Anyone else having problems with Sports Card shipments being lost by the Post Office?

[timd03051]

I've had one card I ordered lost in the mail, I have one last seen in Eagan, MN on June 22nd (9 days ago), another one not moving from Manchester, NH (my town) since June 25th (6 days ago), and I shipped a card on June 10th that went from Manchester NH to Boston MA on June 11th and was never seen again. You can't get ANY resolution through the Post Office, they'll never let you speak to a real person. Also, why is it that everyone uses the same labels all the time, but half of orders say "Tracking info may be limited"? I'm just getting really FED UP with buying OR selling on Ebay. Even Ebay's shipping resolution process stinks. Anyone have any suggestions to ensure that things get to their destination?

[simba6]

Could it be an issue with top loaders getting stuck in postal machines?   They don't bend and can't go through letter machines.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you use ESE you get what you paid for, an inferior service, the success of which depends on how you pack the envelope and its contents.

As @simba6 suggests if you use top loaders your envelope may be destroyed. If you do not, you need another solution to protecting the cards or they will be destroyed. 

This is letter mail and subjected to requirements for flexibility.

Consider dumping the lowest priced cards and only shipping via Ground Advantage.

[wastingtime101]

@timd03051 

eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is a metered letter mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans. The clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it and you can't track it on the USPS website. The envelopes are scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way and tracking will appear on eBay.

Common reasons ESE labels don't get scanned include:
- Overpacking. Envelopes are too stiff. It's not recommended to use trading card top loaders or cardboard mailers.
- Using ineligible packing material such as a bubble envelope.
- Placement of label. Label should be placed in the upper right corner with approx 1/8"-1/4" clearance from edges. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Placing items in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part.
- Printer ink is not dark enough, or label color is too bright (stick to white labels if you can).
- Regional issues with sorting machines, volume processing, picky USPS employees, etc.

With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last sort facility before it gets to the buyer; sometimes the buyer will receive their order a few days after the delivered scan.

If a buyer files a not received claim, you do have insurance coverage and the claims process is outlined on this page: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=...