They’re as useless as usps is as a whole. They’ll tell you after the 6 months passes that basically it’s your fault something was lost. Zero accountability. They never look into anything it’s just an automated system. Answer from UncannyAnomaly on reddit.com
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ShippingEasy
support.shippingeasy.com › hc › en-us › articles › 4407010000539-How-do-I-find-Missing-Mail
How do I find Missing Mail? – ShippingEasy
July 14, 2022 - Call 1-800-275-8777 (1-800-ASK-USPS) to ask for the phone number of your local Consumer Affairs office regarding a Missing Mail request.
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Quora
quora.com › How-long-does-it-take-for-USPS-to-find-missing-mail
How long does it take for USPS to find missing mail? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): Sometimes they never find missing mail. I send my uncle a small parcel. Priority mail. He never received any parcel and when i went to the post office I gave them the tracking number and they told me that they couldn't deliver because there was no such address. I have sent my unc...
Discussions

Has anyone had success with a "Missing Mail Search" on USPS?
They’re as useless as usps is as a whole. They’ll tell you after the 6 months passes that basically it’s your fault something was lost. Zero accountability. They never look into anything it’s just an automated system. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/usps_complaints
248
93
December 25, 2022
Anyone had luck with USPS missing mail search? Not having much hope at this point.

Your tracking information actually shows that a search case was created? I've never seen that before, and I've created a couple.

I created one recently. Here's my experience:

I got a phone call from my local postal supervisor the next day saying they assumed it was "lost" and that I should file a claim. The issue I have with the whole "search case" process is this:

  • They only send the search case to my local post office to "search" for the package.

  • I know assume my local post office doesn't have the package based on the tracking info. The package is sitting in the Jacksonville Distro Center (1,200 miles away), according to the last scan.

  • Why would the Postal Service send a search case to my local Post Office and not the last known location of the package? That seems like common sense to me, but apparently not to the USPS. To me, this also illustrates how little faith they have in their own tracking system.

  • When I spoke to the local postal supervisor during the call, I asked her if the search cases were only sent to the final destination post office (the one that would perform the delivery) or if they were also sent back up the chain to search at the last known tracking location. She said the cases are only sent to the local, final delivery post office.

The whole "search case" process seems useless based on my experience. The only time I can see it being useful is if you have an "arrival" scan at local post office and you believe the problem to at the local level. Then it might yield something worthwhile. Otherwise, it just seems like a useless step on the eventual journey to filing a claim.

If anyone has other/better experiences...I'd love to hear them to give me hope for the future.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/usps_complaints
13
10
April 29, 2020
How long does it typically take a Find Missing Mail search request to be completed? I requested a redelivery, but status remains unchanged.

Convenience link: USPS Tracking for 9505506569319074110620

I am a bot in development by u/jhfi. | ^^GitHub | Click here to give ^^feedback.

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🌐 r/USPS
4
0
June 9, 2018
What to do about missing/late USPS packages? Happens over and over...

One recommendation I can give is to sign up for USPS informed delivery service. They will scan everything you will be receiving that day and send it to you in an email every morning. That way you will have proof of mail in fact leaving the distribution hub. obviously this doesn't help you get the mail but it will give you proof that it should be out for delivery. I had an issue where I was expecting mail and it just never showed up so I signed up for this service, watched my incoming mail like a hawk and reported everything that never showed up ( in the email that you get every morning there is a link that you can click for missing mail and you can report mail missing and it creates an investigation to find it). Couple weeks after doing this I started to not have as many issues with mail.

Also depending on your work arrangements, you may want to discuss with your management about getting your package delivered to your work.

https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

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🌐 r/Columbus
60
32
October 15, 2014
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Pirate Ship
support.pirateship.com › en › articles › 4793887-how-to-look-up-missing-mail-search-requests
How to look up missing mail search requests | Pirate Ship Support
Click on ID numbers to see details: From there, you'll see all of your previous missing mail searches, and can click on the ID number for any of them to see more details about the case. ​​Clicking on a specific ID will bring you into that particular search itself, where USPS will provide all the nitty gritty details you need 😉 ... Missing Mail FAQs: USPS has a few options for missing mail searches still in progress.
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Stamps.com
stamps.com › home › how to find a lost usps letter or package
How to Find a Lost USPS Letter or Package - Stamps.com
November 13, 2025 - Once you’ve submitted a missing mail search request, check for a confirmation email from USPS; updates will also be sent via email. Recovered mail will be sent to its destination. However, if a package is deemed unsafe, it won’t be eligible to move forward in transit.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/usps_complaints › has anyone had success with a "missing mail search" on usps?
r/usps_complaints on Reddit: Has anyone had success with a "Missing Mail Search" on USPS?
December 25, 2022 -

I had a fairly valuable priority mail flate rate bubble envelope shipped to me. The package was initially scanned in at a distribution center in NY. There were no updates for a week and I submitted a help request form.

USPS actually called me (which surprised me) and stated there has not been a physical scan for a while. She said I should file a "missing mail claim" and they she flagged the shipment. She continued that sometimes just flagging the package will have it moving again. I submitted the missing mail form last week, but there have not been any updates on it.

I have a small hobby business and ship USPS A LOT. I've had packages take a long time to be delivered, but I've never ran into a package having a single scan then never having an additional scan for multiple weeks. At this point, I'm wondering if I should keep patient or submit an insurance claim? There is insurance on the package, but the contents are sentimental as well as valuable and I'd rather have the package.

Has anyone submitted a Missing Mail Search with USPS and have it work? Additionally, if anyone has any input on filing an insurance claim, I'd be interested in that as well. Thanks!

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SellerSprite
sellersprite.com › home › blog › usps missing package? complete guide to find your lost mail
USPS Missing Package? Complete Guide To Find Your Lost Mail - Seller Sprite
October 15, 2025 - You can submit a Missing Mail Search Request through the USPS website. Before doing this, gather important information such as the sender's and recipient's addresses, along with details about the package.
Find elsewhere
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PostScan Mail
postscanmail.com › home › blog › how to find usps lost packages or missing mail
How to Find USPS Lost Packages or Missing Mail - PostScan Mail
April 8, 2018 - USPS will send you periodic updates about the search and a final resolution with what they’ve got but you can also log into your account, open the missing mail search history page, and then the missing mail application to check on the status of your application. There are various statuses that you can find, here are what they mean:
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EBay
community.ebay.com › t5 › Shipping › Does-USPS-EVER-find-missing-packages › td-p › 31351491
Solved: Does USPS EVER find missing packages? - The eBay Community
April 27, 2024 - I would file an Insurance claim especially if the package was Priority. That usually speeds up the process of finding missing mail or they will refund you.
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Substack
tracklesswild.substack.com › p › mystery-of-the-missing-mail
Mystery of the Missing Mail
1 month ago - When a week passed with no mail, we knew something was wrong. We waited two weeks and went to town. To find the post office open, operating dependably, normally, folks shuffling in to check boxes and buy stamps, was a relief. When you live isolated in the rural, sometimes when your service stops working you think the entire country has shut down.
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Linbis
linbis.com › home › blog & news › how to report missing mail: a comprehensive guide
Step-by-Step Guide: Reporting Missing Mail - Linbis Logistics Software
October 19, 2024 - This guide will walk you through the process of reporting missing mail, increasing your chances of recovery, and preventing future incidents.
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USPS
usps.com › help › missing-mail.htm
Missing Mail and Lost Packages | USPS
If you're dealing with a lost package or mailpiece, USPS can help with a Missing Mail Search. Learn how to find lost mail, file claims, and request refunds.
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CBP Customer Service
help.cbp.gov › s › article › Article-1391
Mail - Lost / Missing package - help.CBP.gov
October 3, 2025 - Report Illegal Activities · An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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USAGov
usa.gov › home › complaints › complaints against the government › file a u.s. postal service complaint
How to file a U.S. Postal Service complaint | USAGov
November 13, 2025 - Find out how to file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Service about lost or stolen mail or mail fraud.
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New York State Comptroller
osc.ny.gov › unclaimed-funds › claimants › how-search-claim-property
How to Search & Claim Property | Office of the New York State Comptroller
Try different variations of your name, such as nicknames and common misspellings, and any previous addresses. If you received a letter or email from our office notifying you of unclaimed property, use the Property ID from that notice and leave all other fields blank. Exact matches will appear first in the list followed by partial matches. You’re encouraged to search the names of your friends and family to help them find lost money.
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United States Postal Inspection Service
uspis.gov › report
Report – United States Postal Inspection Service
Contact OIG to report USPS employees suspected of tampering with/stealing mail: OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
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USCIS
uscis.gov › forms › filing-guidance › how-to-track-delivery-of-your-notice-or-secure-identity-document-or-card
How to Track Delivery of Your Notice or Secure Identity Document (or Card) | USCIS
October 11, 2024 - For example, if you did not receive your approval notice and believe it may have been lost in the mail, you may submit a case inquiry as explained above if you know your receipt number. If you do not know your receipt number, contact the USCIS Contact Center for help. ... You can continue to use Informed Delivery to track and manage the delivery of your package. If your USPS tracking information shows your package was delivered but you have not received it, follow the steps recommended by USPS on the Find Missing Mail webpage.
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Amazon
amazon.com › gp › help › customer › display.html
Find a Missing Package that Shows as Delivered
Verify if your shipping address in Your Orders is correct. For more information on how to handle a wrong shipping address, go to Add and Manage Addresses. Check the Message Center. Search for a delivery confirmation in Your Orders. Check your mailbox or wherever else you receive mail.