Deliveries App Loses Functionality as Shipping Companies Refuse to Participate

[mihirkamat]

+1 on this. I found Deliveries was getting less and less useful a few years ago. Parcel seems to still be working just fine.

I assume that Parcel will find itself in the same position sooner rather than later, unless they cut some sort of $$$ deal with the shippers. This doesn't really sound like a problem with Deliveries, but an industry problem that's going to affect all iOS delivery apps.

 

[WhoDaKat]

Loved that app. Another victory for huge corporations and another hoop set up for consumers to jump through.

 

[RimasM]

Damn

 

[jdphoto]

That’s unfortunate. I’ve been a loyal user since using their widget in Tiger and bought their apps when they were onetime purchases back in the day.

Same here found the widget not long after I got my first Mac (a bit later than you though..Leopard), feels like the end of an era to some extent. I bought the apps out-right and didn’t transition to the subscription so it’s been a bit “degraded” for me for a while but I still enjoyed using it on my iPhone.

Noticed the issues with FedEx a couple/few weeks ago. Even though I didn’t like how they pivoted on the subscription I’m still sad to see this happen, the app was still useful in stand-alone mode and was a well thought out implementation for package tracking.

 

[orbital~debris]

As has been noted by @Apple Knowledge Navigator & @Rob__Mac , Parcel is a fabulous app and well worth consideration as a replacement for Deliveries.

 

[macsplusmacs]

As has been noted by @Apple Knowledge Navigator & @Rob__Mac , Parcel is a fabulous app and well worth consideration as a replacement for Deliveries.

Again.

Would they not run into the same issue? Or do you we know for a fact they have permission from the shipping companies that Deliveries does not?

 

[AeroZ]

Parcel is a better (and cheaper) app, anyway.

I suspect that this is not an issue only with Deliveries but with all tracking apps becoming less useful. But yeah, I might be wrong.

 

[Juuro]

Parcel is a better (and cheaper) app, anyway.

In theory Parcel should face exactly the same problems as Deliveries. Unless Parcel has some special contract with each Shipping Service which Deliveries apparently has not or was not able/willing to negotiate.

That's the difficulty when you try to make money based on data provided for free by someone else...

These apps are convenient but the business model is not robust.

I mean it did work for over 15 years. Deliveries should negotiate contracts to use the tracking APIs from all (the most popular) services.

 

[vipergts2207]

I felt bad for them until I saw this was yet another subscription-based app for something that isn't really a service. Good riddance.

 

[Fred Zed]

What's mine is mine...I aint sharing attitude.

 

[Macintosh TV]

Always the danger in any app or service that relies on another app/platform/service. You're reliant on them and when they change, you might be SOL.

We see it again and again. Companies that have built their being on social media, only to be impacted when social media changes their platform. Tough but you're at their mercy. Don't like it? Build your own website and platform to attract the people you need. It's like building your home on someone else's property and then becoming upset when they raise the rate they charge you to be on their property. You don't own that and never did. If you're unhappy about it, get your own property and build there.

 

[now i see it]

I’ve never found a package tracking app that could track Amazon or OnTrac or even DHL —- so join the club.

 

[blairh]

Parcel is a better (and cheaper) app, anyway.

It’s the same price. $4.99.

Well this news stinks. I love Deliveries. Gonna try Parcel now.

 

[no_idea]

There’s no such thing as a free lunch…you really think companies will allow you to hit their apis indefinitely for free?

 

[ngenerator]

Good. Get ****ed with your subscription-required apps

 

[4jasontv]

I never used this app but I am curious if it had issues with Surepost? I can't even get retailers to report Surepost packages correctly * so I wonder if they solved the issue. If so they should license whatever code they had to retailers.

* I can't even get them to disclose it prior to ordering, but that's a separate issue.

 

[TinyMito]

I assume that Parcel will find itself in the same position sooner rather than later, unless they cut some sort of $$$ deal with the shippers. This doesn't really sound like a problem with Deliveries, but an industry problem that's going to affect all iOS delivery apps.

I'm using Parcel, Parcel fetch from website data not direct API except the Amazon one that requires you to login first.

 

[macsplusmacs]

I'm using Parcel, Parcel fetch from website data not direct API except the Amazon one that requires you to login first.

interesting. then in theory Deliveries could do the same thing, but why the story if the solution is that simple?

I hope the fix is that simple, but I have doubts.

Also, noticed Fed Ex has been not working for me in Deliveries for a week. Guess I know why now.

 

[roar08]

It sucks when you think you've got a good solution and then the provider changes things up on you. Kind of like what happened with this app when it went subscription. I used to be able to change the icon. Now I can't. Minor gripe, I agree, but I purchased the app very very early on and did not appreciate how the change was handled.

Agreed. This was a great app before it hopped on the subscription bandwagon. I quit using it at that point, as did everyone I know who used it.

 

[mashdots]

Parcel is a better (and cheaper) app, anyway.

I'm curious if other delivery apps will meet the same fate? or do they just dislike deliveries in particular.

 

[jz0309]

So there was a $4.99 yearly subscription? Did part of that money go to the shippers? I’m guessing not, so it is what it is. Want to use someone else’s data? Pay for it…

 

[murdoc2k]

This is a sad day. I used this app for years and it's been very useful. Too bad parcel companies are turning into streamling service like war.

Want to check your Fedex parcel? Get the Fedex App.
Want to check your Purolator parcel? Get the Purolator App.
Want to check your USPS parcel? Get the USPS App.
Want to check your Canada Post parcel? Get the Canada Post App.
Want to check your Amazon deliveries? Sorry, gotta check that cluncky Amazon app.
....

Now we need 30 apps to find out where our parcels are at.

 

[4jasontv]

So there was a $4.99 yearly subscription? Did part of that money go to the shippers? I’m guessing not, so it is what it is. Want to use someone else’s data? Pay for it…

I guess the question ends up being, whose data is it?

 

[orbital~debris]

Again.

Would they not run into the same issue? Or do you we know for a fact they have permission from the shipping companies that Deliveries does not?

For the most part, Parcel requires you to highlight the tracking code/number (from email, website, app, etc.) and choose its option from the Share menu (or you can add directly in Parcel).

I appreciate this is perhaps a little clunkier than a API hook-in method, but at least it's less fallible and still seems to be working well for me.

Besides, the main thing is that it allows you to keep an eye on all of your parcels in one app instead of having to collect a handful (or more) of apps for each courier company.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

Deliveries was a great app while it lasted. I really enjoyed using it before they started charging for subscriptions.

C’est la mort. ☠️