How To Track A Parcel Internationally
Do you want to track your parcel internationally? If you answered yes to that question, rest assured that you have come to the right place.
In this article, we are going to be talking you through how you can go about tracking your parcel internationally with the tracking number, as well as what to do if you don’t have one.
Whenever you’re ready, just read on!
How To Track A Parcel Internationally
When purchasing an item internationally, it’s normal to worry about whether or not the parcel is going to get to you in one piece within the timeframe provided by the sender.
Not only that, but there’s a variety of risks associated with international deliveries that domestic deliveries might not be exposed to – including the risk of custom charges at the border, more expensive shipping fees as well as a chance of the parcel getting lost during the long journey.
This is why it’s important to make sure that you are able to track your parcel when it is being delivered/shipped from a different country!
Generally speaking, though, the good news is that tracking a parcel internationally is more or less exactly the same as tracking a parcel domestically.
So long as you have made sure to buy your items from a reputable company, you should find that you are given all of the relevant tracking information to be able to successfully track the whereabouts of your shipment in real time.
Still, tracking a parcel internationally can certainly be easier said than done. So, below, let’s breakdown the process of tracking your parcel internationally:
- Open the dispatch email: First things first, when wanting to track your parcel, you should begin by opening up the dispatch confirmation email that you should have received upon purchasing the item. You should find delivery information to help you track your parcel in real time, including a tracking number.
- Input the tracking number: After you have located the tracking number, you can then go ahead and head over to the courier company’s website. Once there, you should be able to insert the tracking number in order to be granted access to the delivery information of your shipment.
- View the tracking information: After you have taken the time to do all of the above, you should find that you are then presented with all of the relevant information to be able to track your parcel in real time. Keep in mind, the tracking information can vary depending on which courier company that the sender has gone with, but you should (at the very least) be provided with the date/time that the parcel was received by the courier company, when it left the courier sorting hub, when it was sent by ferry/plane as well as an estimate of how long you can expect to wait before the parcel arrives.
As a side note, keep in mind that the tracking number might not be enough for you to be able to access the tracking information of your parcel.
Depending on which courier delivery service that the sender has gone with, you might be required by them to provide a variety of additional security information just to really verify that it is you – including things such as your full name, your home address, your contact number and other similar information.
You should also keep in mind that there might be instances where you do not receive a tracking number, so you might need to try different methods to effectively track your parcel. This brings us to our next point.
What To Do If You Can’t Locate Your Parcel
By making sure that you are following the steps and guidance that we have provided you with above, you should find that you are able to successfully track your international parcel without any hiccups or issues along the way.
However, if you do find that you are unable to locate your parcel or track it for whatever reason – the good news is that there are a few methods that you can use to help locate the whereabouts of your parcel.
Below, we are going to be breaking them down below for your convenience:
- Try Contacting Your Sender
This is one of the best things that you can do in the instance that you are unable to track your international parcel.
If you cannot use your tracking number for whatever reason, one of the simplest ways that you can figure out where your parcel might be is by opting to simply contact the sender.
One of the easiest ways that you can do this is by simply contacting the sender’s customer service helpline, although do keep in mind that there might be some contact information that you can use in the dispatch confirmation email you will have received upon purchasing.
- Contact the Courier Service
If the sender isn’t able to provide you with a definitive answer on where your parcel is and how long you might need to wait before it arrives – you can also opt to reach out to the courier service that the sender has used.
More often than not, contacting the courier service is going to be one of the most accurate ways to determine where your parcel is, as well as receive relevant tracking information so that you can successfully be there to receive your parcel when it arrives on your doorstep.
The good thing about contacting the courier service is that, if there are any delays or issues – these will have been kept on record and they will be able to inform you of them.
- Check the Dispatch Email
Last but certainly not least, if all else fails, the final step that you can take to figure out the whereabouts of your parcel (as well as relevant tracking information) is to refer to the dispatch confirmation email that you should have received after you purchased the item.
It is common for companies to send out a dispatch email to confirm that the item has been sent, while also providing helpful information to be able to track the parcel, too.
If you haven’t already checked your dispatch confirmation email, then you might be able to find helpful tracking information inside the email that will help you track your parcel.
Typically, most companies will opt to include a tracking number inside the email that is linked to the courier company’s website so you won’t need to go to the trouble of inputting it manually.
The Bottom Line
All in all? Tracking a parcel internationally isn’t so much different from tracking one domestically.
Of course, there are some increased risks associated with purchasing an item internationally (including the parcel having a higher chance of potentially getting lost or custom charges at the border) but by making sure that you are following the tips and guidance we have shared above – you should find that you are able to successfully track your parcel in real time.
Thank you for reading, we hope that this article has been helpful.
