So sad...USPS is my favorite carrier, but...

[prettywoman-2012]

I am so sad this evening! Someone purchased a coat from me and it is a special coat (or jacket) for snowy and icy conditions. Because it has been unusually cold here - normally, we only get a couple of cold days with snow - but now, there is a blanket of snow here (more predicted) and the same is true for the area the buyer lives at, despite not shipping normally on weekends, I made the extra effort to drop the package in the mail last Saturday, thinking, it would arrive by Monday, Priority Mail. Well...just checked the tracking information, and the package was sent in the totally opposite direction, to Sacramento, California! Although the tracking says, it already was redirected again and is on route, this person paid extra for the Priority Mail delivery and now has to wait a week to get the package. 

I do not recall this every happening to me, in 22 years of shipping with the USPS. And the guys here at ABQ USPS Hub are doing a fabulous job, almost everything usually reaches its destination within 2-3 days, even First Class. 

Hmm. 

Sent buyer a message, but no response. I am afraid this will not end well. 

[bonjourami]

Thats awful, maybe offer to refund his extra priority shipping once he gets the pkg.?

[prettywoman-2012]

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@bonjourami wrote:

Thats awful, maybe offer to refund his extra priority shipping once he gets the pkg.?

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Bon soir, amie

😁

Yeah, I was thinking about this, but it just seems so unfair that due to an error the USPS made, I should be out of $$$ I already had to pay for the shipping. Alas, there may not be any other option, if I want the customer to be happy. But it would be nice to hear back something from the buyer, because if my notification of the partially refunded shipping would not reach its recipient, then I could still end up with bad feedback. Hmm. 

Merci bien

PW

[nobody*s_perfect]

The difference between Parcel Select ground and the online rate for Priority Mail is literally between 10 and 35 cents.  It looks like more in the listing shipping calculator because the listing shows the retail price for Priority Mail.

IMHO it's unrealistic to expect  a package shipped on Saturday to be delivered on Monday. Even Express Mail allows a full business day, showing delivery on Tuesday for a package shipped on Saturday (even within the same ZIP Code).

It's unfortunate that the package was misdirected, but that does happen with a small percentage of packages.  At this time of year, redirects are common due to bad weather.  The standard delivery time for Priority Mail is 2 to 3 business days, so it isn't even late until Thursday.

[bonjourami]

Bonjour, vous êtes les bienvenus, bonne chance!

[nkmipgolf]

Not your fault and most people understand USPS can run into problems.  Nice people say Oh well,  bad people say missed due date, I want money back!!!!!  Thanks to eBay policies. (wannabe Amazon)

[prettywoman-2012]

Thanks, everyone, for the responses. I guess nothing helps, just waiting patiently and see what happens next. But I also feel sorry for the person as it is BITTER cold here, brrr! 

PW

[prettywoman-2012]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

The difference between Parcel Select ground and the online rate for Priority Mail is literally between 10 and 35 cents.  It looks like more in the listing shipping calculator because the listing shows the retail price for Priority Mail.

IMHO it's unrealistic to expect  a package shipped on Saturday to be delivered on Monday. Even Express Mail allows a full business day, showing delivery on Tuesday for a package shipped on Saturday (even within the same ZIP Code).

It's unfortunate that the package was misdirected, but that does happen with a small percentage of packages.  At this time of year, redirects are common due to bad weather.  The standard delivery time for Priority Mail is 2 to 3 business days, so it isn't even late until Thursday.

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Yeah, you are right about the standard delivery time for Priority Mail - but it has happened soo many time, I dropped it in the mail FRI or even SAT - and it was there by Monday. This just has a few hundred miles to go. 

Thanks

PW

[flashlight_nut · Accepted solution]

I'd calculate the difference, and offer a refund for  the additional shipping anyway with an apology for the post office goofing the delivery, even though not your fault.   The post office doesn't have a money back guarantee on priority mail.    A small loss now to be rewarded for a good deed later.

[johnrj1226]

Have  had a couple of those misdirects with USPS.

I just kept the buyer updated as  to the tracking status via eBay messages.

No one got upset or  gave me a red hickie (neg).

Customers do appreciate time communications vs after the fact communications.

[1tuna]

................general response..........................

not sure why you are even entertaining the idea of a partial refund for shipping.What does a snow storm have to do with tracking.Not trying to be harsh but I never check tracking.I mean whats it going to do for you,the tracking seems to have you in a tizzy and it is all avoidable,why look for problems that do not exist yet. my standard smart **bleep** comment is you wont be checking tracking after delivery so why check it in the 1st place

just pretend that the package is on its way,because  it is

I think that checking tracking causes more anxiety than it prevents

[fern*wood]

You really think they are freezing? 

The other day I posted blaming Amazon with Sunday deliveries as setting up buyer's unrealistic expectations about delivery, which hurts ebay sellers.  Now I see other ebay sellers are hurting themselves.

I would never contact a buyer over this and never expect one day delivery.  They may not have even noticed, since their delivery date hasn't passed (according to another post). 

[prettywoman-2012]

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@1tuna wrote:

................general response..........................

not sure why you are even entertaining the idea of a partial refund for shipping.What does a snow storm have to do with tracking.Not trying to be harsh but I never check tracking.I mean whats it going to do for you,the tracking seems to have you in a tizzy and it is all avoidable,why look for problems that do not exist yet. my standard smart **bleep** comment is you wont be checking tracking after delivery so why check it in the 1st place

just pretend that the package is on its way,because  it is

I think that checking tracking causes more anxiety than it prevents

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Thanks, but the snow storm has nothing to do with USPS erroneously sending this to Cali. The snowstorm (or better to say, the unusually cold temps) have a LOT to do with this person wanting to use it for a snow-boarding adventure. By the time the package arrives, we may not even have any snow left, haha!

As to not checking the Tracking or checking it: I think it is a personal choice,  and I prefer to follow the packages on route to their destination, be it as a seller or as a buyer. I also prefer good communication. This package should have been there at the latest, by Tuesday. Today, it is still Wednesday and it has not arrived to the home town of this person, it shows, on route. I would not necessarily call this a "looking for problems where there is none" event. 
Have a nice day

PW

[prettywoman-2012]

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@flashlight_nut wrote:

I'd calculate the difference, and offer a refund for  the additional shipping anyway with an apology for the post office goofing the delivery, even though not your fault.   The post office doesn't have a money back guarantee on priority mail.    A small loss now to be rewarded for a good deed later.

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Thank you! That is a great suggestion! 

PW

[3eyedfishcatcher]

have you checked USPS for outages or delays. Sometimes there are weather and other issues that can cause mail to be rerouted. With the exception of over night or next day even USPS  says the time frame given on a label is just  estimated and due to circumstances the delivery date can be changed.

While or some items eBay gives buyers a guarantied delivery date. This is not from the post office but from historical records from the tracking of similar items in the past.