Anyone else having MAJOR post office issues in July?
Summary: retakeamerica shared concerns about numerous delivery issues, citing packages marked as "In Transit, Arriving Late." They discovered that a fire and power outage at the Greensboro, NC distribution center caused delays. Others joined the discussion, sharing similar experiences with delayed or misrouted packages, and offered advice on handling claims and communications with buyers. Solutions included filing for insurance claims, using tracking updates, and managing buyer expectations by being transparent about issues. Several participants provided different strategies for dealing with late deliveries and navigating eBay's policies.
For some reason, I have had more delivery issues this month than in the past 10 years of selling. I have no fewer than 9 customers either filing claims or complaining about packages not yet delivered that were shipped between 2 weeks and 3 weeks ago. All show "In Transit, Arriving Late". Ebay already refunded one of them which was subsequently delivered after the refund and now I am having to decide to be out hundreds of dollars by refunds or face the possiblity of being out anyway and have eBay ding me for transaction defects. Anyone else having this happen?
mam98031
路2 weeks agoThere are things a seller should do immediately when they see that a package is not moving like it should. A seller should do this even if the buyer has not reached out to them with a delivery issue or filed and INR.
First go to USPS and call up the tracking number.
https://tools.usps.com/tracking/
Once you call up the information, now sign up for the UPDATES you can get via Email. This act alone for some reason will shake a package loose from time to time. IDK why, but it has been known to happen.
聽
After you take care of this. Now go and file for a TRACE on the package. You can file these after your package is delayed more than 7 days.
https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm
If your buyer has NOT contacted you about a late delivery, do NOT contact them. Gather the info and try to get the package moving and delivered. Do not create a problem where none currently exists. You will likely pay a price for doing that. However if your buyer has reached out to you, be transparent and honest with them. Tell them what you see on the tracking and that you have filed for a Trace on the package. It will typically take USPS 48-72 hours to reach out with an update. Assure the buyer that you will keep them updated as you gather information. This will go a long way to keep the buyer calm.
12345jamesstamps
路2 weeks agoIt's a tracking issue....items are being delivered even through tracking doesn't show that...I had incoming and outgoing packages with weird tracking.
I received packages and hopefully buyers received their with tracking not showing delivered. And I mail everything personally at the post office.
If buyers are honest...they won't complain about items not received.
I currently have an incoming package that has been to 7 cities so far...馃槅
dbmm-media
路2 weeks agono
powell-collectibles
路2 weeks agoI recommend refunding a buyer as soon as INR is filed. I even encourage them to file. If you use eBay labels and you ship on time, eBay will automatically refund if and when the item shows up. That鈥檚 good for you and good for the buyer. You can even come out ahead if you file a claim with the USPS, get paid, and then the item shows up.
roastedsaurus
路2 weeks agoYes. Last week I had a package that actually went through the Indianapolis facility 7 times before they finally got it right on the 8th attempt.
If you've reached the 15th day with any of yours you should start filing insurance claims with them.
retakeamerica
OP2 weeks agoActually found out the issue. There was a fire and power outage at the Greensboro, NC distrbution center that is delaying package deliveries for upwards of a week or more and some packages are in limbo.
authentic*vintage
路2 weeks agoThis explains why everything has been routed to Dulles VA and Washington DC for the past couple of weeks - I am near winston-salem and was wondering why nothing was hitting the Gboro hub - thanks for that info!
christworks
路2 weeks ago@authentic*vintage @retakeamerica FYI I was told today they hope things will be back to normal sometime the week of August 10th.
My orders never stopped going to GSO (I'm across the border in VA), but they have been delayed. So far no issues with any INRs. My postmaster told me today she was told Friday there was still part of the facility without power.
soh.maryl
路2 weeks agoWhen you check tracking information from these packages, if it shows the package is still traveling, do you suggest to buyers that they give it a few more days? Are your buyers just opening INR cases the very first day they can?
retakeamerica
OP2 weeks agoActually found out the issue. There was a fire and power outage at the Greensboro, NC distrbution center that is delaying package deliveries for upwards of a week or more and some packages are in limbo.
grann-4629
路2 weeks agoYou can wait up to 30 days before filing an INR. My rule-of-thumb is to wait at least 10 days due to possible transportation/weather related issues beyond the seller's control.
As to whether you should contact the seller before filing the INR ... opinions vary.