Mail delivery times to the U.S. with Deutsche Post

Hi,
I sent out a letter to Phoenix Arizona from Munich on the 30th November. I used Deutsche post and the registered items international option, it is now the 11th of December and the letter has not yet been delivered. The website says 3- 5 days and when i try to track the package it simply says that your package has reached the US and nothing more. This document is really important and hence I was wondering what the standard delivery time for something like this would be... Is it usual for it to take 2 weeks .. am i simply getting worried? or else is there something I can do to track the whereabouts of this package. The entire episode has got me mind f***ed and I would appreciate any help, suggestions or guidance.

It's Christmas time, so delivery times are a lot longer at the moment. Is there no other way to deliver the contents of the letter, such as fax or email? And did you only send non-valuable papers or did you send goods?

To track the whereabouts of a letter in the US you have to contact the US Postal Service; Deutsche Post won't have any information once it leaves Germany.

No, Unfortunately the letter has to be signed in original so fax and e mail are ruled out. Its just a document and has no commercial value. Any ideas on how can get hold of USPS and see if they have an update on the item?

Hmm, tough one... have you tried going to www.google.com and typing in "USPS"?

hows about www.usps.com allthough I don't know if you will be able to use a German tracking number.

I don't think USPS is an option since they state on their website that international packages can be traced only inside the country of its origin and not in the US. Anyhow does anyone know the average mail delivery times within the US.

no it doesn't take that long. i know to get stuff from the US to DE for Christmas it needs to be sent today, Dec. 11.
Generally it takes 6-10 for stuff to be sent. When I've sent letters (general speed, not express or anything) it takes about 4-7days.

From Indiana to Phoenix during normal times, not Christmas, a letter would take up to 5 days.
Just received two Christmas cards from Indiana today to Stuttgart. Mailed on Dec 6th. Delivered the 11th. That's only 5 days.

mail within the US depends. Within my city if i mail it today it'll be there tomorrow. Within my region if i may it today it'll be there tomorrow or thurs, but as you slowly branch out it, obviously takes longer. At work we have a map that shows and i think it goes in 2, 3, 4, and 5 day increments, but I don't know for sure. Sending something from Philly to Seattle will obviously take longer than sending something LA to Phoenix.

For sending within the US there are different options, especially for packages. When I sent something to Salt Lake from Milwaukee I had the option of paying 50cents more (or some tiny amount) to send it by plane instead of truck (a package) to get it there a bit earlier.

Reading all your replies that means I am basically screwed, because I am left with only one option i.e. fighting this out with Deutsche post which is the last thing anyone ever wants to do... They are the most incompetent organization I have seen to date... SO much for their God Damn Tracking and insurance and Proof of delivery and F**K knows what else I paid for...