Today's annoyance

[andrewducker]

Companies that email you "Your parcel is on the way!", but it turns out that actually they've just reserved a tracking number and aren't physically sending anything for another day or two.

Comments

[mountainkiss]

I was getting annoyed this morning by an email from eBay to say "Your seller is preparing your parcel". How does that (1) make my life better in any way whatsoever (2) do anything for eBay as a brand but associate negative emotion with it?

[juan_gandhi]

Or ever.

[cellio]

Your parcel's mailing label is on the way (to the box)". How helpful! (Not.)

I'm with you -- until they've actually got something to say, like a tracking number or a revised delivery date, they have nothing to say and shouldn't say it anyway.

[darkoshi]

I ran into that problem myself today (again). 6 days ago I ordered some cookies - not something I usually order, but the box I bought in the store was SO good and the website had more options. 3 days ago I got an email stating (so cutely) "Your cookies are on the way | The cookies have packed their bags and have started their journey to you. They are very excited." The email said items usually arrive in 3 to 5 days.

Today I checked the tracking link, and it showed the postal service still waiting to receive the item. In case the company messed up and didn't send it yet, I emailed them. Tonight I finally got a notification that the postal service received the item one hour before I sent the email.

I don't mind the extra emails, but they should be clearer when items aren't really mailed yet.

[channelpenguin]

Even had it that I got a tracking number but nothing had yet happened. Seems tracking numbers can be reserved in advance with some parcel services?

[trailer_spot]

My suspicion always is that they do this because once they have done this, or more accurately, they say that they have done this, you aren't able to cancel your order anymore.

[anef]

None of this is as annoying as the people who deposit your parcel on your doorstep, without knocking, and leave it in full view of the road.