ESE service for cards randomly taking a month to deliver….again

[bardowncardsllc]

Seriously **bleep** is going on with this program.  About every 3 or 4 months it just randomly starts taking upwards of 30 days for delivery.  This is basically a snail/bulk mail service, but even that usually only takes a couple weeks, even coast to coast.  I get it around the Holidays, but does anyone have any idea why every few months or so it just seemingly randomly starts taking twice as long as the slowest services, or how that is even a thing.  How could they even be giving lower logistical priority to services that are already the LOWEST PRIORITY?

I put a disclaimer in my listings, but getting inundated with item not received requests and having to explain over and over how this program “works”, how it takes forever and the tracking is worthless, is incredibly annoying.  And that’s to say nothing of eBay ALWAYS taking the buyers side, and just refunding and yoinking money that I’ve earned.  I asked the buyers to repay when they do receive their card, which from what I can tell they almost always do.  But that relies on the honor system and the buyer to even remember that they got refunded.

It’s cool that it’s cheap, but how has it been so many years this program has existed and we’re still dealing with this garbage?

[wastingtime101]

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@bardowncardsllc wrote:

does anyone have any idea why every few months or so it just seemingly randomly starts taking twice as long as the slowest services, or how that is even a thing.

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ESE is processed on the same sorting machines and at the same speed as letter mail. The 2 most common reasons for delays:

1. A regional sort facility is backed up - which is probably what's happening in your case.

2. Items are kicked out as non-machinable due to the physical specs (ex: too rigid) in which case sorting takes longer and can be exacerbated by point 1.

[cartescards]

The tracking on these is 100% dependent on the sorting machines. I think the clerks in my area put them in with the flats instead of the letters and nothing gets scanned. Constant questions. Constant claims. It's more trouble than it's worth. Plus the more savvy buyers know that even if they get the package, if there is no scan then they can file a claim and get refunded. I've had buyers get the item. leave positive feedback and then file a claim when they realize there is no delivery scan. Ebay always sides with the buyer, even when it is clear that they received the item. I can file a lost item claim in the PIP system, but my biggest issue is how the deficiencies in the postal service like this counting against my seller rating.