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.

[slippinjimmy]

eBay doesn't know if the carrier didn't scan it or if you didn't hand it over until later.

Nobody here gets the benefit of the doubt.

eBay trusts what the USPS tracking says over a sellers word (shocking news: some seller lie or stretch the truth).

Getting an Acceptance Scan is virtually the one thing you do have control of, after that it's entirely in the hands of USPS.

[albertabrightalberta]

My carrier is very good about scanning my items when he picks them up. 

If there's a substitute carrier or if my regular carrier is on vacation, I go to the post office, wait in line and have my items scanned as "accepted." 

[inhawaii]

My packages get picked up by my mail carrier then scanned in the truck by some hand-held device and within minutes shows "picked up" on the tracking.

[valentinial]

Well, you know, it starts when you're always afraid. 

Anyway, yes, our regular carrier is out on sick leave. She is great.  I put the item in my mailbox on 3/3/25. 

I went to the local post office to get a more complete record. There is no scan. The first recognition of the package is  "System Generated" on Sunday 3/9/25. There is no appearance of the item until 3/9/25 - a Sunday in which it would have been impossible for me to have done.

USPS is so screwed up right now, it is hard to believe that eBay cannot make some basic deductions when it comes to their sellers.  I WAS NOT LATE.

I

[jonathanbrightlight]

You have a built in buffer for issues like this, so it does not matter unless you make a habit of late shipping.  Don't stress.

[valentinial]

Yes, my carrier is out on leave.  She used to go to the end of the road and scan stuff in. She was great. The replacements have been horrible. I have had multiple issues sine around Christmas. Indianapolis has been on the news for the very poor transition from one service center to another.

It is a shame eBay is not more attentive to us and give us the benefit of the doubt. 

I sent the item on Monday 3/3/25 via my mailbox. The first USPS contact was "System Generated" on Sunday 3/9/25 which makes no sense. This is why I am so incensed. How could I have got it to USPS to be system generated on a Sunday? Sheesh.

[valentinial]

Yeh, so do mine - except when they don't. My regular carrier stops at the end of the street to scan stuff in as she is leaving my neighborhood. The time picked up generally is a few minutes after she has been to my mailbox.  But she is on leave. It has been very haphazard since she has been out on leave.

[buyselljack2016]

"system generated" because the package was scanned someplace with "NO prior scans". That's how it works when that happens.

eBay cannot/will not scrub "late dings" on an individual basis.

Back a while I had "scanning" issues at my mailbox. Until that was resolved I took my packages to have them scanned.

[farmalljr]

If you are not scheduling the pick up for packages, you run this risk of the carrier not scanning them.  If you have pick ups scheduled and the carrier fails to scan, THEN you can file a complaint online with USPS. 

As has been suggested the only way to guarantee a scan no matter what, is to wait in like AT the counter. But you can also cut the RISK of not getting a scan simply by scheduling a pick up. Paper trails cover your butt to some extent. With a scheduled pick up, you at least have some ground to make a complaint. Otherwise, you have nothing you can say really. 

[a_c_green]

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@valentinial wrote:

I sent the item on Monday 3/3/25 via my mailbox. The first USPS contact was "System Generated" on Sunday 3/9/25 which makes no sense. This is why I am so incensed. How could I have got it to USPS to be system generated on a Sunday? Sheesh.

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The "system generated" scan is done by a conveyor belt scanner at a sort facility, which could occur at any hour of the day or night. If that is the first in-network scan of the package (which it shouldn't be, but if the originating post office didn't bother, then this is it), it will be logged with wording of "Accepted at Sort Facility" or similar, and that will the Acceptance scan that finally stops the clock on your Handling time.

[jbbowers12012]

Hi,  We here in New Jersey have found that the only way to be sure of getting an acceptance scan - is to take your packages to your P.O. - stand on line & ask the clerk for a reciept.  Scanning your package will generate your reciept for you & will also provide you with your acceptance scan.  It can sometimes be a pain but it is really the only way............Good Luck!!

[gloryglorygifts]

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. 

[luckythewinner]

I have tried to explain to eBay

If eBay took the seller's word for when the seller put the item in their mailbox, then no seller would ever get a late shipping ding. Every seller would tell eBay the USPS picked it up on time but must have failed to scan it on time. 

Sheesh. How unaware can you be?

You were clearly aware that you needed an acceptance scan within your shipping time frame, because you said you were worried there might be an issue ("I always monitor shipping because USPS has been so spotty lately").

If you are bumping up against your late shipping threshold after taking the built-in buffer into account, you need to either talk to your carrier or stand in line at the PO and make sure it gets scan.

[bandrhome]

@gloryglorygifts  Look in to Pirateship, it sycns with Ebay and can schedule pickups easy. I never have issue there. 

They auto send tracking and marked as shipped.