USPS didnt do an acceptance scan. No tracking for over a week & refunded buyer. Am I screwed?

[oddsandendsshop]

Hi, I sold an item April 29 and shipped it the morning of april 30. 
USPS never did an acceptance scan, no updates for over a week.
On May 7 buyer opened a case against me for item not arrived. I had no evidence w/o an acceptance scan obviously, and Ebay gives bad marks if you don't respond to a case before it closes, I got nervous and refunded May 8.

Four god **bleep** hours later, tracking updated. Radio silence from buyer. 

I want the money for the item I sent. Is there anything I can do?

[gator08041971]

@oddsandendsshop 

You can try to have USPS intercept the package and return it before its delivered.

You will have to do this from the USPS website I believe.

https://www.usps.com/manage/package-intercept.htm

Only other option would be to hope the buyer either returns the item, or pays for it somehow, but it would be outside of eBay which is not permitted normally.  However according to eBay currently, the transaction is already completed, since its refunded so how you try to resolve that now is up to you.

Otherwise, yeah, you are kinda in a pickle there. 

If this is the Lego set, I would be tempted to do the intercept, but the other two items, that are like 10 bucks each, I doubt I would bother at this point, and just chalk it up to the chance you take.

[bigoljim47]

USPS has been very slow in the past 2-3 month. Never refund until you have done everything to locate the package. I would enter the tracking # in the open case, this will give you some time. Then go to USPS site and start a tracking search., Many times this will alert USPS and with a day or 2 movement is notes. Contact buyer and tell them that you contacted USPS and to please wait a while longer. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@bigoljim47 wrote:

USPS has been very slow in the past 2-3 month. Never refund until you have done everything to locate the package. I would enter the tracking # in the open case, this will give you some time. Then go to USPS site and start a tracking search., Many times this will alert USPS and with a day or 2 movement is notes. Contact buyer and tell them that you contacted USPS and to please wait a while longer. 

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Buyer has already been refunded and the case closed.

[kensgiftshop]

You can ask the buyer if they'll repay or refuse the package, but you can't make them.

Try having the package intercepted.

[mtgraves7984]

On May 7 buyer opened a case against me for item not arrived. I had no evidence w/o an acceptance scan obviously, and Ebay gives bad marks if you don't respond to a case before it closes, I got nervous and refunded May 8.

@oddsandendsshop 

^^^ That would have been the time to upload tracking into the claim. I'd go with a package intercept now. Good luck.

[a_c_green]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:
Buyer has already been refunded and the case closed.

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Ayup. The only options I see for the OP here are either

• to attempt the Package Intercept by applying at USPS.com (no charge to you if the intercept attempt is not successful) or
   
• if the package has already been delivered, to contact the buyer and request payment again. (They are not required to do so.) The buyer's phone number is normally found in the Order Details for the transaction.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Because of its importance, my practice is to always wait in line at the post office to ensure my package gets an acceptance scan.

( @oddsandendsshop i realize this advice does not aid your current circumstance, but your sharing your experience will undoubtedly help others who see your post avoid this problem.)

[a_c_green]

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

Because of its importance, my practice is to always wait in line at the post office to ensure my package gets an acceptance scan.

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Me too. But at the same time, I'm wondering how that package managed to escape scanning anywhere along the way, until finally popping up on the radar days later. The first in-network scan is logged as Acceptance regardless of where it occurs, and automated scanners should have picked it up fairly soon after it went into the mailstream.

The only thing I can think of is that the tracking bar code became damaged or illegible, and it was only when a hand scanner failed to read it that the operator would have keyed in the tracking number by hand, thus triggering its rather late Acceptance on-line. (The in-house USPS intranet system logs whether each scan in the tracking history was a direct scan of the package or a container scan that is holding the package. A direct scan may be either via optical scan or keyboard entry.)

[adamcartwright]

@fashunu4eeuh 

Yes, the counter really is the only way to protect yourself, and I usually do it that way.

But I shipped a bunch of packages the other day using the kiosk, because the line was long.

All got the "acceptance" scan, but the highest sale (wouldn't you know it) hasn't moved beyond that, while all the others have already departed the regional facility.

I've signed up for tracking notifications, and I'm sure it will be fine, but that kiosk isn't worth the headache when things go south. 

[funfactorychannel]

Doubt it.

If it never got a scan anywhere in the process means package never made it. It could been taken by someone, the label fell off, too much tape over label.

How was this item packaged?

[kandf_vintage_finds]

For Future:

Get a Scan.  Even if you have to stand in Line...get it.  Without the scan there is no protection.

I am so fortunate that I have an exceptional mail carrier.  He picks up and SCANS every day.

He lets me know when he will be off or on vacation so I can make other arrangements.

His motivation?  His yearly reward at Christmas time

[luckythewinner]

The only thing I can think of is that the tracking bar code became damaged or illegible, and it was only when a hand scanner failed to read it that the operator would have keyed in the tracking number by hand, thus triggering its rather late Acceptance on-line.

Tracking and delivery can be affected by poorly printed labels, loose labels, labels with ink that runs, or  wrinkled tape that makes it difficult or impossible to read the bar code.

None of the factors I mentioned above are the fault of the USPS, and can be traced directly back to the seller.

[a_c_green]

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@adamcartwright wrote:

@fashunu4eeuh 

Yes, the counter really is the only way to protect yourself, and I usually do it that way.

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Me too.

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@adamcartwright wrote:

@fashunu4eeuh 

But I shipped a bunch of packages the other day using the kiosk, because the line was long.

All got the "acceptance" scan, but the highest sale (wouldn't you know it) hasn't moved beyond that, while all the others have already departed the regional facility.

I've signed up for tracking notifications, and I'm sure it will be fine, but that kiosk isn't worth the headache when things go south. 

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I'm not sure what you mean by "isn't worth the headache when things go south," because the Provisional Acceptance scan you get at the kiosk is accepted by eBay as proof of mailing (thus stopping the clock on your Handling time), even though the USPS will not accept it for insurance claim purposes. (They do not consider your package to actually be in the mailstream until it gets at least one in-network scan, such as at the front desk by a clerk, or at any other point along the way.)

They're supposed to do an actual Acceptance scan when they empty the drop chute at the kiosk, and if they're not, you need to complain to your postmaster.

[oddsandendsshop]

What would that prove without an acceptance scan? That would be the same as paying for a label and never bringing it to the PO in Ebay's eyes.