Our label photo shows the arm crate only. The receipt says two packages but does not list either identifier. Stores cannot explain whether that means two crates or the crate plus loose paperwork pack.

Could stores record exactly what they saw, separate from what the receipt's quantity means? I have watched people improve a delivery note from memory until it described what ought to have arrived.

John, yes, and ask the driver or depot for their copy before somebody helpfully makes both copies agree.

Ask for the cross-reference when they use another warehouse number. A number being created is not receipt, but without its link to your crate they can keep answering the wrong search indefinitely.

Who has responsibility for the trace? You should not need to become the forwarding chain's unpaid switchboard.

Our contracted forwarder has named a trace contact. They found a breakdown sheet where the pendant crate received a local handling number. No physical location confirmed yet. The seller has supplied its original packing photographs.

That handling number is the next search key. Keep the master delivery status out of the missing-crate conclusion until its actual handovers are reconciled.

We had a loose accessory box arrive on another vehicle once; nobody was looking for its warehouse label, only the order number, which wasn't on the outside.

Jo, did the label alone prove it was your box, or did you need a contents check? I would be reluctant to close Lucy's shortage on a similar-looking parcel.

We checked contents and references against our list after receiving it; the label only got it to the right bench.

The depot has physically found our pendant crate under that local number. They sent the outer label and original crate identifier together. It was still in their separated-goods area. A delivery booking is being arranged.

And have they explained the two packages on the original receipt?

Their loading record counted the arm crate and its attached document pack as handling pieces. The pendant crate was not loaded. Forwarder has issued a reconciliation naming those items, while retaining the incorrect original receipt.

That answers the count rather than merely changing it. For the new delivery, give stores the identified contents list and a contact for any mismatch so the parcel does not sit unopened while everyone assumes someone else checked it.

Has the booked vehicle actually collected it yet?

Collection is now confirmed against the crate identifier. Stores has the packing list and will check the package with our technician on arrival. We are not treating the collection scan as receipt.

Pendant crate received. Stores and the technician checked the listed pendant package and references; nothing missing from that crate. We closed the freight shortage with the linked records. Thanks Ada, the warehouse-number question finally got the search onto the right item.