You’re expecting a delivery from Canada Post and have received an “Item Was Received by Canada Post at a Different Location than Expected” tracking update.
What does this mean exactly? How long is your parcel from delivery and is there anything you need to do?
Let’s take a look…
Summary: Item Was Received by Canada Post at a Different Location than Expected
This update means that the mail item has arrived at a Canada Post facility in a different place than what it should have done. Essentially, a sorting error means the package is in the wrong place.
Canada Post Tracking: Short Guide
While this update may cause concern that your package has gone AWOL, it really isn’t the case.
Generally, it means that a sorting error has meant that the item has been dispatched to the wrong Canada Post sorting facility.
The fact Canada Post has sent this update means it is aware of the issue and will now be making efforts to mitigate it.
This will involve the item being re-routed to the correct destination facility for delivery to the recipient.
The update you should look out for in this case is: “Item Re-routed Due to Processing Error”.
- Related Content: International Item Mailed in Originating Country – Canada Post
How Long Until Canada Post Will Deliver After This Update?
This really depends on how far of piste the mail item went.
If the shipment ended up at a facility hundreds of miles away from the intended location, it could be multiple days before the package inside the correct facility, ready for delivery.
A smaller error, where the item is in a facility within the same region will be much faster to mitigate.
In some cases, it may not make a difference to the delivery day.
At most, the package will likely be a day late.
- Related Content: Canada Post: Verifying Recipient’s Address; Possible Delay
Is There Anything You Need to Do When You Receive This Update?
Essentially, no. Canada Post has the situation in hand when this update is triggered.
The most you will need to do is keep a further eye on your tracking to see when the adjusted delivery date (if it happens) might be.
In some rare occasions, the routing error may have occurred due to a damaged label or an incomplete address, in which case you may be asked for confirmation of delivery details.
For the most part, however, the “Item Was Received by Canada Post at a Different Location than Expected” scenario is due to a standard sorting error and your package will be on its way to the recipient’s address without action needing to be taken.
- Related Content: Shipment Received at Originating Postal Facility – Canada Post
Final Words
Although this update is a pain to receive (as it will often lead to a slight delay in the delivery of the package), it is nothing to be concerned about.
Canada Post has not lost the mail item or handed it over to the wrong address.
It has simply ended up in an unexpected facility, and will now have to be rerouted for delivery takes place.
However, it is a good idea to check your tracking page for any further updates.
I’m a 25 year veteran of USPS. I’m retired now, but as the editor of Mailbox Master, I can’t quite remove myself from the carrier industry just yet. 🙂
