USPS Losing my packages
Hello,
I have been listing on Ebay for 2 months and I have had success. I enjoy the process and I am hoping to continue with it. Selling on Ebay is great for me because I have never been happy at most other jobs because I need more personal freedom than most jobs provide. I am very busy helping my aging parents with their needs (most of my time is taken up by the work involved) and my extra time I have dedicated to selling on Ebay. My Ebaying was great until I ran into a problem with a Basketball Shooting Shirt I sold. The shirt got lost by USPS on it's way to the buyer. I did everything I could to solve the problem. I communicated with the buyer letting them know what happened. The tracking told a story of leaving my local Post Office and then becoming lost in transit. I had to file a find missing package request. I wanted the parcel to be found and then forwarded to the buyer. So on the request to USPS I noted I wanted the parcel to go to the buyer once found. More time went by to the point the buyer wanted a refund. Therefore, I had to issue a refund. Once I issued a refund I waited longer wondering if the package would ever be found. Luckily, the parcel was found. It was found in Atlanta. Apparently, USPS has a warehouse in Atlanta where they send all missing mail. Once I learned the parcel was found I tried to figure how I could get the parcel back to me. I had to pay $17.50 to have the parcel Intercepted and rerouted back to me. Fortunately, this worked out and I got the parcel back. There was nothing wrong with how I sent the parcel so I am wondering why it was lost to begin with. I thought this was a one time thing. However, I am currently watching another Basketball Shooting Shirt I sold follow the same tracking behavior as the previous lost parcel. It left my local Post Office and it has been in transit to the next facility for over a week. I'm currently waiting until I can file another find missing mail request. This time I'm in contact with the buyer letting them know the parcel is likely lost. I let the buyer know I will likely need to refund him if it is lost because I could get end up losing the money and the item if I file the missing mail the way I did for the other shirt. I did some Youtube research on the USPS losing packages. I saw one video of a news broadcast that highlighted USPS's Lost Package Warehouse in Atlanta where lost packages go. If the packages are not claimed by the people who sent them then the USPS SELLS THE ITEMS IN THE PACKAGES FOR PROFIT! This made me very suspicious that the USPS has some bad actors who intentionally redirect mail to Atlanta for some kind of kickback. Or perhaps USPS has a system that doesn't sufficiently sort mail to the correct places. I am currently watching tracking of a few items I sold that are hung up in transit and I'm worried this is going to continue being a problem (I have taken pictures of me mailing the parcels and I have saved all my receipts and copies of the shipping labels). My question to the community is: has anybody else had a similar issue with mailing via USPS? Has anybody else had issues like this with other shipping companies? Also, do you think it is time for me to switch to UPS or Fedex? I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.
-Mark S.
wbarr
·2 years agogoogle "Palmetto GA usps"
solidguitar1961
·2 years agoPolymailers if they're loose , poofy or have air pockets in them tend to get snagged and torn by the sorting machines .
deserdog
·2 years agoI started taping over the whole label on the advice of another Ebay seller who was also a rural carrier for USPS.
spark-chaser1
·2 years agoJust to add to the convo...
As a buyer I can tell you that I receive a great many packages in which the labels have been taped over in their entirety and delivered with all scans at each distribution point without issue. In fact, I have had packages arrive that show signs of heavy handling and are scuffed and covered with marks on the untreated surfaces but the TAPED portions remained clean and easily readable.
In the occasions where I have received delayed mail - or even mail damaged and forwarded in the "oops, sorry we destroyed your mail" package wraps- in those cases the labels were partially or totally detached from the package, or portions were rendered unreadable by scuff marks or water damage.
1786davycrockett
·2 years ago@maschr_6754
Since 2011, I've been using USPS almost exclusively for over 11,000 transactions, and I can count the number of "lost packages" on both hands, with fingers left over.
Are your address labels taped securely in place? How about the corners of your packages? Any openings that might get snagged?
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoThanks for your response. It is great to hear USPS is working for you. I've had great experience for 90% of the time. I even left a compliment for my mail carrier last night instead of just trying to complain through the website. Your percentages make me have more confidence in USPS. I've only used USPS so I've begun to worry if I'm using the right carrier. As for my packaging methods I double and triple check my labels. As for the corners I double check everything. I also take many pictures of the packing process and the final package. I wanted to ask also: does it matter whether I buy labels from Ebay or is it more likely the Postal Service will scan my package correctly if buy labels at the Post Office? Thank you.
-Mark S.
1786davycrockett
·2 years ago@maschr_6754
To save yourself some money, purchase your shipping labels through eBay, and then take the packages to the post office to have them scanned at the counter.
You can also scan your packages yourself at the 24 hour, self-serve kiosk which may be in the lobby of your post office.
The USPS scanning process remains the same, whether you purchase your labels through eBay or the post office, or any other postage service.
You can always try dropping off your packages at another post office, just to check to see if there is any difference in the tracking.
Good luck.
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoThank you. I live within walking distance from my local Post Office and my routine is walking my packages into get them scanned at the counter and I receive my receipt. Since they always scan I figured I wouldn't have any issues with scanning down the line. Others on this forum said I shouldn't put clear tape across the barcode portion of the label. Is this the problem maybe? I always thought I should protect the barcode. I was considering changing all of my listed items to UPS or Fedex, but I see no matter who the carrier is there are always going to be issues. Perhaps this forum has identified my issue: taping over the barcode? I will try taping everything except the barcode and see how that works. Thank you all. I appreciate it so much.
-Mark S.
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoThank you for taking the time to respond. I did consider taking parcels to next town over's Post Office. I'll have to see for the future.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoSorry for your troubles. I happen to be a seller who uses USPS exclusively, and always receive crackerjack service. Plus, it's too easy to use my local carrier for drop-offs and pickups. Hang in there...
rockyroadtradingpost
·2 years agoI'm sorry you're dealing with this!
How are you packaging and attaching your labels?
I cover my entire labels with tape except for the bottom bar code and haven't had an issue (YET).
fashunu4eeuh
·2 years agoHi again, i checked your completed listings. You are using Ground Advantage. You might consider upgrading to priority. The costs are similar if using the Priority Flat Rate Padded Envelope. At the price point for the shooting shirt, i prefer to ship in a box, but many ship single lightweight garments in the flat rate padded envelopes anywhere domestically for $9.30 commercial pricing ($10.60 at the counter). Ground Advantage can take up to 5 days and Priority is usually 2 days in transit. Less chance for the package to go awry.
Are you buying your labels thru eBay? I have only had one usps package lost in 15 years of selling on eBay.
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoThank you for the response. I use 18"x18" polymailers becaue I don't like to crease the Jerseys by folding too much because that hurts the value of the jersey if the Twill Letters and Numbers are creased. I don't think I can use the Postal Service Priority Mail unless I use their padded envelopes. Those envelopes are too small for my items. Otherwise, I would use priority mail. The idea that I am putting tape over the barcode may be my problem. I just always thought that I needed to do this because water or other moisture could smudge the barcode. Maybe the lasers are deflecting off of the tape on the barcodes?
-Mark S.
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoYou can use your own packaging when shipping via Priority Mail, including whatever you've been using for Ground Advantage. In addition, USPS offers a free Priority Mail envelope, made of Tyvek, which is not flat rate and which measures about 15 by 12.5 inches.
https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-tyvek-envelope-P_EP_14
I share your concern about labels getting smeared by dampness, so I tape over MOST of the barcode, leaving about 1/4 inch across the top of the lower barcode uncovered. I've never had any problems down the line with labels getting their scans. I wonder if the tape itself might make a difference, with shinier tape being harder to scan through. I have also heard that some older scanners aren't as effective at scanning through tape.
snowtigerdw
·2 years agoIn my personal experience as well as having a friend who works for USPS, packages that find their way to the USPS Recovery Center usually have a label that is damaged during transit or very small packages. This results in the inability to complete delivery. I try to avoid this by placing packing tape over the recipient’s address portion as well as my shipping address- but avoid putting tape over any scannable bar code areas.
asset_liquidators
·2 years agoI have been covering the complete labels in tape for 26 years and never once had it not scannable. You put tape on the addresses so they don't rip and become unreadable. If you don't cover the scan area it can also rip and become unscanable.
Years ago they used to say the scanners couldn't read through tape which was not only untrue but it was shown that it took 20+ layers of tape before the scanner wouldn't read it.
maschr_6754
OP2 years ago**bleep**. I thought I got to the root of my problem. Now you are saying you've never had any issues taping the whole label? I wonder. I always thought that I had to protect the barcode, too. Maybe I should ask my Post Master. Thank you. Now I'm more confused. I appreciate all the feedback.
-Mark S.
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoThank you for the response. So putting tape over the barcode area will hinder the scanning? I thought that if I put tape over the barcode area it will prevent water from smudging the ink (I thought that is what I had to do? I do put clear tape over my entire label and I'm very careful to make sure the tape is flat instead of leaving ridges in the tape.
-Mark S.
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoI see there are barcodes on the top of the labels (I guess it may be named some other kind of code and then there is the barcode on the bottom of label. Then there is a small QR code to the bottom right of the bottom barcode. Should I avoid putting tape over the top barcode as well?
Also, I checked the 1st missing parcel's barcode (the one returned to me) and there was a small section in the middle of the barcode that was not taped. I'm guessing this anomaly may have been the issue. Thanks again.
-Mark S.
yuzuha
·2 years agoIt's actually just fine to put it over the bar codes. That's outdated information that applied to the older models of scanners, which could sometimes have issues reading the bar code through the tape. They've since upgraded their scanners and the tape is no longer a problem-- I tape completely over every single label (bar code included) and I've never once had a problem with them not getting scans.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoI'm another one who has never had an issue taping over the full label.
I currently have parcel that's been bouncing round Texas since I mailed it from Spokane on Jan 27th. The buyer used the wrong city & zip, but instead of it getting a RTS scan(undeliverable) it just keeps going from Dallas to Copell back to Dallas. It actually made it back to the Spokane hub but they sent it back to Dallas LOL
Usps folks keep calling me and trying to get me to file an intercept for $17.50 on an item that only cost $12.95. Nope, not happening.
Oh, and if by chance a label got damaged, that's why there's a packing slip INSIDE.
fashunu4eeuh
·2 years agoHi Mark, what level of USPS service are you choosing to mail your items? Priority, Ground Advantage, etc.?
maschr_6754
OP2 years agoGround Advantage.