eBay

uzumakey · ‎10-20-2017

I sent a package out via Media Mail on Wednesday, and on the same day it was marked delivered (to my zip code, at a PO box, instead of to the buyer's home address halfway across the country). Buyer opened an INR case that night, I assume after seeing that tracking showed delivered to the wrong zip.

I spoke to someone at that post office yesterday, and they had no idea where the package was. I was told I'd get a call back if they found something out, but I doubt they're going to contact me again - they told me the same thing when they lost an international package of mine and never knew what I was talking about when I called them back after not hearing from them. It was a constant runaround of "we'll call you back when we know something."

The buyer can ask eBay to step in about four days, and they're going to win the case because tracking shows delivered to my zip code. This is obviously USPS's fault though, for losing the package. Is there any way to get this resolved without earning another defect? I have two at the moment, one of which was gotten from a scamming buyer who had her "SNAD" item "returned" to her after mailing to the wrong address. With three defects my TRS status will be compromised.

Just frustrated and not sure what to do.

emerald40 · ‎10-20-2017

Has the buyer opened a case.

If so, refund him immediately.

Defects only arise when ebay has to step in and do it for you.

bubbleman2010 · ‎10-20-2017

You refund the buyer and file a insurance claim with USPS...

tut2534 · ‎10-20-2017

It sounds like the package was scanned as delivered unstead of picked up. This has happened to me several times. The tracking should undate as it moves along its way. You can call ebay and explain this and have the case extended to give it time to arive to the buyer.

a_c_green · ‎10-20-2017

If you type in the tracking number yourself on the USPS website, what do you see? The eBay readout of tracking stops as soon as it sees a Delivered status, so that will be useless in this case; go to the source (USPS) instead.

It sounds as if some knucklehead at your local post office was using the same scanner to scan incoming packages (i.e. yours) as Accepted and to sort incoming packages to their PO boxes as Delivered (to PO Box). He proceeded to scan your package as Delivered instead of Accepted, that's all.

This happens more often than we would like, but it will have absolutely no effect on the movement of the package itself, and the erroneous Delivered scan should be superseded by later (correct) scans on the USPS website.

If you're able to see any further activity when checking the tracking on the USPS site, call eBay immediately to ask for an extension on the INR dispute (give them a clear rendition of the explanation above, emphasizing that the tracking is working and is showing the package en route). Then contact your buyer with the same news, and assure them that they should be receiving the package with no futher delay.

uzumakey · ‎10-20-2017

I have been checking the number repeatedly on the USPS site and it hasn't updated since the package was marked delivered on 10/18. When I spoke to the person at the post office, they weren't able to tell me any more than the person who processed the package used a wireless scanner, or something like that.

I'll keep an eye out on the tracking, maybe it's going slow because it's Media Mail? I really hope this is the case - I'd hate to lose this item. It's one of a kind and I doubt the buyer could find anything similar online.

swenson8781 · ‎10-20-2017

Media Mail is usually slower overall, but am I correct to assume that you don't actually have it back/not picked up? And that for some odd reason the address wasn't entered incorrectly as your own? I'm guessing not, but stranger things have happened!

I have had luck trying to move 'stuck' packages along by entering my email address into the 'text and email updates' area. It is found on usps site, after you enter tracking number, comes up below with a drop down menu. Worth a try if you think it's just stuck & not moving along.

luckythewinner · ‎10-20-2017

@uzumakey wrote:
The buyer can ask eBay to step in about four days, and they're going to win the case because tracking shows delivered to my zip code.
{snip}
Just frustrated and not sure what to do.

If you respond to the dispute with a refund, you lose the item and the money you spent on shipping.

If you don't respond to the dispute with a refund, you lose the item and the money you spent on shipping *and* you get a defect.

uzumakey · ‎10-20-2017

Yes, I definitely don't have the package. The USPS rep told me to check if the package had been re-routed to my house but the only thing I've gotten in the mail this week was from UPS.

For the label, I printed directly through eBay so the address wasn't altered in any way. I save all my labels as PDFs and when I went back to check this one, all the info was correct. The buyer's address was in the midwest, like I originally thought. It seems like the most logical thing to assume is that the carrier scanned the package incorrectly.

I'll sign up for updates as you suggested - hopefully this gets things moving.

busterbgood · ‎10-20-2017

After 7 days you can actually start a search for missing mail by going to the usps.com website click on help and you will see missing mail. It worked for me when I had a similar problem where my mailman scanned a package I had going out of my mailbox as delivered but then took the package. They were able to locate it and deliver it to my customer about two weeks late. Hope this helps you

emerald40 · ‎10-21-2017

@uzumakey wrote:
I have been checking the number repeatedly on the USPS site and it hasn't updated since the package was marked delivered on 10/18. When I spoke to the person at the post office, they weren't able to tell me any more than the person who processed the package used a wireless scanner, or something like that.

I'll keep an eye out on the tracking, maybe it's going slow because it's Media Mail? I really hope this is the case - I'd hate to lose this item. It's one of a kind and I doubt the buyer could find anything similar online.

Just be careful that while waiting for the package to move or show up that the claim does not time out and ebay has to step in.

Ebay is very cheap with their extension times.

lookng2015 · ‎10-21-2017

@uzumakey wrote:
Yes, I definitely don't have the package. The USPS rep told me to check if the package had been re-routed to my house but the only thing I've gotten in the mail this week was from UPS.

For the label, I printed directly through eBay so the address wasn't altered in any way. I save all my labels as PDFs and when I went back to check this one, all the info was correct. The buyer's address was in the midwest, like I originally thought. It seems like the most logical thing to assume is that the carrier scanned the package incorrectly.

I'll sign up for updates as you suggested - hopefully this gets things moving.

Why on earth would it be re-routed back to your address? The address hasn't changed, just mis-scanned.

It's happily on it's way to wherever the buyer is.

All that will happen is you refund and the buyer gets a freebie.

Try calling eBay and explain the scanning mistake and ask for an extension of time for it to be delivered.

And fwiw, I think this buyer is hoping for a freebie. They know full well it wouldn't have been delivered in your same zip code the same day it shipped.

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

fern*wood · ‎10-21-2017

^^^^^This.

I've had this happen more than once when my delivery person (that normally doesn't even bother to scan) sets the scanner for delivery rather than acceptance. I think that's why I don't care if she neglects scanning for me, since she messes it up if she does.

Sometimes the tracking will correct itself along the way, but if it doesn't, ask your post office to check the tracking on their system since they show more information than the online stuff. They can print this out to prove delivery --- all of mine were delivered as normal. I once had 30 packages scanned wrong on one day.

Since your buyer has opened a case, definitely call to get an extension, since media mail is probably slower than the timeframe allowed to resolve your case.

castlemagicmemories · ‎10-21-2017

You can call Ebay and ask for an extension of time, and explain the scanning mistake. Signing up for email updates can jog something lose. Speak to your Postmaster, that may prove fruitful.

Or you can just refund the buyer.

No defects if you do that, you only earn a defect when the time is up and the buyer escalates it to Ebay. I believe they have three days.

Ebay doesn't want to step in, they want you to resovle the issue. Resolving the issue on your own enables you to avoid the dreaded case closed without seller resolution defect that can severely impact your selling privileges.