Yan Pritzker photographer, entrepreneur, software engineer, musician, skier

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hello, i'm yan

I am a photographer, entrepreneur, software engineer, guitarist, climber, and telemark skier

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USPS: Arrival At Unit Does Not Mean Your House

Posted 13 September 2008 @ 2pm in customer service



Submit to HN

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new light meter (for my newly acquired TLR camera) for several days now, watching the USPS tracking page like a hawk. And today in the morning, it said “Arrival at Unit”. I ran downstairs only to find…nothing.

Of course, I had once again fallen for the old obscure-naming-to-confuse-customers trick. Ah USPS, you got me again! Yes, this is not the first time that I had to google what Arrival At Unit means. You’d think it was your Unit right? Your apartment, condo, or house maybe? No, of course not. Don’t you know that Unit actually means a local USPS facility? You didn’t? That’s weird, I thought that was common knowledge. That’s not at all misleading.

A quick google search yields 1,370,000 results for people asking questions about USPS Arrival At Unit. And this problem has been around ever since the tracking sytem went into place. Downright embarrassing, when it would take next to no time to fix the wording. Oh well.

118 Comments

Posted by
John
2 October 2008 @ 10am

Well, thats amusing .. at least i wasnt the only dumbarse running to the door when he saw this.


Posted by
dumbass door runner
6 October 2008 @ 11am

As i eagerly checked USPS this morning I found arrived at unit too to only run downstairs like a crackhead searching for his crack only to find no package… I even called the sender to say he sent it to the wrong address and then he told me… arrival at unit means the post office…

damnit!


Posted by
richard
18 November 2008 @ 10am

hahaha yea i just ran to the mailbox to seeing the same message.


Posted by
Jeff
24 November 2008 @ 5pm

I’m glad you posted this. I was puzzled!!


Posted by
Yan
24 November 2008 @ 5pm

USPS badly needs a ‘CTO’. They seem clueless on technology, or even common sense things like trying to deliver a ‘signature required’ package during 9-5 hours. Don’t they realize people are off at work? At the very least there should be an auto phonecall, email, or text letting you know the package is arriving the next day.


Posted by
Santa
3 December 2008 @ 8pm

Ho, ho, ho! And here I though all the little children’s presents had been delivered to the wrong address (or maybe the wrong pole, darn penguins would never fess up). Thanks Yan for clearing things up, what a relief. I’ll make sure you get that Cohen brothers box set you wanted. Jack Potter, Postmaster General? You’re getting a lump of coal.


Posted by
Jacob
16 December 2008 @ 10pm

I was hit by this bug today as well! It’s quite frustrating — I called my shipper as well to see about a reshipment, but they told me plain as day to wait until tomorrow, the “unit” in question is actually a whole mile away from here.


Posted by
Igor N.
2 January 2009 @ 1pm

the same thing happened to me this morning lol


Posted by
mike
5 January 2009 @ 1pm

Same to me :( I was expecting my new phone today, i woke up at 1pm in the afternoon to see my usps tracking status arrived at unit! I ran downstairs and there was nothing there!


Posted by
CC
9 January 2009 @ 3pm

Wow. Same with me. Woke up at 1, checked the status. ran downstairs to an empty mailbox. Ironic that im waiting on a phone too.


Posted by
Edward
11 January 2009 @ 12pm

See, I normally would have ran downstairs, checked behind the bushes, checked behind the plant, stared rudely at people driving by thinking someone got a christmas present early. But, it’s Sunday, and although still slow, I did not have to run downstairs, only had to Google, “arrived at Unit”. In the future I will purchase an item and will know when it arrives by tripping over it on my porch.


Posted by
markezious washington
5 February 2009 @ 1pm

Dang i thought i was the only one puzzled lol!!!


Posted by
Jello00
10 February 2009 @ 4pm

Congrats! you have the first site on google when I search “usps what is arrival at unit”

Thanks for the answer


Posted by
cassandra
11 February 2009 @ 4am

i am glad to know i am not the only one that had to google “arrival at unit”. textbooks for four years at my alma mater… $4500. tuition allowing me to get a useless english degree… $60,000. being made to feel like a complete moron by the USPS… priceless.


Posted by
cassandra
11 February 2009 @ 4am

correct website posting for the above posting by cassandra. maybe i really am a moron :)


Posted by
Mayra Roque
13 February 2009 @ 12pm

lol..Thank you so much for that info I was about to freak out of my pants thinking that “Unit” meant my house..phew at least I’m not the only one thinking maybe they should just phrase it “Facility”.. This puts me at ease now..THANKS AGAIN!


Posted by
KL
16 February 2009 @ 4pm

Freaking stupid PO.

I will say this though, to their credit, they are a heck of a lot faster and more efficient than in decades past! Super fast shipping sometimes, like next day across the country!


Posted by
POed
17 February 2009 @ 4pm

At least I am not the only one. Left work early just to get home and get the package before the wife sees it. Wasted 2 hours of personal time. It would be nice if they changed the wording so these mix ups do not happen. Do you think they word it that way just to screw with the general public?


Posted by
Lol
20 February 2009 @ 12pm

Funnier still is that it’s not in the FAQ on the site, nor is the word ‘unit’ in their ‘glossary of terms’.


Posted by
Booker T
23 February 2009 @ 11am

I hope i get it today..why is it always like Xmas getting something in the mail. Sometimes I buy stuff just to get a package..even though I can get it at Walmart cheaper.

Change the Wordage USPS you freaked me out again..

Label/Receipt Number: 9101 8052 1390 *&^% 4070 31
Status: Arrival at Unit

Your item arrived at 6:43 AM on February 23, 2009 in FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.


Posted by
Mike
26 February 2009 @ 9am

I would seriously like to slap whoever phrased that.

This just really ticked me off, I was about to start calling companies, post offices and go to a neighbors house and go off before I googled and found this post here.


Posted by
Trin
2 March 2009 @ 12pm

Thank god I googled first!
Waiting on my Nokia Internet Tablet. Yay!
This is why FED EX rules when it comes to shipping.
They get it right and tell you a time when it’ll arrive to you even!
USPS gives us half-assed tracking. Well atleast this isn’t two centuries ago with slow service and no tracking.


Posted by
Doug
6 March 2009 @ 8pm

Yeah… they got me too. I spent 20 minutes climbing the USPS automated phone tree before I thought about Googling it. Thanks for the info!


Posted by
Checkmate
16 March 2009 @ 12pm

That is too funny. I ran to the door after seeing that too. LMAO! I laughed so hard after reading the responses, I guess I feel a little better. LOL


Posted by
Circharles
17 March 2009 @ 11am

I’ve been using amazon to track my package (they sent it by USPS but have their own page with transit updates). When I checked this morning, the most recent entry on the transit log said “arrival at unit.” But the STATUS said, “Delivered.” So I ran downstairs and checked in my mailbox, then I ran upstairs to check behind my screen door, then I ran down stairs and stared at my neighbors screen doors (and maybe looked behind a couple (its spring break here and they’re all out of town and what they don’t know won’t hurt them)) and then I ran back upstairs and did the same with my other neighbors’ door but really really quietly (they might not be out of town) then I ran back inside and checked the internet again and it still said “delivered” so I decided to check with USPS directly, and while they didn’t say delivered they DID say “arrival at unit” at which point I screamed out loud. Then I did a Google search which brought me here… and well, while I might be a spastic moron… at least I’m not alone, because Amazon sure thinks that arrival at unit means delivered, and then there is everyone else here… Hi Friends.


Posted by
Kimmy
18 March 2009 @ 1pm

2 mins ago i was this another crackhead running down the stairs and found nothing ! I was a little freak out because i was expected my WEDDING RING!!! so Thanks for posting this !!


Posted by
Natalie
18 March 2009 @ 3pm

HA!! This is too funny reading how people feel just as stupid as I do!


Posted by
Adam
19 March 2009 @ 11am

Add me too the list aswell.

@dumbass door runner “only run downstairs like a crackhead searching for his crack”

I’d have stopped with like a crackhead… but I appreciate the clarity of your comment.

What do crackheads do? Search for their crack.


Posted by
Tony
19 March 2009 @ 12pm

I just googled this… like we are SUPPOSED to know the USPS lingo! Arrived at Unit? WTF? How bout this unit ?


Posted by
cameron
13 April 2009 @ 3pm

you feel very stupid after you run down stairs all excited eyes wide waiting to say “Yes!” then your like fuck. im gonna google that shit right now.


Posted by
Michele
16 April 2009 @ 3pm

Yeah, They should be more clear on the status terms. I have shipped usps with tracking before so I knew it had not beed delivered but I was still really confused about what “Arrived at unit” was.


Posted by
Rivka
23 April 2009 @ 2pm

HAHA the same exact thing happened to me this morning!! i was conviced someone stole my package since i didnt see it at my door.
thanks for this information. i will definately call my post office to see when i will get it.


Posted by
Ru
23 April 2009 @ 4pm

Thanks for the clarification. Although it makes no sense that it arrived at my local USPS place at 6:31AM this morning and it’s not on my doorstep yet… gotta love that top-notch customer service.


Posted by
I'm an Idiot!!
24 April 2009 @ 3pm

Thank you for posting this!! I was ready to “go postal” this morning when my pinhole wasn’t there, the phone was in my hand while I was reading your blog!! You saved the day. Eff their wording!


Posted by
VenomZ302
30 April 2009 @ 4pm

Thanks for the information! This is utterly ridiculous. I was about to get pissed off at my co-workers, since I’m waiting for an overnight package containing my bride’s and my wedding rings (of course, labeled “Status: Arrival at Unit”). So much for overnight delivery…


Posted by
john
7 May 2009 @ 10am

thank you same thing happened to me today. i thought someone stole it because i had a xbox 360 in teh mail . now i know it will be here today or tomaarow thank you.


Posted by
scottie
7 May 2009 @ 3pm

“arrival at unit” my ass. i’m so angry, my unit is about to arrive on someone’s forehead, in the shape of a mushroom tattoo.


Posted by
Yan
7 May 2009 @ 3pm

@scottie lol!


Posted by
Matt DDD
8 May 2009 @ 10am

Same thing happened to me… I sometimes use the word “unit”, but it doesn’t mean post office… lol.


Posted by
terrance
11 May 2009 @ 6pm

Happened to me too lol. My first thought was that someone stole it and various culprits ran through my mind. I was about to call when I noticed the time stamp was at 8:20am.. hmm odd.. so I google it and voila! Ahh the USPS… can you imagine how many calls they get from angry customers? Imagine if you were supposed to receive something umm “private”?


Posted by
ralph
16 May 2009 @ 4pm

dang Got me 2!…..i was soooooooooo anxious, like ginuwine lol


Posted by
Brad
29 May 2009 @ 9am

These posts are hilarious XD!!!!

I saw the status of Arrival at Unit and went into my apartments main office and i was like “hey I need that package that was dropped off here. I checked online and it said it has arrived” So they said they didnt have it and Im like “ok well… I’ll check back later.” Low and behold, i find this page. USPS is horrible…. like HOOOORRRRIIIBBBLLLLEEEE. I had something shipped from North Carolina to Texas, the package was in transit for only 2 days(priority mail), but now has been sitting with “Arrival at Unit” status for an additional 3 fricken days. JESUS!!!!! Whats the point of paying for better service when you dontn even get it? I hate you USPS, i hate you!


Posted by
Sal
29 May 2009 @ 11am

These dirty bastards. I can literally look out my window and see my local usps branch. I ordered a phone at 3 central time, it shipped out 7 eastern time, made it from new jersey to chicago in 8 hours. But now for the last 2 days it is trapped at the unit. USPS, change your wording, improve your service, stop raising the prices, and go fuck yourself.


Posted by
tugalug
19 June 2009 @ 11am

Wow Im the only smart one, I saw Arrival at Unit @ 5:24am and knew that it was at my local post office becasue I dont get my mail until 1pm and of course USPS use words like arrived when your package gets to your door.


Posted by
IM A PC
27 June 2009 @ 1pm

Really? You and your MAC and Safari. I hate you guys. I bet you’ve got an iPhone. Yet, you are so dumb as to not understand simple wording. If it doesn’t say delivered (like it always does), then it isn’t DELIVERED. Go suck your mom’s fat ass and while your at it, don’t leave your dad out of the situation.


Posted by
yan
27 June 2009 @ 1pm

thank you for your thoughtful contribution to this post.


Posted by
imapcisamoron
30 June 2009 @ 4pm

just read my name jerk!!


Posted by
max
2 July 2009 @ 1pm

same thing happened to me this morning


Posted by
Prayash
2 July 2009 @ 5pm

Same thing happened to me except it was 9:14AM in the morning. My mail comes mostly and around 1-2PM and well…it’s 4PM and it’s not here yet. Hopefully, they deliver it tomorrow..


Posted by
Kirby
10 July 2009 @ 12am

I have just forwarded the link to this web site to the USPS. Can’t believe their heads are so far up their nether parts that they can’t figure this out, but sometimes people need a little push. I ain’t holdin’ my breath: the USPS is pretty change-averse. But at least they have been DULY NOTIFIED of the panic and chaos they are creating with their use of the word “unit.”


Posted by
Edgrrr
17 July 2009 @ 10am

well i got this message aswell today lol… but didint run outside i knew what the unit was.


Posted by
50 CENT
17 July 2009 @ 12pm

gggggg-unit


Posted by
David
20 July 2009 @ 9am

I have your unit right here USPS… change the message please!


Posted by
Gavica
21 July 2009 @ 12pm

Same thing happened to me, FUCK YOU post office.


Posted by
Matthew
22 July 2009 @ 1pm

Undoubtedly, this is your most popular post ever. The USPS is just stuck in the past.


Posted by
dkhertz
24 July 2009 @ 6pm

DAMMIT ya they got me today, it said arrival @ unit at 7:00AM. I was ready to call and raise hell, I took the day off, checked the mailbox 5 times, looked all over my porch, tried to stakeout the mail lady so I could interrogate her (I never even saw her). Talked to myself, was considering that maybe it was some USPS conspiracy theory. Really everything. Then I thought, let me google what “unit” really means. It should be here tomorrow hopefully. Monday most likely. Sigh.


Posted by
manuel
27 July 2009 @ 5pm

jajaja how many people did the same thing,i run like a bitch when i see on the tracking info.the famous word “arrival unit” My English is a little bad


Posted by
veranga
6 August 2009 @ 9am

LOL the same thing happened to me today.. I am soo glad I’m not the only one! Can’t they just say out for delivery ? LOL


Posted by
dave
6 August 2009 @ 6pm

You should rename this page “Collection of the dumbest people in the world” Jesus Christ…


Posted by
retard door sprinter
7 August 2009 @ 9am

Also had this happen. Since when is a unit a post office?


Posted by
kenth
7 August 2009 @ 5pm

These people aren’t dumb. It’s a simple expectation for the USPS to use clear statements in their tracking information. If they are going to bother to track packages, they should try to do it right. What it boils down to is the difference between a government organization, that does the minimum of effort, and private enterprise whose success depends on trying to be better than the rest.

For an example, Fedex tracking is immediate. You can look up your tracking info immediately after receiving a package and you’ll find the “delivered” status. USPS, you’re lucky if you see it on the same day. This is the same government some people want to entrust with our health care. Amazing.


Posted by
Kenth is a fucking retard
8 August 2009 @ 3pm

I’d say the Post Office works pretty fucking well, all things considered.

And newflash “kenth”, we’re getting raped by private insurance companies you retard. But yeah no, that’s clearly the most effective way. And you’re right. Just about everybody in fuckin’ socialist Britain and France is dying. Oh and in Canada. Especially Canada. Everybody in Canada is currently dead thanks to socialist health care.


Posted by
Gavin Kistner
21 August 2009 @ 12pm

Amen to this article. Great title. Almost a year after you wrote it and the terrible wording still exists.

“The package unit arrived at our building unit, and one of our vehicle units and delivery units will hand it to a human unit after some time units have passed. Coneheads, out.”


Posted by
YumYumChef
21 August 2009 @ 1pm

I went apeshit this morning when i tracked a package and it said “arrival at unit”. i, too, ran downstairs to find NADA!!! i drove to the management office too too find nothing there either. I went apeshit because in the past 15 days, 5 out of six packages excluding this one that i am currently waiting on, have been singed for by other people and their status was listed as “Delivered” at usps’s website. Usps wont call me back either regarding this so im about to go postal. I just loaded my .45 acp taurus pt145 millenium pro and am walking out the door to go crack some goddamn eggs. peace!


Posted by
Lance
24 August 2009 @ 12pm

same thing happened to me today. i saw it and looked everywhere and even asked the people at my apartment office for it. i told them my item said arrived at unit lol


Posted by
A
4 November 2009 @ 4am

My tracking info has said this for four days, four frickin days it has been sitting at a post office ten miles from me and still not delivered to my P.O. Box, what the crap man? I want my stuff!!


Posted by
Natalie
9 December 2009 @ 2pm

How Annyoing !…this happened to me TODAY…hence I googles…what does arrival at UNIT mean ?…nearly a year since the main comment was posted people are still confused…almost a year gone by and USPS has not fixed the friggin problem…ugh !


Posted by
Yan
9 December 2009 @ 2pm

I’m pretty sure they won’t ever fix it. Probably the main reason would be ‘retraining’ tens of thousands (?) of employees to understand the change.


Posted by
John A.
10 December 2009 @ 2pm

Dec. 10th, 2009 here, and I get the “Arrival at Unit” message in my tracker. So I check my mailbox. Had letters, but no package had yet to arrive. So I Google up the terminology and sure enough, here we are. I will probably get it between tomorrow and the coming Apocalypse. Thank you, USPS, and thank you Yan, for making me feel better about not being the only idiot to expect clear wording from the USPS. :D

As for those of you who mock and deride people who thought their package had been delivered over a very understandable mistake, all I can say is shut up. Nobody likes an internet know-it-all who lacks social skills. Now go outside and stand underneath that big bright yellow round thing. It’s called the Sun, and it misses you.

John A.


Posted by
Aleks
13 January 2010 @ 10pm

Well, at least I knew something was up.
It said that my package arrived at the unit…but it said in Goshen, Indiana… The thing is, that post office is about 35-40 minutes from my house and it’s not my city post office. That’s when I knew it wasn’t delivered to my house yet.
Hopefully my package will arrive tomorrow.


Posted by
Aleks
13 January 2010 @ 10pm

By the way, USPS tracking is also known as “Delivery Confirmation”…
When I bought something from Hong Kong, the tracking said “departing from origin post” for about 20 out of the 23 days it was in transit. All of a sudden it arrived at the unit close to me. Wtf…


Posted by
Wise One
29 January 2010 @ 9am

I know everyone is really eager to to get there packages and there is nothing wrong with the wording. And the tracking sucks sometimes but for the most it is cheap and fast not reliable. Ups may be slower but it is more reliable. And if you dont know the difference between arrival and DELIVERED then you did not understand this paragraph and are most likely angry with me


Posted by
Canadian Guy in Cali
16 February 2010 @ 1pm

Arrival at Unit means the package arrived at your local post office. If its before 9am, usually its provided to your carrier for delivery that same day. In the event you do not see the status, as tendered to the postman for delivery, you can call USPS and see if you can attempt a pickup at your local postal office. I too ordered a game player from Hong Kong through eBay and it took two weeks.


Posted by
Driegobeimb
8 March 2010 @ 1pm

Hello Everybody

Discussions on the earths temperature increase – or global warming are generally too scientific to participate in – but, earthquakes and mass death should not be another disregarded statistic. We’re talking about people, just like you and me.

Please help the victims to Haiti & Chile
http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/


Posted by
Jason
12 April 2010 @ 1pm

My package arrived “at unit” Thursday morning 6:35am last week. It is now Monday afternoon and it still says “arrival at unit”.
USPS sucks.


Posted by
manny
7 July 2010 @ 3pm

i am a 15 year old kid waiting for a phone and today in the morning i saw the tracking info and it said “Arrived at unit” but i knew that that meant it arrived at the post office. idk why people get so confused about that. ;(


Posted by
PiperCrab
23 September 2010 @ 10am

Feh, stupid USPS. When I saw “Arrival at Unit” I was like “omg, did I miss my package?”

Thing is, the postman has already been here and left and still no package. They better hurry up cause I really want my headphones.


Posted by
AKRichard
22 November 2010 @ 3am

Well I didnt think it had been delivered when I read arrival at unit 6:14 AM, but was still confused by the “Arrival at unit” part, which seems to imply being here but not being here. You guys that are giving everyone a hard time for not knowing what “Arrival at unit” means have to admit that the wording is very cryptic. Wouldnt “Arrived at Post Office in destination area” be more precise?


Posted by
hong
29 January 2011 @ 1pm

i was convinved my mailman was in his truck smoking my (legal) herbal incense.


Posted by
Dr. Joseph Bones
26 February 2011 @ 9am

If the status says delivered then you can assume its in fact delivered as clearly as that :)

You all should beat yourselfs with stupid sticks for that assumption lol.


Posted by
Alex
9 March 2011 @ 8pm

Arrival at Unit, March 09, 2011, 6:56 am, RESTON, VA 20190

Emmmm ! I’m living in Canada ! It’s a little bit far from my home to pick up my package !!


Posted by
Hunter
30 March 2011 @ 5pm

I thought someone stole my package until looking it up online.


Posted by
jim
2 June 2011 @ 12am

Class: Priority Mail®
Service(s): Registered Mail™
Status: Arrival at Unit

Your item arrived at 6:51 am on June 01, 2011 in SAN DIEGO, CA 92131. The Postal Service expects to deliver the item on Thursday, May 26, 2011. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later

so at some point we’ll need that back to the future delorean


Posted by
Atari
16 July 2011 @ 11am

Has anyone here actually received his package on the same day that this status was updated?


Posted by
OK KIDS
13 August 2011 @ 4pm

Are you people stupid? Obviously “Arrival at Unit” means it arrived at the Post Office. Patience.


Posted by
none
4 September 2011 @ 3pm

arrival at unit is usps slang for we received your package at our local post office from another shipping company like fedex. yep they contract out sometimes. also what most of you are complaining about as being crummy tracking is probably NOT tracking at all. its delivery confirmation. usps only provides true tracking on their higher priced express mail services. they point ths out on their website. delivery confirmation is really only useful to the shipper to know the package was delivered, and to cover their butt in case of an insurance claim.


Posted by
John
12 October 2011 @ 10am

I was freaked out because I was like there is no post office anywhere in the U.S. that delivers packages at 4:30am! And if they did, I’ve been screwed! Thank goodness there are worthwhile people like all of you who talk about the crap the post office pulls. :)


Posted by
steve
17 October 2011 @ 9am

hi all i did the same thing but i actually ordered the package to my grandmothers witch is like 5 mins away so i see it says arrival at unit i get the baby all ready buckle her in her seat drive down to my grams and she didn’t see nothing she said so i was all searching for it then cam back home and goggled it and well now i am laughing and hoping ill get my package today if it said arrival at 7.55 on a Monday.


Posted by
Big Al JAX
24 October 2011 @ 8am

Damn Usps, I’ve had an item sit at my local post office according to tracking and got it a week after! but then again they all suck. Fedex doesn’t even bother looking for my address, they take it to the Leasing office, even when I paid the ridiculous overnight price(the one n only time ever). UPS brings it to my door but doesn’t knock and just literary throws the box at your door step. DHL just plain suck so who do we go with??


Posted by
James Murphy
24 October 2011 @ 1pm

Well fast forward about 3 years and that same Google search comes back with 1.5 million hits. So glad to see my grandparent’s are not the only people having trouble gripping 21st century technology.
Anyways….. Add me to the bunch of people that wasted their time thinking your package was finally going to arrive, today.
Truthfully I was not all that disappointed. My expectations where never that high dealing with the USPS anyways. Not to complain to much. At least I have had a high success rate of packages delievered without instance. It just sucks knowing if it’s the only choice for delivery. Don’t count on it arriving any time soon.


Posted by
yan
24 October 2011 @ 1pm

@James that’s so awesome. I wonder if it’ll have to get to 10 million hits before usps does anything about it.


Posted by
Ursus Magnus
28 October 2011 @ 3am

What do you expect from a Government institution under this administration? If Satan is the father of lies, Barack Obama is the nappy headed stepson of lies.


Posted by
coren
9 December 2011 @ 12pm

While I agree it can be confusing, “downright embarassing”? I wouldn’t think they would have such an awkwardly worded way to describe it, but at the same time, 9 times out of 10 it’s obvious you’re not getting that box today – the timing on it is frequently off. Either because it was only accepted by the local office a couple hours before at a time when it was too late to deliver packages, or “arrival at unit” is at such an odd time as to not make any sense.

That said “OK Kids” is the stupid one here. Cuz God forbid anyone not know what this means the first time they see it.


Posted by
Evidstheodore
9 December 2011 @ 5pm

you definitely love to your friends online shopping


Posted by
Aaron
13 December 2011 @ 4pm

I’m actually a Canadian who sold an item on eBay and I keep checking the tracking status to make sure it arrives soon (rather pricey item). When I saw, “Arrived at unit” I thought, “great! It must be there” but when I saw that it was at 5 in the morning, I googled it and now I know. Thanks OP.

Sounds like Canada Post wins over USPS here; they’re tracking information isn’t misleading at all (and the estimated delivery date is correct 90% of the time) plus they don’t leave packages on your doorstep – ever!


Posted by
Kathy
7 January 2012 @ 9pm

This is from one PISSED off Nana. Does any one know if usps is allowed to leave large boxes at the door step of an appartment complex (in Columbus Ohio) when no one is home. I cannot get anyone to give me a yes or no answer. I have confirmation it was delivered to the appartment after having gone through the “unit”. The box was insured but it was under 200.00 so no singure was required, it was my daughter and grandkids Christmas. I am going to pursue this, I think the mail carrier stole it or had someone following him around. I’m trying to collect as much information as I can before I file a formal complaint to as many people as I can but I can’t find out if they have the right to leave a large box at a door step or not. When a person needs a key to get into their mailbox that tells me it’s not safe to leave anything out in the open, This tells me the mail carrier is a lazy dumass. Thanks for letting me vent. I’m going to do my best to get the S.O.B. FIRED!


Posted by
Rick
15 February 2012 @ 12pm

As a technology guru for the past 30 years I can shed light on this confusing terminology.

Substitute the word “Unit” with the more familiar term, “Limbo”.

No thanks necessary for the translation. I just feel good for the service I’m gifted enough to provide my fellow humans.


Posted by
Michael Ceranski
17 February 2012 @ 11am

USPS actually has a glossary which tells you what the event codes mean. Arrival and Unit means local delivery office:

http://www.upsmailinnovations.com/support/glossary.html

If they have a glossary to explain the codes, then why aren’t the statuses either linked to the glossary page or changed to use the descriptive text?


Posted by
Ron
28 February 2012 @ 7pm

Sent an envelope to Dept of Revenue in Baton Rouge on 2/17. Louisiana is not a large state and tracking indicated it arrived in Baton Rouge on the 19th. Yesterday (2/27), still no return receipt received. Today I check track and confirm, and the infamous “arrival at unit” message awaits me. The article was received in the city it was to be delivered in on the 19th and 8 days later it’s still “hanging around” being NOT delivered. Then I find out on the 9th day it has arrived at unit! STILL NOT DELIVERED! Well, I sure feel better about that $8.30 I spent for first class handling. Is there any question why USPS is going out of business? Unbelievable!


Posted by
AngryMan99
15 August 2012 @ 11pm

I’m not dumb. The word arrival means it has arrived, right? Yet it is not here. My package went from Israel to New York to my zip code. Two week wait time is understandable, but my unit has yet to be packaged. And I’m sorry but, I need that kidney now!!!!

p.s. kidney means tommyca TS3100 bicycle radio in black that I had to order from around the world because it is the only place on the planet to carry the discontinued product in that color.
& as for the people calling us dumb, how do you think THEY got here????


Posted by
Brad
30 August 2012 @ 7am

LOL..> I fell for the same USPS trap. Saw it, ran down stairs and NOTHING. I feel better knowing I’m not the only one.

+1 for USPS tricking me into thinking I was at a track meet =0D


Posted by
rohit
4 October 2012 @ 3pm

same here lol


Posted by
ender
6 October 2012 @ 4pm

Empty mailbox, broken dreams.

Ya burned me, USPS!


Posted by
Harold
5 November 2012 @ 1pm

Haha!

I love it…..

1PM I get “arrival at unit” and think WHoopie!!
Run downstairs (I find it interesting most commenters here live upstairs)and alas there is nothing for me…

Sad day is sad lol….
Ah well, at least I know it’ll be there tomorrow


Posted by
reddragon72
15 November 2012 @ 1pm

So I get up this morning and no update. Go to work, have meetings and such randomly checking the status ever hour or so knowing it is in the local sorting facility. At 11AM it now show “arrive at unit” “time 2:54AM”…. wait what?!?! google it and found this. LOL took all morning to update that it arrived “at the unit” and the time is really odd because lets face it the post office takes forever and I just didn’t see them dropping a package off at 2AM lol So I wonder if I’ll get it today or will it take a day to go through the local post office LOL.


Posted by
Greaag
5 December 2012 @ 10am

Defiantly did the exact same thing! hahahahaha…… i was so excited… i even ran out to the mailbox… only to find nothing… They used to have simple status updates now there complex and hard to understand youve almost gotta look up every meaning online… USPS!!! UGGHHHH!!!


Posted by
Will Valentine
20 December 2012 @ 11am

OMG Some cables I ordered from Romania finally arrived today after taking over 3 weeks! They “arrived at unit” but they’re not there! FOOLED ME! Now I have to wait all day for the cables I’ve been waiting 3 weeks for! FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS! Chirstmas came early yet again, zing!


Posted by
Javier
24 December 2012 @ 3pm

Only the USPS could come up with a tracking status that needs an instruction manual to understand. What’s even more ridiculous is that if you click on the little information bubble that’s supposed to explain what the status means, it says “Your item arrived at 7:04 am on December 24, 2012 in …. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.” Not misleading at all. Not one bit.


Posted by
AXEL
22 February 2013 @ 2pm

Its 2013 and its still going on it just happened to me…..


Posted by
Jessy
2 April 2013 @ 12pm

Just like Axel put above… “it’s 2013 and still going on” For me it says
“Arrival at Unit– Your item arrived at 8:23 am on April 02, 2013..”
I know my stuff never get there that early but yet usps got me has well lol. The funny thing is that, they do use the word facility sometimes so \0_o/ why using “Arrival at unit” on some other times..
This post was written in September of 2008, it’s April 2013 now.
I’m sure Usps got thousands of call about this.. but yet they still use the same word.
2 reasons I’m guessing:
1. They are very lazy
or
2. They think they’re funny..
who knows….???


Posted by
Tamara
10 April 2013 @ 1pm

April 10th 2013 and I’m still receiving this as well. I wonder if we all bought things overseas ?? That would explain the funky dory way of putting things.


Posted by
Joey
11 April 2013 @ 2pm

I got “bit” too. Wonder how much national energy is wasted on this BS? USPS, what say you?


Posted by
WTF
18 April 2013 @ 9pm

omg – i even knocked downstairs to see if the neighbors had “mistakenly” gotten my package. ( i stay n the hood) lmao – i cant even save face now !!


Posted by
Paris
20 April 2013 @ 5pm

this happen to me today, I mail a envelope off and today i got
First-Class Mail®
Arrival at Unit
April 20, 2013, 8:01 am
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19115

but it suppose to be delivered today but it 6:31 pm so i guess they get it on monday


Posted by
Jake Petrone
3 May 2013 @ 8pm

FedEx Corp. acquired privately held Kinko’s Inc. in February 2004 and rebranded it FedEx Kinko’s. The acquisition was made to expand FedEx retail access to the general public. After the acquisition, all FedEx Kinko’s locations exclusively offered only FedEx shipping.”"

Our web page
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Posted by
sleepydumbdude
7 May 2013 @ 12pm

Same with me. I was looking all over to where they might have stashed it.


Posted by
eduardosolis
18 May 2013 @ 10am

Same thing happened to me this morning! i was so confused, i thought it was sent to the wrong adress!


Posted by
Door runner
20 May 2013 @ 9am

I was so confused today it said it arrived at 8:30am I thought it was to early but I go and walk to my mailbox which is down the road from my house because my neighborhood has them all in one place, when I opened nothing was there and I also thought it was sent to the wrong address. Glad I wasn’t the only one!


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