Any advice about a "lost" package

[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.

[Brian]

Thanks, all.

Randy, yeah, I have done everything short of filing a stolen mail claim as I did not want to be accusatory. However, the fact that (1) no one at the PO was helpful, (2) it was 'out for delivery,' with no delivery, and (3) there have been so many complaints about this particular PO branch, suggests to me that I should file such a claim.

The wacky thing about my eBay experience is that I had opened up a claim and then I went in circles with them explaining, with someone there telling me robotically that I should open up a claim after October 3! Well, isn't that what I have already done? Since i was apparently in an infinite loop with them, I gave up.

[nwobhm]

Why are you doing this to yourself? Just file through ebay that it wasn’t received and wait it out. If it doesn’t show you will be refunded.

[jimq16415]

Originally Posted by Brian

(2) it was 'out for delivery,' with no delivery.

There's no real "out for delivery". After the clerk is all done sorting packages, they scan a bar code saying they're done and that generates the out for delivery message. It's possible your package got missorted, or lost in the equipment they were using, or stolen by a clerk or carrier. For an inept carrier to do it by mistake he would have to drop it off at the wrong address AND forget to scan it.

Like everybody said, file with ebay. Sucks for the seller. Hope he had insurance!

[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.