Tracking numbers not working and items arriving in 3 days from order

I understand your frustration, and as I'm sure you are aware that's not supposed to happen. Shippers both large and small have the ability to create a shipping label before the item actually ships, but when they do that it generates a tracking number that is instantly entered into UPS's tracking system. The fact that UPS's tracking system indicates it is not valid makes no sense to me, so you were right to ask.

Apple probably had no clue either.

Personal anecdotes are of no use to you or anybody, but I had a similar experience recently in which the vendor insisted UPS picked up the item, while UPS insisted it was still in the vendor's hands. Several phone calls, same replies pointing fingers at each other. After sufficient time passed (perhaps a week) I filed for an investigation with UPS. As it turned out UPS determined they in fact had it all the time, and it was shipped the next day.

Sometimes you just have to rattle someone's cage, but whose? You may have to dispute the charge; that's sure to get that "someone's" attention.

The vendor complained they've been having a lot of problems with UPS recently, but FedEx is probably no different, nor is the USPS. It's becoming like Italy here.

FWIW, a tracking number for UPS (or most any other carrier) is automatically generated for a shipping label that a company laces on the box. Until that box is physically picked up by UPS and scanned into their system, UPS won't actually have a record of it. Companies such as Apple, Amazon, etc. don't get billed for the shipping until UPS actually picks it up.

Most companies will even state something to the effect of allowing a certain amount of time before checking the tracking status.