Shipping to Texas/delays...

[Anonymous]

Shipped something to Texas several days ago. I haven't seen an update on it for 3 days now. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday so it's late. On the flip side, I ordered something from AZ several days ago. It was also supposed to be here yesterday, but hasn't shown a scan since the 11th. 

There was a headline about seller protection for the weather, but don't see it now. How does this work? Does anyone know what the situation is down there? I'm in Ohio, and we have our own weather issues... I can't believe it's shutting them down so bad that it's still causing issues. Of course, we go through these same exact weather issues every single winter so I'm used to it!! I'm not opening a case on my thing, but what if the buyer on my sold item contacts me? Will he/she be able to open a case? 

[rebell45]

This is the last announcement they made on weather delays. I assume it still applies.  https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Seller-Protections-extended-for-shipping-delays-from-inc...

[1grandmashope_1]

I don't think many people affected in Texas are going on their computers to open a case right now.  Although, who knows?  Can they open a case...probably...could you possibly win...maybe...

This is another case of seller beware.  As a seller, it is imperative that you make choices that you yourself are good with knowing the ramifications if something goes south.  

I wish you well moving forward, but more importantly, all those that are experiencing this across the country a reprieve.

With Hope,

Grandma

[creativecrisis]

I'm in the Houston area, and we haven't had mail delivery all week. Power is out in many parts of the state, and highways are a mess. Your shipment is probably sitting somewhere until the mail trucks can move again and post offices re-open.  If your buyer is one of those unfortunate folks who's been without power this week, I suspect a late delivery is one of the last things on their mind.

[1grandmashope_1]

@creativecrisis 

Be safe and stay warm.

Sending my best to you and yours,

Grandma 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

I ordered something last week and the seller lives in Pennsylvania. When I go to the purchase page to view the tracking, ebay states at the top: Due to severe weather, deliveries can be delayed, I've never seen that before.

[wesk_36]

Around 2 million households (edit) without power in Texas.

https://poweroutage.us/

Internet AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Spectrum, Grande Communications are all experiencing major outages as well.

[collectfest]

I live in Dallas, the last thing I am worrying about right now is if my package is on time. I have 3 inches of ice in pool. Garbage pickup on hold. MASSIVE power outages but seems to be getting better. I've been blessed/lucky with power but most have not. I think its because I live near police and fire dept. I grew up in Chicagoland and have never experienced this much disruption including the 1970's. 

I am quite sure the mail is delayed. I am sure eBay will back folks up, they backed me up in past weather delay issues and have stated as much on their announcement page.  Tomorrow will be the 1st day I will venture out to my mail box.

Just make sure you have PROOF of shipping/tracking including acceptance from your post office as well as attaching the tracking to the listing.

Regards

[Anonymous]

I know, I thought about sending him a note, but I try to keep my contact with buyers limited. I felt like it would be unprofessional.

Is just so hard to understand how it could get that crazy. We've had a foot of snow plus ice then another foot on top of that mixed with sleet. Didn't shut anything down. I know it's TX not OH but natural disasters have been way up thanks to global warming and el Nino. Have to expect anything. Hope it gets better soon for everyone!! Warmer temps ahead!! Things will get moving again. 

[Anonymous]

I saw that on an order today too. I'm lucky most of the things I've shipped lately have been to neighboring states. It's a mess here in Ohio but they've apparently been managing! I have to give delivery people all kinds of props! I make sure the driveway and walks are at least passable for them, but it's been some hard work. 

[mikec12]

Same here, I shipped the 8th, if the Usps wasn't so slow I would of beat the storm. Now it has said processed through usps facility in Houston since the 13th, probably not many miles at all from my buyer. 

[Anonymous]

That's when mine shipped too. Hasn't shown anything past leaving the sort facility in Columbus (OH). It HAS shown that it's "in transit" up to the 14th, but IDK if that means anything... 

[mikec12]

I'm not sure myself, the tracking has been really weird. 

[releasethekraken_1]

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@Anonymous wrote:

There was a headline about seller protection for the weather, but don't see it now. How does this work? Does anyone know what the situation is down there? 

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Info about the situation in Texas is everywhere; not sure why you're having trouble finding it. In a nutshell, they're experiencing extreme cold weather, ice, and snow. Dozens of people have died, millions have been without power for days, and much of the Texas power grid is non-functional. They're not even able to generate sufficient power, much less get it to customers. The power system was totally unprepared, because it's set up to offer no incentives to properly maintain the infrastructure. The power they're able to deliver is being rationed via rolling blackouts. The cost of electricity, which is not controlled by any government entity, has spiked in some cases from $22/kwh to $6,000/kwh.

I don't think they're worried about package delivery. On Friday, I mailed a large lump sum pension check to my IRA administrator in Texas. It's going to be "on ice" for a while. It can wait.

[southern*sweet*tea]

https://poweroutage.us/

The numbers shown are customers without power. A customer can be either a business or a home. It is not a "single" person.

These are states, at least in the case of my state (MS) that are not equipped to handle 3-5 inches of ICE on the roadways. We're used to power lines going down, happens all the time during tornadoes. But with almost half a foot of ice on the roads in places, the trucks can't get to the lines to put them back up.

As to Texas, my understanding is a lot of the outages are due to the grid not being able to handle the extreme electric use, and not totally from downed lines.