Refunds due to USPS delivery delays

[lightlily_arts]

I check the tracking on all my packages, and when they don’t arrive by the estimated delivery date I initiate the missing mail search even when there’s a USPS notice that it’s been delayed.

I mailed an FCM item on April 22, 2021 and there were no further scans after that date. When it did not arrive after 10 business days I opened the Missing Mail Research case and messaged my buyer.  USPS closed the case two days later without a resolution and no further updates. I called USPS several days in a row to determine why they closed the case without doing anything. I was advised because my mail piece had not arrived at the destination office. Therefore I called USPS and had them reopen the case.

Meanwhile, I kept in contact with my buyer who had patiently waited, and provided all updates. However, he finally had to open a INR case as the mail piece never arrived nor had there been any updates. I promptly sent him his refund on May 20th. USPS sent me an email June 10th stating they were closing the case as my mail piece was apparently lost. Nonetheless, I still kept checking the tracking. Lo and behold the item’s tracking finally updated on June 12th . I thought that I should notify my buyer about it’s eminent arrival, and requested his email address so I could send him a money request upon the parcel’s delivery. It finally arrived on June 14th in good condition, but I have no idea where it had been since there weren’t any intervening scans.

I sent off the PayPal money request and he promptly repaid me. I have to applaud my buyer because he didn’t hesitate to repay me. The only difference was that I didn’t pay the eBay fees the second time since we have no mechanism to rebill with eBay MP.

I only posted because I still believe that we have honest buyers.  We only tend to post when things go wrong which can make it seem hopeless.  The main point is that I proactively kept my buyer up to date, and didn’t delay the refund process since there hadn’t been any scans after being received by the post office. I also advised the buyer that I would be sending the money request after the parcel arrived.   In addition,  my buyer left me positive feedback as well.

[beautiforever]

You are lucky my buyer just ignored me and took the package and the money. 

[lightlily_arts]

I know that has happened to many sellers.  But I doubt that we would hear from the sellers who were repaid as people tend to post only when things go wrong.  I haven't had too many problems even though I had late packages.  I believe it's because I was filing missing mail searches as soon as the package was late, and kept my buyers informed.  When cases were opened I would call eBay and request a hold on claims where there were recent scans to allow for more time to get those packages delivered. 

I only lost money on one case, but it's because I sent out a replacement and when the missing package finally arrived weeks late I just told the buyer to keep it rather than pay for a return shipping label for a low value item.

The other proactive measure I take is to add a message to the buyers shipping email notice when I print out the shipping label to warn them of possible USPS mail delivery delays.  You would think that after a year since these mail delays started that people should know, but from what  I've read here apparently not.