In the interconnected world of courier and postal services, certain phrases or messages are designated codes intended to serve different meanings and purposes. One such common message that serves this purpose is the ‘Origin post is preparing shipment’.
This message, like many others, is encountered regularly by the users of courier and postal services like USPS on their package tracking status. But, quite frankly, only a few of these users can explain what this code means or implies.
If you have ever experienced ‘origin post is preparing shipment’ while tracking your packages and have no clue of what it meant. Or you are just a newbie trying to test the waters of postal services for the first time and come across this notification, just keep reading.
This post will show you all that you need to know about ‘Origin post is preparing shipment.’ You will see what it means, why it happens, and what you can do when you experience it.
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What Does ‘Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment’ Mean?
The phrase, origin post is preparing shipment is often used by USPS for international mail shipments. The courier company uses this phrase on packages or parcels they already created tracking information for and are ready to be shipped. It means such a package has been received by USPS, scanned into their system, and is ready to be shipped right to the designated location.
What that means is that the term is not used for just one stage of the shipment. It can include any stage from the time the parcel was received to the time it will be delivered to your doorstep. And because there is no definite direction the term is giving to users, most users usually get frustrated when they see it. They just can’t tell where exactly their parcel is.
While this can be frustrating, the best thing you can do at this time is to just calm down and wait patiently for the arrival of your package.
What Kind of Shipment Experiences Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment?
The ‘origin post is preparing for shipment’ message will only appear for international packages. This is because for this notification code to be generated, the source has to be from a different country, while the destination must be somewhere within the United States.
What Usually Cause Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment Issues?
Well, there could be various reasons this happens. Despite USPS’ dedication and objectiveness toward serving its customers – both in the United States and across the globe, sometimes, things don’t usually go as planned.
Many things can go wrong within the USPS infrastructure, causing a kind of delay in delivery. This hence brings up the origin post is preparing shipment notification on your tracking details. Below are some of the reasons you may be seeing the message on your tracking information.
#1: The arrival scan of the package was not done
Although this happens very rarely, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen at all. Sometimes, when you get the messages ‘origin post is preparing shipment’ or even more rarely, ‘origin post is preparing shipment stuck’, this is because someone at the USPS facility center has missed the arrival scanning.
This problem arises solely from the high influx of packages and parcels USPS receives, mostly in the peak seasons. When you’re swarmed with a lot of work, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it. This also happens to workers in the USPS facilities center, as they sometimes forget to make arrival scans when the package flow stays high.
This means that even though your package is moving within the USPS system, there won’t be any update on the package. This will hence prevent you from getting regular updates on the progress of your package until someone notices and fixes the problem. Or the package arrives at your doorstep.
#2: Package overflow
Another reason you may get the ‘origin post is preparing shipment’ message is due to package overflow in the USPS pre-shipment.
This, again, is caused by an increase in the influx of packages received and mailed by USPS at the time. In a way, this hinders the shipping process and affects the number of packets that get shipped. This eventually leads to wrong shipment statuses like “stuck” or “bumped” shipment notification messages.
Also, during this high influx of packages, there may not be enough logistics to take care of the loads of work. Because of that, some packages are delayed and then labeled ‘origin post is preparing shipment’ to allow them to handle the excess work in their hands. This usually happens in the peak seasons like Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.
#3: Package pallet removed
Pallets are what’s used to hold many packages together on the USPS facilities as the packages move from one stage of shipment to another. If during this process, any of the pallets pop open or experience a delay in getting full, then this might cause a delay for all the packages in that pallet.
This is because once a pallet pop open or doesn’t get full in time, all the packages in the set are likely to get removed from a flight log until things are finally smoothened out, and they can be prepared to be shipped out at a later time.
#4: Problems with transportation
This is by far the most common reason your packages may be listed as preparing for shipment. Unlike other issues, this one is in no way your fault or that of USPS. In fact, it’s beyond anyone’s control.
This may result from adverse weather conditions like hailstorms, lightning, and storms. And it could be due to some other natural phenomena like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes that can force aircraft to be grounded for a long time.
The issue may also be related to aircraft maintenance. This may cause your delivery to be delayed for a couple of days in most cases.
How Long Does ‘Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment’ Last?
This is a tough one to crack, as one of the major challenges with the ‘origin post is preparing shipment’ prompt is the mystery that shrouded it. This is in part because most times, employees in USPS customer service are unaware of the progress of your packages and why they are being held up.
However, origin post is preparing shipment issues should ideally be resolved in a day or two. But in some cases, it can take up to five working days or even longer before your package starts moving.
So, there’s no specific time or schedule for how long this message can last. When you see this notification on your tracking information, just relax and patiently hope things will be resolved soonest.
What Should You Do When You Experience This Issue?
Well, most times, we recommend that people stay calm when they get this prompt on their tracking details. Remember that seeing the prompt doesn’t mean your package is not moving. The term can be used for a variety of things along the shipment route. So stay calm and expect to have updates back on track on your package as soon as possible.
However, when it’s taking a long time to get a clear update on your package, you can reach out to USPS customer service directly at this toll-free number: 1-800-275-8777. This will help you get a clearer idea of what is really happening to your parcel.
On the other hand, you can consider contacting the person sending the package. This can be done in the hope that they will help you contact their local USPS branch or double-check with the shipping partner they used; they can help check if the error was from their end.
You can also check the USPS website for a way to contact them. There is usually a chat option to contact one of their customer service representatives who can help you look into it.
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