Possible missing package, but buyer has not contacted me

[dreameratwork]

I'm a very new seller. I have only sold 5 items, but I have already experienced 1 return (Ugh!), and now I'm going through a possible lost package with my 5th order (Double Ugh!!). I hope someone here can advise on how to handle this situation.

My package was shipped with USPS Ground Advantage. According to the tracking #, it was supposed to be delivered over a week ago, but it is still stuck on "Awaiting Delivery". I contacted USPS, and after 4 days, they replied and basically said that they think they left it at the buyer's apartment building, but they have no records of it. I assume this means that as far as USPS is concerned, the package is lost. It has only been 4 days after eBay's last estimated delivery date.

As of now, the buyer still has not contacted me. Since the package has not been "delivered", eBay is holding my funds. How do I get paid for this order? Should I contact the buyer and ask if they received the package? Should I open a claim with USPS? I'm really not sure how to handle this.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[dirk12955]

What claim will you file with USPS?    You posted that they (USPS)

claim it has been delivered.

Poke the bear and contact your buyer that the package is missing,   He might very well

say "Yeah, I never got it"   and it might be in his hands while typing you a response.

The buyer might have received it.   Not scanned does not equal not delivered.   

Take a deep breath,   Wait till Monday or Tuesday,   See if the 

tracking info updates.   

[dreameratwork]

Thanks for the advice.

Actually, USPS did not confirm that it has been delivered.  According to USPS's reply, the package's last scan was "arrived at unit". They also said "No delivery was made on this item and no records or scans show that this package was sent back to sender. We have no records of this item being delivered successfully. "

I guess I'll poke the bear next Monday or Tuesday. 😞

[vam194169]

Grab both cheeks and hold on,it may be a bumpy ride.Had one package only going 150 miles from me and it took 4 1/2  weeks to get there.It had to go to Birmingham Alabama first,what a nightmare and that wasn't the first time.

[dirk12955]

I just had a package delivered by USPS that took 13 days to come from Washington

 state to me in Indiana.    The tracking literally didn't update along the way except for the day 

it got dropped off at USPS and the day I received it.

I had a package from Germany go from New York customs

 to Dallas Texas and there it sat for 8 days.

The USPS moves at their own pace.    

[dreameratwork]

Will eBay release my funds after a certain number of days if the buyer doesn't contact me, but the package still shows "Awaiting Delivery"?

[kensgiftshop]

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@dreameratwork wrote:

Will eBay release my funds after a certain number of days if the buyer doesn't contact me, but the package still shows "Awaiting Delivery"?

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Being a new seller, they can hold the funds for 30 days.

[roccotacodad54]

   I had a package syt in a NY post office for a couple of months! I forgot I ordered it until I placed another order from the same seller (not on Ebay). The seller asked me how I liked my previous order and when I told her I never got it she did a search from her end and got it moving. I recieved the first order a few days later.

   No duty owed a small item..................

[12345jamesstamps]

'awaiting delivery'...google the buyer's address...is it a complex?...I lived in one a while back in Vegas.

Packages can be held at the office of a complex...awaiting buyer to pick it up...'arrived at unit'.

Don't know why your funds are on hold...that is strange.

I wonder if it didn't get picked up...refused by buyer for pick-up...you would win that if buyer refused to pick it up.

[dreameratwork]

The shipping address is an apartment building. USPS said that management had already canvassed the building, and it wasn't there.  Now that I re-read USPS's reply, they did not specify if it was the buyer's building management or the USPS building management. This was USPS's reply:

Based on our investigation, your item was last scanned "arrived at unit ". Management canvassed the building to assure package was not still located at the office. No delivery was made on this item and no records or scans show that this package was sent back to sender. We have no records of this item being delivered successfully. It is recommended that this item may have gone back to sender with no scans. Please contact the sent for further assistance.

I don't know what they meant by "contact the sent for further assistance". I assume they meant the sender, which is me.

From what I read on eBay's help section, they put funds on hold for new sellers until the order is marked as delivered. 

I'm still not sure if I should just wait it out and hope that eBay will release my funds. I don't know. Maybe I'll just contact the seller next week. 

Selling is hard!!