USPS - Holiday Slowdowns in Full Force Already?

[bcbgcbrcb]

Over the past week and a half, every one of my eBay purchases seems to be moving along at a crawl, averaging 7-9 days getting from Point A to Point B. If it has to go for authentication, that’s 7-9 days to get there, usually ends up near a weekend so sits there for another 4-5 days and then another week or more to get to me. By the time that’s all done, not much less than a month door to door. From past experience, the entire process usually averages about 9-10 days for me. Imagine when we actually get closer to Christmas. Not good, but the shipping prices still keep going up every couple of months. How do they justify the price increase? Oh, I forgot, the mail sorters/carriers are in short supply because of COVID, right? That’s how every other price increase started across the entire world economy, correct?

[OhioLawyerF5]

It's been inconsistent for me. I've bought maybe 10 cards on ebay the last few weeks. Most have arrived in a normal time frame. But a few get the slowdown treatment. I am still waiting on one that was at authentication ove Thanksgiving. It took a week to get to authentication, then a week at authentication, and now it's been a week and it stalled at one of the large hubs on the way.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

…How do they justify the price increase? Oh, I forgot, the mail sorters/carriers are in short supply because of COVID, right? That’s how every other price increase started across the entire world economy, correct?

I saw a sign at the post office yesterday that said that prices will “temporarily” increase during the holiday season (starting in October through January 19th, 2025).

Recall that the USPS is not a business, they lose money every single day/year. It’s more of a public service than it is a business / profit center. I think it’s smart for the USPS to raise prices during the surge season. The PO was packed every day this week (I’ve been selling quite a bit recently). If this were a business, I’d expect higher prices due to the supply/demand forces.

And what’s your alternative??? Good luck getting a better price with FedEx or UPS! Prices, in my opinion, are only going to go up. Gotta fund those deficits somehow. I was blown away when I saw that first class stamps are now $0.73. When did that happen??? Again, not surprised at all. And I’d expect more of the same for the foreseeable future.

[jp1216]

I see more Amazon trucks every day than USPS/FedEx/UPS combined. I can see them taking over in the future. Lower prices and more efficiency. Replace mail boxes with Amazon lock boxes at everyone's homes... Who knows.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Don't complain.

Sincerely,

Canada

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Don't complain.

Sincerely,

Canada

How true. I bought something on eBay from Canada in mid-November and it was shipped before the strike started but apparently didn't make it across the border in time so I'm still waiting for it.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Don't complain.

Sincerely,

Canada

I second the emotion. LOTG consignment check and RMY winnings stuck in transit. Apparently the courier services have stalled out too. A minor inconvenience for me compared to the serious in-your-face hardships incurred by small businesses and commerce in general across Canada.

[OhioLawyerF5]

I've never bought a card that I wasn't able to wait a few weeks for. It's not like I'm flipping them and need to time the market. It will just go into my collection, never to come out again. So what difference does it make to me if it takes a couple weeks longer?

[vasyatwoball]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

I've never bought a card that I wasn't able to wait a few weeks for. It's not like I'm flipping them and need to time the market. It will just go into my collection, never to come out again. So what difference does it make to me if it takes a couple weeks longer?

This X 10
Unless you’re a flipper…take a deep breath

[OhioLawyerF5]

Here is the tracking of the cards I'm currently waiting on from ebay. Let's just say things are moving slowly.

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5

[Yankees #1]

My priority shipping is the same as ground makes no difference. Just hoping everything arrives eventually.

[puckpaul]

Need to get DOGE on the case! USPS has to be hugely inefficient. That said, i sent a flat to Australia for $18 recently, vs quotes from UPS ($250) and Fedex ($200). Easy decision. It wasnt a rush, though UPS/FEDEX may not even be faster from previous experience. We’ll see!

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by puckpaul

Need to get DOGE on the case! USPS has to be hugely inefficient. That said, i sent a flat to Australia for $18 recently, vs quotes from UPS ($250) and Fedex ($200). Easy decision. It wasnt a rush, though UPS/FEDEX may not even be faster from previous experience. We’ll see!

LOL

[StraightRaceCards]

Went to USPS today to drop off one small package.

A few comments:

1) my USPS is actually pretty reliable. But they had 1 person working the counter on a Saturday. Yikes.

2) Guy in front of me pulls out 14 packages that were covered in eBay tape. Another guy behind me lost his marbles. It was almost comical

3) Make sure to be kind to the USPS employees. Easy to dump on them… it’s just mail. I’m guilty of missing the mark here, but I’m working on asking how the two regular guys there are doing and remembering their names.

[LOUCARDFAN]

I mailed a check for my Huggins & Scott winnings through Priority Mail from Louisville, KY on December 16th with delivery to their PO Box in New Jersey. It was due to arrive by December 20th. Checked the tracking on the 20th and it was in Spokane, Washington. USPS is a total crapshoot this time of year.


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[todeen]

Ordered a GU patch w/MLB authentic sticker on ebay around Nov 1. On Nov 4 the seller shipped with tracking, leaving Brooklyn NY. On Nov 10 I brought it to the attention of the seller that the item still showed no handling by USPS. He worked with his local post office, and after a week they called it a lost package. Seller refunded my money.

But! On Dec 31, tracking was picked up in LA. Today it was supposed to be delivered. I got the email notice it was on my front porch. I eagerly rush home to find my missing prize. And....it's not there! UGH!

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[todeen]

Originally Posted by todeen

Ordered a GU patch w/MLB authentic sticker on ebay around Nov 1. On Nov 4 the seller shipped with tracking, leaving Brooklyn NY. On Nov 10 I brought it to the attention of the seller that the item still showed no handling by USPS. He worked with his local post office, and after a week they called it a lost package. Seller refunded my money.

But! On Dec 31, tracking was picked up in LA. Today it was supposed to be delivered. I got the email notice it was on my front porch. I eagerly rush home to find my missing prize. And....it's not there! UGH!

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Update to my previous post....

went to my post office today after a second day of non delivery. My PO staff member used a computer to find the tracking and an image of the package. She said it appears that the tracking number assigned to our missing package was "canceled", and then the PO regenerated it for a new package that was shipped to a completely different person with a completely different address. Somehow our canceled tracking piggy backed on the new package (on ebay) to make it look like our package was mysteriously found and delivered. She said our package is still missing.

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[OhioLawyerF5]

I have a card on the way to Ohio from Alabama. It made it to Indianapolis in 3 days, which usually means 2 days before it hits my mailbox. Instead, it headed to Pennsylvania and has arrived and departed from Philadelphia 3 times in the last 4 days. Who knows when it will arrive as it passed by my house last week.

[D. Bergin]

Damn, thought I was getting off easy. Been awhile since I've had an issue. Packages I've sent out have got where they're going, and packages I've bought have gotten to me in a timely manner.....until now.

Won a 1970's Non-Sport BBCE Wrapped Unopened Box on Ebay. It's a box I don't see pop up often, and thought I won it at a great price, so looking forward to getting it.

Got the "Ebay Delivered Package" notice in my E-mail. Excited, I run up to my Mailbox....and this is what I find waiting for me.



I believe this is the 2nd Ebay purchase in 20+ years or so...that just showed up as an empty box for me.

[jp1216]

That's terrible! Did they deliver a box - knowing it was cut open and empty?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jp1216

That's terrible! Did they deliver a box - knowing it was cut open and empty?

Yup! Even put a sticker on it that says "Received Unsealed".

Not sure exactly where on it's journey that sticker would have been put on the box.

[D. Bergin]

Screenshot of the tracking. Apparently it was noted as a Damaged Box the morning before it was put on the truck and delivered to me.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Well my card that left Indianapolis, traveled past Ohio, spent the week going in and out of the sorting facility in Philadelphia, has now passed Ohio once again, and returned to Indianapolis. Quite the journey this card is on.

[Exhibitman]

I was just forced to refund an eBay sale that went missing in the St. Louis package center.

I often cringe a little when I get a package from a seller that has "eBay", a card seller, or an auction house's name splashed all over it; I am sure that they make attractive targets for dishonest package handlers. Cards should be shipped like porn: anonymous packaging.

[jingram058]

Got 2 things with Christmas gift cards:

1 shipped by Post Office. Tracking never moved beyond "package in possession of Post Office". 6 days later it just showed up.

What is the purpose of tracking if it doesn't work?

1 shipped by UPS. Came 3 days after purchase, with regular tracking updates, in between Christmas and New Years. No issues at all.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Well, now nearly two weeks after Christmas and packages still moving much slower than usual. What’s the excuse now?

[BRoberts]

Feeling for you, buddy.