Is USPS having problems?

[justforposting_1960]

Is anyone else noticing problems with the USPS delivering packages as a buyer and/or seller?

I ordered an item on Sunday, 1/7; the seller shipped it Priority on Monday; USPS tracking shows USPS "in possession of item" at 2:32 the same day. It was scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, the 9th. On the 9th, tracking still showed "In possession", on Thursday morning it still hadn't moved so I requested email updates and received an email stating "Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility." 20 minutes later I received another email stating, "Your item arrived at our USPS facility in PITTSBURGH PA NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER on January 10, 2019 at 8:21 am."

Ever since that, tracking has had no estimated delivery date and shows the item is "in transit to the destination." This morning there were 2 more emails saying the same as above. So it is now 3 hours short of 2 days overdue.

On Wednesday, my letter carrier picked up a package at 11:42 am which tracking verifies. Estimated delivery is by 8 pm today. But since 12 am today, tracking has showed it "in transit to the destination." It never shows it arriving at any USPS facility. Granted, it's  only 2 pm there now, but experience makes me doubt the status is going change in the next 6 hours and so it too will probably be overdue.

The package I sent out is going coast to coast so some extra time is understandable. But the one I am waiting for is only from Pennsylvania to Connecticut. I could have driven there and back in under 9 hours!

Is anyone else seeing this?

[savedbygrace7192]

Luckily for me I have a good relationship with the Manager of my route. He knows that I will only call him when something is not right. Did you receive any contact at all from the USPS local office after filing your 2 complaints? They are supposed to contact you after you file it. Also if no one contacted you, I would call your local P.O. to make a formal complaint about it and the neighbors that keep getting other peoples mail should also complain. The more complaints they get about the same person then it should get something done. The person was probably new and the P.O. was probably shorthanded and was hoping that this person would finally get it together but if he can't (and it seems like he hasn't done that) after a year, he needs to be put somewhere else doing a different job.  I know that in my area my local North Station Manager is shorthanded for delivery couriers (in certain areas) and he himself has to go out on the roads to help deliver mail once or twice a week.  That's how bad it is and can be..😞

[cleaning.the.attic]

I think you said the package (lamp shades) had gone through Springfield MA? As a seller I have only had a few times I had to file missing mail searches online, but 3 of them have been packages going through (not to, but through) Springfield MA at some point on the route.  (Two others had problems that went to Florida.) I think there are certain sorting centers(?)  that have more problems than others. Maybe some smaller places shut down, and they've absorbed more work, not sure, but I don't think it's just coincidence. 

Glad you got the shades! 

[mallory*ryan]

Thank you so much for your advice, I have filed a missing mail search request with the USPS website. Today I got a email from the buyer, blaming me for the package not arriving. Said they could have went with another seller but they went with me. I want to offer a refund, but I don't want to lose the item as it's tracking information is back online saying it is still moving (somewhere!). Should I refund their money and take my first negative feedback or should I wait a couple of more days to see if it makes it to Florida?

I know it is not my fault the USPS messed up, but I feel so guilty my buyer's purchase hasn't made it there yet. 

Any advice is much appreciated!

@savedbygrace7192 wrote:

@mallory*ryan 😱Oh my gosh, no postal employee should be talking to you like that and they are required to get a signature if it is a paid service. Next time please go online to USPS.com and file a formal complaint. It works!! I had a courier that signed for my package for me when I was at home and they didn't want to bother to come to the door to get my signature! I was very upset they would do that knowing I am home all the time and I didn't appreciate them signing my name wrong either so I filed a complaint online and within 24 hours I received a call from my local P.O. Manager that apologized for it and said that it wouldn't happen again because that is a serious offense as they are supposed to get the signature from an adult at the premises.

Also about your missing in transit package, please call a local P.O. and speak to someone about it as they can research it and investigate it. If you want to speed things up file a missing mail claim online. Someone will call you within 24 hours! Do not call any 1-800 numbers for USPS.. Always call your local P.O. instead. Please keep us posted with your results! Sending you positive vibes!👍😉

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[savedbygrace7192]

@mallory*ryan 👌 You are so welcome! If it were me, I would stay in touch with my buyer and let them know that I was doing everything that I could on my end to locate their missing package. I always like to watch the tracking to my buyers to make sure that their packages arrive safe and sound (Neurotic, 🙄I know). When something goes wrong I keep in contact with them and let them know that I am working with the USPS on my end and they are welcome to do the same on their end as well. Since you have now filed the missing mail search it might take them a few days to get back to you. You can probably find out something much faster by calling your local P.O. and asking the Manager or Supervisor to do an investigation for you. They can also look at the tracking on their end and see more than we can online, more details etc.. Please call your local USPS office first thing Tuesday morning (tomorrow is a USPS holiday and they will be closed) and ask them to check on the package to see what the hold up is. I would then get back with the buyer and ask them to give you and the P.O. a few more days to find out what in the world is going on. It is definitely not your fault that the P.O. has fumbled your package but with the right caring attitude towards the buyer it might just save you a negative and having to refund (If they will be a little understanding)..If the P.O. cannot locate your package I would file a claim and get the insurance back since it is covered to at least $50.00 being Priority Mail. You will have to refund the buyer and hope that he/she doesn't neg you or ding your stars for something that isn't your fault. If they do, call ebay to get it removed since it wasn't under your control and it was the fault of the P.O. 😉 Keep us posted on what happens. I know that it is frustrating but hang in there. I hope you can get some answers for both you and your buyer Tuesday!👍

[marvelouspartsoforegon]

We lost our TRS status because of this...

[89reatta]

I'm having the exact same problem with stuff I ship or stuff being shipped to me. 

I bought an item on Feb. 18, I believe it was shipped on the 19th from one State away. I didn't receive the package until today and the label said "Priority 2 day shipping", which I guess means a week in USPS speak.

It's getting ridiculous and I'm worried that buyers will start giving me bad feedback because of horrendous delays by the USPS.

[89reatta]

Thanks!! wow, now I get it. Amazon is now the priority for USPS. I just wish USPS would 'fess up and explain this. Instead, many people are getting fed up with them and the postmasters are probably dealing with tons of complaints.

We had a cold snap here and the P.O. couldn't deliver for 2 days due to the dangerous cold. Totally understandable. On day 3, we still didn't get our mail and neither did our neighbors on our street. But other streets around us got THEIR mail. The postmaster said the carrier "ran out of time" which is why we didn't get our mail.

Insane.

[vejtrjojbvs0]

I've spoken to my local mail carrier and expressed some of my frustration...

I mailed a package that was going a few towns over, literally maybe 100 miles up the road...

It ended up in a state 1/4 way across the United States...

I see a lot of packages circling too, going from one PO to the next and then back and forth or in a circle...

It's not just the post office, a lot of local businesses are struggling to find good help.

It's bad out there.

Work with your postal clerk as much as possible, I was told.

A good friend of mine worked for the postal service for 2-3 years delivering mail...

She said they're always way understaffed and their vehicles mostly sputter and putter.

No air conditioning in summer, no heat in winter (or not really).

Please be considerate when driving down a road where a postal employee is delivering mail, I was told.

Plus nowadays everything is being mailed, a lot of B&M stores have closed for good, the rest are struggling to stay afloat (and that's another long story without much of a good end too)... They can't find good help either.

It's not how it used to be.

[rpgdella77]

8/13/19 Very similar timeline scenarios and twice in the last 30 days ?

Item purchased 7/27/19 was due 8/1 to 8/5/19 supposedly shipped 8/6

No additional tracking info since 8/6 Tracking number was provided.

Seller claims order was sent ???

Still haven’t received it yet ?? 8/13/19

The other order:7/8/19

has a Tracking number on 7/9/19 but didn’t get traction til 7/15/19 ???

then finally delivered 7/17/19

Problem with Sellers or USPS ?

[goldguy22k]

If I understand correctly, on your first order the item had an estimated delivery date of 8/1 to 8/5. But you saw no tracking with USPS until 8/6.  It is hard to tell if this means that the seller didn't deliver the item to the USPS until 8/6 OR if USPS didn't get around to scanning the package until 8/6. While I know everyone these days wants to get into the details, doing so is of no value, will just get you lost in the weeds and provides no lasting benefit.  The tracking shows whatever it shows - focus on the solution and not trying "fix" things that are outside your control.  (fwiw)

So when item was shipped or scanned is irrelevant.  The seller is responsible for seeing to it that the item gets delivered by the estimated delivery date!  Yeah, I know, seller has no control over the USPS, but that is how eBay assigns responsibility.  {There is a thread around where many jumped up & down and screamed and yelled about this, relative to mis -delivery, but eBay blues confirmed such!  I suspect anyone unaware of these facts might jump in here and scream & yell as well.}  So the bottom line is that the "estimated delivery date" (EDD) becomes part of the listing and when the item is delivered outside of those estimated days, then that makes the whole listing "bad" and is a perfectly acceptable and valid reason for a filing of a case of SNAD, Significantly Not As Described.  In SNAD cases the buyer almost always wins and can return the item for a full refund, return postage paid by seller.

So you unfortunately you are going to have to wait for either, August 28 (30-days from purchase, plus one day) or arrival of the package.  If the item is not there by 8/28 you can file an Item Not Received (INR) claim and get your money back OR a SNAD case and get you money back.  If the item arrives before 8/28 you will still have the option to file a SNAD case, return the item (seller pays shipping cost) and get a full refund.

The second purchase doesn't have the EDD detail provided, but the above rules should apply.

Now before you file a case, be it INR or SNAD, might make some sense to be familiar with how things work, or ask questions.  You get ONE shot at it with eBAy and filing the wrong claim, selecting the wrong reason or making a mistake in the process will get you into the appeal weeds or worse.  So don't be afraid to ask for help!

Good luck!  Hope this helps?