COVID-19 and shipping times

[yixness]

Recently a postal worker in a distribution center near where I live tested positive for COVID (postal center in Federal Way, WA.)  I am also seeing that all my un-delivered items are set to "arriving late."  I imagine as postal centers shut down for cleaning and postal workers have to self-quarantine, we are going to see more late packages.  I am getting my packages out on time, so I'm not overly worried, but I am wondering if ebay has a policy about such things.  

Note that I am not sick and have been taking all the recommended precautions (washing hands, not going to crowded locations, etc.)  Plus, the CDC says that the virus can't live on packages for the time it will take to get anywhere.  So I'm continuing to sell things until things change.  But I am not as confident about the postal service working at peak efficiency.  

[weaselsrule!]

you're right it is an absolute lie and I wish some news organizations would get on this and find some information direct from the USPS . I have 3 packages that have been stuck for 5-9 days going nowhere and when i contacted usps the reply i get is thanks for your patience and we're sorry. We all know things are slow and when ebay and usps just put out that things are going swell we all know it's a lie and a coverup

[weaselsrule!]

Exact same problem - opened a case and they said oh sorry we appreciate your business. No real details - not even close. It made it from Florida to D in 2 days and it's been sitting there for 9 days: Date Location Event Apr 9, 2020 12:00am US In Transit to Next Facility Apr 5, 2020 12:11pm DETROIT MI NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER, US Arrived at USPS Regional Facility Apr 4, 2020 1:39pm JACKSONVILLE FL NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER, US Departed USPS Regional Facility Apr 3, 2020 11:07pm JACKSONVILLE FL NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER, US Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility Apr 3, 2020 5:34pm DUNNELLON, FL 34432, US Departed Post Office Apr 3, 2020 4:07pm DUNNELLON, FL 34432, US USPS in possession of item Apr 3, 2020 11:51am DUNNELLON, FL 34431-5759, US Shipping Label Created

[chrissy9805]

I have 3 packages I sent out 4/8 that arrived at the Hyattsville MD Sorting Facility on 4/9. They have been sitting there ever since. It is now 4/17 and they have not left the facility. I put in a USPS help request several days ago and received a phone call from a USPS representative that informed me the Hyattsville MD facility is a sorting center that sorts and distributed mail to roughly 135 local post offices. He stated that they are operating with about 10% of their normal staffing so it has created a bottlneck for mail distribution in that area. Of the 3 packages I have held up there 2 of the buyers have opened INR cases. As far as I know Ebay is doing nothing to take these USPS issues into acccount for sellers. As soon as the 3-4 day timeframe for me to respond is up the buyer can request Ebay step in and their computers will close the case in the buyers favor and refund their money and the buyer will most likely get the package delivered to them a short time later. No win for the seller even though I shipped the packages within 6 hours of payment being received.

[littleprizes4you]

My customers are not receiving anything on time. I ordered something about 2 weeks ago and still haven’t received it. The usps isn’t delivering on time. Ebay needs to let customers know this.

[selsa84]

Spoke with USPS customer service and most mail is running slow, media mail is very slow.

[craniumbooks]

I have 2 pkg I sent out to MD shipped from NJ usually takes 3 days, been over two weeks still in transit. This is ridiculous and i may have to close my ebay shop temp because im losing more money sending out items. Ebay and USPS need to get their **bleep** together and be honest about their issues they are having.

[chrissy9805]

Are they stuck at the Hyattsville MD distribution center?  I have 2 packages that have been there since 4/9 and already had to refund both orders.

[poppintagsfw]

Good question and I am wondering the same myself. I have shipped many packages since the COVID outbreak and am only having issues with one sale. It was purchased on April 15 and I got it shipped out and scanned in April 16th. My buyer emailed me shortly after upset that the ESTIMATED delivery time changed from April 18th to the 21st. And it was a few days after that that they emailed me saying they didn't receive the package and wanted to let me know before they went any further. I checked tracking.. and there were no updates since the 20th. Apr 20, 2020 12:00am In Transit to Next Facility Apr 16, 2020 9:11pm Departed USPS Regional Facility FORT WAYNE IN DISTRIBUTION CENTER Apr 16, 2020 7:18pm Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility FORT WAYNE IN DISTRIBUTION CENTER Apr 16, 2020 6:31pm Departed Post Office FORT WAYNE, IN 46802 Apr 16, 2020 12:11pm USPS in possession of item FORT WAYNE, IN 46802 Apr 15, 2020 1:21pm Tracking number provided I asked them to be patient as there is a national pandemic going on but they really didn't want to hear it and opened an item not received case. I have contacted their local post office twice and they said the back mailroom is full of things waiting to be delivered but they don't have the staff to get it all sent out right now. I told the buyer but they don't care because "they have received other packages they purchased on ebay that same day and it is taking an inordinate amount of shipping time". Now I have an angry, "extremely unsatisfied" buyer because I am making them wait and haven't just refunded them. I am really not sure what to do... I did my part by shipping out the item and can't control what is going on right now regarding the coronavirus. I contacted ebay and they told me to wait and NOT refund them yet and that they would remove any negative feedback if left and I wouldn't get a defect because the problem is with the carrier, not me. But even then, the buyer didn't receive the item.. so once they do get refunded if the item isn't delivered before the case gets closed then I am then out shipping costs and the buyer will get to keep the item once they receive it... FRUSTRATING!

[chriree-46]

DETROIT  is a hot mess. My package has been stuck there for more than two weeks. I also have several more packages that have been there for nearly 10 days. Until this is fixed, I won't be purchasing anything else on eBay.

[poppintagsfw]

Well ebay closed my buyers case because they ended up recieving the package. Now i have another buyer in Michigan who hasnt received their package that was supposed to be delivered on the 8th and of course  they're upset. AND i just had something ship priority to texas that somehow got delivered to michigan... ugh!! I have had more problems with shipping USPS in the past 2 months than ever before.. the post office is seriously a mess right now and im seriously contemplating using another carrier. I get some things are out of their control but alot of buyers dont care.. they just want their package. 

[aleyumartist]

We are now seeing major delays. Everywhere.

[justbeamensch]

"The eBay team is in contact with our shipping partners, and to date, USPS, UPS and FedEx are reporting that domestic deliveries are largely continuing as usual."  No, they're not.

      I don't know what planet this statement refers to, but here in SE Michigan many of my shipments are several days behind just getting out and many not scanned along the way.   I certainly don't blame the brave postal workers who are heroes in my book, buy customers read this stuff and it doesn't help.

[emerald_door]

Michigan is having a lot of delays.  A buyer in Michigan recently left a complaining feedback for me because her package (fabric) arrived one day later than the eBay estimate.  I sent her the tracking showing that I mailed it the day after she paid, despite my 3 day handling time and I explained about the delays that are occurring.  She also complained about the cost of postage for the first class package that weighed a little less than a pound.  She said that when buyers "a greater distance" from me, I should choose another shipping method.  

DH bought something from Michigan last week and the tracking has no scans at all, so who knows where it is in the system.  

[sfblue]

First time seller on eBay so I decided to send my package priority mail to ensure it would get there on time. Mailed 11am 7/13 at the USPS brick and mortar, wasn’t scanned until 7/14, took three days just to get to the sorting facility in Michigan. It finally made it into the buyer’s state today, but still have a frustrated buyer. I’ll be looking for other package services than USPS for now. I guess both me and the buyer should be happy I did not send it ground?

Posting because obviously I am new to all this and was searching to find if this was a common problem. Unfortunately the problem is still ongoing. 😞

[hyperrush]

internacional packages not scan