Does eBay give you a defect/black if your item doesn't arrive on time (USPS delay)?

[crownpurchase]

Hi everyone. In late April, a buyer purchased an item from me. I printed the label on Ebay minutes after they paid and it got recieved at the post office by the next day. Turns out USPS made an error where they sent said item to wrong facility which resulted in two week delay. The item will finally arrive however it is past the "estimated delivery date." Is Ebay going to count this as a defect/orange mark because the transaction didn't ship on time? The buyer is understanding which is great but I fear Ebay's algorithim is not. Also the buyer has the option to assess delivery time when they provide feedback. 

What is my course of my action here? Am I screwed because of USPS's error? Should I call Ebay preemptively and plead my case and explain the situation? 

[partial*eclipse]

You will probably be OK.

There are 3 ways to meet the "On time" evaluation criteria.  If you got a scan within your handling time, then you have met that, and the time of the delivery scan doesn't matter.

[crownpurchase]

I was reading other forum topics of similar nature from 2014-2016 and everyone was like, it's your responsibility as a seller so if USPS screws up and delays the package it's on you. I'm really not sure 😞

[partial*eclipse]

The "On time" shipping measure was introduced in the 2015 fall seller update.  Many sellers found it incomprehensible, and posted weird interpretations.  It's usually better to rely on information presented by ebay rather than on comments in a discussion.

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/fallupdate2015/seller-standards.html#faq=faq-5

Maybe this infographic will help:

http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/sc/sr152/8565-1_eBay_On-time_Infographic_FA.pdf

[ms.rodriguez*]

As long as it was scanned sometime after it dropped it off and before you handling time.  I have 3 day handling time (on another ID)  so my package must be scanned sometime within that window.     I would email the buyer and let them know that the box is touring the country and will eventually get there. DO NOT REFUND.  Explain to them that from time to time,  a  post office  will place a box on the wrong conveyor belt or wrong bin and the package is delayed.  

[hyperrush]

no worries. you can lost a middle star or one full star. fortunatly doesn't affect the ratings of seller board.