Problems EVERY TIME With USPS

[Anonymous]

 I order (perishable) items, mostly from India. They arrive in USA quickly. Last one, ordered Jan 24 2021 arrived in US on Jan 28 and as of March 12, still has not arrived. I received a package(edible seeds) that was opened & not sealed back up & was infested with BUGS. Instead of complaining, I reordered and waited 2 months & received it OPEN AGAIN with the seeds literally spilling out of the gaping hole in corner of package. The post man tried to shame & threaten me by stating, "That's what you get. You shouldn't be ordering non-fda-approved products'. WHAT!? Products, I'm ordering from ebay are perfectly legal. These poor sellers are waiting months for their payments, same as buyers waiting for months, to receive products ruined by the US post office. These poor sellers also get BAD FEEDBACK because of the incompetency of the US post office. Ordering by DHL fast shipping takes just as long as regular shipping. Why are 3rd world countries postal systems 10x more competent than the US post office?  It's not just ebay. I've ordered from an Ayurvedic dr in India and am still waiting for a (perishable) package that was due, 2 weeks ago. I'd be ashamed to admit, I worked for the USPS- the world's most incompetent, and dishonest entity.  I am willing to pay much more for fedex or another NON USPS shipping service yet, do not see this as an option by ebay sellers. What is the remedy for the shipping problem? Can the USPS be held accountable for repeatedly, delivering defective products that they have ruined?

[johnrj1226 · Accepted solution]

Seems to me your issues are with the seller in India you are buying your stuff.  They do the packing & packaging and give it to their postal carrier which is not USPS.  USPS only handles the last leg of deliver in the US.

[mrdutch1001]

I would think ordering products from within the USA should be the lesson learned here! The products may be legal to sell on eBay, but that does not mean they can be legally imported into the USA from another country...Customs/Border Inspection officials can and often will open packages from outside the USA to inspect contents...

[globexk]

I am surprised that a customs official is not reading your post and escalating you for criminal inquiry. Not getting your seeds infected with bugs should be the last thing you should be worried about. 

[goldguy22k]

Maybe they are importing anise?  🤔  😂  😋

[mrdutch1001]

LOL!  a locally available item since anise is plentifully available anywhere!

but really & truly there is NO need to order any "seeds" from outside one's own country...

[Anonymous]

Excuse me? Criminal inquiry for what? Why should i order old Ceylon cinnamon, black cumin seed or turmeric that's IMPORTED to USA and sits in warehouses and store shelves for years when I can get them fresh directly from Indian/Sri Lankan farmers? Why do you feel this is criminal activity? Do you feel it's okay for the postal service to destroy people's packages just because they come from outside of the USA?

[Anonymous]

I don't mind my fresh spices being inspected. I mind them being slashed/unsealed and left opened and ruined. Why should I buy spices and herbs that are imported years ago from India/Sri Lanka when I can order them fresh, myself? Why do people have such hateful feelings about this? If these healthy spices are illegal then why is ebay allowing them to be sold?

[Anonymous]

Blame it on the seller!? Why would the seller slash open a sealed package, slash the outside of the package, half tape it up and then send? It is ridiculous to blame the seller for any of this.

[Anonymous]

We cook the most labor intensive dishes- North Indian cuisine. I do not want old and nutrient devoid spices that others have imported from India years ago.

[Anonymous]

 I also support small farmers inside of the USA for those who're angry at those who buy 'not made in the USA'. Just bought lovely fresh turmeric grown in Florida. I want to add that I support small farmers everywhere and buy lovely Alba Ceylon cinnamon sticks direct from Sri Lankan seller that is impossible to find in our area. Blaming Ebay, foreign sellers or buyers for the shortcomings of the USPS is just silly.

[mrdutch1001]

Products may be legal to sell on eBay, but it is up to the buyer to know what can and cannot be imported into one's country ....many items that years ago were quite ok to be imported into the USA  that are no longer acceptable according to Border Inspection agency. Know what you can import before you purchase...

Knowing your Customs /Border Agency prohibited/restricted list of goods will help in determining if the product you are purchasing can indeed be imported/come across your border by an individual...often times what applies to a business/company/corporation that has all the paperwork/certification/authorization, does not apply to an individual.

Postal systems/Customs/Border agencies have the right to open, inspect, discard, confiscate/destry any product they feel poses a risk.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your kind reply, John.  I also blamed the sellers but then realized tracking always shows parcel's sent promptly and shows package leaving India for 'country of destination'. Despite trying several different Indian sellers, always the same results. Can you please explain why it's all of these seller's faults if tracking shows the package leaves India then arrives here and suddenly disappears for 1 or 2 months? Packages  arrived damaged/slashed & left wide open, twice in a row.  Even tried DHL fast shipping but despite paying much more- same results. The mailman just signs my signature & leaves in box, 1 to 2 months after it leaves India. This has been happening for past 2 years so it's not 'extreme weather' or 'covid'.  Marked your reply as solution because it's obvious, you're really trying to be helpful. If you can explain to me why it is still all of the Indian sellers faults despite tracking showing they did the right thing, I'd be most appreciative.

[johnrj1226]

What  hard evidence do you have that USPS cut this shipment?  There are no USPS offices in India. The package was handled by other carriers en route from India to you plus customs agents/inspectors handle it also. 

[pn000a]

What's your problem with that?