Peet wrote: ↑February 25th, 2021, 2:27 pm fair enough. But the last update was nearly one month ago... Is that normal?
EDIT: I mean, my second Order (43531) was shipped one day later and I received it last week...
To be honest: Unfortunately Yes.
The USPS is so overwhelmed right now that packages are not even going directly to our nearest processing facilities. Here in Colorado, we have a main USPS hub for the #8 zipcode zone. Normally a package will go from our post office to the hub and then get sent to the USPS export hubs (San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Florida.. etc).
However due to the current overwhelming demand on the system, packages are skipping our main hub and going to a region where there is excess processing capacity. Then going back through the major hubs.
Order #43533
Went from Denver to Missoula MT (700 miles away)
Transferred to San Francisco CA (750 miles away)
Then exported to Germany. (Placed in a container with thousands of other German destined packages).
The container would have been received by Germany in early February. It is then up to Germany to sort through those packages, clearance release them, inspect them.. etc. It is very much possible that Germany has already processed the package, but for whatever reason they have not scanned it and updated the tracking.
Order #43531
Went from Denver to Fargo ND (650 miles)
Then was transferred to St Paul MN (the #5 zip code hub)
Then was transferred to Chicago IL for export.
It arrived in Germany after 2 weeks and was scanned in immediately. (either through an automated scanning, or a manifest scanning)
Spent about 10 days in Germany customs.
Then was delivered.
San Francisco is normally the export hub for countries in Asia.
Chicago is normally the export hub for Canada and Europe.
The package that was already delivered took a way more efficient route. The package that has not had a scan since the end of January may be further along in the process, but we do not know. It is possible the tracking will be updated tomorrow and say 'Out for delivery'. Germany just hasn't scanned it yet to update the place in the process.
Perhaps one package went to Frankfurt and one package went to Berlin. One customs importation process could be more efficient right now, the other could be overwhelmed.
TL;DR - Everything is backed up due to Coronavirus and the increased shipping demand.