ESUS Tracking and Refunds

[dragonpilot]

Seller sent item using ESUS tracking. ESUS shows item delivered by USPS on date and time USPS office was not even open. I never received item and contacted seller. Seller says since ESUS says item delivered they are not responsible and will not issue a refund. Is that the correct eBay policy?

[stuff4divas]

@dragonpilot   USPS office hours are irrelevant as to delivery times. I've had items delivered to me 10pm during holiday rush season.

u need to contact USPS to find out what the postal carrier's GPS on his scanner says for the delivery address

[shipscript]

If you are buying postcards, the ESUS numbers are assigned to eBay via EasyShip.

https://parcelsapp.com/en/carriers/easyship

The tracking numbers can only be scanned by major USPS sorting hubs, not by your local post office or carrier. Thus, when tracking shows the card has cleared the last hub nearest you, actual delivery may be estimated and tracking may show "delivered" based on that estimate.

What really happens is that after the proprietary-coded item leaves the last hub, it enters the normal mail stream. Depending on local conditions (and your distance from the major hub), the mailpiece may take hours or days to travel through the local hubs enroute to your destination. So, the estimated delivery can be off by hours or days. I would recommend waiting at least three more business days beyond "delivered" for the item to actually appear. If it is late by a week, open a "not received" claim within your purchase history. 

The seller has recourse. ESUS items are insured and the seller can open a claim here:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=...  

[dragonpilot]

Thank you for a quick and thorough explanation of ESUS. I now better understand the perceived problems with the system and why my local postal employees have no idea what the system is or how items are tracked.

In this case I waited 9 days past the "delivery" date before filing the "not received" claim. Very unhappy, even offended, seller. Oh well, I have purchased over 100 items from them over the past 20 years; hopefully they will cool off.

[dragonpilot]

Thank you for the assistance