eBay

vffan · ‎09-23-2024

Greetings,

So I am going to save everyone a novel from my latest shipping fiasco with USPS (god only knows where the package will finally find itself) I have now learned the hard exhausting way USPS does not care, nor will put any effort into helping you (but that's not why I'm here)

I ship everything USPS Ground Advantage and only to the U.S, I have since added UPS as an option, but I want my buyers to be satisfied with the transaction, and want them to receive it quickly, So I don't go through many sales but all of them shipped out the very next business day and I pride myself on that.

Though when the USPS takes your package on a country wide tour and can't give any indication as to where it might land, what do you do in regards to the Customer? In this latest affair, the customer paid on Sep 5th, it's now the 23rd and reasonably I just feel I can't hold out anymore wondering and waiting, and I don't think it's fair to the customer so I just refunded the $25, called it a day and if he does eventually receive it great!

My concern is the uptick in issues with USPS this year and packages, and I can't just regularly be handing out refunds to keep buyers happy as I am not selling in any sort of Volume that would justify that as the cost of business, I assume there is reasonable guidelines and expectations for both sellers and buyers (or proper resolution etiquette) but frankly I'm not to sure what it may be?

How long do others wait to resolve a shipping problem before giving a refund? The buyer never opened a case or complained, but I have been sending updates nearly every other day so they know I am aware of the situation and working on it, and I pray no negative feedback comes from it, but I also can't keep over exerting my time and efforts scared of the feedback when the price of the product is far less than effort to retrieve it?

I hope that makes sense, or you can see what I'm getting at here.

Thanks for your time & consideration

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎09-25-2024

@carlmarxx wrote:
Well from what the USPS rep at the 6th district office of consumer affairs for Southern Ca. my neck of woods told me to expect a high rate of ground advantage delay's and loss's during holiday session . and to use priority mail and other carriers UPS and FedEx for ground . Yes you and all US seller's will be babysitting the shipment's if ground advantage is used .

Anyone who recommends FEDEX Ground has very little experience with it.

Any link between FEDEX's lost of USPS long haul contract and SmartPost has a vivid imagination. FEDEX uses USPS for SmartPost because it is cheaper than its awful FEDEX Ground/Home operation.

It is unlikely that FEDEX will be around for much longer. Cost is the only reason to use their service, and many companies have discovered that lower cost shipping which upsets your buyers is no bargain.

USPS will continue to have outbreaks of problems when they improve their operations because their workers hate change and act out when subjected to it. Eventually, they go back to their normal lethargy.

My Dad was a letter carrier so I know and appreciate the way they operate.