eBay

nanniestreasurechest · ‎11-23-2022

This package is addressed to South Haven, Michigan which is about 610 miles north of where I live. It has ended up at a distribution center in Honolulu, HI!! USPS really needs to get it together especially with the holidays at our door. Needless to say I don't think this buyer is going to receive their package on time.

blingfling123 · ‎11-23-2022

No business is perfect and considering the volumes they deal with; their exception counts are actually pretty low.

I would just keep the buyer informed, not only that it is taking a holiday, but the steps you have done to get it sorted out. Most buyers are going to appreciate that extra CS and you should be fine.

oldwestgold · ‎11-23-2022

haha Here's a fun fact for everyone. The USPS delivers in ONE DAY what FedEx and UPS combined deliver in ONE YEAR. 20 years ago it was said that for every penny gas went up it equaled $1 million dollars annually to the cost of the USPS delivery. I could only guess that this figure has multiplied several times by now.

oldwestgold · ‎11-23-2022

Funny post. Thanks!

oldwestgold · ‎11-23-2022

Suggestions. Keep specific information on any failures including dates and names. ALWAYS file it online as these are service metrics(data) that go all the way up to DC. Final suggestion - write your Congressperson or whatever pronoun I should be using. Supply him or her with the same data - dates, tracking info copies, etc. Continue to do this with every failure. It is a fairly simple process that you can do online just like the delivery issues. It sounds like your Memphis P&DC is just like my Detroit P&DC. Do the above if you want to even think about getting any results. I am a retired high-level Postmaster of 33 years. I know the game.

annadryl · ‎11-23-2022

I hope you're not paying much for "Fragile" stickers. Sorting machines and conveyor belts don't notice them...

I think your package will be fine. As mentioned, mis-routes do happen.

oldwestgold · ‎11-23-2022

You have choices. Use FedEx or UPS. You won't because of the massive price differences. And of course, FedEx and UPS NEVER EVER lose anything. I still recall a parcel I had coming by UPS out of Chicago during one of their strikes. Weeks late it finally came riddled with shotgun pellets.

oldwestgold · ‎11-23-2022

As a retired Postmaster of 33 years, I actually prefer to place bright orange FRAGILE stickers on everything, even though my items are not fragile. Why? Because they make your package more visible, especially if a small brown padded envelope or bag sitting on the bottom of a mail sack when getting emptied. Yes, they don't get noticed on the conveyor belts because it's a conveyor belt where your items do not get moved much. It's the human factor, just like anything in the world, that you have to worry about.

spark-chaser1 · ‎11-23-2022

Maybe not completely on topic, but I had a package that had shipped out of Israel and nearly made a stop in every country in Europe , go off the radar for a month, then magically arrive at my doorstep without a single scan from customs, ISC New York, local PO.

And I've had packages mailed from 3 cities away wind up 4 states away on the way.

Sometimes, ya just never know.

yuzuha · ‎11-23-2022

@blingfling123 wrote:
I would just keep the buyer informed, not only that it is taking a holiday, but the steps you have done to get it sorted out. Most buyers are going to appreciate that extra CS and you should be fine.

I would NOT do that unless the buyer contacts you. Why poke a sleeping bear? They can see the tracking too. Odds are it just got tossed into the wrong bin and will correct itself without any intervention needed.

nanniestreasurechest · ‎11-25-2022

"I hope you're not paying much for "Fragile" stickers. Sorting machines and conveyor belts don't notice them..."

@annadryl I didn't pay a lot. Bought a roll from a seller on here. I know it doesn't do much good to use them but for some reason I just feel a little better putting them on a fragile package.

nanniestreasurechest · ‎11-25-2022

@oldwestgold I have to say I'm impressed how USPS is handling the complaint. I even had someone from the South Haven, MI post office to give me a call which in my opinion was not necessary but appreciated.

blingfling123 · ‎11-25-2022

@yuzuha Normally I would agree with you, but we are not just talking about a delay here, we are talking about a package that is now about halfway to Australia by accident.

Any buyer that looks at that tracking and sees Hawaii is going to flip. Better to be pro active here vs reactive.

nanniestreasurechest · ‎11-25-2022

@blingfling123 I agree. I'm in contact with the buyer and she's aware of what has happened and knows I'm keeping my eye on it. It is back in transit now but it's not telling me where to.

yuzuha · ‎11-25-2022

@blingfling123 wrote:
@yuzuha Normally I would agree with you, but we are not just talking about a delay here, we are talking about a package that is now about halfway to Australia by accident.

Any buyer that looks at that tracking and sees Hawaii is going to flip. Better to be pro active here vs reactive.

I had a package take a detour to Hawaii by accident once. Never heard a peep of complaint from the buyer and they left me positive feedback.

I would never, ever CAUSE an issue where there is none. If the buyer hasn't asked where their package is or why it's in Hawaii, why cause an issue?

nanniestreasurechest · ‎11-26-2022

UPDATE: Well, this didn't end so well. Buyer did receive package today and it was broken. They sent several pictures and the package looked as if it had been knocked around pretty good. Of course I refunded right away. I'm now re-evaluating how I package my fragile items. I thought what I was doing with the packaging was more than what was really needed but I guess I was wrong. Lesson learned. Thankfully it wasn't an expensive item. I'm just disappointed. ☹️