I mailed UPS package at post office - it has not shown up on tracking

[vendere-mundi]

I accidentally put a UPS package in a U.S Post Office chute.   Four days later, UPS does not show they have received the package, even though a "UPS driver picks up packages here daily."  The package is insured for $700.   The buyer and I are communicating and there is no dispute.  I will send an immediate refund the moment he asks for it.  So far, he wants to wait to see if the package eventually shows "received and in transit."  I opened a UPS investigation case for the package two days ago, but they have not yet asked which post office I place the package in, so it does not seem like a serious investigation yet.  The post office people said they can not search the UPS "hopper" for the package and they said a UPS driver picks up UPS packages daily.  I insured the package for $700 but I have no proof I put it in the post office "hopper."   IF THE BUYER DOES request the refund, how can I give it in such a way that if the package eventually shows up and he then will pay for it all over again, it does through eBay?   

[vendere-mundi]

correction:  it goes through eBay

[jda04121]

Once you give a refund there is no way to get it back through eBay.

[simba6]

Can't be done.  Once refunded, that's it. No undoing that.  UPS would not have access to the US mail.  You need to contact USPS about that package.  It's not a UPS issue.

[lacemaker3]

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@vendere-mundi wrote:

I accidentally put a UPS package in a U.S Post Office chute.   ... The post office people said they can not search the UPS "hopper" for the package and they said a UPS driver picks up UPS packages daily.  I insured the package for $700 but I have no proof I put it in the post office "hopper." ...

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@vendere-mundi 

Please clarify: did you put the package into a USPS chute at the post office, or into a UPS chute at the post office? From what you said, I'm not sure which it was.

If you put a UPS package into a USPS chute, then there are a couple of possibilities:

1. If it was a UPS SurePost package, these are normally transported by UPS to the buyer's post office (or a USPS facility near there) and then transferred to the USPS for the final delivery.
   • In this case, the package will probably be scanned as "received" by the USPS within a few days, but possibly not until it is almost ready for delivery.
   • There was a recent thread by a seller whose SurePost/Smartpost package could not be scanned at the UPS/FedEx pickup point, so s/he took it to the USPS instead, and they accepted, scanned, and delivered it.
     
     
2. If it was a regular UPS package, not a UPS SurePost package, then it's impossible to be sure what will happen to it, or how long it might take.
   • The best thing would be to try to get the post office people to locate it and give it back to you, but this might not be possible.
   • The post office might eventually transfer it to UPS, perhaps by giving it to a UPS driver doing a pickup at some point.
   • The post office might send it to the dead letter office.
   • The post office might dispose of it because it doesn't have postage paid, or a USPS tracking number.

If you put the package into a UPS chute at the post office, then it might have gotten lost somehow before or after the UPS driver picked it up. If it has not been scanned by UPS, then it won't be eligible for insurance coverage.

[hawkwind5454]

Anymore, it seems like it takes little to send the USPS into a total tailspin. This situation would certainly qualify for that. I agree with Simba6. The USPS needs to be addressed with this, far before UPS.  You goofed on USPS's territory.... not UPS's. 

[vendere-mundi]

Thanks Simba.  I called UPS first.  The person said, "That is not a problem.  Our drivers pick up UPS packages from the post office every day."  When I went to the post office, two different clerks told me the same thing.  I have no proof I put the package in the post office chute, so I am the only person who is responsible if it is never received by UPS.  What I am wondering is - if I refund the buyer, and then the package finally shows up, I know the buyer will want to pay for it.  But I don't know of a way that payment could go through eBay and want to find a way that it could.  If there is one.

[vendere-mundi]

Thanks lacemaker for the great detail.  It was a regular UPS package and I put it in a USPS chute.  Since I have no proof I did that, I am the only person responsible if it is lost.  I learned the UPS drivers regularly pick up their UPS packages from the post office - evidently there a lot of people who make this mistake, although that is hard for me to believe.  My question is how do I give a refund and if the package eventually shows up, get the payment from the buyer to be routed through eBay.  I do not question if the buyer would keep the refund and the package, because I trust he would not.  I question how to get the reimbursement from him routed through eBay - if there is a way.  I don't think I am the only person who has made this mistake so am hoping someone can share the experience.  Or figure out how I might do it.  I will ask eBay for guidance, but wanted to see if there are ideas from the community.  I am still learning!

[buyselljack2016]

Your faith in mankind is commendable.

Not my business, but what is your great concern with the payment being routed through eBay again if you refund on a claim from the buyer.

Almost certain that I have read in the past that once non-receipt of an item is claimed, and the buyer is refunded, that eBay is out of the transaction.

[vendere-mundi]

My path to making this mistake:  I clicked on "USPS" to get a ground USPS label for this package.   A UPS ground option appeared and I bought it, tagged it Signature Required and insured it for $700.  I did not notice it was UPS rather the USPS I had requested and dropped it in a USPS chute at a US post office.   On the next package I sent, I learned eBay no longer offers USPS ground service and for that package I could use USPS priority or UPS ground.  Although I am totally to blame for being oblivious to what label I was buying, pasting on the package, and carrying to the post office, it would help duh people like me if eBay did not list UPS or other carrier options if a person clicks on USPS.  At least without some flag that alerts them.  But that is another topic and smacks of trying to blame eBay for what I did.  I don't blame eBay, but changing the response to a click on "USPS" not to include other shippers options would be useful all the same.  I will send that thought to eBay in Feedback.

[fern*wood]

I don’t know why your post office told you they can’t check the ups hopper.  It seems they should check the usps hopper since that’s where you put it.  I sure hope it turns up soon. Good luck.

[vendere-mundi]

Thanks fern.  I put it in a USPS chute.  Evidently they put the mis-mailed UPS packages in a UPS hopper that can not be opened except by a UPS driver.  Thanks, I hope so also but doubt it will be recovered.  A hard lesson learned for sure.

[vendere-mundi]

Hi Jack.  Yes once I refund the  money, eBay will be out of the transaction and my fees will be refunded to me.  Then if the buyer eventually pays for the package, I think it should go through eBay rather than in essence my making a sale "outside" of eBay.  Otherwise it would be kind of a "shady" deal in my view.  

[vendere-mundi]

UPDATE:  I just noticed the eBay Order Details page lists my tracking number as USPS Ground and USPS as the carrier.  The tracking number starts with 1Z and is definitely a UPS labeled shipment.  I do not understand what is happening.  eBay also shows the shipment in transit coming from San Jose, CA.   - - - - Twilight Zone

[lacemaker3]

@vendere-mundi , 

Try tracking the 1Z number here and see what it says:

www.ups.com/track