Who's getting hit with high/very high INR's due to USPS?

[ipostwiththisname]

I offer all three carriers, but buyers always choose USPS as they are the only cost effective option for light items.  Doing away with USPS would result in zero sales.  All of my packages go through Indianapolis, one of the worst sort hubs in the US.  They make our local news regularly.   I've had some go through lightening fast and others sit for weeks.  I keep track of all of the slow ones, keep in tough with buyers, file research cases and missing mail cases and do what I can to speed them up, if it even helps.  Still, I have enough INR's to rate very high compared to my "peers" on my next evaluation on 3/20.  Everyone has eventually gotten their items though and I've not had to do any refunds luckily.  Still, so frustrating.

[chariot_badges]

Wait till you get the nasty-grams that your INR rate is too high, and you're about to be fired.

[adamcartwright]

I haven't had any INRs but was holding my breath on one that took two weeks to get from coast to coast.

The first scan was at the USPS counter, and the second was a full 10 days later. 

Fortunately, my buyer was patient.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I've had a couple vanish (supposedly) where the buyer said that even though tracking showed delivered, they didn't get it. Who knows.

[12345jamesstamps]

Never got an item lost by USPS in years...and I don't do everything with tracking.

Most of my non-tracking items arrive in 3-4 days cross country.

Priority Mail I received and send out is super fast as well.

Did have an item missing last month missing for a month and it finally arrived in Pennsylvania to buyer...buyer was nice and is returning the duplicate item I sent them.

[gloryglorygifts]

I've only had one go astray in the last few weeks. Turns out it was with the neighbor. I guess I'm lucky that I haven't had any going to Indianapolis lately?

I know how frustrating it is. Your post reminds me of the holiday season 2020. I think I had 15 cases open with USPS and I was a wreck over my defect rate. Some I managed to get removed by ebay. Fingers and toes crossed that you don't get hit too hard.

[selsa84]

12 lost since end of January that have open lost claims and 17 lost claims paid. Atlanta, Indy, Knoxville and St Louis are very bad right now. 

[ebooksdiva]

I haven't received INRs nor any complaints from my buyers, who are apparently patient, when their item doesn't get to them by the estimated dates eBay posts. 

[greatmidwestcoin]

If you have many mail issues, you should look at how you package your items. At least take a look at them or ask your Postmaster for advice.

As a retired PM, I saw everything people tried to use packaging items. One person selling costume jewelry would use the small Chinese restaurant take-out box with the wire handles. No offense meant. Even items I buy on eBay arrive in tiny handmade boxes or envelopes like 4" x 4". I always recall receiving an old, used flat envelope with a USPS red finger stamp for "Return to sender - Deceased." It still had the dead person's name and address on the envelope, and the seller just wrote my address next to it. Not cool. Just because you CAN mail an item in a small handmade box or used mailing material doesn't mean it is advisable.  Just some suggestions.

[mommaknows]

@greatmidwestcoin  What would be the smallest acceptable box size? New seller here and I've created a couple of small boxes, but don't want problems going forward. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated. 

[inhawaii]

I'm not experiencing this and I live and ship from a remote location. I recently posted about a cutomer who was concerned about how long his item was going to take. He lived in NY. His package arrived in 4 days and he has already left me positive feedback.

[mam98031]

I have had one in the last couple of months and a couple other buyers contact me through messaging.  I worked with ALL of them in the same way.

When you get an INR filed against you or the buyer contacts you just to let you know there is an issue and does NOT file a claim, IMHO these are the steps to take.

If the buyer files an INR, make sure you enter the tracking number into the INR.

Go to USPS website and review the detail tracking info.

On this tracking screen there is a place to file for email updates as there is movement on the tracking. Sign up for that so you get informed right away when something gets entered to the tracking.

Go and file for a TRACE, I don't recommend filing for Missing Mail just yet. The two are completely different actions. The Trace usually gets the job done quicker.
https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/package-inquiry

Contact your buyer. Keep all contact inside the INR filed so everything is recorded on the claim. Let your buyer know you are working with USPS to get their package delivered. Apologize for the delay. And let them know you filed a trace which takes between 48-72 hours for USPS to respond. As you get any information you will update the buyer right away. Assure your buyer that you are working this problem and will continue to do so until a proper resolution.

If there is movement on the tracking within the last 7 days, Ebay will keep the INR open. Do not voluntarily issue the refund yet. It is highly likely the package is going to get delivered, it is just late. Annoying for the buyer for sure. Just stay in touch with them and assure them you are working on a resolution.

[north-by-northeast-finds]

Seems like the "in transit arriving late" situation is not limited to Indianapolis sorting facility.  I saw one buyer of auto parts post"if you're dumb enough to use USPS" he has no sympathy for the seller. I assume some buyers share this pov when they leave negative feedback or file claims.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Nope, none.  Experiencing lots of pain with my personal mail, but no problems with my ebay pkgs. 

[evelyb30]

A  substitute carrier here  shuffled and dealt her or his route instead of bringing it to the right house. One of my bills was returned to sender , no such person; I've had the same permanent mailing address since the 80s.  The first time it happened recently I got some else's junk, but the next day it was multiple peoples' bills. Those were marched right back to the post office where I was Not Happy .  Never happened again, but the missent bill cost me some stress.  

This isn't going to get better, folks. De Nojoy did a number on them.