Post Office Delays?

[blc0724]

Has anyone else noticed an overall weirdness shipping through USPS lately?

Some simple shipments take weeks or sit at a hub for several days before actual delivery. One of my own non-eBay packages went from Georgia to Nevada before making it to it's destination here in Florida.

It's mostly kinda funny, but has anyone else been noticing that lately?

[inhawaii]

---

@blc0724 wrote:

Has anyone else noticed an overall weirdness shipping through USPS lately?

---

No, not me.

Same good service as usual.

[kaywil_26]

Yea it's so frustrating! I ordered a package that was supposed to be here the 28th that has been sitting in the same place for two days 40 min away

[mam98031]

---

@kaywil_26 wrote:

Yea it's so frustrating! I ordered a package that was supposed to be here the 28th that has been sitting in the same place for two days 40 min away

---

@kaywil_26 

Go to USPS website and review the detail tracking info.

On this tracking screen there is a place to file for email updates as there is movement on the tracking. Sign up for that so you get informed right away when something gets entered to the tracking.

Go and file for a TRACE, I don't recommend filing for Missing Mail just yet. The two are completely different actions. The Trace usually gets the job done quicker.
https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/package-inquiry

That should help to get the package moving.  

[airsheep]

My packages frequently disappear into limbo and don't update until they are out for delivery, sometimes 3+ weeks after the last delivery estimate.  I can wait a while, but don't like the tracking being so sparse.

[baantiques]

It's terrible.  In addition to the slow shipping I've had a rash of lost packages.  

[carlmarxx]

I have been recommending to both buyers and sellers   on these USPS problem threads to go to the P.O.'s  that handle their mail and parcels ,to go to the counter and request a internal tracking scan  which does have more details  then the USPS Online site  . also will depend on employees  to keep up loading scan number  also  as DMM regulations requirement.   

[mam98031]

---

@airsheep wrote:

My packages frequently disappear into limbo and don't update until they are out for delivery, sometimes 3+ weeks after the last delivery estimate.  I can wait a while, but don't like the tracking being so sparse.

---

I can't think of any seller that would like that.  You have the option to file for a Trace on the package and sign up for email updates on the movement of the package.  Those actions can help get a package moving.  Or contact your seller and ask them to do it.

[mam98031]

---

@baantiques wrote:

It's terrible.  In addition to the slow shipping I've had a rash of lost packages.  

---

@baantiques 

Has USPS told you they were lost or are you assuming they are lost because of the lack of tracking updates?  The distinction is important as far too many packages have lapses in tracking updates and sometimes big gaps.  But the package isn't lost.  It is important for sellers to realize this and file the Trace and sign up for the updates on tracking entries.  Most packages end up delivered.  Many late, but they still get there.

[mam98031]

General Post:

All sellers need to keep in mind that USPS is often late in getting packages to their destination.  That does NOT mean that the packages are lost.

I've seen sellers refund buyers assuming the package is lost, only for the package to get delivered a few days later and now the buyer has the item and your money.  Some of those buyers are honest and will repay the seller, but others are not.  So the seller is out their money and the product.

If you notice a tracking issue, or if a buyer contacts you with a delivery issue or if the buyer opens an INR, IMHO these are the steps to take.

If an INR was opened, make sure you upload the tracking number to the INR right away.

Go to USPS website and review the detail tracking info.

On this tracking screen there is a place to file for email updates as there is movement on the tracking. Sign up for that so you get informed right away when something gets entered to the tracking.

Go and file for a TRACE, I don't recommend filing for Missing Mail just yet. The two are completely different actions. The Trace usually gets the job done quicker.
https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/package-inquiry

Contact your buyer. Keep all contact inside the INR filed so everything is recorded on the claim. Let your buyer know you are working with USPS to get their package delivered. Apologize for the delay. And let them know you filed a trace which takes between 48-72 hours for USPS to respond. As you get any information you will update the buyer right away. Assure your buyer that you are working this problem and will continue to do so until a proper resolution.

If there is movement on the tracking within the last 7 days, Ebay will keep the INR open. Do not voluntarily issue the refund yet. It is highly likely the package is going to get delivered, it is just late. Annoying for the buyer for sure. Just stay in touch with them and assure them you are working on a resolution.

[autosol15]

Yes, 3 this week....a medium flatrate box with $800 worth of vintage Alfa Romeo parts, a flat rate padded envelope with $90 worth of parts, and another flat rate padded envelope with $140 worth of parts.   All 14+ days late, in USPS purgatory for at least 10 days with no scans or activity.   I'll be lucky to recover $300 from the whole lot.   It's annoying, but what can you do?   Cost of doing business.

[ittybitnot]

 had it not gone "on tour"

@buyselljack2016 

The "on tour" has been my biggest issue starting last year.  It seems like they just send them 'anywhere' unrelated.  Before I moved, I thought it was a Florida thing.  All mail got sent 100+ miles south to Miami (even if it was going across the street)  and then would go from there, to Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Atlanta Georgia, N. Carolina, back to Jacksonville, take another trip around the state to finally arrive two weeks late.  

Florida to  Colorado, spent two weeks going back and forth from Montana to Utah, a couple of side trips to California back to Nevada, and was only late by a month or so.   I live in a different state, now but I had a package travel through the same Post Office centers around the same city for two weeks.  My local PO gave me a print out of their "intranet" and though it showed 27 scans on the USPS public facing tracking site, there were actually 42.  She said it was "out for delivery" that morning.  I said it has said that three times now, so I don't hold much hope...LOL..   Luckily it was delivered as she said, and I am even MORE lucky I don't sell here anymore. 

Though parcels sent "on tour" are annoying, I suppose it is better than going into a "black hole" with no scans at all?????? At least the customer can see it when it is taking a cross country road trip. 

[vip2054]

Of course it is, imagine how much extra revenue ebay collects when they raise fees even a small percentage.

[chaugs]

Omg yes!  Takes 7-10 days for an item to get delivered. Items seem to meander to weird P.O.s that I have never  seen before. Read something about changes being made to how mail moved around the country but heck this is crazy.  Things get misrouted a lot more often. Ground shipping is done by pony express or worse yet, snail 🐌

[mcgurf]

i’ve been buying a lot more than selling recently, so i’ve been very aware of the USPS slowdown. here in NYC if a package used to hit the distribution center on Monday i might get it as early as Monday late afternoon. but since feb pkgs hit the dist center monday then sit for 2-3 days and i get it friday. and between the original scan and the dist center there’s no follow up just that the pkg is “moving through the system” doesn’t matter if it’s priority or media or ground. slow. express priority is now 3-5 days reg priority is 5-10 days. 

[toysaver]

I have a package with eBay tracking that is missing but it shows fine on USPS.