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Package shipped Nov. 8th still "in transit to next facility"
I sold an item on Nov. 7th and shipped it out Nov. 8th by USPS Ground Advantage. I used an eBay label like I always do which comes with tracking and insurance. The past 3 updates on the tracking have been only this:
Nov 12, 2023
Moving Through Network
In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late
November 12, 2023
I contacted the buyer and told them about the delay notification from the USPS and said I would keep an eye on the tracking for anymore updates and if I don't get one soon I would see what I can do next. So my question is, if I don't get an update on the tracking soon, what should I do next? I just want to make sure I go through the proper steps in case something is wrong with the shipment. The package did not have to travel far, only 1 state away from me. That is also why I am a bit concerned on why it has not been delivered yet, or why I have not received anymore updates since the 12th if something is wrong with the shipment. Thanks for any information anyone can provide.
kh-vince
·2 years agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
spookypuffs
·2 years agoI'm currently experiencing this from a buyer
meyer6284
·2 years agoSo what happened at the end of the day
casey-86
OP2 years agoWell I finally received an update on the tracking. It shows the package arrived at the New Orleans, LA distribution center 18 days after departing the post office, which by the way is only 1 hour from the post office it departed from on November 8th. I have no idea what took it so long to finally started moving. I'm just glad the package isn't lost and should hopefully be delivered in the next couple days if nothing else goes wrong. This is completely unacceptable on part of the USPS. I even opened a missing mail search request for this on the 16th and honestly I feel like if I hadn't the package may still be delayed or lost. I'm just glad the buyer was patient with me and just hope at this point it gets there in the condition it was shipped in.
an-57470
·2 years agoI am having the same problem too with TWO packages and I feel absolutely helpless.
casey-86
OP2 years agoSo far the buyer has not opened a case for this. I have stayed in contact with them for several days now. Its been 6 days since I opened a missing mail search with no updates. I was thinking of asking the buyer if they would prefer me to just issue a full refund and me update the mail search to have the package returned to me if it is found. Should I just keep waiting since the buyer has not opened a case?
I have no idea how long missing mail searches take, or the time frame for when some kind of update is provided for them. I want to complete this transaction which is why I thought about issuing a refund and having the package returned to me if it is found. I think the package is lost and won't be recovered but I don't know for sure if that will happen. If it is lost I can file an insurance claim with the included $100 insurance on the label but before I do that I want to make sure the buyer has their refund. So should I just keep waiting or go ahead and issue a refund?
casey-86
OP2 years agoSo at what point should I submit an insurance claim with USPS for this? The package was shipped Nov. 8th and there were no updates past that evening when it departed my local post office other than an automated "in transit to next facility" on Nov. 12. I submitted a missing mail search request on Nov. 16th and have not received any updates from that yet either. I haven't been able to find a step by step process with this situation so I don't know when I should submit an insurance claim for my package.
yuzuha
·2 years agoYou can't do anything until at least 3 weeks have passed with no tracking updates showing movement. The USPS will not consider a package as being lost before then.
casey-86
OP2 years agoWell there haven't been any tracking updates since Nov. 12th and I'm not even sure if that particular update was from a scan or not. I keep reading the insurance claims should be filed as early as possible and don't recall seeing the 3 week time period that must pass before being able to do that. Does that just mean before they will settle the claim or accept the claim? I'm just ready to conclude this transaction with the buyer but I guess until they open a case all I can do is wait or ask them if they would prefer a refund over waiting.
gloryglorygifts
·2 years agoI don't know where your package is headed but I had one sit in St. Louis for two weeks. Missouri seems to be having a lot of issues due to staffing, and I think that's the same in many other states as well. It will get there eventually. Mine was just delivered yesterday, and I mailed it from here on the 4th, so fingers crossed yours gets moving too.
casey-86
OP2 years agoYea, you just never know whats going on once the package leaves your home. I'm basically just waiting for an update on the tracking after starting the missing mail search for the package. Its been 2 days now and there have been no updates. I've never done this before so I have no idea how long this process takes. The package I shipped only had to travel 1 state over so for there to be no updated movement on the tracking since Nov. 8th has me concerned. Its just a waiting game now. I feel like soon I should issue a refund to the buyer but I want to wait and see if this missing mail search produces an update on the tracking.
gloryglorygifts
·2 years agoIt will move eventually. I think it was two holiday seasons ago I had 14 open missing mail cases with the USPS. All of them were resolved. I've found that just opening a case may get it moving again. It can take up to a week for them to respond, especially at this time of year when the packages increase. Just wait it out and let your customer know that you are keeping an eye on it.
casey-86
OP2 years agoI wanted to ask, if the package is determined to be lost by the USPS missing mail search request then who files for the insurance that was included with the eBay label? Me or the buyer? I would assume I issue a full refund and I do the insurance claim, but I've never done this before so I have no idea how this process works.
an-57470
·2 years agoYou are wasting your time, the usps system is broken and they can't , don't or won't simply fix the theft problem or other delivery issues.....that coupled with 45 days for a refund from those idiots .awesome it even tougher to deal with them....use another carrier!
Likewise, ebay can't even help you, you spend good money with ebay and they simply stand back say they can't do anything about it or offer you a pep talk....when this stuff happens, you don't need a pep talk , you need an advocate!
Between ebay and the shysters within the usps system, it simply is futile to sell in ebay...I could understand the 11% plus fees but with that fee comes absolutely nothing for you in these type of events, all the while those within the usps system essentially tell you " oh well, just try again, you might get lucky"
Stop using the usps system and find another selling site!
casey-86
OP2 years agoMy only concern right now is making sure this transaction ends with a positive resolution for both me and the buyer. I'm just here seeking advice on when and how I should go about doing that. Right now I have the missing mail search request active and awaiting an update from that. I have no idea how that process goes. I feel like I've done everything I can do on my part apart from issuing a refund. I just don't know when would be the appropriate time to consider that given the package could start moving again.
casey-86
OP2 years agoI opened a missing mail search request for the package yesterday. The tracking updated with the notification that this was done so now I have to wait and see if it even helps. My question is how long should I wait before issuing a refund to the buyer? I'm worried I'll do it too soon just to have the package randomly start moving again and it get delivered. I read on the USPS website that I have to wait at least 45 days for USPS Ground Advantage before I can file a claim for this service. 45 days?! I mean I am glad it came with included insurance up to $100 (which is what the item sold for) but that seems like a very long time for something that should be delivered in less than a week.
How long should I wait on the refund? I am staying in contact with the buyer to keep them updated of what I am doing on my end but eventually situations like this get to a point where I just feel like a refund is in order but then you never know when or if the package will show an update.
an-57470
·2 years agoAnd I will say ts happened more than once too! It hits a distribution hub and never is seen again within the system, internal theft plain and simple
an-57470
·2 years agoYea I got burned like that from an item out of california....august 15, stall says its 'delayed" and here we are mid november...it hit a distribution hub and it disappeared....usps didnt do one thing for me after i put in a request. Contacted the office of inspector general, they said it didnt constitute an investigation...i guess i was a small item to deal with when they want bigger publicity catching drugs and crime syndicate rings inside the post office... theft is a big problem within the USPS system but of course they want to gloss that over especially when they dont want people abandoning their shoddy service while they hemorrhage millions of dollars each year....would not surprise me in the least if they go belly up like sears and roebuck in 5-10 years.
Indeed the USPS system has become a pathetic spectacle and will eventually become that joke delivery service that only stuff a mailbox full with stupid advertisements because no one can simply trust to use them anymore
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoI have the same problem with delays of items with tracking. Something going on. I have one that was suppose to be delivered yesterday and 2 are suppose to be delivered today.
But my items with no tracking are having no problems with getting across USA in 3-5 days.
casey-86
OP2 years agoThanks everyone for the replies so far. I've stayed in contact with the buyer to let them know I am watching the tracking and will let them know when I see any new updates. I'm hoping something new will show up on the tracking by morning so at least it will let me know its still moving through the system. I guess right now it all depends how long the buyer is willing to wait. Going through USPS to do a search for the package takes time I think and I can't even start that process for a few more days from what I understand. I worry about things like giving a refund just to have the package be delivered afterwards and things like that. I'm just hoping the tracking updates soon with something new.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years ago@casey-86 Also note; ebay is 1 day behind the usps website, so check the tracking number there and then update your buyer.
casey-86
OP2 years agoI am. I figured the USPS website was the best place to keep updated on the tracking. So far there is still no update since the 12th. I'm starting to think the package is lost in the mail somewhere. The item I sold was for exactly $100 (minus tax and shipping) and the eBay label I purchased said it came with up to $100 insurance for USPS Ground Advantage. If it is lost I guess that means I won't be at a complete lost but I've never used the insurance service with USPS before so I don't know how that process goes.
anjofak
·2 years agoCalling the usps with tracking number ready and request a package research case to be opened or just fill out the missing mail form online, but as a sender you have to wait until 7 business days after the estimated delivery date, but buyer/receiver can call and give the where is my package pretty much anytime.
Tizz the season! Happy holidays to all!
roadking5555
·2 years agoAs already stated, it will get there....eventually.
Up here in the Northeast I have had a lot of delays with the new "USPS Ground Advantage", my shipments are on average taking 2-3 days longer to get to the destination.
Give it another week, then fill out a package request search thru USPS. I had to do this recently, the package got there (4 weeks later).
I saw the same thing you are seeing on the tracking status for your shipment. Your package is probably off to the side, the updates you are getting (at 12:00 am) are bot generated and mean nothing, until someone finds your package and moves it back on track the updates will be the same. I think mine was stuck in one of those canvas push carts?
Hang in there.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoNothing. It will get there. If it's not, after 3 weeks, usps considers it lost.
Just know that
a.) this happens about 5% of the time
b.) I've shipped over 20,000 packages the past 10+ years, all of the USPS, and ALL of them have ALWAYS got to their final destination. 2 to 10 business days.
I've had a Priority Package take 9 business days to get from Nevada to Texas, while a 1st Class Package went to NY in 2 days, FL 3 days etc.
The BEST part is they recognize the package and state it will be late.
an-57470
·2 years agoFirst off dont count on it getting there! I had several items I ordered lately that never made it! Shipping address was correct, but simply never arrived here....its internal theft plain and simple...mostly sewing machine parts.....probably looks like gift cards or drugs etc and the worker shoves it up their sleeve and off to the bathroom they go! I bet the local sewer system is littered with unwanted items and smaller opened packages, flushed down the toilet