Late delivery via Media mail.

[honorablelion]

Goooooodddd morning!

I sold an item on May 15th and shipped it out the next day via media mail(dvd). On May 16th it was picked up. Today, I recieved a message from the buyer stating he didn't recieve the item and it is still in another State. It's been over 11 business days. 

The buyer is unhappy, in which I am disappointed as well. 

What is the best route to go? And does this have anything to do with Amazon's new shipment contract with the USPS?

To this date, it has not been delivered. 

[doorknobsa52]

Media Mail is slow, and usually doesn't save much over sending first class or priority. It has nothing to do with Amazon.

[honorablelion]

Yes. Media mail is slower. This is what the buyer selected. 

The issue is that it is late and would like to know what the best way to communicate to this buyer.

[orangehound · Accepted solution]

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@honorablelion wrote:

Yes. Media mail is slower. This is what the buyer selected. 

The issue is that it is late and would like to know what the best way to communicate to this buyer.

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I would write ...

"I am sorry that your package is not arriving as quickly as you expected.  The Media Mail service that you selected is typically delivered in 2 to 14 business days.   Though it is rare that it takes more than 14 business days, it can be delayed further if the USPS is experiencing more congestion than normal (it is the lowest class of all mail).

I can see the package still moving through the system, so I am hopeful that it will arrive in the next few days."

P.S. Media Mail can sometimes take as much as 2 months.

[dola-4721]

Well since none of your recently sold items (at least on this account), quality for MM, I suggest you explain that fact to the buyer. Also media mail can be opened and inspected, if the items don't qualify, either you or the buyer will be charged Priority rates when it arrives.

[a_c_green]

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@dola-4721 wrote:

Well since none of your recently sold items (at least on this account), quality for MM, I suggest you explain that fact to the buyer. 

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According to the OP, it's a DVD. As long as it's a recording (i.e. not blank), such as a film, it does qualify for MM.

Ref: https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm

However, as the OP has demonstrated, it's a pretty lousy choice for shipping a consumer sale, because the buyer wants it in a reasonable amount of time, and Media Mail travels on essentially a space-available basis. I always recommend First Class Package instead, as its cost isn't that much more, and you'll have some confidence about when it's going to arrive.