Sellers need to blame themselves for issues encountered from USPS shipping delays!

[powell-memorabilia]

My heart goes out to sellers significantly impacted by USPS shipping delays.  I’ve had my share of worry about lack of scans at the post office, items stuck in limbo, potential INR’s, etc..  However, It is time for sellers to stop whining about the USPS and delivery delays.  We’ve all had the opportunity and vent, but now is the time to act like functioning adults, take responsibility for our mistakes, and move on. 

Let’s not pretend that sellers shipping mid-November and onwards didn’t understand that there might be issues with shipping delays.  Come on – the first COVID lockdowns weren’t that long ago, and we all knew that B&M retail was taking a huge hit this year, and that the USPS/FedEx/UPS would be slammed.  Me, I got a bit greedy – shipped media mail when I should have upgraded to priority, used the prepaid drop box instead of waiting in line for an actual scan, and waited a few days longer than I should have to put my store on vacation mode.  Those mistakes are on me, not on my buyers, not on eBay, not on the USPS (no, I don’t want to join your sure-to-never-launch class action suit).

The same sellers that are adamant that they “own” their selling, and outraged that eBay would dictate MP, are now crying that eBay is siding with buyers on items that have been “lost” for several weeks and didn’t make it in time for Christmas? If you own it, own it.  If not, take whatever comes your way, and stop complaining.  Life happens - deal with it.

eBay is the facilitator – but we own our performance.  We choose the carrier, we decide when to sell, we control pricing.  If you can’t deal with it, absolutely, shut it down until the situation is accommodating to your selling constraints.  Come on – let’s grow up, learn from our mistakes, and come back better than before.   

[calntom]

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@stephenmorgan wrote:

If you do not mind, could you explain how "If there wasn't a tracking update in 7 days, I filed an inquiry with the USPS."  and how  the "inquiry created a tracking scan, which appears to have extended the 3 week protection E-Bay offered"

Thanks

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[no_zero369]

Yep!  Step 2 of the Missing Mail process creates a notation on the tracking log, as shown.  IF that notation is taken by eBay system as "activity" of/for the package then the "clock" for INR case would be extended.  IF seller is the one who filed the Research Case, then theoretically they bought them self some more time for the item to be delivered.  Would really stink if being proactive actually helped a seller out. 😈 😱 😂 😎 ✌️

[calntom]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Yep!  Step 2 of the Missing Mail process creates a notation on the tracking log, as shown.  IF that notation is taken by eBay system as "activity" of/for the package then the "clock" for INR case would be extended.  IF seller is the one who filed the Research Case, then theoretically they bought them self some more time for the item to be delivered.  Would really stink if being proactive actually helped a seller out. 😈 😱 😂 😎 ✌️

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I never had to do a step 3. Wondering if step 3 creates more tracking entries?

Missing Mail and Lost Packages | USPS

[ra_201044]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Yep!  Step 2 of the Missing Mail process creates a notation on the tracking log, as shown.  IF that notation is taken by eBay system as "activity" of/for the package then the "clock" for INR case would be extended.  IF seller is the one who filed the Research Case, then theoretically they bought them self some more time for the item to be delivered.  Would really stink if being proactive actually helped a seller out. 😈 😱 😂 😎 ✌️

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It wasn't the case notation in the tracking log that ebay took as activity -- it was the 'processed thru' scan that is right above it on the same day almost 5 hours later that was the activity.

[stephenmorgan]

Ok, I am sorry but I still do not understand.

Your picture of the eBay Tracking shows the package was delivered in 19 days.  So what did you do to get eBay to extend the 3 week protection?  Is it just clicking on the Tracking Number and the shipping is updated. 

You said you filed an inquiry with USPS so that is what I would like to learn how to do.

[soh.maryl]

If there are "certain actions" that you could have taken to avoid this problem, I believe we would all like to hear what those would be.  

[calntom]

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@ra_201044 wrote:

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Yep!  Step 2 of the Missing Mail process creates a notation on the tracking log, as shown.  IF that notation is taken by eBay system as "activity" of/for the package then the "clock" for INR case would be extended.  IF seller is the one who filed the Research Case, then theoretically they bought them self some more time for the item to be delivered.  Would really stink if being proactive actually helped a seller out. 😈 😱 😂 😎 ✌️

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It wasn't the case notation in the tracking log that ebay took as activity -- it was the 'processed thru' scan that is right above it on the same day almost 5 hours later that was the activity.

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@ra_201044 is prolly right because eBay states in the update they are looking for "movement".

FROM THE UPDATE:

If tracking on the item shows movement within the past 10 calendar days and the parcel is in the destination country, we’ll keep the request open for 10 more days from the time the buyer asked eBay to step in to allow additional time for the item to be delivered. After that time, if there is no updated activity, eBay will consider the item lost and we’ll ask the seller to refund the buyer. 

[mgmjoe001]

I'm sorry but whoever wrote that sellers should blame themselves is pretty uneducated. We as sellers have a handling time that we need to ship within. Once you ship the order, it is pretty much all in USPS hands. Yes we are responsible for the seller getting the products but we cannot necessarily help USPS go faster. Sure we can file missing package claims for packages that are not moving for some time. Sellers taking blame for delays is stupid. 

Yes I take a little blame because if I knew how bad this month was going to be i would have never opened. I sold 15 or more packages this month. I was only open from the 1st to the 9th. The rest of my shipments were still at my local post office. Knowing this I ended up closing. 

I had only one buyer that sent me a "where's my package message" I sent him a professional reply and that was it. His order showed up a week later. Everything was good. 

Then I got a very rude buyer that did not care if it was holiday time and that we are in the midst of a pandemic. He was harassing me everyday. It got really ugly. Probably the worst selling experience I have had with a buyer, ever. Ebay got involved and it was horribly annoying.

Do I take responsibility for USPS? No. Do I tell sellers to be patient? Yes. 

I'm waiting on a few items myself as a buyer. It is taking wicked long. Do I blame my sellers? Nope. Do I open a case against them? Nope. Just have to wait it out. 

[soh.maryl]

Did you know that "major sorting hubs" are closed in more than one location?

The USPS processing center for this area is located about 8 miles north of my location.

It is now closed and all mail goes first to a different center which is located about 45 miles north.

Even items mailed to this same zip code have to travel morth 45 miles before they return to be delivered about two miles down the road.  

[calntom]

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@stephenmorgan wrote:

Ok, I am sorry but I still do not understand.

Your picture of the eBay Tracking shows the package was delivered in 19 days.  So what did you do to get eBay to extend the 3 week protection?  Is it just clicking on the Tracking Number and the shipping is updated. 

You said you filed an inquiry with USPS so that is what I would like to learn how to do.

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I posted the link in message #93.

Since then we may have determined that a Package Research Case Created may not qualify as a tracking movement.

Being familiar with creating a case is good though as "sometimes", it may assist in rattling your shipment loose, depending upon where it is stuck.

I just kept this buyer informed and was sending him updates every time the tracking showed anything. Filing the Package Research Case and sending screenshots to the buyer shows the buyer you are proactive. My buyer was never gonna file an INR case. He knew it was delayed, but not lost and I was watching it.

[no_zero369]

@soh.maryl

I suggest taking a look at Post #49 in this thread.

[zayo2723]

Sure let me know what I could have done differently once I dropped my item off at USPS within 24 hours of being paid and then there was no movement on the tracking for 3 weeks. What suggestions do you have for speeding up USPS once your item is stuck with them? Sure I learned that I shouldn't use USPS now in the future but after making the mistake of using them in the first place I'm not sure what else I could have done to fix that mistake.

And I'm not concerned about returns, that happens. I'm talking about refunding the sale price AND losing your item, which should absolutely not be a part of doing business. No business operates this way and you're being dishonest if you say otherwise.

[powell-memorabilia]

-move to Priority Mail mid-Nov, or move to UPS

-delist lower margin items that don’t support non-Media Mail shipping

-send notes to buyers when they purchase - explain potential shipping issues, explain that packages might be delayed, and ask if they still want the order 

-make Sure that the post office scans every item - no more dropping in the bin or leaving at the counter 

[stephenmorgan]

Thanks!

I myself have never had a issue with Item not being received on time.  But I like to be informed encase I do.

I did have a International Package get lost once it arrive to the destination country.  No problem, I used eBay's shipping so eBay paid for the loss.   As soon as the buyer was able to file Item Not Received Claim they were reimbursed by eBay.

[ra_201044]

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@calntom wrote:

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@ra_201044 wrote:

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Yep!  Step 2 of the Missing Mail process creates a notation on the tracking log, as shown.  IF that notation is taken by eBay system as "activity" of/for the package then the "clock" for INR case would be extended.  IF seller is the one who filed the Research Case, then theoretically they bought them self some more time for the item to be delivered.  Would really stink if being proactive actually helped a seller out. 😈 😱 😂 😎 ✌️

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It wasn't the case notation in the tracking log that ebay took as activity -- it was the 'processed thru' scan that is right above it on the same day almost 5 hours later that was the activity.

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@ra_201044is prolly right because eBay states in the update they are looking for "movement".

FROM THE UPDATE:

If tracking on the item shows movement within the past 10 calendar days and the parcel is in the destination country, we’ll keep the request open for 10 more days from the time the buyer asked eBay to step in to allow additional time for the item to be delivered. After that time, if there is no updated activity, eBay will consider the item lost and we’ll ask the seller to refund the buyer. 

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 Guess it depends on where it was written .... if at a desk, then I assume they mean package movement. If written in the bathroom, well, ................ 😀