Defect Received Due to USPS Error

[summersails4u]

I received a defect this month for a package that was processed incorrectly by USPS. The package went to FL from FL via OH. My tracking was uploaded on time, and I kept in close contact with the seller. The package was even sent Priority Mail. I received a defect last holiday season for the same reason. That one dropped off this month, and it has now been replaced by this new one. I am highly conscientous about sending my packages out within a 24 hour period. Are sellers going to be forced to shutdown selling during the holiday period to avoid defects that are out of their control? 

[berserkerplanet · Accepted solution]

You do not receive defects for Late Shipment - only a ding in your percentage  (and it likely isn't a technical issue.)

IF the shipment actually received any USPS scan (acceptance, sort center, etc) WITHIN your stated delivery time, or tracking showed it delivered on time, or buyer indicated on time if asked when leaving feedback you should not receive a ding on the late shipment metric. If any of the previous criteria were met then it was an error and you need to call eBay, calmly explain that you met the requirements, and get the ding removed.

If the shipment did not receive a timely scan due to busy holiday season or particular USPS slacking, and was delayed past the eBay last estimated delivery date, it is still your problem, and a valid ding under the rules.

I don't like the rules either, but the requirements have been plastered all over and discussed ad nauseum in these forums for almost 2 years, published in the seller updates and in eBay emails, and there just isn't any "NO FAIR" involved here anymore.

To  prevent Late Shipment Metric dings in the future you need to get items scanned within your handling time (stand in line, bribe your postal carrier with cookies, report your local PO to the Postal Inspectors if they are slacking, whatever) or extend your handling time to buffer against these things (as I did a while back). If that means you can't receive TRS+ discounts, well, unfortunately, as far as eBay is concerned, that's just too bad.

I really don't like being harsh, but there are only 2 possibilities here: an error on eBay's part, or you didn't perform (USPS performance is your responsibility under the rules), and as it is mostly the latter, this topic is getting to be a broken record.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/eBay-for-Business/You-and-the-New-More-Objective-eBay-On-Time-Shipping...
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/sc/sr152/8565-1_eBay_On-time_Infographic_FA.pdf
http://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/new-business-seller/cs-best-practices.html

[summersails4u]

Thank you. Mainly I was just venting. I am totally aware of the policy changes in regard to shipping defects. Thankfully I have only had two occurences, the one this past Dec., and the one the year before.

The postal service is simply so high volume that time of year, that errors occur. My postal pickup workers are generally very good about scanning packages.

[berserkerplanet]

Glad you didn't take it wrong, are on top of things, and USPS mostly does right by you so problems should be few and far between going forward.

Hopefully others who don't understand at all (there appear to be many) why they are getting dinged ("bad eBay", "unfair", "what late shipment metric") will maybe get something from this thread when they stumble on it.