Since a lot of us here do mail order, I wanted to mention that there's a confusing type of shipping method you might encounter.

Some non-USPS shippers work in conjunction with your local USPS. Instead of delivering the item directly to you, they will deliver it to the closest USPS location; it might not even be in your state. The tracking will then say "delivered."

More than once I've tried to track shipments and am surprised when it says "delivered" and it hasn't really been delivered. This is because they delivered it to the "local" USPS, sometimes a couple states away.

It's really confusing, and I think it's silly that companies even give us tracking numbers when things aren't being delivered directly; especially since few companies explain that is how the shipping works. Supposedly I had a package delivered two states away two days ago! [img]wink.gif[/img]

It seems to be online bookstores that are doing this indirect shipping method.

I just wanted to mention it since I know it has thrown me for a loop more than once and might also confuse other people who use mail-order.
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Edited to add an article about the service, specifically about Airborne Express and USPS doing this.

http://www.directmag.com/news/market...ate/index.html

(Edited to remove "OT" notice)

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 23, 2006 07:26 PM: Message edited by: Melissa ]</font>