I've been seeing (and hearing) a lot of sellers asking what to do, or sellers who say "nothing I can do, just wait" - that is not true, you can do something, USPS (and all carriers) have channels for people to file for package search and it's easy, takes a few min instead of wandering ebay looking at posts/making threads, calling ebay, or USPS and being on hold for hours.
1. Go to https://www.usps.com/ > right hand side hover mouse over "HELP" > select > "FAQ"
2. Next Page . Select: "Contact Us"
3. Next page select > "Email Us"
4. Next page select > "Where Is My Package"
5. A window will pop up asking you for the tracking number > enter tracking > select "Next"
6. A new window will appear asking you for specific information pertaining to the package, fill out the needed/required information
7. Start with the top, "Tracking Issue Information" you will select from the 4 drop down options as shown in this image
8. Then proceed to the rest of the options, "Special Services" and "Contents of Mail" (they must be filled out). "Content of Mail" only provides a small short list of contents, if you contents is not listed select "Unknown" and the right arrow to bring the selection to the right side window. Directly Under that is "Dollar Value Of Item Mailed" That MUST be filled out (sale price of your item)
9. Options after leave blank unless the inquire is being filled out from package theft, go to bottom "Other Tracking Issues" and write as shown in example:
10. Select "Next" - new page, fill in all the address info (sender & recipient)
11. Click "Next" now you'll need to fill in YOUR information again (this is the contact portion)
12. After you submit, you'll get confirmation window, close, your done, an email will be sent (usually immediately) to your email you provided, this is a email confirmation with the search inquire #, save it, you'll need it, if you open several searches on various packages, make sure to write each down with item/tracking number/date package sent/service of mail...
After you open the search, tracking on the ebay tracking for the item will show that a search was created on the package...you won't see this at USPS tracking, but on ebay when you click on the tracking number...this the buyer will see and ebay, but remember communication with the buyer should also take place, explain your watching and opened a search cause it's late...most buyers will be happy your taking care of it.
Lately post masters the original search go to have been closing the cases after 15 min or so after you open them (because they are lazy and don't want to search, just use covid as excuse to close your request), repeat this tutorial, but this time, when you start and they ask for tracking you'll enter it and they will say a case already was created and ask if you want to escalate (not exact words) - select yes, no need to fill everything out again. This brings a new case search inquire number - you'll get a new email with that new number, save it. This escalates the case to higher authorities within USPS and post master can't just close the request like did before and they need to actually search for the package.
If that case closes and no movement on package within a day or so, file "Missing Mail" report, found under the "FAQ's" but under "Missing Mail" walk yourself through the steps (it's a little different then the search inquire did before). This goes to separate unit in DC, all they do is find missing mail, takes awhile to hear from them, usually, before you do package will be found and start to move/be delivered but it's good to file in escalated case does nothing.
If still nothing, and the package was insured, file insurance claim with USPS, almost certainly they will then find and deliver - they don't want to pay out and you have 15 days from date of package being excepted to file for insurance with USPS on Priority mail (and up to 60 days after).
Hope this helps...bye
