I know the mail can be slow sometimes BUT

[richard1rst]

I mailed out a package by the USPS with tracking to a buyer in the Philippines on July 19 2018. No that is not a typo - 2018 - 2 years ago.

I just got it back marked “return to sender” with no other explanation.

TWO YEARS LATER!

[kensgiftshop]

Sounds like that package took the world tour.

[oldwestgold]

Obviously you have never been to the Philippines. You are lucky to have even gotten it back. That being said, I have mailed over 10,000 packages in the past 20 years with the USPS and never once have had a claim, damage or loss. I think that speaks volumes of the USPS. FYI - The USPS processes in one day what UPS and FedEx process in one year combined. Not too mention the USPS delivers tons of UPS and FedEx parcels via their drop ship to almost every Post Office in the USA. Last I checked that was around 44,000. We are very lucky to have the USPS delivering our mail as eBay and Amazon would not exist without them. Take time to let a Postal employee know you appreciate them. Until you have walked in their shoes, you have no idea how difficult and stressful their jobs are.

[cream_couture]

That's crazy!! The longest I have ever had a return to sender package take is 6 months and that was shocking to me. 

[mudshark61369]

@richard1rst,

what oldwestgold posted about you being lucky to have gotten the item back at is true and is akin to a miracle that it was returned at all.   Lets face it not all countries have efficient  or even honest postal systems.

That being said, even the better postal systems do have glitches.  Last November 5th I contacted a seller in England about an instruction sheet they had for a vintage 1936 item they had listed, that I had one of, asking if they would copy or scan the instruction sheet and create a private listing.  They agreed, and a day later they posted the listing and I paid for the item and received a tracking number showing the item was sent via Royal Mail's Priority equivalent. 

Due to the holidays I forgot about the transaction, until February 22nd, when a beat up envelope arrived with a copy of the instruction sheet. On checking the R.M. tracking, I found the item had arrived in the U.S. in November and was stuck in N.Y. until two days before it finally arrived. This was the first time in many transactions between myself and English buyers and sellers, I have ever had anything go missing.