Stop shipping!

[etxj_36]

Last 7 packages I sent are all lost between Texas & northeast.

All scanned here and nothing since.

So oldest is now 14 days since last scan....

So if ya like losing $$$ keep selling and shipping via eBay n USPS.

Me I quit. Closing store. Bank account. 

[gymbo_limbo]

It's kind of reassuring to see I'm not alone with the shipping problems. I have a package I sent to a buyer near the end of November that was being repeatedly scanned in Illinois, like someone got a new scanner they were playing with, then dropped off the face of the Earth (was only going from OH to NY).  P.O. told me it was probably in a small facility or something but probably not lost.

As a buyer I am experiencing strange tracking phenomena as well. Something I bought on 11/26 shows the seller shipped it, USPS received it, then USPS awaits item, then nothing else. No new scans and I never received it.

[calntom]

Nice work!!!!

[carolynnq]

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@calntom wrote:

I hear ya. I just extended my ship time on another venue. I ought to extend handing and/or shipping here.

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The problem is, that won't work here. If you're shipping time is set to within 3 days and you typically ship in one day, eBay calculates the delivery time that is shown to buyers based on your typical shipping time - 1 day. Sellers have complained about this since eBay implemented it. For 20 years, I almost always shipped within 24 hours. I set my shipping time to 3 days to give myself a cushion in case I got sick, had to go help an aging parent, etc. Buyers didn't seem to mind the 3 days to ship and were happy to get their sooner than they expected. But 2-3-4 years ago, whenever it was when eBay started using typical shipping time, I gave up and went to 1-day shipping.

[evry1nositswindy]

I have a first class from Nov. 30 not delivered and am seeing priority shipping taking 7+ days.  I had media mail packages get to California before a priority was delivered to S Carolina.  It is the USPS, period.  Why the USPS get paid and we have to refund??

[calntom]

OK, I now remember that being the case. I might go ahead and extend anyways though I will do a check on what it looks like before and after on my end. Might make my to do list for mañana. 

Thanks for the heads up.

[dbfolks166mt]

Curious whether you are checking the status through the tracking number link in eBay or if you are checking directly on the USPS tracking site. There is something seriously broken with the eBay interface. I have had package still showing as USPS waiting on package when checked through the eBay link but actually showing scanned progress, and in one case as delivered, when I checked the status directly through the USPS site. 

     That is not to say there are not shipping delays and problems but it's not just USPS. On 2 December FedEx suspended their money back guarantee on express shipments until further notice. USPS will tell you up front that priority mail 2-3 day delivery is now averaging about 6-9 days at times depending on the distance and the particular location. 

     California just went into a lockdown again because of COVID which will no doubt impact deliveries into and shipments out of that state. It is kind of a gamble with shipping at the moment and eBay is doing nothing to help the sellers in this situation. On the good side I purchased some items off another site. Seller was in South Carolina and I am in Virginia. Seller dropped the package at the post office on Saturday morning, had the post office scan the item and hand her a receipt. Package arrived at my house in Virginia Monday morning. Two days shipping time. 

[twiggs55]

I'm only using First Class or Priority. My priority packages seem to get to the buyer faster than first class.

I mailed a jewelry piece first class and it took over a week to get to the buyer. Normally it only takes 3-4 days, so something's slowing it down.

[dolcetreasures]

Wow congratulations so then everything is fine the world is safe.

[patd3283]

A number of you are in the Mid-West which has taken a really hard hit with the virus and I am sure the postal workers are getting sick, too.  It is coming to Georgia, now!  Packages I ship to the Mid-West seem to slow down when they get there.

Yes, you have to check the USPS website as eBay's site is not updating some like it should.

Our poor postmistress was really frazzled by day's end today.  We have a lot of sellers who use our relatively small post office.  Within 5 minutes  of her trying to close, a seller brought in 4 very large tubs of mostly first class small packages.  They will need to be scanned along with a number of gondolas before they go out about 7:15.  I hope she doesn't quit because she is really good!

And yes, you would thing eBay would hear the cry from their sellers...

[billmullins3]

"(must get paid like food delivery drivers)."

They do. And it's a pittance. Plus, as an independent contractor, they have to keep all their own books, log their miles, keep track of fuel purchases and other expenses. Add in the fact that virtually no apartment or condominium complex is arranged logically simply FINDING the right unit can be a nightmare - PLUS it takes time.

As a buyer I have had more than one package sent through the U.S. Postal Service (an oxymoron if ever there was one) "lost. I figure with the greatly increased volume of traffic, there have been a **bleep** ton of packages that walked out of postal processing centers. The mere fact that a package has been sent "Priority Mail" in an indication that whatever is being sent is valuable.

Finally, I also figure a lot of postal employees are too busy manufacturing and back-dating votes to actually do their jobs!

[innovatilife]

This week I already had 2 buyers opened INR cases due to USPS. The most amount I had in the entire year so far. One was even Priority Mail that hasn't been scanned since it left my city's facility.

Reading all the posts here about USPS delaying shipments and sellers being forced refunds with no recourse, I think it's best to just shut down my eBay business until December is over. Of course, I will still be acquiring inventory daily, but will not be listing them until this whole USPS fiasco is over.

[cynthealee2]

Mine are all over the place... Media mail going faster than Priority.  Some first class getting cross country in 24 hours, some taking 4 weeks (refunded that one since the PO completely lost it).   My local PO and local hub they FLY out of... scanned in and out within 4-6 hours of dropping in the blue boxes outside of the local PO. (the hub is the next city over, and they empty the blue boxes straight into the trucks scanning as they go).  It's once it leaves the local hub on the planes at the local Airport that it goes all wonky.

[destrucity_shop]

Embroidered patterns are very from qualifying for Media Mail, in case you didin't know. Also, Media Mail is very slow compared to other services

[etxj_36]

I'm in East TX all my stuff goes via Shreveport Louisiana 1st. I only use priority mail n 1st class.

I'm not a newby been at this 15+ years

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@destrucity_shop wrote:

Embroidered patterns are very from qualifying for Media Mail, in case you didin't know

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That's true. Unless it's at least 8 pages and bound, with no advertising and no non-eligible items (like fabric or thread), in which case it would meet USPS's definition of a book.  Otherwise, it should be shipped as First Class mail.  If it's thin and flexible, it could go as a flat (AKA Large envelope) which would cost even less than MM but wouldn't have tracking.