[Vic]

Howdy folks.

I have a slight dilemma and so far I seem unable to attain any sort of positive result for myself. Perhaps some of you may be able to point me in the right direction?

The situation as it stands: I have purchased on eBay a '93 Cobra intake manifold from a seller in New York who says he has shipped it off to me down here in Australia through USPS via Int'l Flat Rate Shipping. This has apparently been sent off around mid to late November. He emailed me a U.S. Customs form and dispatch notice number and an Insurance / Tracking number. I have entered both these numbers on USPS's website package tracking service but the automated response is "There is no record of this item."
I have placed a query on the USPS website explaining the situation along with my personal contact details, asking them for verification of the package having been posted but no response as yet.
The last time I emailed the eBay seller asking for more information about the package's whereabouts, the seller said that I might need to actually ring USPS and left a phone number for them which was 1 800 222 1811.

My requirement: I just want to confirm that the package has been posted and when this was done. This would give me some peace of mind just knowing that the sale was genuine, considering the expense involved.

How to verify? Can you folks tell me what the above USPS phone number's international dialling prefix should be so that I may make the call and clarify the situation with them directly? I ask this as I am unfamiliar with the basic procedure of verifying the U.S. customs number and the insurance tracking number given to me to track my package.

Your thoughts?

[tripleblack]

Talk to the guy who sold it to you. Ask him to use the tracking numbers to run down the package and send you a copy of the link of the site where the information exists. My experience with folks sending me complex web addresses or long-chain code numbers is that they make frequent errors.

As for the USPS site being behind on posting these types of shipments... I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they are just way late in updating their information.

I wish I could help you with the phone number, but I don't know how to get that for you.
I bet there are folks on this forum that can...

Best of luck.

[Vic]

I have called USPS and spoken with them. They told me that the label number for them to track it needs to start with the letter E and they cannot use the VV tracking / insurance number. They suggested I try U.S. Customs. Problem is there are so many branched and divisions of U.S. Customs that I have no idea where to start! Can someone help me with a U.S. Customs contact number for me to ring so I can confirm my package has been mailed and is definetly on its way?