Fedex Smartpost return to seller late and tracking not updating

[mitchelle4erin]

I ordered an electronic item in late April that had some issues, so I initiated a return. Seller allowed and sent me a FedEx Smartpost label. Well, it’s been almost a month since I had the shipment picked up and it hasn’t reached the seller. Worse, because of the weirdness of Smartpost (USPS/Fedex joint service) the USPS tracking has never updated and won’t until Fedex hands off the package to them. That’s supposed to happen by the 22nd.

The problem is, if the seller doesn’t receive my item by the 20th, they don’t have to give me a refund. And eBay customer service doesn’t understand the nuances of Smartpost; they basically said unless the USPS tracking shows as delivered I’m out of luck.

So what should I do now? Dispute the charge with my credit card as a last ditch effort?

[orangehound · Accepted solution]

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@mitchelle4erin wrote:

So what should I do now? Dispute the charge with my credit card as a last ditch effort?

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Yes.

But, eBay will frequently extend out the return window for a shipment that is showing shipping movement.

[nick*burns]

Smart post is the worst experience I have ever had. I used them once with Walmart and it was hokey and late but eventually appeared. I am now into my 13th day waiting on a package that was sent from 150 miles away for 10 bucks. A small package ultralight vintage fishing reel. First they held it through labor day although I am sure it was there in time. Apparently they are so impressed with themselves they created a late departure scan exception like they were getting so much done. What a smoke screen that is. Then they took off in the wrong direction for 200 miles to Atlanta. Each time it stopped somewhere it was days before they moved on. SO next it left North Atlanta and was taken south 60 miles to Ellen-wood Ga. and sat for days . Then they departed Ellen wood headed for the USPS distribution center in Knoxville. I know it because I worked for the USPS some time ago. Again days pass and they change their delivery date to suit their wasteful yet expensive "IMHO" service.  It was South Carolina to East Tennessee. via Georgia ?  So for the first time ever Once a package reached the Distribution Center  in Knoxville I watched them wait a day to send it out and then they sent it too late in the A.M. to be out for delivery. Here I sit coming into day 13 waiting on this vintage reel thinking well if I refuse it then all is lost. I cannot fault anyone in feedback because they chose this godforsaken path. If anyone reads this unless you want to just ignore something for two weeks you should abstain. I literally ordered shipments from Long-wood Florida , Rochester New York, Las Vegas via Los Angeles , Houston Texas and locust Grove Georgia along with probably several more. that was off the top of my head. All these things have arrived or are arriving this morning yet this ridiculous debacle continues. 

    Trust me I am calm at this point. So recapping 450 miles out of the way in a huge circle taking several day breaks all along the way and resulting in a 13 day trek to deliver something next door.  This is what you get with smart-post. Oh yeah I forgot to add ...... so impressed with themselves that they called a work day off early and just scanned everything late departure exception for three days.  I have a gotten a package from Rochester New York literally two days in a customized smaller box priority USPS that cost the same as I paid for this **bleep**. I have a 1st class package that will arrive from Seattle that was mailed yesterday that might arrive at the same time tomorrow.  I waited 7 days retail ground from Vegas through L.A. that was a better bet than this and also bought afterwards and it's been here for days.  People for the love of God and little baby Jesus along with your sanity unless you like wasting time Fed-ex Smart-post no matter what subcontractor they are or what they represent are the worst thing on the market  and Fed-ex needs to distance themselves from this mistake asap. I would have gladly paid more to never have contact with this service again and in the future it will be my first question before agreeing to a shipment from anyone under any circumstances ever. Thank you 😎