Possible Lost-In-Mail Advice?

[jchcollins]

Hi guys,

I normally post in the Post-War forum, but figured this one gets a lot of traffic too and might be a better place to pose my questions. If I'm in the wrong forum per any rules, let me know and I'll be glad to move the thread.

Any advice for what is an admittedly early potential "lost in the mail" problem with an eBay seller? I purchased a BVG graded card from a seller with 100% positive feedback that was shipped, and that my post office 10 miles away took in on Saturday morning, then sat on. It should have been delivered today, but wasn't, and when I checked with that post office that was the last known location, they said they didn't have it, and the carrier didn't either. Tracking of course stopped updating on Saturday, saying that it had made it to my town, but that was it. This was a first class package with the standard tracking. Not sure if the seller purchased insurance on it - though for the price - they certainly should have.

Yes, it's early yet - but what are my recourse choices through eBay / PayPal if indeed this card never shows up? I did contact the seller this afternoon just to give them a heads up - and they were very gracious and responsive - but if it comes to having to ask for my money back, I know attitudes can sometimes go south in a hurry. I need to read the fine print, but where would you start with the guarantees - eBay or Paypal? I think in 3 or 4 days I can file with eBay that the item never arrived to get things started on their end if it comes to that. They estimate it will be here by the 27th, but I know it's already here in town somewhere via the tracking. Paypal I'm not even sure. The seller did say they would also file a claim with the USPS in 10 days if it still hasn't shown.

Hoping that the package suddenly lands in the USPS tracking system with an update again tomorrow morning and this will all be moot - but I want to be prepared. Thanks for any advice.

-John

[jb67]

It is pretty early and not that uncommon to have delays. If it is not delivered to your address then it is totally on the seller. If the update says it was delivered to your address then you are responsible. I would wait a couple of days and see if any updates happen. Good luck.

[swarmee]

You are freaking out way too early. Give it a week. Then start a claim with eBay.

[KingFisk]

Open up a case online via USPS.com. It may take a day or two but that usually shakes things loose.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[jchcollins]

I know you're right, just have a funny feeling about this one. Maybe if I hadn't gone to the post office and they were so clueless - over a package that according to their latest records was in that building somewhere...

[egbeachley]

Wait at least a week. These things have a habit of moving across country 2-3 times before it gets flagged properly.

[bouncer]

I would wait a couple days before doing anything. I had two packages I dropped off at the post office a few weeks ago. Tracking was updated the first 2 days and then nothing for 2 weeks and finally the packages showed up yesterday at both locations.

[jchcollins]

Update Tuesday afternoon - crisis averted. I have the package and the card now.

Long story short, don't EVER put in a request with the US Postal Service to hold, or "intercept" your package at a location other than the one it's originally being delivered to. They never confirmed my hold, but had processed it anyway without telling me and took the package out of the tracking system and it was just sitting on a shelf somewhere. A mail clerk and I finally figured it out over about half an hour on the phone earlier this afternoon.

Thanks for the advice, all!

[Leon]

That is great news. The USPS is somewhat difficult to deal with but most of the employees are nice and helpful. They have some lapses in places that don't have strong postmasters, from my limited experience.

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Update Tuesday afternoon - crisis averted. I have the package and the card now.

Long story short, don't EVER put in a request with the US Postal Service to hold, or "intercept" your package at a location other than the one it's originally being delivered to. They never confirmed my hold, but had processed it anyway without telling me and took the package out of the tracking system and it was just sitting on a shelf somewhere. A mail clerk and I finally figured it out over about half an hour on the phone earlier this afternoon.

Thanks for the advice, all!

[robw1959]

This actually happened to me recently, as in about two months ago. I did the USPS search, but found out that the package wasn't insured, and there was no recourse after my local P.O. & carrier did their due diligence. All they could do was refund my postage fees.

I informed eBay about the whole situation, that tracking indicated that a package did arrive on a certain date, but that when I got home from work it was nowhere to be found. eBay did issue my a credit in my case, only because I had been a long-time eBay member, and this was the first incident of this type.

I suggest going through eBay. If you go through PayPal, I believe they will only require tracking from the seller to nullify your case, even if it isn't insured.