USPS Loses another one

[ajw2203]

I was going out of town for family emergency and had one order that came through right before I put my store in vacation mode.  I printed the label at 10pm, went to bed and dropped the package on the counter of the post office on my way to the airport, but didn't get it scanned. 

Now the buyer didn't get his item and is belligerent that I never shipped it.  Thinking it over I have a dashcam on my car and thought footage of me walking the box past the front of the car and into the the post office might still be on the card, but it must be too many days and I don't have it. 

USPS has an active open case tracer for the item.  I asked the buyer to open a item not received case and I will immediately refund him, and ask him to refuse the package if it ever arrives.  He said he doesn't want to open a case and I should just send him the money.  

What should I do?  I have no problem refunding after getting an ebay request, but do you just send him a refund without it.  The item is $150, I would rather not let him get the money and have the item show up the next day.  I'm thinking if I refund him without him opening a case that this could happen

[southern*sweet*tea]

The buyer needs to open an official case.  Don't refund until they do, and even then if the package has movement I believe the deadline will be extended.  If nothing at all is showing though, you're stuck.

[donsdetour]

No case no refund.

Sounds like they may have lost their ability to open cases....

Note: if it is cheaper just to refund do so.

Just plain saves time and money: but it is an option also.

[ajw2203]

It shows no movement but shows 'PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CREATED'

[popblox · Accepted solution]

No - don't give him squat. He's manipulating you, knowing he can get the refund now and then he'll keep the item when it does show up, as you won't have any recourse without a case. A case doesn't offer much protection either, but it does afford you a little more time.

You know you shipped it, USPS just sucks right now. I've had packages go 3 weeks or more without getting scanned, but they do show up eventually. If it's Priority or Insured, you can file a claim 15 days after the mailing date, even if it doesn't look like it's been scanned (I've done it successfully several times). After you file a claim, it will usually show up the next day, sometimes within hours.

Just tell him you're sorry, but you have to follow eBay policy, and the next step according to eBay policy would be for him to open an INR. Again, do not refund him early, but you should go ahead and block him and report him if he gets abusive. 

[selling_everything_74]

I lose packages with no scans nearly every week.  It's just the nature of the beast at this point.  Be confident in your reply and tell them the facts.  USPS is understaffed in a lot of parts of the United States and causing issues such as, no initial scans, lost packages, and packages staying in one location for weeks at a time.  Tell them to view you feedback and show them you are a high rated seller. Then tell them these things happen and they will just have to wait a little longer for the package.  Most show up, just a little later than expected and you have no control over how the package is handled. Once you drop it off it's out of your hands and you have to wait to see what happens same as the buyer.  It's all about taking charge for buyers like these.

On a different note you have 1 negative from the past month and the customer was upset that it took longer than expected. That is a USPS issue, so you could probably have it removed. It's not your fault. 

When you contact eBay, contact them on Twitter..... It so much easier to get all your thoughts out without talking to someone that causes frustrations most times. The reply may take a day sometimes but it's worth it.  I have better results and things tend to go my way more often than not.

Hope this helps.

[ajw2203]

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@selling_everything_74 wrote:

On a different note you have 1 negative from the past month and the customer was upset that it took longer than expected. That is a USPS issue, so you could probably have it removed. It's not your fault. 

Not only was it a USPS issue it was also a buyer issue because he game me the incorrect address. Email ebay and they said too bad.

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[inhawaii]

The package is not lost.  It's just delayed. This is a common thing.

Develop a good rapport with your customer.  Be nice.  Be friendly. Apologize and assure them that the item will show up, just late. Keep in contact with them. Give them any updates. 

In cases like this i have offered to refund the customer if they promise to pay me when the item shows up. I know that's taking a risk. Thankfully my items are not that expensive so i can afford to take that risk.   Some take me up on the refund offer, some don't.  Some say they'll just wait it out. Those who have taken me up on the refund offer have all paid me when the item finally arrived.  Again, having a good rapport with the buyer is key.   

Many will disagree with this.  But this works for me.

Good luck and stay safe.

[toysaver]

Did you leave it at an unattended counter or was a clerk there to acknowledge the package?   If the former another patron may have walked out the door with it, has happened to me.   

[1tuna]

I do not recall that you mentioned a shipping date.

if a buyer told me that they were tired of waiting I would have to tell them if its been less than 3 weeks they can go take a hike......I never antagonize a buyer but you know what I mean

make your buyer open a case.just because its late does not mean you have to put up with  lousy buyer who thinks you have not shipped

the usps regularly skips tracking.......it saves time and I do  not blame  them at all

I never check tracking.I just know that its frequently skipped

role out the covid excsue if you have to.....how about that worker bee shortage,

manpower constraints due to vacation plans is also a good one

sorry you have a buyer like this

[ajw2203]

It’s the guys nasty tone that I purposely screwed him. I told him twice that I dropped it at usps within 24 hours of him paying. (I have my settings set to two business days)  thanking when I went out of town it was May 24 so I shipped it priority mail May 24. 

[inhawaii]

So much for my "have a good rapport with the buyer" theory.   😉

Good luck!

[1tuna]

I get that about once every few months.some buyers think I want to hold onto packages

I am at the post office 6 days a week.............drop and go works for me

I do not like being accused of not shipping either.last year was some slow service but thank heavens its over 

[ajw2203]

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@inhawaii wrote:

The package is not lost.  It's just delayed. This is a common thing.

Develop a good rapport with your customer.  Be nice.  Be friendly. Apologize and assure them that the item will show up, just late. Keep in contact with them. Give them any updates. 

In cases like this i have offered to refund the customer if they promise to pay me when the item shows up. I know that's taking a risk. Thankfully my items are not that expensive so i can afford to take that risk.   Some take me up on the refund offer, some don't.  Some say they'll just wait it out. Those who have taken me up on the refund offer have all paid me when the item finally arrived.  Again, having a good rapport with the buyer is key.   

Many will disagree with this.  But this works for me.

Good luck and stay safe.

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I offered that as a solution I said I will refund you and if the item shows up I’m going to ask you to please return it. The concern is that he doesn’t want to open a case he wants the refund right away. in this situation I’m afraid when it does arrive I have no recourse

[stickerberry]

I really hate going to the post office and standing in line but I feel like that's what I'm gonna have to do from now on, that's the only way you're guaranteed a scan. I've had numerous packages that have been picked up/dropped off and have never been scanned until days later. I ship everything out within 1 day and it really looks bad on the sellers because it seems like we're not getting the orders out in time. If it's gonna be delayed, fine. If the post office is backed up, fine. But the least they can do is scan the package so it doesn't look like sellers are just sitting on orders that are actually in THEIR possession.