USPS Problem (PWCC Vault)

[dougscats]

Do file a missing package claim; it’s one of the few things you can do.

I recently had three packages that were not even scanned into the system for more than two weeks. I despaired, thinking they had been stolen. But they all ultimately showed up to my great relief, though one took a month to get there.
I write only because it was comforting to know that others were in the same boat, and that it turned out okay. Given that yours are in the system, I think they’ll get there in the end. Good luck.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I had two out-going an two incoming that all showed stalled tracking for over 30 days. All finally arrived. On both shipped items from me the buyers requested refunds after two weeks which I did. Only one has repaid me when they arrived.

The addition of Amazon shipping and as my carrier told me they are now delivering many UPS packages has just over-loaded the system during this crisis. It will all settle down eventually.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Sign up for text or email updates. Usually does the trick. Most of the packages I am shipping seem to do OK but everyone that I have been expecting have been getting here at least a week late.

Good luck and don't worry too much.

Jeff

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

I had two out-going...both shipped items from me the buyers requested refunds after two weeks which I did. Only one has repaid me when they arrived.

This is what concerns me. The buyer can file with eBay or Paypal and request a refund on "lost" mail. If you have a tracking number, but an item is taking a few extra weeks, will eBay/Paypal just side with the buyer and force the refund? I assume that USPS isn't going to pay out insurance claims on delayed mail either. I can see buyers winning a claim with eBay/Paypal, getting a refund, but the package eventually makes its way to the destination, so the seller can't file an insurance claim either. Anyone run into this yet?

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

This is what concerns me. The buyer can file with eBay or Paypal and request a refund on "lost" mail. If you have a tracking number, but an item is taking a few extra weeks, will eBay/Paypal just side with the buyer and force the refund? I assume that USPS isn't going to pay out insurance claims on delayed mail either. I can see buyers winning a claim with eBay/Paypal, getting a refund, but the package eventually makes its way to the destination, so the seller can't file an insurance claim either. Anyone run into this yet?

Just had this happen on an international shipment that left the country mid-March and didn't register any tracking updates for two months. Buyer finally reached out to ebay for a resolution, and ebay responded within minutes with a refund, which they funded because they found me not at fault. Two days later the buyer messages me to say the package finally arrived. There is an option to appeal a decision by eBay for which they give "tracking indicates package was delivered" as a potential justification for an appeal, but even though I feel it's wrong for the buyer to get the item and the refund too, I'm hesitant to appeal it lest ebay somehow decide to refund them out of my pocket instead.

In another recent instance, a shipment to Canada has been MIA for about two months, and the buyer asked ebay to step in. I was hoping for a similar result, but this time ebay refunded the buyer out of my pocket instead because I "failed to provide tracking that showed the package as delivered." Again, the decision came back within minutes of the buyer escalating the issue. I'm hoping it turns up in the 30 day appeal window so that I can try that avenue, but I have a feeling I'll end up eating this one.

I've had a good track record since everything broke, but it's not been a good week for me internationally.

[ajenks3378]

I have had big trouble shipping going through Michigan...at least 1-2 weeks delay lately with anything going in or out of the state.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by ajenks3378

I have had big trouble shipping going through Michigan...at least 1-2 weeks delay lately with anything going in or out of the state.

Same here. I guess 3 USPS processing plants in MI were hit with a Covid outbreak a month ago and they haven't caught up.

[irv]

I just received 2 cards that were 5 weeks late past their due to arrive date. I waited patiently until I finally requested 1 refund through EBay. (The other seller already refunded me)

Of course, both cards arrived just days apart last week after I had already been refunded.
I have since repaid those sellers back and apologized for the inconvenience, if there was any?

Curious, since both refund requests were through EBay, does this paint the sellers in a bad light?
Should I let EBay know the cards were received or is refunding the sellers good enough?

[chalupacollects]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

This is what concerns me. The buyer can file with eBay or Paypal and request a refund on "lost" mail. If you have a tracking number, but an item is taking a few extra weeks, will eBay/Paypal just side with the buyer and force the refund? I assume that USPS isn't going to pay out insurance claims on delayed mail either. I can see buyers winning a claim with eBay/Paypal, getting a refund, but the package eventually makes its way to the destination, so the seller can't file an insurance claim either. Anyone run into this yet?

This has been happening with ebay, buyer complains about slow shipping and ebay approves the refund. Worst part is if you as a seller do not fight for your money after item shows as delivered, buyer gets item for free...ebay has really gone down the tubes for sellers...

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

This has been happening with ebay, buyer complains about slow shipping and ebay approves the refund. Worst part is if you as a seller do not fight for your money after item shows as delivered, buyer gets item for free...ebay has really gone down the tubes for sellers...

Even worse is if the impatient buyer files for and receives a refund, the item is ultimately delivered, but the delivery scan is not logged in the USPS system (international shipments are hit-and-miss in the best of times whether they show as "Delivered" or simply stop registering tracking updates once leaving the U.S.). Not much you can do to fight the refund if the tracking NEVER shows as delivered.

Thankfully, most of my international shipments during the pandemic seem to have been to patient and/or understanding buyers. For those that went out in March, it was a solid 3 months for delivery for the ones that I checked up on, with several relieved buyers reporting those having arrived by mid-to-late June. I don't know if that represents a rolling window on the backlog moving through the system, or if late June was the log jam finally being cleared and more-normal delivery times are now resuming.