USPS shipping

[roadkinggs300]

I sold an item on EBAY and used USPS shipping.  The item was shipped to the correct address in Texas but has somehow ended up in Honolulu HI.  What happens if (a) it isn't received by buyer and (b) can we get shipping cost refunded by USPS?

[redlinear]

A) Refund the buyer....and I'd just go ahead and do that right now. Be done with it and avoid the mess that's coming if you don't.  (It's your best move).
B) If you went through eBay to ship it, you're probably not going to get anything done about it.  You might spend hours of time trying also.  
If you went straight to USPS to label and ship?  Possible to get up to $100 on a lost package.  Again, I don't know the value of what you shipped, but the time/labor/frustration of recovery usually isn't worth it.

I've shipped things in used boxes (my neighbors keep me stocked up on boxes).  Had them deliver my items TO my neighbors in the past.   Because I overlooked an old shipping label still on the box.

And, I shipped something TO HI before that got lost.
It showed back up here TWO years later.   Took a week before anybody here figured out what was going on..LOL

[tarotfindsandmore]

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/help-buyer-item-didnt-receive?id=4116

Personally, I NEVER provide a refund until the proper steps have been followed. Have the buyer follow the instructions on that page.  In the meantime, file a claim/start an investigation with the USPS yourself by googling "filing claim USPS" and follow the steps on that page.  You'll get an investigation number in an email confirming the claim has been made.  Send that information on to your buyer and apologize for the inconvenience.

If you refund your buyer without following the proper procedures, you'll lose the eBay fees and the sale. You'll see numerous threads on these pages with stories of woe from sellers who jumped the gun and refunded too quickly, only to have the item get rerouted and delivered, giving the buyer both the item and their money back.

[caldreamer]

USPS does some weird stuff...you should wait and see if package eventually get delivered to correct address. However, if customer files "did not receive item" claim you will be forced to issue a full refund unless you can provide tracking# proving item was delivered to correct address.

EBAY holds seller are responsible if package is lost in shipment.    You would need to file a claim against UPSP to get a refund for lost items.   USPS will not give a refund if package is just delayed.

[littlestoreofwonders]

Ended up in as in delivered status or transit because they can get into wrong bag or truck then rerouted. Still possible if delivered that it gets back on plane for travel. That has happened before and strangely delivered to correct address. You can call USPS hotline and see what next steps they can take and file claim through USPS if delivered wrong. Show the buyer you are being proactive and inform them of steps you are taking. 

[fern*wood]

Since I don't know many details, I'm going to have assume on some points.  I'm assuming you have insurance, which should cover a lost package.  There is a waiting time for filing.

Depending on how long ago this was mailed would determine my steps.  Recently I had a package going to Florida, it arrived at the buyer's town but next day traveled on to Puerto Rico.   I had a wonderful buyer that I kept up in touch with and they were willing to wait to see where it went from there.  At the one month point, it was finally delivered back in Florida.  Had they not waited & filed a not received case, I would have refunded & filed with USPS for lost package.

I also signed up for email notifications on the tracking. This helped me with my communications with the buyer.

[steve_stuff]

"... ended up in Honolulu ..." 

And I guess it's sitting in a post office? If so then for how long?

And in the last two, three years 10/12 of our packages took a tour of the US - and all EVENTUALLY got to the right place.

[toysaver]

If you shipped it recently within the last week and the HI tracking is just a day or two old be patient.  It can still make it to TX in a day or two.  It's not unheard of for a package to get sidetracked like this.  If it's genuinely stuck open a find my missing case.  

Missing Mail and Lost Packages | USPS

[a_c_green]

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@roadkinggs300 wrote:

I sold an item on EBAY and used USPS shipping.  The item was shipped to the correct address in Texas but has somehow ended up in Honolulu HI.  What happens if (a) it isn't received by buyer and (b) can we get shipping cost refunded by USPS?

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You did not give any dates here to tell us how long it has been since the Hawaii scan, but if you are seeing tracking updates then the package is not lost, just miss-sorted.

It's not as if Hawaii has a delivery address matching the label for your buyer in Texas, so as soon as someone at its current location looks at the label and sees that it's in the wrong place, it will go back into the outbound bag heading for the mainland. You might even see a "Missent" entry in the tracking history when that happens.

In short, I wouldn't worry about it (especially if your buyer has not said anything). Try checking its tracking history on the USPS.com website, and at the bottom of that page, you can sign yourself up for text or email tracking updates whenever they occur. That way the package is reporting to you, and you will know where it is as it travels.

[jameshen1]

I am guessing that James (InHawaii) is involved somehow. 😁