Aliexpress recently switched shipping for some packages. If it say "Aliexpress Premium" then it's still USPS. For anything else though, it's going to Cainiao which contracts it out through Piggyship and another Canadian based shipper for U.S. delivery.
To get notifications you need the phone app with notifications turned on, and also email notifications if you're checking from a PC. The new shippers are not day specific. I had two orders "out for delivery" for 2 and 3 days before they arrived. One came on a Sunday, so if it's expensive or where your doorway is exposed to traffic, they'll just drop it off without knocking. These drivers are contractors and use their own car, so there's no delivery truck to look for.
When they deliver, the notification won't have anything like a photo of the delivery. The drivers take pictures and record their GPS location though, and Cainiao has them in case of a problem. I know this because they delivered my SMSL DL100 to a different house with the same number in another neighborhood. I had to send them a photo of our door, and then they sent a letter acknowledging the mistake. I sent that letter to Aliexpress and they refunded it.
Check with each store to see how they ship if it's something expensive they're going to leave on your doorstep. At least with USPS you know when those are arriving. USPS Informed Delivery is a free service and makes it even easier. You can't sign up for notifications with these 3rd party shippers, but the Aliexpress app did ding me within a minute of when it was delivered.
The best way to track overseas tracking numbers is
Universal parcel tracking
parcelsapp.com
If it's Cainiao this can update more frequently since it's their system
Piggy Express - Piggyship
piggyship.com
I tried Google and even Bing can't pick some of these up, but between the above three you can track anything coming from overseas. Shop on price like usual, but ask them about which shipping service they use if security is an issue with them leaving it on the doorstep without warning.
To get notifications you need the phone app with notifications turned on, and also email notifications if you're checking from a PC. The new shippers are not day specific. I had two orders "out for delivery" for 2 and 3 days before they arrived. One came on a Sunday, so if it's expensive or where your doorway is exposed to traffic, they'll just drop it off without knocking. These drivers are contractors and use their own car, so there's no delivery truck to look for.
When they deliver, the notification won't have anything like a photo of the delivery. The drivers take pictures and record their GPS location though, and Cainiao has them in case of a problem. I know this because they delivered my SMSL DL100 to a different house with the same number in another neighborhood. I had to send them a photo of our door, and then they sent a letter acknowledging the mistake. I sent that letter to Aliexpress and they refunded it.
Check with each store to see how they ship if it's something expensive they're going to leave on your doorstep. At least with USPS you know when those are arriving. USPS Informed Delivery is a free service and makes it even easier. You can't sign up for notifications with these 3rd party shippers, but the Aliexpress app did ding me within a minute of when it was delivered.
The best way to track overseas tracking numbers is
Universal parcel tracking
Universal Parcel Tracking - Global Package Tracking
Parcel Tracking Worldwide. Track Parcel in USA. Global postal tracking from eBay, AliExpress, ASOS, Shein, Amazon. Tracking packages from China, UK, Germany
parcelsapp.com
If it's Cainiao this can update more frequently since it's their system
Piggy Express - Piggyship
PiggyShip
I tried Google and even Bing can't pick some of these up, but between the above three you can track anything coming from overseas. Shop on price like usual, but ask them about which shipping service they use if security is an issue with them leaving it on the doorstep without warning.
