Undelivered USPS GA, need to file claim - any gotchas?
It will be a month Tuesday and this shipment is still bouncing back and forth.
I need to file the insurance claim.
Any gotchas I need to be aware of?
This is what it looks like at this point:
What your buyer paid
Subtotal (6) $86.40
Shipping $5.97
Discount - $17.28
Refund - $75.09
Buyer of course was refunded a couple of weeks ago.
Appreciate any feedback before I fill out the form.
7 comments
lakefor94
OP2 weeks agoWell, the shipment was delivered 31 days after the 1st carrier scan and eBay refunded me right quick since I refunded the INR within the alloted 3 days. I actually did it within 24 hours.
The buyer saw that it was delivered and immediately contacted me trying to figure out how he was going to pay me for it since I had already refunded him. I explained the whole eBay process to him and told him that eBay was the only loser in this transaction. Really honest person from Guatemala that was even going to call eBay and try to give them the money. I was able to convince him that the transaction worked out just as eBay has it laid out and to not waste his time.
I actually tried yesterday to file a lost package claim with USPS and I reckon I have to have a USPS account to do so. My account was not used in many years and was thus disabled. I contacted USPS via their website and have not heard back from them about re-activating my account.
Now to tell one on myself. Many know that I preach sending shipments to Freight Forwarders via UPS Ground because they nearly always deliver in 2-4 days and always provide a "delivered" scan. This one slipped through the crack on me as I normally always check the delivery address before buying a label. Did not notice the Doral address and many know this area is the absolute worst for USPS getting stuff delivered properly, with a scan. Many of the worst distribution centers and local offices in the country reside in the Miami/Doral area.
Had I spent the extra dollar or two on UPS Ground for this $80 order, it would have saved me a lot of headache, time and the buyer would have had the delivery completed to his FF 3 weeks or so earlier. This was not my 1st rodeo with USPS and Miami/Doral over the years.
Thank you @kalyoth and @mudshark61369 for the feedback on the process, appreciate you all. ---- lake
kalyoth
·2 weeks agoIf you run into this again where its refunded & they get it - you can always relist the item & have them repurchase it.
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago · Edited@lakefor94 ,
The tracking info you posted reminds me of a similar issue I had during the Covid lockdowns, a package kept getting bounced between 2 facilities. After a couple of calls to USPS customer service one rep told me to call one of the facility's phone number She gave it to me over the phone, but told me I could look it up online by searching for Ex: PONTIAC MI DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 48340, phone number.
Then to call when there was an arrived at that facility scan. before it left there again. I spoke to the facilty's postmaster told them what was happening, and they said they would check it out. The next day I had a message that the package had been located and was flagged so that when it went back to the other facility it was forwarded to the buyer's local Dist. center and on to their P.O. You may want to try that option, but you may want to ask the postmaster if the package can be sent back to you as undeliverabe because the buyer filed a credit card charge back rather than mentioning ebay.
kalyoth
·2 weeks ago · EditedSorry to hear your item is bouncing around. There is a very good chance, if there is current movement on the tracking within 7 business days in USPS - it will normally not allow a claim as still being in transit. I would start with a lost mail search. If it allows the claim to be filed, you will need documents from ebay that list everything USPS requests on it. You will need on the seller page, under packing slip & more, what is called an "Order Receipt". This does not provide the fees taken by ebay, tempting USPS to pay you less money. You'll have to upload images. So be ready for that. Good Luck.
lakefor94
OP2 weeks ago@kalyoth
I did do the missing mail search while I was on vacation along with the buyer refund.
Never did hear from USPS I don't think.
Tue, Aug 11 10:29am Missing Mail Search Request Initiated, Missing Mail Search Request ID MRC 26 2633 7860
The package has been to:
DFW to GA
GA to DFW
DFW to FL
Fl to DFW
DFW to FL
FL to DFW
FL is the destination state. It is back in the DFW once again at this time and still moving.
1st USPS scan was July 24th.
kalyoth
·2 weeks agois it worth initiating a return mail?
lakefor94
OP2 weeks ago@kalyoth
When I filed the Missing Mail Search, I did notice that I could have entered my address as the new ship to address if the package was "found".
I did go ahead and enter the buyers address as the package was still bouncing around