Understanding the Recent USPS Package Delays: What Happened and How We're Resolving This
Since September 2025, many of our customers have experienced unexpected delays with their packages due to USPS seizures for alleged "counterfeit postage." We understand how frustrating this has been, and we want to provide you with complete transparency about what's happening and how we're handling it.
What's Really Going On?
This isn't just affecting Harumio—major retailers like PopMart, Play Asia, and Bambu Lab have all reported similar issues with their shipments.
The numbers: Out of 531 affected orders, 197 (approximately 37%) have successfully been delivered, while the rest remain held by USPS with no clear release timeline.
Note: We have reshipped all the affected orders by October 12
Why Is This Happening?
The situation is complex, involving multiple factors in international shipping logistics:
1. High Volume Orders
With millions of packages flowing from China to the US, USPS resources are stretched thin. Rather than inspecting each package individually, they've taken a broad approach—flagging entire batches during this period.
2. Complex Third-Party Logistics Chain
Most international shipments use third-party logistics providers (like Yanwen, YunExpress, or OrangeConnex) to local warehouses before reaching USPS for final delivery. When warehouses purchase and relabel packages for USPS delivery, there can be mismatches or irregularities that trigger USPS fraud detection systems.
How Harumio Shipping Works
We want to be completely transparent about how international shipping works from our warehouses to your doorstep. Here's the step-by-step process:
How Packages Travel from China to the US
Step 1: Initial Shipment
When you place an order, our products are shipped from China using established international logistics partners. These are reputable third-party carriers used by retailers worldwide.
Step 2: Arrival at US Warehouse
Packages arrive at our partner's US-based warehouse via cargo planes or third-party carriers. At this point, they go through US Customs clearance.
Step 3: Last-Mile Delivery Preparation
Once cleared by Customs, the US warehouse purchases USPS postage in the form of Parcel Select or Ground Advantage for the final leg of delivery to your address.
Step 4: Final Delivery
USPS trucks pick up the packages from the warehouse and deliver them directly to you.
Important Note About Tracking Updates
Why you may not see tracking updates initially: During Step 1 and the early part of Step 2, packages are in transit via ocean freight or cargo planes. While they're traveling across the Pacific, there are no intermediate scanning points, so tracking information won't update. This is completely normal for international shipments.
Your tracking will typically begin showing active updates once the package:
- Arrives at the US warehouse
- Clears Customs
- Receives USPS postage and enters the domestic delivery network
The typical "quiet period" for tracking can last 1-3 weeks depending on the shipping method used. This doesn't mean your package is lost—it's simply in transit across the ocean where tracking infrastructure doesn't exist.
How We're Protecting Our Customers
We've been actively monitoring this situation since late September and working closely with our shipping partners to understand the root cause. Here's the key point: This isn't about what we or any company shipped—it's about the logistics process used to get packages from China to US customers.
Since USPS clearly stated these packages "will not be delivered," and after days of waiting, we've decided to take immediate action:
Our Solution:
We're offering two options to all affected customers:
- Free Reshipment via FedEx/UPS - For the affected orders, we have upgraded the shipping carrier from USPS to FedEx/UPS to avoid further issues and ensure reliable delivery.
- Full Refund - If you prefer not to wait, we'll process a complete refund immediately.
Going Forward:
We are closely monitoring all packages to ensure they move through the system as expected. Your satisfaction and trust are our top priorities, and we're committed to making this right.
Questions We're Addressing:
Q: Why did it take so long to respond and offer solutions?
A: We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. When the USPS seizures first began in late September, we genuinely believed USPS would release the packages once they completed their verification process. We were monitoring the situation daily and waiting for positive updates from USPS. However, as weeks passed with no clear resolution and we finally received USPS's undeliverable decision, we realized we couldn't ask our customers to wait any longer. That's when we made the decision to take immediate action with reshipments via FedEx and refund options. We should have acted sooner, and we've learned from this experience.
Q: Why use these shipping methods in the first place?
A: Like all international retailers, we rely on established logistics networks that combine cost-efficiency with reliability. These same providers serve major online retailers worldwide and have been trusted partners for years.
Q: Will this happen again?
A: We've upgraded to FedEx/UPS for affected orders and are continuously evaluating our shipping partners to prevent similar issues in the future.
Q: How long will reshipment take?
A: FedEx/UPS shipments typically arrive within 12-15 business days from dispatch. We're processing reshipments as quickly as possible.
We're Here for You
If your order was affected, you should have already received an email from us with detailed options. If you haven't heard from us or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our customer service team.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging situation. We're committed to earning and keeping your trust.
— The Harumio Team 💙