I'm Forced To Eat Post Office Mistakes?

[louiscypher066]

Is there any recourse for having to refund the money even though the tracking info clearly shows the item shipped and was on its way? Everybody knows the post office backed up, heavily.  Any thoughts please.

[louiscypher066]

Also what happens when the tracking finally shows package delivered? There must be a reasonable solution. I certainly can't be the only one experiencing this. 

[comics-scifi-collectibles · Accepted solution]

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@louiscypher066 wrote:

Is there any recourse for having to refund the money even though the tracking info clearly shows the item shipped and was on its way? Everybody knows the post office backed up, heavily.  Any thoughts please.

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Here's my advice >>

If the item is expensive then I'd try to do a package intercept on the USPS site if an item not received case was filed and it doesn't look like the package will be delivered soon. There is a fee for this service.

 Be sure to communicate with your buyer and let them know that you have contacted USPS and are awaiting an update.

This is what I would say: I know you are anxiously awaiting your package and I appreciate your patience in these difficult times. Please rest assured that you will receive your item or a full refund. You have 30 days from the last estimated delivery date to file a refund request on eBay. I am following up with the postal service and will keep you updated.

Hopefully communicating with your buyer will calm them down and they will be willing to wait a bit longer for their item.

If they file a refund request I recommend refunding because if they ask eBay to step in eBay will FORCE a refund you will be out your sellers fees and get a DEFECT.   Ebay is currently keeping item not received cases an additional 10 days if the package shows movement in the last 10 days, be sure to still refund before the time is up to avoid a defect that you may or may not be able to have removed.  

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/UPDATE-Helping-buyers-understand-shipping-delays-and-wha...

If you end having to refund before the item arrives then you will need to send the buyer a Paypal invoice and hope they repay you. I think that most buyers are honest and will repay you if given the opportunity.

I would say on the invoice: Thank you for your patience and understanding in these difficult times.

You might offer a small discount to encourage them to pay again.

You will have to ask the buyer for their PayPal email address to send the invoice. You are allowed to share contact information after a recent sale. This is not considered an offsite transaction since the sale already took place.

[duncanvr]

This exactly why I don't feel like listing much till after New Year. The postal delays are crazy world wide and every buyer should be aware its impossible to get something ordered now before Xmas day. Why are people not getting their Xmas wants ordered in September? Instead of the same mad last minute rush we see every year. You could contact ebay after it shows delivered and see if they will cover you with seller protection. Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. Not sure but maybe you could claim the loss through the post office? Otherwise there is not a lot you can do. A lot of sellers put their shops in time away mode this week because of the postal delays.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Very little unless you happen to have a buyer who is willing to pay you back once the item arrives, and it will eventually arrive. You can try a package intercept but that is around $15 to issue I believe and there is no guarantee it will get intercepted. 

     Because of all the shipping issues I have stopped listing until either the shipping problems are fixed or eBay does something to protect the sellers from the unwarranted INR's that are being generated. So far all they have done is to add additional work for the seller to try and stretch out an unrealistic delivery timeline they initially provided to the buyer. 

[dbfolks166mt]

You forgot to add that the seller is responsible for providing the updated information in order to have that window extended for an INR case. That is unless they changed that. If they did I am not sure how given the information flow between USPS and ebay is so messed up at the moment. What shows in eBay when you clicking on the tracking number is often far different than what USPS actually shows. 

[miller2339]

I get the same issue, but this has been going on since July nothing has changed much.  I gave up on that Issue with eBay.  

[vintagecraze50]

The buyer can file an INR when these packages are grossly overdue, which is what people need to deal with if they are involved with USPS right now. They are SWAMPED, late late late, possibly getting lost, disaster service, costing merchants lots of cash in these refund requests and then if you cannot get the buyer ton pay you after the stuff is delivered your money and your merch is g-o-n-e.

[louiscypher066]

You must be inside my mind. I did and said everything near exactly as you suggested and ebay forced the refund anyway. So, again, as you suggested I filed a interception with the post office. It cost me $50. But doing so prompted a response from the post master general explaining their situation and apologizing. Which was kinda cool because all effort hence forth yielded nada.

Thank you for such good and clear options. I really, really appreciate it. 

[louiscypher066]

I did the intercept and cost me $50. And, yes, with no guarantee. Thanks. 

[louiscypher066]

Yes. Very scary. As I mentioned above I'm trying the intercept option as I don't feel like putting my trust in someone I've never met paying once the item does arrive. Thanks for the response. 

[dbfolks166mt]

There is no change in when the buyer can file a INR case. They can file 24 hours after the estimated delivery date provided by eBay. It does NOT have to be "grossly overdue". If eBay had been smart, I will stop there, they would have changed the INR filing timeline to 15-20 days after the EDD at least until we are through this crisis. 

[dbfolks166mt]

From the postings I have seen about the extended grace period from eBay your case seems to be the norm regardless of what eBay has said they would do they appear not to be standing behind it. 

[louiscypher066]

Just a final update for anyone going through this situation. The package intercept I filed with the post office was successful and at a much lower cost than initially quoted. Instead of $50 it is now $20. That's probably due to the frame being smashed to bits, but that's another story. We'll have to wait and see. Lol. Enjoy the holidays all.

[reallynicestamps]

@dbfolks166mt 

I understand your concern, but if eBay wanted to totally destroy any consumer confidence they might have, that would be the way to do it. 

Not allowing a Dispute for two weeks after the parcel was "due", just won't fly.

However, extending the window for arrival when a tracking number is supplied would work and probably would go unnoticed by most buyers.

And extending the time  for Proof of Delivery another two weeks when a Dispute is filed and a tracking number supplied would be annoying but workable.

Part of the problem is that AZ is very good at publicity and most online shoppers believe they will get overnight delivery, even when AZ has been stating (quietly) that they are experiencing delays.  Most believe AZ uses drones for that delivery, when they have none and actually use USPS which is more reliable and cheaper.