I've shipped 2 items via USPS that were never scanned as delivered, how do we protect ourselves?

[mypalrocco]

I'm not a big seller, usually 10 items or so a month on average. I've shipped two items via USPS in the last month that they never scanned as delivered, thankfully the two buyers weren't dirtbags and told me that the packages were in fact received when I contacted them. I opened a missing mail inquiry on both pieces before the buyers had informed me of their receiving them and USPS has done NOTHING! No information, just generic form letter type responses and nothing more. The last one has been 10 days and the tracking shows the missing mail case was opened in an entirely different state from that which the package was destined and I've had ZERO follow-up from them. USPS is a disaster and I wish there were other reasonably priced shipping options for items under 1 pound. Delays are one thing but there's really no excuse for packages not to be scanned throughout their delivery process.

But the point of this post is; we're responsible for that package, in eBays eyes, up until the moment that tracking shows it's delivered. So how do we protect ourselves, short of insuring every package or shipping at the higher Priority Mail rates which included insurance, from a buyer who might decide to be dishonest and say that the package wasn't received when it actually was and that USPS just failed to scan it? 

[jayjaspersgarage]

I would keep track of all the non-scanned or never scanned tracking numbers and send a letter to the postmaster at your local Post Office demanding a refund of all the extra costs for INAD.  You paid for tracking that was never executed.  The USPS owes owes you the money you paid for the tracking service.

The LEAST each post office could do is provide a scan wand for people dropping off packages to use before they drop the package off in the bin or at the inbound counter.  My post office has a Dutch door half open with a large rolling bin just inside the door for inbound pre-paid shipments.  This is separate from the main lobby where the clueless wait in line around sick people coughing and blowing their noses.  If there was a perfect place for a permanent scanner it would be right inside the upper part of the Dutch door opening.  That way people dropping off their packages could just hold the scan bar up to the red laser line and the inbound scan would be complete. 

Back to the large rolling bin.  When the bin fills up the Postmaster himself scans all the packages and transfers them to a second bin in plain view of the customers.  It's always a good day when you place you item on the top of the pile because you know it will be one of the first ones to be scanned in.  

[kensgiftshop]

@mypalrocco 

If it never gets scanned as delivered, not much you can do, if you get a not so honest buyer.

[fashunu4eeuh]

I make sure to get an acceptance scan to prove the mail-piece is in the stream. That proves I mailed it and the onus is on the Post Office if it turns up missing. This will not help with eBay, however, if the carrier fails to scan it at delivery. There is no way to protect oneself from a Not Received claim without a delivery scan. Luckily, most buyers are honest. 

[1tuna]

there is not much you can do except  hope that  more of your buyers are as honest as these two are

this is  one of the reasons I do not like to look at tracking

looking at tracking just makes me anxious and I don`t need that

if my packages are  late my customers  will let  me know

I rarely insure anything and I just think about the fact that I don`t really lose many packages in the USA

maybe 1 out of every 5000 seems to be lost and I think its just bad buyers using the lack of tracking  against me.

the USPS gets the packages where they need to be but maybe not on time

[m60driver]

Never interest yourself in tracking after you drop off at the post office unless a buyer contacts you about an item not received.  Otherwise, it will drive you a bit nuts.

[postingid7659]

as long as the package is insured, you could report both of these packages for the insurance claim and you would collect based on the no delivery scan - they would give you the postage fees back too. 

[mypalrocco]

I agree, the tracking information and/or the lack thereof does indeed drive me nuts. However, I find that my buyers really appreciate it when I'm the one to contact them first when there are apparent shipping delays or other problems that appear within the tracking updates like when it bounces back and forth between two USPS facilities, over and over, day after day. It lets them know that I care, which I sincerely do. I know how frustrating it is to eagerly await a package and have long delays so usually after 7 or 8 days, I'll let my buyer know that I'm monitoring the situation and that I'll be contacting USPS soon to try and get the package back on track if I don't see any progress. I wish I didn't care because I'd love to never have to look at tracking again. OCD is not my friend!

[ekmadonna]

This happened to me 3 months ago. I opened a Insurance Claim with USPS and it was DENIED. The package still shows OUT FOR DELIVERY 3 months later. They want proof now that only Adyen can provide of 3rd Party Payment Processing that I could not provide according to the denial letter.

[mypalrocco]

That's ridiculous, I would try it again. USPS used to be pretty easy to deal with regarding  insurance claims (with FedEx being the worst, if not downright criminal...I refuse to ever use them again.) But I'm losing faith and trust in them, especially after hearing of your experience. Rates go up and service gets worse. They're broke, by the way, because they fund their retirement benefits something like 10 years in advance.  

[cellguy215]

What happened in this case was the package was actually delivered, just the carrier didn't scan it.  They have gotten much better in the last few years. It seems like it is mostly new and temp carriers who do this. 

The only thing you can do is make sure you have good labels that are easy to scan. I use a zebra zp450 thermal label printer.