E-commerce has gone from strength to strength in recent years, reaching its absolute peak with the global corona crisis. Every day, several billion packages were sent by merchants and service providers to satisfy the high demand of the clientele. Due to the extensive measures taken to stop the chains of infection, the retail sector was completely shut down. Everyday errands had to be carried out on the Internet from then on, as only supermarkets, pharmacies, and medical facilities were open. This development has further emboldened the leaders in e-commerce – the U.S. and China – but it has also driven global online commerce. However, the high delivery traffic also exposed major shortcomings, with countless letters and parcels disappearing without a trace every day.
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The USA – a true e-commerce power
Cross-border marketplaces like Amazon or Ebay have greatly contributed to boosting online commerce. Global logistics concepts give cross-border marketplaces access to international markets and continue to drive up growth forecasts. Currently, 82.1 percent of U.S. residents use online commerce. That means 17.9 percent of the U.S. population has turned its back on the virtual world, but that number is expected to drop to 9.2 percent by 2023. Because of this great acceptance and willingness to use online commerce, U.S. web stores record a total of $524.38 billion annually.
The mysterious case of the missing parcels
Despite, or probably because of, this high demand, mistakes happen again and again. Each day, an average of 1.7 million parcels are lost on the delivery routes, which corresponds to a value of 25 million dollars. To date, it cannot be clearly explained whether the goods disappear due to accidents or whether it is the fault of thieves. What is clear, though, is that customers pay a lot of money for their items and often wait under time pressure for the parcel to arrive. In general, it is mainly gifts that are purchased online. The disappearance of the parcels accordingly annoys the customers and damages the reputation of the companies. But what can customers do if the delivery does not arrive after the stated deadline?
What to do in case of a missing parcel?
So it’s not uncommon for packages to get lost in transit. Nevertheless, if the long-awaited goods are not at your doorstep on the specified day, it is not necessary to panic right away. Take a deep breath and follow these steps to trace your delivery
Step 1: Tracking
No matter from which corner of the world you expect a delivery, with the help of a global package tracking software it is possible to accurately trace the route of your goods. All you need is their tracking number. Enter it in the field provided on the website or in the app and press “Track Your Package”. Within a few seconds, you will receive an approximate location of your expected delivery. The tracking number is usually given to the sender at the post office. If you have ordered from an online store yourself, the number will usually be sent to you automatically via email or SMS.
It is also a good idea to check the shipping of your package while you are waiting. You can also take screenshots of the locations. By doing this, you will have a history with evidence in hand in case the goods are ultimately untraceable.
Step 2: Ask your neighbours
People often jump to conclusions, make angry calls, and accuse mail carriers of theft. Before resorting to such drastic measures, you should first ask your neighbours. It happens again and again that they have accepted the parcels during the absence of the recipient.
Step 3: Contact the seller or retailer
If you are certain that your package has been lost or stolen in transit, you should contact the retailer immediately. They will take steps to locate or replace the items.
