SLOW USPS to International Locations - Especially Since Late 2024
I ship postcards and use the US Postal Service International First Class Mail (no tracking, because that would add $16US to the shipping -- which customers don't want to pay). Since November 2024 shipping times have stretched to 6-8 weeks and LONGER. I've had to refund quite a few customers. Some eventually receive their orders, but some do not. One recent customer in England bought a postcard in early March. It did not leave the US until April 5 (according to postmark on envelope) -- and he finally received it on April 11. I always mail the day after the order is received. Are others having this problem? Or is it simply because I live in Oklahoma? I just got negative feedback from a customer in Norway, despite giving a full refund AND sending a free replacement card (which is probably still out there somewhere in the postal service's ether. Any suggestions? I charge $3.00US for international shipping.
100fishhooks
OP1 year agoThis excessive delivery time problem has happened all over Europe. And it includes customers I’ve been selling to for years — not people who are just out to cheat. Those types do exist, but in my experience only two or three tins a year at the most. And I black list them.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 year agoI send a small amount of low value cards via 1st class international stamp to most of EU and CA,AU,NZ,JP. Naturally without tracking there's no way to tell speed other than complaints and feedback. Most seem to take about 2 weeks it seems. I did recently have a UK customer inquire at the 15 day point asked them to wait a few and it arrived at the 3 week mark. Anybody that inquires after 30 days or files an INR I just refund no questions asked.
I've also had a noticeable uptick in INRs from AU as well as reading a post from an Australian complaining how slow their service was. I'm close to blocking them but they're my 2cnd most shipped to country after Canada.
Otherwise no noticeable increase in egregious delays like you seem to be having.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoHi @12345jamesstamps - hope you don't mind me tagging you into this. You ship a lot using First Class Mail International. Are you seeing the types of delays the original poster is experiencing?
Hi @100fishhooks - is this happening with your shipments to all countries or just specific regions?
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoIt might be the size of the envelope...most post cards won't fit in a 3 5/8 X 6 1/2 size envelope which I usually use. I have sold a few post cards as well recently.
I suspect OP is using 4 1/8 X 9 1/2 envelopes which I usually have been lucky not needing to use them too much...I use them for tracking since those are the smallest I can use for tracking per USPS.
Actually, International tracking is now about $24.73 from where I live for international mail with tracking...LOL
I haven't had any International problems except one with tracking...that 'Croatia envelope from May 8th still being delivered stopping at all the continents ...So I try not to use tracking.
Usually about 2 weeks or quicker to UK is what I am seeing if address is correctly written.
So a $1.65 is usually what it cost to mail something International...I charge $ 1.30 usually.
I would say some of the OP buyers might not very honest since I can't recall a problem in years doing International Mail but I could be wrong.
So, International addresses are not correct when using them from the eBay on the computer and writing out the addresses on the envelopes.
I use my inbox of emails to find correct addresses from my iPhone.
The number of the street can sometimes run on two lines and city, province and such are usually backwards
on the eBay APP on the computer.
And zip codes will sometimes have 2 letters before or after the zip codes.
I suspect OP is not writing correct addresses as per the inbox of payment emails.
For Netherlands zip code is 6511RL on one sent recently ...eBay does it as RL6511...
And UK addresses are long:
St. John Court Street
St. John Road
Stalham
Norwich, Norfolk
United Kingdom XXX XXX
eBay sometimes does :
St. John Court St. St.John Road
Stalham Norwich, Norfolk
United Kingdom XXX XXX
which can get it delayed or even lost.
And because we are somewhat the 'ugly American' now :
I use NO USA flag stamps or anything big "USA" stated on a stamp on envelopes going International;
And then no religious theme stamps since not everyone is Catholic or religious.
100fishhooks
OP1 year agoI agree regarding use of flag stamps. I have not used them for years. I also think some of the replies relating to envelope size may be correct: I have used non-waterproof birthday-card sized envelopes a few times recently and they were received by international customers much more quickly. No holds happening on those at U.S. mail docks. Regarding addressing, I copy and print addresses from within EBay, so no chance I’m transposing numbers or ordering the address info abnormally. I tape the printed label to my envelope.
100fishhooks
OP1 year ago