Shopify USPS Labels that start with U = limited / no tracking

In my Shopify store, a number of my international USPS First Class Packages have tracking numbers that start with a “U”. This means that they will have limited to no tracking after it leaves USPS hands.

I was surprised to find this on shipments to Spain and Italy - I thought they would have full tracking.

I can’t find a reliable list of Untracked countries from USPS, as they show Spain and Italy as “Countries Accepting Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International Service (E-USPS DELCON INTL)”

So I’m guessing I am selecting the wrong postage or something. Does anyone have experience with this? I’m missing some knowledge here. I tried Google and Shopify help searches but came up empty.

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Are you choosing first class flats or packages?

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package

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It’s possible they got rid of those countries as tracked. I know they took a lot of countries (and normal-like countries, too) off the delivery confirmation list maybe 2 years ago for some reason. You are right, it’s hard to actually find a list (a current one at least) that has what countries they offer e-delivery confirmation to now.

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I’m just waiting for one of these U-tracking customers to claim Item Not Received.

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Here is a somewhat old relevant link

This is a relevant paragraph

UA indicates what USPS refers to as “letter mail,” which is equivalent to small parcels. More often than not, these kinds of parcels are sent First Class Package International. USPS assigns UA tracking numbers to First Class Package International packages going to countries that aren’t on the E-DELCON list.

It seems to say that there are two separate reasons.

  1. It is letter mail. Small parcels can be sent letter mail.
  2. It is package mail to a country which does not support E-DELCON.

I would assume all are not tracked. I would expect some shipment loss.

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Does anyone know how to not get a UA label on Shopify - what is the threshold for a small parcel that would get UA vs. a fully tracked, larger parcel?

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Checking some of my past shipments, we selected 21x6x2 inch dimensions, so I am thinking a label isn’t necessarily given U limited/no tracking status on size alone. I read elsewhere that small parcels are eligible for U tracking.

Since I can’t find any way to select or avoid a U label on Shopify, I guess I just have to cancel it once the label is created, and then buy another label on ShipStation.

I am very surprised this isn’t a more common concern to Shopify sellers. But I’ve always been a bit paranoid. Perhaps my concern is rooted in my unique brain chemistry. Or maybe it is the 2 INR claims for U labels that I received last week.

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I wonder if this is an undocumented side effect of Shopify being a Canadian company.

Canadians hate having to pay for tracking, and are more likely to take the risk of shipping without tracking.

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