Increase in number of USPS Packages Stuck in Transit?

[musicman1a2a3a4]

Has anyone been experiencing a huge increase of USPS lost packages or packages stuck in transit without any tracking updates? I have been a full time seller since 1999 and the last 3 months are the worst for me that it has ever been by large amount. Just wondering if anyone else has also seen a big increase recently. Thanks ! 

[inhawaii]

No, I have not experienced this.

[carlmarxx]

Been  issues  with packages  shipped to me  that have  been stuck in in transit  do to unexplained delays   and also  unexplained  bouncing around  from  correct  sorting  plant  in My neck of woods   that sends letters  and Parcel 's  to the PO I use . but they unexplained  miss sent to wrong  sorting centers  that cause  a I day delay .   It is the ground Advantage shipping  service  that have these issues  .   I do  ask sellers before I bid or BIN   about  shipping  Priority   mail  , or UPS ,FedEx  Ground    or the FedEx  3 day  flat rate box's  . 

[pls-consignments]

Yep, it's systematic. Numerous log jams causing month-long delays, especially in distribution centers. Lajoy resignation, DOGE cuts, low morale = slow processing, package pile-ups, poor customer service. eBay policy is for Sellers to absorb the consequences of shipped parcels without delivery scans. 

Be careful in using Fedex Ground Economy, which starts with Fedex, but is delivered via USPS. The refund risks are high for un-delivered and late parcels. The added savings in shipping costs are not worth it.

[gurlcat]

Do you see any pattern of WHERE/WHEN in the tracking the 'sticking' is happening?  Considering your buyers are likely all over the place, if you're having lots of extended voyages it's probably your own local situation -either your initial post office or your city distribution center (and there maybe more than one of those in your city, which your packages have to go through).    

My city doesn't get bogged down very often, nor does it last very long, but when it happens it's pretty clear.  -Last week was bad, for instance.  This is tracking for one of 4 items I had picked up last Tuesday.  Didn't even leave town until Friday, after doing time in 3 facilities.  -This kind of thing seems to be much more likely to occur after a Monday holiday.  Just that extra one day causes a huge pileup.  

Anyway I'm sure glad scan sheets are a thing, otherwise eBay would think I didn't ship til Thursday! 

[a_c_green]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Do you see any pattern of WHERE/WHEN in the tracking the 'sticking' is happening?  Considering your buyers are likely all over the place, if you're having lots of extended voyages it's probably your own local situation -either your initial post office or your city distribution center (and there maybe more than one of those in your city, which your packages have to go through).

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Agreed; if you're shipping to customers all over the place (which you presumably are), and you're having multiple delays along the way, the only thing all those shipments have in common is where they enter the mailstream and how they get to their origin sort facility. From there they could be going anywhere and everywhere.

I would suggest studying the timestamps of the earliest scans in the tracking history of each problem item, and see where the biggest delay is occurring. Then be guided by whatever you discover there.

[ebooksdiva]

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@musicman1a2a3a4 wrote:

Has anyone been experiencing a huge increase of USPS lost packages or packages stuck in transit without any tracking updates? I have been a full time seller since 1999 and the last 3 months are the worst for me that it has ever been by large amount. Just wondering if anyone else has also seen a big increase recently. Thanks ! 

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No I haven’t experienced this. 

[selsa84]

Oh yeah, more lost packages this year than the last 13 total. Also many are getting to their destination and then being shipped somewhere else. Anything over 200 I now ship fedex

[van3125]

I am a new seller and this is happening to me a lot lately. I live in Alabama. I would think ebay would look into the situation before demanding that this must be resolved by X date. The only way to resolve is by refunding. Makes me wonder if this ebay thing is worth the trouble. I normally ship same day. I don't know what to do.

[musicman1a2a3a4]

I am located in Flint Michigan and all of the packages are going to different states/locations... all the the tracking is basically the same with just the initial scan like this: 

Missing Mail Search Request Initiated, Missing Mail Search Request ID MRC 25 2112 2306

May 25, 2025, 4:30 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 5, 2025

Departed Post Office

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 5:13 pm

USPS in possession of item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 3:35 pm

Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 11:32 am

[musicman1a2a3a4]

there are only the initial scans and nothing afterwards:

Missing Mail Search Request Initiated, Missing Mail Search Request ID MRC 25 2112 2306

May 25, 2025, 4:30 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 5, 2025

Departed Post Office

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 5:13 pm

USPS in possession of item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 3:35 pm

Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 11:32 am

[chariot_badges]

Are you kidding?   I've been yelling about this for months.

It's affecting my Transaction Defect Rate to the point where I'm getting nastygrams.

It's just a matter of time till the USPS and eBay put me out of business.

I've decided to do the job till they fire me.

I think it's a tactic to reduce the number of sellers.

They don't need as many as they have.  

[kandf_vintage_finds]

I have not had any issues with the USPS

On another note:

You may want to tone down some of your replies to your multiple negative feedbacks

just say'n

[bbcardzman]

Happening everywhere since after the Summer of 2024. Are you just seeing it now?

[itsjustasprain]

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@musicman1a2a3a4 wrote:

there are only the initial scans and nothing afterwards:

Missing Mail Search Request Initiated, Missing Mail Search Request ID MRC 25 2112 2306

May 25, 2025, 4:30 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 5, 2025

Departed Post Office

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 5:13 pm

USPS in possession of item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 3:35 pm

Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item

FLINT, MI 48504

May 1, 2025, 11:32 am

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Oh yeah - you have some kind of local issue there. The truck seems to leave your local PO and vanish. Your origin sort facility needs to answer questions about why nothing is getting scanned in when it reaches their place.

I would print out these tracking histories for each of your missing packages and show them to your postmaster. They are in a better position than you to find out what is going on down the road.

Fortunately because you had these scanned in when you dropped them off then you can prove that they got lost within USPS. Shipping methods such as Ground Advantage and Priority come with a default $100 of insurance coverage and a Missing Mail claim is the easiest to prove. Just be sure that you file with USPS within the time limit for filing a claim.

Your problem is definitely local to you and hopefully it can be sorted out. If your buyer(s) file Item Not Received claims be sure that you upload the tracking number to the claim. But if there is no activity for that long (coming up on 3 weeks now) it does not look good and you may need to refund the buyer. Filing your Missing Mail claim can get you reimbursed by USPS up to the value of the sale or $100 - whichever is lower. A Missing Mail refund will credit your postage as well.