USPS is one of the largest postal services in the US, recording a staggering parcel volume of around 7.6 billion in 2021 as per USPS. As it has continued to grow and change, it has steadily increased the amount of tracking information given to its customers.
USPS is likely doing this out of necessity as consumer expectations for visibility into the delivery process continue to increase. Retaildive reported that 70% of consumers said that the ability to track their orders was one of the three things they considered when buying a product from an eCommerce store. For postal services, keeping users updated about their parcels is a key focus as it builds both shopper and seller trust.
In the case of USPS, while some of their tracking statuses and notifications are pretty straightforward, others can be tricky to understand. One example is their “Shipment received, package acceptance pending” notification.
What Does “Shipment Received Package Acceptance Pending” Notification Mean?
At a high level, it’s when a package has been physically accepted by the USPS clerks but hasn’t arrived at the sorting facility. This is when the shipper/sender receives the “shipment received package acceptance pending” notification.
Stages Leading to the Package Acceptance Pending Notification:
- Postmasters physically accept your package or shipment of packages and the information is put into the USPS system.
- This activates USPS tracking and the sender receives the “Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending” notification first.
- USPS receives a large batch of shipments consisting of smaller units from the seller. While the large shipment gets scanned in bulk, the individual items take time to get scanned. This is why senders get the “package acceptance pending” notification.
- When the individual package gets scanned, the tracking status will change to “Accepted at USPS Origin Facility. This is when the package will move between the USPS sorting centers.
- Shippers receive further updates once the shipment gets sorted. The sorting process decides the time and route of the shipment.
- When the parcel reaches the processing and distribution center called “Sectional Center Facility”, the sender will receive a new tracking status.
- There are around 195 sectional center facilities in the U.S. They serve as a processing and distribution center for Post Offices in certain geographic areas which are defined by the first three digits of the zip codes in those offices.
What Can You Do About This?
Since packages take time to be processed at the sorting facility, it’s not unusual to receive this status for up to 48 hours. If it persists beyond that, contacting USPS customer care can help you find out exactly where the package is.
In rare instances, the USPS can neglect to ship your parcel, which may cause delays. If you haven’t received an update about your package in more than 15 days, there is a chance it has been lost or broken. Ultimately, the “shipment received package acceptance pending” notification means that the package has taken the first step necessary to be delivered to the recipient.
Here are some guidelines, we recommend you follow when going through the shipping process with USPS to avoid lost packages or other issues:
Things You Should Do | Things You Shouldn’t Do |
|---|---|
Apply for USPS’s shipping insurance | Avoid sending breakables through USPS |
Include landmarks or other distinguishable location markers with your address. | Don’t give out company addresses as the delivery destination. |
In case of fragile items, ensure proper packing to avoid damages. | Avoid sending important documents and expensive valuables through courier services. |
How Long Does It Take for USPS to Accept the Package?
Usually, it takes around 1 to 4 days which is approximately 24 hours to 96 hours to receive the package acceptance confirmation. Most cases get done within the one-day timeframe and it takes four days in rare cases.
Use Shipping Software to Track Your Package
Using intelligent shipping software like PackageX Ship can make your shipping and tracking operations flexible and easy. It allows you to know wherever the package is at all times and notifies the recipient of their package status through automated notifications. Moreover, you can generate shipping labels within seconds, eliminating the need for manual label generation.
Conclusion
USPS enables users to receive a number of notifications so they are aware of their package status throughout the delivery. “Shipment received package pending” notification gets sent when parcels are scanned in bulk but not individually.
If your parcel is marked delivered but the shopper/recipient hasn't received it, make sure to have them check everywhere; including the back door and garage. If they still cannot locate it then contact USPS customer care for it may have been delivered to the wrong address. Moreover, a shipping solution can help you navigate lost packages more seamlessly.
Get started withPackageX
Contact sales
Get started with our logistics platform and APIs
Request a Demo
Receive logistics comics in your email inbox
Subscribe
