Freight forward tracking

[12345jamesstamps]

Hello,

I was just curious. I tend to look at tracking of items sometimes I mailed. And I am waiting for an INR to pop up on this one. Buyer is in Armenia. Buy asked for a discount and I ignored it. Buyer still bought items but played the sneaky "freight forward" for a letter. I did the tracking on this one just in case. I usually don't for something low priced.

I mailed a letter with tracking to Wilmington, Delaware on Oct.  10th. It arrived Oct 16th. in Delaware.

I thought eBay would show it has been delivered as such to the address and that is the end on it.

It's not showing that. Is that normal?

It states :"In transit to next facility...arriving late" last update Oct 20th. Left Delaware.

Just wondering why there is tracking going on to Armenia when tracking is only for domestic. Strange?

[12345jamesstamps]

Ha...I am assuming the response is a "refund". LOL

[buyselljack2016]

eBay has your back when tracking shows "delivered". This is an odd one. Not sure what eBay's stance is in "certified letter" tracking. Perhaps you should tag a "blue" for an official reply.

With the cost of a "certified letter" I do not understand why a seller would just not opt for a "bubble envelope package rate" shipment.

[12345jamesstamps]

Didn't even need a bubble envelope. It was a flat envelope.

It doesn't show delivered and November 7th is coming soon if buyer might ask for a refund.

"Tag a "blue"....what is that?

[buyselljack2016]

yes, I realize by the fact that it went in a PWE that it did not "need" an envelope, but any method that made it a package  (thickness/rigidity) would have allowed it to be shipped insured with Ground Advantage tracking for less than the cost of a "certified letter". 

Buy the label online.  Scan the QR code. Pack it up. Take a leisurely walk to the PO to get a USPS label printed by the window clerk using that QR code scan and be "golden" with eBay.

[buyselljack2016]

Can you upload that "certified" # to the sale on eBay?

[dbfolks166mt]

I had to visit the post office today.

Was just at the USPS post office...had 2 clerks helping me.

I was told I could call this distribution center. USPS can't do anything. File for insurance...nope...it just an envelope with stamps.

Its a big mystery.

I am only wondering about if buyer requests a refund and does eBay has my back.

     Why would you not file an insurance claim for the lost item. Not sure what the value of the item is but with a lost item claim USPS will refund you for both the item and the shipping cost. It is not that difficult of a process. The timelines for filing are below. 

     EBay will NOT have your back that only happens once you can prove delivery to the FF.  While USPS only looses about ..5% of the mail that flows through the system they handled about 127 billion pieces of mail in 2022. I'll let you do the math on that one. I have filed more than one claim for a lost letter and/or package and USPS has always reimbursed me. 

[reallynicestamps]

If the tracking shows Delivered to the Delaware address, you are no longer responsible for delivery.

The rest of the tracking information is just interesting, not useful.

You are still responsible for Not As Described,but your Return Shipping Label is only from the forwarder not from Albania.

It's up to the buyer to return a disputed item to the forwarder and persuade/pay him to use your RSL. If the RSL is not used, eventually the cost will be refunded to you.

This is why freight forwarders are the second safest addresses you can ship too, just after postal mail boxes and commercial (eg UPS) boxes.

[dbfolks166mt]

Didn't even need a bubble envelope. It was a flat envelope.

It doesn't show delivered and November 7th is coming soon if buyer might ask for a refund.

"Tag a "blue"....what is that?

     This has been in transit WAY TOO long. Either the letter was delivered and USPS did not scan the delivery or it is lost. Either way I would not expect it to make it to the FF by November 7 if every. The letter left the USPS Wilmington regional distribution center on 16 October and USPS has not managed to get it across town in two weeks? 

[buyselljack2016]

Certified letter ?

[dbfolks166mt]

On USPS site it states "In transit"...strange?

Doesn't say delivered by USPS or eBay.

     Pretty common USPS entry when an item departs one facility heading to the next. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     Certified letter ?

     Not sure what the question is but the following is from the USPS web site. 

What is Certified Mail®?

Certified Mail is a numbered Extra Service that:

• Can be purchased at the time of mailing at a Post Office™
• Provides the sender with a mailing receipt as confirmation an item was sent (see Form 3800 / Receipt for Certified Mail)
• Requires a signature from the addressee
• May be combined with Return Receipt Service to provide the sender proof of signature, with the option of receiving the return receipt by mail or electronically
• If requested, provides electronic verification that an item was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made. Delivery status can be retrieved in three ways:
  • Online at www.usps.com by entering the certified mail extra service number shown on the mailing receipt
  • By telephone using the item's extra service number
  • By bulk electronic file transfer for mailers who provide an electronic manifest to the USPS
• Can be purchased alone or combined with other services:  
  • Certified Mail Restricted Delivery - Customers may direct delivery of Certified Mail only to the addressee (or addressee’s authorized agent)
  • Certified Mail Adult Signature Required - Customers may direct delivery of Certified Mail only to an adult (individual who is 21 years of age or older, not available at retail)
  • Certified Mail Adult Signature Restricted Delivery - Customers may limit delivery of Certified Mail only to a specific addressee or authorized agent who is 21 years of age or older (not available at retail)

Additional Information

• Certified Mail® items travel at the speed of the mail class with which they are purchased
• Delivery information is available for items destined to APO / FPO / DPO locations
• Certified Mail items may be sent to U.S. possessions and territories
• Insurance may not be purchased with any of the Certified Mail services.
• Note: Priority Mail items with included insurance (up to $100) maintain that insurance coverage with Certified Mail
• Certified Mail will be held at the Post Office™ for 15 days, before being returned to sender, if the Certified Mail item is returned to the sender, the sender will need to sign for the returned item (since it is still signature mail)
• Certified Mail is not available with International mail but may be mailed to APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office), and DPO (Diplomatic Post office) locations
  • Electronic Return Receipt is not available to APO/FPO/DPO locations, certain U.S. Territories or possessions or Freely Associated States

Classes of mail eligible for Certified Mail

• Priority Mail®
• First-Class Mail®

Refund Eligibility

Certified Mail® is eligible for a refund of the service fee, excluding the postage, if the mailing receipt and electronic verification have not been received after 30 days, but you know your mailpiece has been delivered. You can request a refund

• Online at https://www.usps.com/help/refunds.htm
• At your local Post Office by:
  • Submitting the request at the local Post Office using PS Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees
  • Providing evidence of mailing and postage

Refunds are at the discretion of the local Post Office™. There is no refund for Certified Mail service if the item is undeliverable, but a delivery was attempted.

[buyselljack2016]

OP sent a "certified letter". 

My post was a ? about the OP method falling into the info that you provided in your post.

[reallynicestamps]

Requires a signature from the addressee...Certified Mail® items travel at the speed of the mail class with which they are purchased

Sounds like a new(ish) name for the (very) old Registered Letter.

The delivery date is to the address ee-- in this case the address is the freight forwarder.

And that delivery date is November 7th.

To Delaware, not to Albania.

Worst cases.

The USPS takes another 12 days to deliver to Delaware.

Unlikely.

Or.

The forwarder refuses to sign for the Certified Letter.

Also unlikely, but if they did the Certified Letter is considered Undeliverable.

Ignoring USPS actions here (return? destroy?) eBay does not require sellers to refund anything on an Undeliverable shipment.

So you are covered either way.

[12345jamesstamps]

Let's hope so....that I am covered.

Someone on this platform...not you...said the buyers lets the distribution Center sign for incoming items that it is some sort of contract...and this center can open and repackage items. I don't think that's true.

Actually, it was Armenia the country.

[buyselljack2016]

"Certified" has been around for ............... well a long, long, long time. 

It differs from "registered mail". One difference is registered can be insured.

Certified mail gets signed for. It can have a hard copy return receipt, or electronic for proof of who signed.

When it comes to eBay ................  a big thing here is .......................... can that "certified" # be attached/uploaded to a sale on eBay.