Postal Scanning Problems

[kansashomewares]

I am about my wits end when it comes to dealing with the Post Office as well as Ebay's Guaranteed Delivery.  At this time of year, Federal employees or Postal Employees must use their excess vacation days. This means that your postal carrier will be off during peak times. In theory, packages are suppose to be scanned at the point of pick-up either by the carrier or by actually travelling to the Post Office to them packages scanned. Alternate carriers or employees may not be sufficiently trained as far as the importance of scanning First Class or Media Mail. It may be that a package will not be scanned until it ends up in a Distribution Center several days later or not be scanned until it is actually received. This is occurring. Now, because of Ebay's Guaranteed Delivery issue, some packages will just not make it in time. The Post Office will tell you that First Class packages, whether they have tracking or not, are not considered late until they exceed 7 plus days. You cannot even file a missing package or claim until after that time frame depending upon method of shipment. Now, many buyers will assume that although you have created a label does not mean that you actually turned over the package for shipment. It is "missing" and it is according to tracking and scanning. But, those are not facts. Buyers then want reshipment, some want refunds. Refunded buyers are lost buyers. Now, the problem with the Guaranteed Delivery is that you basically have 2 options - to reship (this may extend the delivery beyond the 3 day window for Ebay to assist)  or refund. Issuing a refund will give you a credit. Reshipment may not. I have had missing packages come back after 45-60 days. Also the Post Office computer system is not always up-to-date or current and they will back-date a package if necessary. I have seen it - after I filed a complaint.  You really have no idea where your package is if it hasn't been scanned and that is the problem. Your local Post Office may be of help or not. You may not be able to reach them. You can file a complaint (after the 7+ days) for a missing package online or you can call the toll-free number. This is usually a long wait time.  Basically, this is just not working out well for the seller, the buyer (that expects it quickly) or even Ebay. There are too many lost sales and too many refunds. I have been shipping for 7 plus years and I have never had these types of problems before. We must be reasonable when it comes to Ebay Guaranteed Delivery. I cannot ship a First Class package on Wednesday and except it to be delivered by the following Monday - particularly if it is West Coast or Northern East Coast. That is unreasonable - even for the Post Office. Even a card or letter to California is going to take 5-7 days for me, I am MidWest, and those are the facts per the Post Office. They don't abide by any Ebay delivery times. So, we can either "suck it up" with Ebay Guaranteed Delivery, Ebay can adjust its Ebay Guaranteed Delivery or we can bow out of the Top Rated Plus program with its free returns and same day shipping.  It is not working and we are coming up on the Holidays - not a good time to have these type of problems. I expect I will be double-shipping. I can't make money that way. I recommend that sellers get to know their carriers, request free carrier pick-up online, and try to communicate with your local Post Office.