Do you have so many problems with USPS as me?

[lovingroger2020]

I think I'm ending my seller carrier.  I call USPS all the time because the pack is lost or delayed and in absolutely different state it should be. I'm so tired of it. I call them and hear: wait, it's in transit. Call us in three days (when I should refund money to customer.) 

I didn't sell many items - just some, and some quiete expensive. It's my fault - I should ship it by Priority Mail and I shipped by First Class, because it's super small. 

I shipped something on Saturday. It's Wednesday and one is missing (still in transit to California, but the pack didn't even get distribution center so it can't be in transit) and second one is still in Chicago. It should be delivered yesterday. 

For 30 items I sold, I called the USPS like 10 times. And I just hear that they can't do anything because they have 14 business days delivery. Of course, it super hard to call post to depart the item to the next facility. 

[couldabeenworse]

I had a problem for a while that many of my priority mail packages would get to my nearest sorting station, then go off the grid for days or weeks before showing up at the buyer's post office.  I was quite aggressive in complaining first to my local post office, then through the formal online complaint.  I was quite surprised when I was contacted by someone from the sorting center and later by someone from the complaint center.  I have had reliable service for the most part ever since.

[lovingroger2020]

I just called them. The lady there told me that I may complain after 14 business day and she is gonna do nothing, because I could ship it by Priority Mail. Fine. I'm gonna end all my sellings, refund money and never ever be a seller, because I'm losing money and items. I'm pretty sure they will deliver it when I refund money to customers.

I have 9 items in transit. I'm not sure what's going on with 4. Before I had to call about other packs because one was in Virginia instead of California. 

I just want to live in peace. It's more important than selling and earning money and fighting with USPS because they deliver always after estimated date. I just wonder does anyone call USPS so often as me. 

[thallidguy]

Are you getting complaints from your buyers?

I don't have anywhere even remotely close to the kind of issues you seem to be having. But then, I don't even look at tracking unless my buyers tell me there's a delivery issue. if they don't have a problem, I don't have a problem.

[lovingroger2020]

Actually, no - They not 🙂 Problably I should do the same what my husband does - just don't care and leave USPS alone, but it makes me crazy when they wait five days with shipping from one post to another, because they have "14 business days". 

I know You are absolutely right  :)- don't look at tracking and leave it as long as customer waits. I think I will do it the same or some day I will die of heart attack. 

I remember I waited for package from California over one month (I was the customer) - it was in transit to Chicago and even it was in Chicago but the post shipped it again - to Asia (nobody knows why). I had to wait when the pack returns to USA. So I don't want my customers wait so long 🙂 

I'm gonna stop doing it and check where is the pack :)!!! 

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

Nope, never have had a problem with USPS. Been shipping since 1953.

~~C~~

[thallidguy · Accepted solution]

One thing that I have learned over my two decades of selling on eBay is that there is no problem unless and until the buyer says there is a problem. If you're going to keep your sanity and sell online, you have to embrace that approach to some extent. Fussing over things that you don't need to get upset about will burn you out and/or drive you crazy.

[lja440]

A lot of times when packages do not get scans it's because the sorting machines can't pick it up. Then the package waits until a actual person handles it to enter the numbers manually. Bad label placement can also missroute a package.

Some tips:

Make sure you don't reduce the size of your label too much.

Protect your label by putting clear packing tape over the WHOLE label including barcode.

DO not place the label overtop of the junction of box flaps. This can cause a wrinkle. If it is unavoidable then place it so only a empty section of the label is over this area.

[chrysylys]

---

@lovingroger2020wrote:

I just want to live in peace.

---

The be patient.  Relax.  Chill.  Peace out.

There are serious weather related delays all over the country right now.  Even if not in your area, those issues can cause a ripple effect of delays in other areas since transport routes and vehicles are affected.

[lovingroger2020]

I never change a size of label. Sometimes I don't even print the label. I'm relaxed. I can't be worried about post and etc. Ok, they lost it. Not such a big deal. Just I always have problems with California - as a seller and as a buyer :). 

I decided to never ever check where is the package :). Thanks anyway!!!! 

[berserkerplanet]

•Sometimes I don't even print the label.

That's pretty relaxed, but could explain why those packages have shipping issues.

[electrola_man]

Something does not seem right here.  I've been shipping USPS for many years, and after thousands of packages shipped, not one item has been reported lost or damaged in shipment.  My number of calls to USPS in all of these years, I believe, is one...related to a package that was not left and the buyer needed to go pick it up, and it seemingly got temporarily misplaced at that local post office.  It eventually all worked out.  Nearly all the time, I ship, the buyer gets, and I hear nothing or get I positive feedback. Either of those is just fine.  I don't follow up to check status of anything after I hand merchandise over to the USPS.  I'm not going to bother myself with that.  USPS has given me reason to believe they will take care of their part once I make the hand-off.  Shipping by USPS has been completely stress-free for me.  I guess the only advice I can give is package properly to prevent damage, ship, and then don't give it another thought unless/until you get a question from someone.  That has worked for me for many years.

[bucksaver2013]

I was also having problems with delays in delivery of priority mail shipping.  When I complained to the USPS, their response was "delivery times are only an estimate."  So they can take as long as they like to deliver a package and there is nothing we can do other than agressively complain and request improvement and hope for the best.  Fortunately I have not had a customer complaint for shipments in the U.S.

One package I shipped through the global shipping program took five days to get from Michigan to Kentucky.  It was then further delayed being sent to England.  The buyer contacted ebay and received a refund.  Fortunately the refund did not come out of my account because it was through global shipping. My tracking showed the package was delivered the next day.  I contacted ebay to let them know that the buyer received the item and a refund and the answer was "Well, there is nothing we can do."

[the_fancy_fox]

---

@lja440wrote:

A lot of times when packages do not get scans it's because the sorting machines can't pick it up. Then the package waits until a actual person handles it to enter the numbers manually. Bad label placement can also missroute a package.

Some tips:

Make sure you don't reduce the size of your label too much.

Protect your label by putting clear packing tape over the WHOLE label including barcode.

DO not place the label overtop of the junction of box flaps. This can cause a wrinkle. If it is unavoidable then place it so only a empty section of the label is over this area.

---

This ^^

never place a label over a flap seam. If it won't fit on the top due to the seam, stick It on the side. Seams can wear through the label when it goes through  the carriers sorting conveyors. (Or tear it off)

make sure there's is no wrinkle in the clear tape over the label.

[lovingroger2020]

Hey everyone!

Sorry. I was out and couldn't write. My packs are delivered - after very long time of waiting and of course, deleyed. Just California doesn't like me too much and there is also a problem with Chicago distribution center because they can keep packages few days. 

It took more than one week to ship like 100 miles from my place to my buyer's place so nothing surprises me. They needed 2 weeks for delivery to California. 

And yes, sometimes I don't print the shipping label - just I print my customer's address and go to post to ship. Especially when I'm not sure about the weight. 

I don't know.  Is it normal that the packages was accepted 2 days ago (I gave them to the postman) and there is no further info? What's going on? Keep it on truck 48 hours? It was first time when USPS came and picked up the items and I'm sure last time, because I don't get how it's possible to keep it 2 days.