Shipping Carrier Delay (Weather) / Harassing Buyer

[ahawthorn]

I have a buyer who is now harassing me by messages about a carrier delay due to weather. The day I received payment, I printed a USPS Priority Mail label through eBay and minutes later dropped the package off at the post office. I informed the buyer by message that I had dropped the package, but to expect carrier delays because of an ice storm in Austin, Texas which left most of the city without power for days. The buyer is in another Texas city that is 280 miles away and the package has not been delivered by USPS. USPS tracking shows it is moving (slowly) through their network to the buyer. I’ve been professional in my messages, even asking what I can do to satisfy the buyer, but the buyer is impatient and harassing. What recourse do I have and what, if anything, am I obligated to do for the buyer? 

[klhmdg]

you are not obligated to do anything.

If the buyer is sending messages - just respond with the tracking # and were it was last scanned.

eBay and USPS do not "guarantee" a delivery date. All dates are estimates.

If the buyer files a not received claim - attach the tracking # to the case.

[mike_jayroe]

I would add  block the buyer from future purchases.  He/he would probably do the same thing again.

[pickermall]

Have they opened a "Item Not Received" case via Ebay?  Or just messages?

[movieman630 · Accepted solution]

Simply stated once the USPS has custody of a package it's out of your hands.  You don't work for the post office or have a direct line to the Post Master General. 

When a package is delayed I politely ask them to be patient, keep checking, talk to their Post Master if they're worried but that usually 99.9% of the time a package will be delivered by the end of the 4th week if it's not really lost.  If after 4 weeks nothing has arrived I will issue a refund or replacement.  (This was a huge problem in the fall of 2020).  

[ahawthorn]

Just messages.  Hasn't opened an "Item Not Received" case yet.