Any advice about a "lost" package

[Brian]

So here's another tale of a lost baseball card...

I won a card on eBay, a 1927 Zeenut Weinert, and USPS tracking said that it was "out for delivery" on 9/21. I am still waiting. I contacted the seller, who told me to contact the P.O., which was no help whatsoever. So I contacted eBay, who was equally helpful. The seller, understandably, does not want to/cannot do anything else, and since it was insured, it really should be a matter for eBay and USPS to sort out.

So, my question is: do I (1) just wait for eBay to refund my money, (2) file a police report, (3) file a complaint against the PO, which did absolutely nothing, all of the above, or just #1?

While it was not a high-value transaction, I'm bummed because I have been after that card for a while. On the other hand, this is the first time the USPS has ever lost one of my packages, so I guess I should just count myself lucky, and move on.

Anyone have this experience, and what did you do? Does the USPS even investigate in cases such as these, since they deal with over a billion packages a year?

Thanks, Brian

[Aaron Seefeldt]

My suggestion would be to hold tight if you can. I’ve been through this 2 times with USPS, once as a buyer and once as a seller. The card I purchased arrived a full 2 weeks after its “scheduled” delivery date and the supplements I sold (in a poster tube) arrived a month late. They both had tracking #’s and both were lost (temporarily). They both made it but I won’t use usps (for valued items) ever again. It’s my understanding that some items get stuck in the bottoms of the sorting process then all of a sudden just show up. I’m not familiar with eBay’s policy so I don’t know if there’s a time factor before you have to make a claim.

[sb1]

Contact the Postmaster at your local Post Office it went thru. They can provide additional internal tracking and will give far more information than a window clerk.

Also go to the USPS website and signup for alerts for the particular tracking number. Sometimes signing up for the alerts seems to get it back into the mail delivery system.

You can file thru ebay for "item not received" and get a refund, then should it show up down the road, you can let the seller know and make him whole. He would have to file a claim thru the USPS on his end.

[Brick442]

I would definitely go down to your local post office and ask to speak to the person in charge. Apparently, they can look up your tracking number in a more detailed manager and escalate from there. I've had to do it a few times unfortunately.

It seems easier to get info from the PO in person rather than email or phone.

[Exhibitman]

I am in this exact situation right now. I sent some SI magazines to CGC just before that hurricane last month and the mags disappeared in route from one facility to the next, into the dreaded 'your package is en route to the next facility' excuse. Go online to the USPS and initiate a lost package search, and sign up for the free delivery alerts on the package. I finally did that a few days ago and within 48 hours the package was found and has departed the facility where it was stuck for a month. I suspect that anywhere that got hammered by bad weather has a PSA-level backlog of packages and prioritizes the squeaky wheels, so squeak away.

[Brian]

Thanks for all of the advice, guys. I can always count on sage advice from fellow collectors.

I have indeed gone down to the PO to talk to the manager AND supervisor. Both were "out of the office," and when I asked for a direct phone number, they said I could not have it! I also left a written message and got no response. That was an hour I will never get back. I have also signed up for tracking alerts through USPS, and unfortunately, it does not provide any new information.

This may be the longest time a package has been "out for delivery" in order to get from zip code 10011 to 10011!

I had the same issue but sending a card with a tracking number. I went to the Post Master General at the Post Office she went through everything and checked. The person got got their card after a few week weeks it was a mishap on the USPS with the barcodes and or tag coming off thru the sorter

[RL]

Brian, the seller gave you the correct info. At this time, there really is nothing he/she could do. A visit to your delivering post office should have resolved the issue.

Through ebay 1 day after expected delivery date, file a inr, if it does not show delivered, you will get your money back.

In addition, since your post office does not seem very helpful, since tracking shows out for delivery, file a stolen mail case with the usps. On the case make sure to say "appears like usps employee stole the mail" I've done a few of those, you may be surprised that after you file your local p.o. may become more helpful.

[jcmtiger]

This happen to me with some signed baseballs. Sent the money back to the buyer. Balls showed up a few days later. Buyer sent money back. Crazy.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Brian

Thanks for all of the advice, guys. I can always count on sage advice from fellow collectors.

I have indeed gone down to the PO to talk to the manager AND supervisor. Both were "out of the office," and when I asked for a direct phone number, they said I could not have it! I also left a written message and got no response. That was an hour I will never get back. I have also signed up for tracking alerts through USPS, and unfortunately, it does not provide any new information.

This may be the longest time a package has been "out for delivery" in order to get from zip code 10011 to 10011!

At my PO, with inexcusable service levels, they both would be found back in the mail room drinking coffee and eating donuts. And perhaps watching internet porn.

[chalupacollects]

Go back to your PO and get their names. Then call DC or KC headquarters and have them light a fire…


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