Late Shipment - Transaction Deficit

[valentinial]

Has anyone else had this issue? I put an item in my mailbox on 3/3/25. The carrier picked it up but evidently did not scan the item at the time. I always monitor shipping because USPS has been so spotty lately - particularly in the Indianapolis area.  I kept an eye on it. On Sunday, 3/9/25, the item got scanned. Now, I have tried to explain to eBay, this had to have been discovered in some bin, etc. because USPS does not accept items on a Sunday. AND THAT I PUT THE ITEM IN MY MAILBOX ON 3/3/25. They insist that USPS records show that the item was not shipped until 3/9/25 and was not received by the buyer until 3/14/25 so it was my fault the item was late.  Sheesh. How unaware can you be?

First of all, with the issues that USPS is having, you would think eBay would be somewhat aware that USPS cannot be relied upon. More importantly, I have been selling on eBay for over 20 years. I don't make crap up and go to all this trouble trying to get this rectified for nothing. It does not effect my selling status - it is the principle.

I have had several items that have not been scanned. I cannot control that. Our regular carrier has been out on leave. Shouldn't we be given the benefit of the doubt? Do they trust USPS over their own sellers? Sheesh.

[adamcartwright]

@valentinial 

I usually drive my packages to the USPS office, but recently handed a package to my mail carrier.

The package didn't receive its first scan until the next day. So I won't be doing that again.

As for packages possibly being overlooked in a bin, I use colorful packaging to minimize that possibility.  So far, so good.

[kensgiftshop]

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@valentinial wrote:

I have had several items that have not been scanned. I cannot control that.

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Yes you can, take it to the PO, get it scanned and get a receipt.

[valentinial]

I can't always go to the post office. I hate think I have to. Our older carriers have been so reliable.

Part of the problem is the lack of critical thinking from eBay customer service and the somewhat dogged insistence that USPS is infallible.

Critical thinking and knowledge of the USPS process should lead one to believe that if a buyer says they put the item in the mailbox, USPS did not scan the item and then the item suddenly appears on Sunday evening without ever being scanned - USPS must have made some kind of error.

As frustrating: Is there a reward for being so rigid in reversing deficits? I have spent way too much on eBay and made way too much for eBay to be treated like this.

[pennpicker]

Temporarily switch your handling to 7 or 10 days, if that is how long it takes to be assured of a scan at your usual sorting center.  At least until your regular mail carrier returns.

[luckythewinner]

I can't always go to the post office

Then you may need to extend your handle time to 3 days or more, and get to the post office to work around the problem. Or you may need to go to your post office and have a talk with the Postmaster. That would seem like the obvious first step to me.

Part of the problem is the lack of critical thinking from eBay customer service and the somewhat dogged insistence that USPS is infallible.

They don't "doggedly insist that the USPS is infallible". They doggedly insist that if you want to be Top Rated, you need to get a timely scan on 95% of your shipments. In fact, that actually sounds like they allow a 5% margin for the USPS to be fallible.

I have spent way too much on eBay and made way too much for eBay to be treated like this.

I doubt that eBay is interested in paying customer support representatives to interpret USPS activity and data just because you have a late shipping issue that the vast majority of eBay sellers seem able to avoid.

[farmalljr]

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@gloryglorygifts wrote:

Sorry, I disagree.

Scheduling a pick up does not guarantee anything when it comes to pick up. I have had packages scanned late and received a scheduled pick up receipt a day or two later. Half the time the scheduling page is down too. The only way to guarantee a scan is to go to the post office itself. 

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Disagree all you want. If the carrier fails to scan a scheduled pick up, I file a complaint online, and the postmaster of the post office gets reamed by their manager. It's also a recorded complaint against that post office.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I'm not asking anyone to do anything that is not their job, and that I pay for. The whole reason to file for the pickup is to give the carrier a notice, and cue them that they have packages to pick up. All they need to do is scan it and pick it up, the reverse of delivering a package. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

This is not a new or recent problem, I've had it for years.  In fact, I've also had problems getting my pickups to even happen for years.  Then I had an amazing carrier for 4 years & I rememberd him at Xmas.  Then he retired & for over a year I had a different sub every day, no one was assigned to our route.  I've learned more about the PO then I've ever wanted to know, like that 1/2 of a city of 1M people is a "rural route", that I, in a subdivision of 800 homes, I am on a "rural route" , that carriers on RR's are not required to scan more thnan 5 pkgs.  

I too used to get incensed & frustrated & say it wasn't in my control.  Esp since my sort center is an hour away & most pkgs don't arrive until after midnight, so if I wait for the sort center, my pkgs are late.   Then I realized it's 100% in my control.  Since that day (several years ago) I have done whatever it takes to make sure I get an Acceptance Scan!   That means I have become friendly enough with the new carrier that he gave me his number & I text him every time there's a pickup, just like I did my old carrier (cuz my PO also has an issue with forgetting to give the carriers the pick up slips), before I had that, it meant that I went to the PO daily & scanned them myself at the APC or found a driver on the street, asked them to scan (they usually will) & I watched while they did it & I reminded them to switch the scanner to picked up from delivered or if the 3 APC's are down, I wait in line or more likely, go to a different PO & wait in much shorter lines.  

Yes, I shouldn't have to do ANY of this, but since that Acceptance Scan is super important to ME b/c my standing w/eBay is super important to me, I decided to start doing whatever it takes.  Also, know that the APC's only give a 'provisional' scan.  I'm good with that, but I also after getting my own proviisonal scan at the APC, I then put them on the counter where we're s'psoed to leave pkgs at my PO, so they get their real scan too.  Most days it works.  It IS in your control, you have to decide how important it is to you. 

[gloryglorygifts]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[gloryglorygifts]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your POSTAL CARRIER gets reamed, not the postmaster. He's the one that gets the email and then does the chastising. 

Why not try to be nice to your postal carrier? Get to know their name, say hi to them, offer them water in the Summer. Yes, it's their job but if your address becomes the one that is constantly putting in complaints, it's a lose lose situation. Tell your carrier to scan your packages upon pick up. They will do it if you ask them.

I have an awesome relationship with my carrier and have had one with the prior two over the last 30 years.  You're greasing the wrong wheel, so good luck to you. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

@valentinial wrote:”Part of the problem is the lack of critical thinking from eBay customer service and the somewhat dogged insistence that USPS is infallible.”

Infallible? Not at all. My honest observation has been that the quality of eBay Customer Service has greatly suffered since the pandemic. It is no longer functioning in a capacity where one can rely on it person-to-person, nor should we sellers even expect it to solve such issues. Therefore the only critical thinking in this matter that counts is that which leads a seller to recognize a carrier scan is required, and then obtained, so on-time shipping can be proven.

It is not reasonable to expect eBay to make a judgement call or an exception on a specific situation. With  millions of sellers, the resources don’t exist and sellers have to protect their own interests as best they can.

[ekmadonna]

"I Have Had Several Items That Have Not Been Scanned, I Can't Control That" YES You Absolutely CAN Control That. Take the packages to the Post Office, Stand in Line and Have The Clerk Scan The Packages In Front of You and Get Your Receipt! Not to be harsh but it's your fault and your responsible. Not the Carrier.