Insured Priority Mail package -- "Delivery Attempted, No Access" -- but sent to wrong PO....Help!

[yesterfun]

Hello.  I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else, and how you resolved it!   On Tuesday 8/18 I mailed this package to my buyer by USPS Priority Mail, and insured it for $200 -- a rare Barbie item.   Saturday night 8/22 I got a message from the buyer saying that it had not arrived,  and that the tracking showed "Delivery Attempted" on 8/21, and "No Access" to delivery location.   There has been no update to tracking since 8/21.

Well, today, a very helpful supervisor at my local post office here in Texas looked up the tracking info for me, and he was able to tell me that apparently the package was sent to the wrong PO for delivery.  (He said "It was assigned to City 3 (PO) but was scanned at City 9 (PO). "  He said that more than likely it is still now sitting in the back room of that City 9 PO.   He said it would be a good idea to call  that particular PO directly and have them look for the package.  He gave me a direct number, but I could not get through, so he said he's going to try calling them and also emailing them.   (I also called the regular direct number for that PO,  but only got a recording saying "please call 1-800-ASK-USPS" for mail delivery questions.) Hopefully he will have better luck getting through.  

I told the buyer that it might be a good idea for him to go to that P.O. in person and ask them to search their back room.  I haven't heard from him whether he's done that.....he lives in a large city, and it may be on the other side of town from him.  I told him I wish I could go there myself and look!

Of course I have tried filing a help request online at USPS.com, but apparently the buyer has already done that, so it won't let me.   Also I've tried filing an official search request, but it won't let me do that either since not enough days have passed.  I've also tried to call 1-800-USPS -- waited on hold for about 45 minutes until my phone's charge went dead, and no one picked up.   I will try again first thing in the morning.

I know it's only been 6 days since I mailed it, but to a buyer who just shelled out $200 for a rare item, that seems like forever.  I don't want to do a refund right now, because I think it should be found..... 

I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone else -- an expensive insured package sent to the wrong PO, marked "Delivery Attempted", and tracking not updated for over three days.  And what did you do to get it resolved?

[yesterfun]

(Forgot to add, I double-checked to make sure I put the correct address on the package, and I did. 100% sure on that part!)

[fab_finds4u]

Supposedly, the seller is covered if tracking is to the buyer's city or the first three digits of the zip code says delivered or attempted.

[fab_finds4u]

PS-" I said "Supposedly" because eBay will change policy without letting you know or they apply it as they see fit. 

[yesterfun]

Thanks fab finds.  I just want the buyer to get the package....I just can't imagine it sitting around forever in the box on the shelf at the PO and never getting found!  It's really frustrating that I probably know where it is right now,  but can't get anyone to go and look!  I'm going to call back my local USPS contact person first thing in the morning, and also try 1-800-ASK-USPS again then.  

[lightlily_arts]

 As a buyer In would want my package found too which is the reason they had filed for missing mail.  Although it's not what you desire in the very least USPS will have to pay out the insurance claim if they've lost your package.  If you have to file the insurance claim make sure they refund the whole amount because if you have to refund the buyer you lose your PayPal fees.

[vintagecraze50]

Whenever I have filed a “where is my mail” package request, the USPS has called me personally from the PO where the package is suppose to be. They have been absolutely EXCELLENT about this with three trace reports I have done. If the buyer has already done it they should have contacted them. You could still also keep trying the local PO phone number over and over until someone might pick up. 

[vintagecraze50]

Ideally, the buyer should try to go to that PO and ask for assistance in finding the package. So much easier that way. Hope they find it.

[shhboom]

Beware of a possible scam. The buyer may have  already gone to the PO and picked up the package and is not telling you because they didn't scan the package as "delivered" when he picked it up. Not every zip code has its own PO, and the PO at "City 9" may be the closest one to "City 3", and is the PO where the carrier  picks up mail to be delivered to "City 3". You need to personally talk to the postmaster or carrier at "City 9" no matter what it takes.

[lja440]

shhboom maybe right. I deliver for one zip code but work out of another zipcode.  A lot of offices were consolidated, done away with or converted into a retail office like mine was.  City 3  and city 9 may now share the same physical building, or city 9 maybe a retail office where attempted packages and certifieds are kept awaiting pick-up.