eBay

timeprimesave · ‎03-30-2020

Hello, I sent out a package since March 18th and it still hasn't reached the buyer, I sent it through usps priority mail 2 day shipping. Unfortunately it is stuck in Jersey city, New York, the buyer is from Brooklyn which is 30 minutes away from him/her. And I searched up that facility and they have said bad things about it on how it loses packages or somehow they get lost. The buyer is being reasonable but at the same time I feel like him/her getting impatient and honestly I can't blame him/her I'm also impatient as a seller on where the item is. I heard usps and other mail services are only delivering as of right now essential items. So my question is, What can I do from here, I did file a search on usps but my question is have you guys ever had this before? Where a package is delayed for even weeks if so how did you handle it?

oldwestgold · ‎03-30-2020

".......have we ever had this before?" Ah no. The world has never shut down for months before. The best guess is that it is not lost or stolen. Hopefully, you had it insured. About all you can do is hang in there at this point. If at some point your buyer decides to not wait, you can always do a package recall via the USPS site. Sorry to hear about your problem. Good luck!

lja440 · ‎03-31-2020

I am a USPS rural mail carrier. WE ARE DELIVERING. There is no "only essential items".

We are a bit short handed though. All hiring and training is suspended. Workers in the high risk categories have been allowed leave. We have two subs in our office (7 routes) one is pregnant and is in self isolation at home. Some of our staff are older (I myself am 60 years old). Some are out because they are caregivers to family members in the high risk groups.

In some areas hardest hit may have delays due to staffing.

But on the whole deliveries are happening with only a few changes. We are not collecting signatures, packages must be set down and not handed off. Our offices and vehicles are being sanitized daily.

orangehound · ‎03-31-2020

@timeprimesave wrote:
I heard usps and other mail services are only delivering as of right now essential items.

A mail service has no insight as to what is in a package, so they cannot distinguish essential from non-essential items.

I think may be confusing the USPS with Amazon. Amazon has stated that they are prioritizing the shipment of essential items, and are delaying (up to a month) the delivery of items they consider non-essential.

myboardid · ‎03-31-2020

Sign up on the USPS website to get email notices when the package moves. Sign your buyer up also. This seems to kick loose some packages. I know of one that I sent that "disappeared" for a while, it was found in my own Post Office, so I think the USPS contacted my postmaster and told them to search for it. Don't know that for sure, but I think it's what happened. In 22 years of selling here I have only had 2 packages completely disappear out of many thousands shipped.

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Successful and experienced seller since 1997, over 70,000 feedback, boardie since the boards were begun.

pickermall · ‎04-01-2020

Have you tried opening an insurance claim on the USPS website?

cream_couture · ‎04-01-2020

Did they respond to the search? If not, you can call the 1-800 number to get a phone response.

As others have mentioned the USPS is still in full operation and there is no restriction (and no way for them to) to deliver only "essentials". If the missing mail search doesn't get the package moving, I would file a missing mail insurance claim (if you purchased or sent priority). USPS offers $50 free insurance for priority mail items, if you shipped priority. I would give a date to the buyer that you will refund if the package doesn't show up.

I've only had a couple of packages truly going missing of the tens of thousands of packages I have shipped over the years. I have had things get stuck in DC several times and they always get moving again in a few weeks.

timeprimesave · ‎04-01-2020

I called them yesterday and they said I still have to wait since the mail search takes 48 to 72 hours, today will be 72 hours, I heard someone said I could call a package recall, I don't want to lose the package, If in any case the buyer wants me to refund it i would like if they just return the package back to me.

You did mention that your packages have been stuck for a few weeks, what did you tell your buyers in that situation? Like a way to like ease their frustration, mine hasn't really gotten that far but she did mention shes trying to be as patient as possible and so am I. I never had a package been delayed for this long. especially a 2 day priority mail.

timeprimesave · ‎04-01-2020

I did, i even signed up for the emails. Thank you hopefully that shakes things up.

timeprimesave · ‎04-01-2020

Not yet, but I would rather have them ship back the package to me if im going down that road.

redmodelt · ‎04-01-2020

Check the USPS web site, the last time I had to recall a package there was a charge. If you do a recall, it might take as long to get back to you as you have now waited. I am waiting for a small package from the Bay area and live in Portland Or., its been 2 weeks+.

timeprimesave · ‎04-01-2020

They just sent me now a message saying they have received an inquiry and that they will contact me until this is resolved. They're probably just now trying to find it.

cream_couture · ‎04-01-2020

Thankfully, all of my customers have been willing to wait. I just give them updates every few days or so.

I really hope the post office calls you back with good news.

timeprimesave · ‎04-03-2020

Thank you for your time on asking my questions, I'm currently still waiting for an answer from the post office. Yea, I hope so too, either today or tomorrow. I'm pretty sure It's not lost just held up since it does say it arrived in DC and has not left, so im guessing its easier to narrow it down there.