Is any other sellers getting push back from buyers using USPS as it seems to be snowballing

[quicksilverdiecast]

In the last couple weeks I have been getting an abnormal amount of requests from buyers (and have read numerous sellers issues as well as my own) that the problem seems to be growing rapidly. I know some of this is weather related, but it started well before the weather issues....I primarily use USPS because it is the cheapest on small items and has had very few issues for me in the last 27 years. I dislike using UPS and FEDEX as they are far too sneaky(more than ebay) at adding more fees once the label has been issued not to mention when it comes time to make any claims....and on small items the shipping costs using them is ridiculous...I have had other buyers and sellers tell me that they have had USPS packages setting for up to 5 weeks without any movement....Ebay needs to change it's dictation of how long it takes for the buyer to get it....when ebay 1st started the policy as I remember it was to ship within 30days(which is ridiculous as well). Ebay uses the feedback system to their advantage as regardless if the feedback is justified, honest, accurate or downright lies, the more the neg feedbacks, again just and unjust, adds up and will affect your selling fees...The whole feedback system needs to be trashed at this point....as the feedback system holds your feet to the fire for things you have no control over...USPS carriers are notorious for not scanning parcels upon possession(USPS policy) and sending parcels on the scenic route AND play hot potato between depots(I had to screen shot one awhile ago when a customer inquired where his stuff was and upon check ing the tracking....hold on you are not going to believe this but it went back and forth between TWO depots 23x's!!!!! ,which ebay holds you accountable for USPS to do their job...ever call up USPS and tell them they have to abide by ebays USPS policies?  Go ahead and give it a try....the response I got from a Postmaster after explaining the issue was a deep laugh from him and his response was "to go back and tell ebay to start delivering their own parcels". Again ebay creates the issue and when it crops up you end up paying more to ebay by way of seller performance scoring(the 5 star feedback related system). While we are at it the 5 star "Reasonable shipping costs" here is how this works and should removed...it starts with the contradictory and broken shipping cart where ebay blocks you and the buyer from being able to combine shipping accurately and properly which results in ridiculous over charging of shipping as ebay does NOT combine they add(generates more fees for them). I have a lot of repeat buyer who trust me and in some cases had to refund as much as 60.00 in ebay induced overcharges to the buyer on shipping, where if as it used to be the seller is allowed to combine the items into 1 parcel and since the seller knows how to ship his items everyone involved gets a fair deal...reasonable shipping/buyers get what he wants and will return/ebay get it's fees,less than what they want,but still better than nothing when the buyer laughs at the ridiculous shipping and walks away to go buy it on Amazon or somewhere else. I do not want to hear my store setting are wrong or create this or that, as it has been check by the ebay gods and found no issues on the settings...I have walked them thru the issues step by step so they can clearly see and understand the issues, and they write IT tickets and then disappears into the ebay blackhole with nothing ever being done to fix it(ongoing for 2 + years now as well as I have kept documented information on each failed cart transactions and it is over 450 entries and counting since last fall...ebay knows this and numerous level techs from the walmart greeter 1st phone answerer up as far as allowed(there is a firewall between ebay seller and those responsible for correcting / making issues that not even the phone greeter can cross and must send any issues via message requests.) Many of ebays polices were enacted when everything was running smoothly through out the country and MOST were justified ...but with the current chaos with everything from supply chain issues, weather, labor shortage etc etc etc...it is time for any and all policies to be implimented to reflect the current way the world works NOW. The 2 categories in the 5star ratings "scanned on time" and "reasonable shipping costs" needs to be removed as the seller has zero control over making USPS do their jobs, nor does ebay and you should not be judged on things you cannot control.

[biggymoe]

Paragraphs are your friends.  I think I tend to agree with you, but didn't make it all the way to the end.

[toysaver]

USPS complaints happen every 4 years...

[klhmdg]

I didnt get very far reading this wall of text.

Paragraphs are helpful.

As far as I got reading this, about 1/3, I couldnt figure out what issue you are having.

I always use USPS and have heard nothing from buyers on issues.

I ship within my handling times and have the shipments scanned when I drop off.

[theteamsetguy]

@quicksilverdiecast ,

Getting a acceptance is totally in YOUR control. All you have to do is go to the post office, stand in line at the counter and wait your turn to have you packages scanned as many eBay seller already do. 

Since you are close to Cleveland airport you probably have a post office at the airport that is open 24 hours a day like we do here in Minneapolis. Usually no lines in the evening or middle of the night if you don't have time during the day.

Easy peasey problem solved. Like they say when there is a will there is a way.

[itsjustasprain]

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@quicksilverdiecast wrote:

The 2 categories in the 5star ratings "scanned on time" and "reasonable shipping costs" needs to be removed as the seller has zero control over making USPS do their jobs, nor does ebay and you should not be judged on things you cannot control.

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Good God man - break up your posts into paragraphs. One thought or one point per paragraph is ideal. I am only quoting your last lines above to prove that I actually made it to the bottom.

The random ping-pong between two points that you mentioned is when a package leaves in a shipping container but is not scanned at the other end. Tracking continues to follow the CONTAINER (which has a daily route back and forth) until the package is finally scanned again someplace else.

Carriers or clerks at the front desk are expected to scan a package for Acceptance when it is given to them. If that is not happening then talk to the postmaster. Ebay does not penalize for late delivery unless the Acceptance was late as well (outside of your Handling time). The key is to get that Acceptance scan up front.

[frankenhobbit]

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@biggymoe wrote:

Paragraphs are your friends.  I think I tend to agree with you, but didn't make it all the way to the end.

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I couldn't read to the end either. I tried, but was just getting cross-eyed. A lot of us have 'vintage' eyes.

[m60driver]

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@biggymoe wrote:

Paragraphs are your friends.  I think I tend to agree with you, but didn't make it all the way to the end.

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Actually this is what AI is good at, rewriting lengthy posts.  It is certainly not good at writing descriptions.  Here is the post rewritten by ChatGPT using the simple prompt :"rewrite this paragraph".

In recent weeks, I've noticed a significant increase in buyer requests and seller issues, which appears to be escalating rapidly. While some of this can be attributed to weather-related factors, the problem began well before these issues arose. I typically use USPS due to its affordability for smaller items and historically minimal issues over my 27 years of using their services. In contrast, I find UPS and FedEx less favorable due to their tendency to add unexpected fees post-label issuance, in addition to exorbitant shipping costs for smaller packages.

I've heard from other buyers and sellers who have experienced USPS packages sitting stagnant for up to five weeks without movement. eBay's current shipping duration guidelines don't align with these realities. Originally, eBay's shipping policy allowed up to 30 days, which seems impractical now. eBay's feedback system, while intended to provide transparency, often leads to unjust repercussions. Regardless of the accuracy of feedback, whether fair or not, accumulating negative feedback can impact seller fees.

The feedback system unfairly holds sellers accountable for issues beyond their control. USPS carriers are notorious for failing to scan parcels upon receipt and taking inefficient routes between depots. I once had a parcel bounce between two depots 23 times, which eBay still holds sellers accountable for, despite it being a USPS issue. Attempts to enforce eBay's policies with USPS are met with ridicule, highlighting a disconnect between eBay's expectations and USPS's operational realities.

Moreover, eBay's shipping cost ratings and policies exacerbate these challenges. The requirement for "reasonable shipping costs" doesn't consider eBay's own system flaws, such as inaccurate shipping calculations that prevent accurate combination of items. This results in overcharging buyers and frustration for sellers trying to provide fair shipping rates. Despite efforts to resolve these issues with eBay support, the process often leads nowhere, trapped in bureaucratic red tape.

Many of eBay's policies were established during times of stability and may have been justified then. However, in today's volatile environment marked by supply chain disruptions, weather events, and labor shortages, these policies no longer reflect operational realities. The categories of "scanned on time" and "reasonable shipping costs" in eBay's 5-star ratings should be reconsidered, as sellers cannot control USPS's performance or eBay's shipping calculation flaws.

Overall, it's clear that eBay needs to adapt its policies to better align with current logistical challenges and reduce undue burdens on sellers for issues beyond their control.

[hartungcards]

"I am only quoting your last lines above to prove that I actually made it to the bottom."

Actually, this only proves that you skipped to the last lines, much like I did.

[athammaus]

I've been both a buyer and seller on ebay for 23 years. For quite awhile now, it seems like USPS Media rate shipping has been EXTREMELY undependable. Ebay makes zero adjustments to their estimated delivery dates for those who reside in Hawaii, as I do. Consequently, over half of the items I ship and receive are delivered late. Buyer requests are happening at an increasing rate, as USPS Media shipping gets less and less dependable. 

An obvious solution is to offer only expensive Priority shipping, which gets delivered exponentially faster. The problem with this is the cost. Since I sell mostly books, some of which weigh many pounds, my sales will diminish. 

I'm getting close to closing my store, since the headaches of dealing with buyer requests outweigh the money I make selling.

Any useful suggestions would be appreciated. 

[itsjustasprain]

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@athammaus wrote:

Buyer requests are happening at an increasing rate, as USPS Media shipping gets less and less dependable. 

An obvious solution is to offer only expensive Priority shipping, which gets delivered exponentially faster. The problem with this is the cost. Since I sell mostly books, some of which weigh many pounds, my sales will diminish. 

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@athammaus: If the buyer is in a hurry your next step up from MM is not Priority but Ground Advantage. GA offers the same $100 coverage as Priority and gets there in about the same time. You should list Media Mail first in your listings and then GA and/or Priority as secondary alternatives. (Be sure to use Calculated Shipping too.)

The thing about Media mail is that it does not travel on a schedule like the other methods. It travels on a space available basis (up to 3 days at each point along the way) and so its arrival date is unpredictable where GA or Priority can usually be safely estimated.

[robbie31415]

Political pressure has stalled changes to the USPS until after the election.

[inhawaii]

I use USPS exclusively.

I have not been getting complaints.

It's business  as usual for me.

[slippinjimmy]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I use USPS exclusively.

I have not been getting complaints.

It's business  as usual for me.

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I have a complaint! You live in Hawaii and I don't.....so unfair!

[yuzuha]

I use USPS Ground Advantage exclusively and I have had zero complaints or issues whatsoever either. All of my stuff seems to be making its way through the system in perfectly reasonable time-- in fact, checking the tracking on the last few things I shipped, two of the ones that had an estimated delivery date of Monday or Tuesday were already delivered today.