Get Twitter Updates on Your Packages with TrackThis
by GeekGirl, under Twittering Tweets
I’m sure you’ve noticed already that I love Twitter and all things tweeted! When I saw this new Twitter app I thought it was pretty cool. I’m a forgetful being you see, and I do get and send quite a lot of packages. So, here goes nothing, going to give TrackThis a try.
Following the steps on their website:
1. Go to twitter.com/trackthis and click the Follow button
Since trackthis uses direct messages, you must follow it so it can send direct messages to you. trackthis will follow you back immediately so that you can send direct messages to it.
Done! And within less than a minute my Gmail popped that TrackThis was following me back 
Who knew auto following could me smile so easily -lol-
2. Send a Direct Message to trackthis like: 123456789123 New PC
Click here to send your message, with the FedEx/UPS/USPS/DHL tracking code first, followed by a nickname for the package.
Example: 123456789123 Macbook Air
I have a package full of bath and body goodies headed my way from The Scented Tub, so I figured I’d pop that tracking code in there.
3. Sit Back and Wait!
We’ll send you a direct message each time your package changes location. You should receive the first message within twenty minutes.
Sitting back ….. done, waiting…. boring! But, I’m hopeful that when it updates I’ll catch the tweet going by. I just did a quick check at USPS.com to see where the package was and it currently says:
Status: Processed
Your item was processed and left our RENO, NV 89510 facility on December 2, 2008. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
It would be nice to see an automated confirmation message letting you know your tracking ID has been received sucessfully at this stage since you’re not going to get an update right away. The sitting and waiting without confirmation can make a person wonder if they did everything correctly or not. I’ll come back and edit this post when TrackThis tweets at me and let’s me know something new!
–
edit # 1 update received
About 10-15 minutes later I received two updates via direct message from TrackThis
The first message was a thank you message requesting donations to support the app. The second was the current status of my package that I entered the tracking number for.
December 8th, 2008 on 12:01 am
Thanks for the blog post!
I recently set up a TrackThis feedback site at http://trackthis.uservoice.com/
One of the items on there is the submission confirmation message, feel free to go and vote it up or submit other ideas!
-pb30
December 8th, 2008 on 4:27 pm
Hey Phil, thanks for stopping by. The service is definitely cool, I’ve entered a few tracking numbers now and it’s kind of nice to see the updates without having to go to the individual sites to track things.
December 10th, 2008 on 8:49 am
Thanks for the post!
It really works and I am very excited to use it.
The updates are coming up very easily now and I save alot of time. I have entered a few nice tracks as well.
Physiotherapist