Legal Commentary

Where's My Package?

By Professor University of Miami School of Law

I bought something, and on Monday the seller sent me an email (“Subject: Your package is on its way”) confirming it had shipped by Priority Mail. They included a tracking number.

The USPS has a web page that lets you track the progress of your package.

So, where's my package?

Label/Receipt Number: xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xx
Scheduled for Delivery: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Class: Priority Mail®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™
Status: Out for Delivery or Available at PO Box

Your item is out for delivery or available at a PO Box at 8:27 am on September 22, 2010 in KEY BISCAYNE, FL 33149.

But I live in Coral Gables. And the mail came this afternoon. Without my package.

Most likely, some postal worker figures out that it belongs over here and tomorrow I learn its been re-sorted into my zip code. But what if it was delivered to a PO Box? What if someone has it?

And, more fundamentally, am I better off knowing it's in Key Biscayne rather than having some generalized concern that it sure seems to be taking its own sweet time getting here? Not obviously.

Full post as published by Discourse.net on September 22, 2010 (boomark / email).