something about it, they can express overnight them and they will be delivered on Christmas day. I hope you get some answers soon!

 

[disneydreamerprinces]

As you said you placed your order on Dec 3. I am assuming that you used the standard shipping option rather than Express(contains tracking).

"For Standard or International Shipping, your order will be delivered with an expected delivery time of 3-7 days, maximum of 14 business days from the time the order is shipped. Our prices do not include duties or value-added taxes. If assessed, these charges are the responsibility of the package recipient, who will be billed for them by the local Customs office. Please keep this in mind if you are shipping to a recipient outside the U.S. " -- from the photo pass website.

This does make sense as I am guessing that the PHotopass shipped your product as parcel post (ground travel)the cheapest way to mail which the USPS ships 3- 7 days for delivery. Yet Photo pass states a max a 14 days, which I am assummig is for their time, they are going to get their express (airplane travel) order completed first.

Although it states 14 days, having been ordered on the 3rd. You should have recieved it, unless Photopass is behind on their orders?

I just notice that they are referring to 14 business days, so that does make sense.

This would be my standpoint as a Postmaster-relief for the USPS

 

[Telcogirl]

Photos were received yesterday..... Ok, one less holiday stress!

BTW, they were mailed First Class. I am not sure what that means, I was thinking that i would see a reference to bulk mail or somethinfg like that.

Anyways, as is well.. Happy Holidays!

 

[jmkjr72]

the usps doesnt offer any sort of tracking all it offers is delivery conformation
so even if you opted for that you would be lucky if they scanned it at any point after it was shipped

glad you got your package in time after all

 

[disneydreamerprinces]

the usps doesnt offer any sort of tracking all it offers is delivery conformation
so even if you opted for that you would be lucky if they scanned it at any point after it was shipped

glad you got your package in time after all

The USPS does have tracking
http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm