Recently getting late deliveries but why?

[stsguy]

No just before the COVID 19 hysteria. I have had 2 or 3 late shipments because my wife was in the hospital and I'm set up on will ship in one day. But in the last month, I have gotten DEFECTIVE/LATE Delivery hits but my customers are not complaining and not making complaints. I always get my stuff out on time and now as of late I see a list of late del. anyone else seeing this? I have had a few packages go across the US NEVER getting scanned (USPS) and showing up on time. Our Mailmen (one good one lazy) The lazy one refuses to scan on pick up he just will not do it but even then I'm not seeing scans late just del times... I don't get it and I guess i will NOT GET my % for power seller .. Seems too convenient... But I (we) have no control after we hand off the package.... SO what to do?  

[onnius]

I feel your pain. I finally gave up bending myself into pretzels trying to keep Top Seller status. Even though my buyers get their packages in less than half the timeframe ebay stated when they purchased the item - and then they rave about how fast it got there - there is enough randomness and inconsistency to the scanning on the day of shipment that I get dinged for "Not shipped on time" and it kicks me out of TLS since "Not shipped on time" exceeds the 3% allowed.  It's the only stat I suffer in.

I even switched all my items to "1 Day handling time" to try to mitigate the "Shipped late" nonsense, I still get killed. Could I walk 25-50 packages a day into the post office and insist they scan them one by one in front of me, rather than dropping the packages into the large Business Center (Bulk) dropoff bins? I guess I could, but then I'd clog up the USPS counters for the people just trying to ship one package, and that's not how this is supposed to work. And I don't have the time if I want to scale.

I just don't care about being a TLS *as far as ebay is concerned* anymore -and that's been freeing. But I'll always be one for my buyers.

[oldwestgold]

I would agree.  I gave up chasing the TLS a couple of years ago.  I do just the best I can. Surprisingly, after stressing over it I haven't had any problems since then.  Sometimes you focus on the target too much and it appears to just keep moving and eluding you.  It's kind of like when you are driving down the street with a cop behind you.  You end up swerving all over the place when you normally don't. LOL, Good luck.  And remember, in a hundred years it ain't gonna matter(of course with this virus thing it could be sooner).

[oldwestgold]

A suggestion if you have a problem carrier, this from a retired Postmaster of 32 years. #1. Bring it to your attention to your Postmaster and or Delivery Supervisor. #2. If after that the problem continues, file a complaint online at USPS.com. Each time you follow the online complaint procedure it opens a case up that your local PO has to formally respond to within a certain amount of time. It also lists to DC HQ, the Area Office, District Office and your MPOO(Mgr Postal Operations Officer). Allow your local PO to respond. If nothing gets corrected, repeat #2. every week until it gets corrected. Everyone up the ladder will get tired of the bells going off which in turns effects their EOY Pay. Don't accept poor service. I did it shortly after retiring as I had one lazy carrier. I didn't make any friends with the pocal PM but my service improved.

[mtgraves7984]

Just this week I got 2-day (3/17-3/19) delivery on First Class... Tennessee to Texas. Exactly as always from USPS.

[bbravo65]

...is this all the levels of complaint that you suggested people to do just over one little thing of not scanning outgoing packages...?

...I thought as of a Post Master with 32 years in service, you would have some slacks to sympathize with the Mail Carriers...

...I don't know how long have you been retired from USPS that you don't know how much changes from the time you were gone and now...

...just recently with the new progress "6-by-1 casing" that 1 carrier comes in very early in the morning (4:30AM) to case for 6 routes (include his/her route), then later delivers on half, or merely half of his/her route...the rest of 5 carriers lost their casing time (office time) that according to the management is roughly 20 to 30 minutes but their delivery time (street time) was extended to at least 2 to 3 hours longer (still wonder what Mathematics formula that USPS using to calculate time?)...imagine that extra 2, 3 hours of a walking route under the pressure by management system...?

...I still remember one of Riverside Post Office Supervisor (he was a most caring supervisor as the City Carriers showed their respects at his recently memorial service) said that mail-carrier duty is delivery, pick-up outgoing mail is courtesy...unfortunately, with the intention of eliminate Collection Carriers, the load is now on Mail Carriers shoulders...

...after more than 20 years of service, with blood, sweat and tears, their retirement paycheck monthly was only $850 after tax (under the FERS)...some couldn't have a chance to collect that tiny payment because they passed away right either on their retired day or shortly after...the damages, physically and mentally during the service put a massive toll into their lives...

...there are quite some Supervisors, Station Managers, Post Masters...climb up to that levels without setting their feet to deliver a piece of mail, so asking for a sympathy is impossible...

[dinpavent0]

Get this, I got a mark on mine for 64 late packages !!! Honestly 6 were my fault due to my brother passing and I was not home to mail the packages and I did contact my buyers an P*ss*d off big time. I can't help what the post office does. WTH

[dinpavent0]

Oh and that is why I decided to change my handling to 10 business days now and i got buyers buying items and questioning how quick they can get order after they buy it. I changed handling time because of this problem and don't know what else to do.. I am still shipping within 1-2 days tho.

[summersails4u]

Does it work changing the handling time? I have a wonderful postal worker who scans upon pickup. I send out within 24 hours, and my packages are showing scanning along the way, but sometimes arriving late. I figure under the circumstances USPS is extremely busy. Ebay needs to give us a break under the current circumstances. If we show tracking, and it arrive late, we should not be penalized. We (sellers & USPS) are doing their best. Give us a break ebay!

[bbravo65]

...if you follow your package's path by tracking number, you would see sometimes from USPS system it states out "Arriving On Time" or "Arriving Late"...and if you see any potentials of being late in delivery, just simply ahead sending a politeness message to your buyers let them know their packages is late in schedules of delivery and blame the Post Office...

...in my case, most of my buyers were very empathy and well-cooperative in this matter...for some others, I sacrificed partial refunds to avoid unnecessary claims...

[pjcdn2005]

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@summersails4u wrote:

Does it work changing the handling time? I have a wonderful postal worker who scans upon pickup. I send out within 24 hours, and my packages are showing scanning along the way, but sometimes arriving late. I figure under the circumstances USPS is extremely busy. Ebay needs to give us a break under the current circumstances. If we show tracking, and it arrive late, we should not be penalized. We (sellers & USPS) are doing their best. Give us a break ebay!

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@summersails4u 

If your package is scanned within your handling time, you do not get a late mark even if the package arrives late.

[dinpavent0]

Exactly!! Seems changing the handling time has helped some but if the package is not scanned along way or especially when it is delivered, nothing I can do. I take the packages to my post office down the road and they scan as soon as I give to them and I get a receipt. But once its delivered is where it is not being scanned showing out for delivery or transit even tho the buyer got package. I know they got it since I have messaged some to check and thank god they were honest or I received positive feedback so I know they got package. what else can I do?

[bbravo65]

...this is a TRUE situation...

...have you ever received a package that the tracking barcode and number were completely faded out because of getting wet from rain, or were ripped-off during processing...and in these circumstances, either the postal clerks or carriers could do anything...some carriers take a photo of the package's label before they deliver, but only some, not all...

...the instruction from eBay shipping label, "...DO NOT cover the tracking number with tape...", needs to be eliminated...USPS scanner can scan the barcode through clear tape covered...

[myboardid]

Why aren't you sellers using a scan sheet? You print it after all your postage has been printed for the day, and the mail carrier or clerk in the post office is REQUIRED to scan it. It covers all your packages for that day. Much less work for the PO person, and they don't feel you are putting an extra burden on them.

[dinpavent0]

The only printer I have is a rollo printer that prints labels only, 4x6 size. I already invested in this printer and the special paper for it and not going to buy another printer and ink to print a sheet when I get a receipt every day when my packages are scanned in. It is the same thing.