Shipping running late -- when to report as a problem, given the COVID-19 situation?

[an_elusive_fellow]

I bought an item on April 4, with an estimated delivery date of 4/13.  Tracking has been stuck at "In Transit to Next Facility" since 4/15.  The shipping service is USPS Retail Ground.  Aside from one neutral review in the past month that said that an item took a long time to arrive, the seller doesn't seem to have a history of issues with shipping.  The facility where my item is supposedly at, however, apparently has had problems with packages being stuck in tracking limbo like mine currently is. 

I understand that the coronavirus situation is causing a lot of disruptions with the postal service, and many sellers are getting unjustified INR complaints because of that.  I really would like to be as lenient as possible with this seller and USPS for that reason, but it's been ten days since the estimated delivery date on my item.  I'm starting to wonder whether I'll ever receive it at all, and am considering opening an INR case with eBay and/or a missing mail complaint with the postal service.  My question to all of you is, how long should I wait to do that given the circumstances, and to whom should I report the issue?  I'm rather new to all this, so any guidance would be much appreciated. 

[nc-daydreamer]

Personally, I'd call the post office about it. Give them the tracking number and ask them to get the package moving.

Otherwise, I'd suggest to wait a week past the expected date. A buyer has 30 days past this date to file a claim - so there is ample time to request action. You make this request by clicking on the RESOLUTION CENTER link at the bottom of the page.

[domin-tomas]

Ground can take an easy 20 days on a good day, with the virus who knows.

[domin-tomas]

You can also go to the USPS web site and make a complaint. It is easy and they do get in contact with you.

[lja440]

I got an item yesterday that was nearly 3 weeks late. There are a lot of sorting centers closed and understaffed. I'm just keeping a eye out on the allotted time to file a claim. With my items I'm waiting to the last day. In fact the item that arrived I had a note posted by the computer to file on today.

[aaahealthproducts]

We have seen dozens of first class and ground orders this month stuck in transit for days or weeks.  This didn't happen before.  The tracking says 'label created', and packages seem not to be getting scanned in when they arrive at the post office, and the tracking trail suddenly appears once they are in a USPS facility close to the final destination.   Many buyers have accused us of never sending their package; I don't blame them since I can't understand why the packages are not getting scanned.

Here's an example of a first class package we sent in late March from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania. It took around 25 days to arrive:

Tracking History

April 22, 2020, 2:09 pm
Delivered, In/At Mailbox
DALLASTOWN, PA 17313 
Your item was delivered in or at the mailbox at 2:09 pm on April 22, 2020 in DALLASTOWN, PA 17313.

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April 22, 2020, 7:45 am
Out for Delivery
DALLASTOWN, PA 17313 

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April 22, 2020, 7:34 am
Arrived at Post Office
RED LION, PA 17356 

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April 22, 2020, 6:07 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
HARRISBURG PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

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April 22, 2020, 2:16 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility
HARRISBURG PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

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March 28, 2020, 2:16 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
PARAMOUNT, CA 90723 

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March 28, 2020
Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS, USPS Awaiting Item

[ed8108]

No acceptance scan translates as people at USPS are not doing their jobs