Please do not use USPS Ground Advantage
Two weeks and two days ago, I purchased a luxury watch from a seller, with the authenticity guarantee. The seller shipped the watch USPS ground advantage to the authenticator and then the authenticator shipped the watch to me using the same service. My package has been sitting in a regional distribution center for two days with no movement and is now 7 days behind the original delivery date. This service is abysmal and your customers deserve better. I have tried opening a case with the USPS for my package, but because of the service level selected I have to wait an additional 8 days to file a claim.
If this were a $20 chotchky I can see cheaping out and using this service. But shipping a $2500 luxury watch on whatbis essentially "space available" with a "it may eventually get there" sla is wholly unacceptable.
sassykzt
·8 months agoWhile there is a waiting period to be able to file a claim for a missing package, did you know that you can email USPS about delayed , slow moving mail? You usually get a response in 24 hrs and better yet the package starts moving ( as has been my experience). Go to https://emailus.usps.com/s/
cardsforauction
·8 months agoThat's what I would do. I would fill out the form online at the USPS website and submit it or call USPS and they may just open the case. The OP said they tried to open a case. I'm not sure if the OP tried to open the case with USPS or eBay?
cardsforauction
·8 months agoYou still have a few days. It should show up via USPS Ground Advantage and you will probably have to be present at the address provided to sign for it. You have a guarantee through Ebay Authentication and they were the sender. You can't blame the seller for this shipping issue. There can be many reasons why there is a delay in delivery. Weather, facility issues, mail carrier not available. One instance, my package was suppose to be delivered on a Wed. and I called Friday and the PO told me "Your mail carrier is not available. When she gets back, your package will be delivered" I had to wait til the next Tuesday for the package to be delivered, even though it said "Out for Delivery" on the tracking on Wed. You just never know why the package is being held / delayed.
simba6
·8 months agoEven if the seller uses a different shipper, they have no say in who the authenticator uses.
robbie31415
·8 months agoBased on my numbers, USPS Ground Advantage typically arrives faster than its comparable service UPS Ground.
On average items are delivered within 4 business days.
I see no issues with the service.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoGround Advantage takes longer than it used to unless it is from a major metro area to a major metro area.
It no longer travels by air between many points it used to.
It takes longer to recover from human error which may cause mis-routes because there are few alternate paths between destinations.
It takes longer to clear accumulations in sorting centers due to inclement weather.
It is, IMO, the best value shipping product available to me, and I use it for ALL my shipments which do not qualify for media mail.
marchair
·8 months agoIn my experience, Ground Advantage is equal to Priority and the pricing is better. Last week I shipped a 5 pound package from Oregon to Michigan, which is zone 8 from me. I dropped it off at the post office around noon on Thursday. It was delivered Saturday at 11:42 AM. Can't beat that! I realize that's a bit unusual. But I've only had one slow shipment since I began using Ground Advantage exclusively.
itsjustasprain
·8 months agoGround Advantage is not shipped on a space available basis. You may be thinking of Media Mail (which is) but even MM can only stay 3 days at any waypoint before it must go out on the next truck. Saying that it 'may' eventually get there is simply hyperbole.
There is nothing wrong with Ground Advantage and nothing magical about Priority. Both offer $100 insurance for free and the option to insure for more. Both travel at approximately the same speed.
I also saw your later mention of shipping a watch in a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate package (and paying full retail over the counter for it according to your wording???) which is simply insane. You could have used your own smaller box and sent it (via GA or even Priority if you wish) for a weight- and zone-based rate for much less. There are even more savings if you buy your postage on-line.
albertabrightalberta
·8 months ago"The seller shipped the watch USPS ground advantage to the authenticator and then the authenticator shipped the watch to me using the same service."
Just an FYI, @01ba_75
If "authenticity guaranteed" for jewelry works the same as it does for sneakers, you have it wrong.
For AG items, items go to the authenticator via a Fedex label supplied by ebay to the seller. Following the authentication, it's forwarded to you using the service offered as shown in the seller's listing.
I doubt the package is lost but simply delayed. And although no one likes delays (or lost mail), you and the seller are protected. Ebay's AG program will cover the loss and issue a refund if the item is lost in the mail and the seller would keep the money.
tarotfindsandmore
·8 months agoJewelry (at least from here) goes to the authenticator via USPS ground advantage.
bonanza125
·8 months agoWell when I have almost all my packages reach destination on time using USPS Ground Advantage I personally have no problem with it. I believe your expectations as the buyer are high. USPS has a 5-10 day window so when you say your package has been in regional distribution center for 2 days with no movement and now 7 days behind that's about right especially with weather delays. When purchasing items online not all transactions you purchase or even sell will make it to destination on time. That's why proper insurance should be purchased. If you are overly concerned about your $2500 purchase then I would suggest limiting the value amount of what you do purchase. Things can happen as in delays.
inhawaii
·8 months agoI'm a part time seller.
I ship about a thousand packages a year via USPS Ground Advantage without any problem.
Look at what customers say about my shipping in my feeedback.
4th order from this seller. Always fast shipping and as described. A++++++++
Super quick and smooth transaction. Mahalo.
Awesome gloves, love them. QUICK SHIPPING. Thank you!!!
Super quick, perfect
Super fast shipping! Item is in perfect condition, thank you!
You want me to stop using USPS Ground Advanntage because one of your packages was delayed?
mantle1951
·8 months agoDelays due to weather everywhere, I use GA all the time no complaints from my buyers.
Good luck.
dirk12955
·8 months agowe've had mail delayed recently also. 2 days
of no delivery.
100 miles south of here it's worse.
I saw on the news last night some people down south
are in the 11th day of no power.
jbbowers12012
·8 months agoHi, Here in New Jersey the effects of the recent snow/ice storm left us with no mail delivery for four days & even then it took a few days to catch up. Agreed with everyone that this may be a storm delay situation.
fern*wood
·8 months agoIf you are nervous, just imagine how your seller feels. No one likes slow service, but everything is slow right now. Most everything gets delivered regardless of method chosen, though, it just isn't a good strategy to order online if something is needed by a certain date.
Also, no one likes to pay more for shipping. The high costs are already killing us, so good luck getting everyone on board to pay even more. For me ground advantage is pretty much equivalent to Priority, but slightly less expensive--definitely not "cheaping out". I find no significant difference in delivery speed.
pls-consignments
·8 months ago@fern*wood
Congrats on the 10K / 100% level!
fern*wood
·8 months agoThank you so much!! Congrats on recently hitting it yourself. I sure never thought I would get there, and without the automatic feedbacks, I’m sure I’d still be a year or so away.😀
@pls-consignments
a_c_green
·8 months agoWow... 10000... that reminds me of the times when I would be watching the odometer in my car rolling over 100,000 miles... watching the odometer and steering at the same time could be a little tricky. Congratulations! ðŸ‘
golfingaddict
·8 months agoThe buyer is complaining about the Authenticator shipping the item.
It was sold with eBay Authentication and arrived at the authenticator fine.
It is the authenticator to the buyer that appears to be delayed.
I'm not sure the seller has any say in the type of shipping the authenticator uses.
When you purchase an eligible item, the seller sends it to an authentication facility, instead of sending it to you directly. Our authenticators are experts with specialist knowledge of their respective product categories.
Once they receive the item, the authenticators verify that the contents of the package are consistent with the seller's listing. They then perform a thorough, multi-step, physical inspection for authenticity. Any packaging and accessories included in the purchase are also reviewed for authenticity. Inspections are generally completed within 2 business days.
If the item passes inspection, it's repackaged and shipped on to you with expedited secure delivery. Where an authenticator ships an item valued at $1,500 or more to the buyer (or returns it to the seller), signature confirmation is required. The authenticated item is accompanied by a card or tag that confirms it has been verified by the authenticator.
01ba_75
OP8 months agoThe watch began its journey on the 22nd of January. It went from the shipper, through THREE different south Florida distribution warehouses. It spent 3 days in Miami, before eventually being shipped north to the authenticator. The transit time from Miami to Dayton was 4 days. The authenticator received the item last Thursday and shipped it to me on Friday, The USPS took possession of the package at 1135 AM last Friday. There was no further movement of the package until 0926 AM yesterday when it was scan accepted into the Cincinnati distribution center. It has not moved since and is now showing an estimated delivery of NEXT week.
WIth regard to the USPS still digging itself out from the storm two weeks ago, I sold a watch last Friday, drove it to my post office, paid for the medium flat rate shipping to customer which was delivered on Monday at 222pm in Delaware.
USPS ground advantage is the worst possible method for anyone to ship a product. It has no service SLA and the post office gives it no routing priority. It will be routed to different distribution centers based on mail volume, not transit time or destination.
tarotfindsandmore
·8 months agoI'm guessing you're not aware that ebay provides (and chooses the shipping method) the seller with the label used to get an item to the authenticator. Your seller did not choose that label. Your seller did choose USPS ground advantage for shipping to you, but the delay you're describing is the direct result of your package traveling south to north through some of the cities that were hit hardest by storms.
The package you shipped went east/west through entirely different hubs. Basically, you got lucky with your shipment while your seller got screwed by the weather. The only potential advantage of shipping via the excruciatingly expensive Priority Flat Rate is about 2 days, and that's not guaranteed when storm advisories are in effect (which is why there's a great big bright red banner on the USPS website).
pls-consignments
·8 months agoMy bad, I read that wrong (on the phone). USPS is still unraveling from the effects of Fern.
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/
Did you request any shipping service or protections? Assuming the seller did, then I would expect that you will receive either the item, or a refund..... eventually.
tarotfindsandmore
·8 months agoThe poster is the buyer. How is this on them?
That said, if the OP is in any of the areas where the package would have passed through storm areas, there is no service that would have prevented this. There isn't a single carrier in the world that can beat Mother Nature.
dhbookds
·8 months agoHave to wonder where you are located..........Snow/ice storms have created havoc in many areas and service, whatever the postal grade, has been interrupted.