USPS Losing Packages at ALARMING RATE.. What is Happening??

[jas31l]

I've been selling on eBay since 2002 and have done decent volume since 2014..  on average I open 2-3 lost item cases per year with USPS.  I've NEVER had to open a case with UPS or Fedex.  So far in 2025 alone (we're barely over a month in), I literally have opened 13 USPS lost package cases!  I've been forced to refund 5 different buyers and none of those items were ever delivered..  looking at my sales for 2025, I'm opening a lost item case for about 25% of my sales and of the 75% that get delivered, nearly ALL arrive late! 

The tracking just says "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late" every day until it just stops.  It's actually RARE that an item makes it on time.. and I get angry e-mails every day and item not received cases almost every day.  WHAT IS GOING ON WITH USPS???  I send most sales ground advantage because I sell a lot of polo shirts and clothing.  

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I too am seeing lots of In Transits on some shipments, but where they happen seems to show a pattern. But my orders eventually surface, and my buyers are patient and understanding.

Without making any accusations, is there any relationship between your packaging and whether you have problems. I had to eliminate one type of packaging because of delays when I used it.

[jas31l]

I package the same way I have for more than 20 years.. for most light clothing, they go in a poly mailer I get from eBay, nothing special.. that's usually what is getting lost.  I sold a PS5 game in mid-December and it never arrived; they just stopped scanning it.. possibly stolen??  For that one, I put it in a bubble mailer.  I imagine some one taking a peek in there, seeing a PS5 game, and stealing it.  But who's stealing a bunch of random clothing??  Also, I see lots of items never make it out of the Oklahoma City Distribution Center.. maybe there is some theft going on there..  However, there are also several items that did make it to another state and still got lost.. so I have no clue what's going on.

[lakefor94]

Certain distribution centers are having major issues, Indy is the main one we here about here lately while trying to consolidate into a new facility. 

Last year it was Atlanta for a long period. Some just have continual issues.

I would also guess that there are a lot of employees out sick. Heard on the news tonight this is the worst flu season in 15 years.

All of my son's families have been sick within the last 3 weeks, flu, strep, you name it. 9 kids between the 3 families and 6 have been sick. One couple, both teach school and my son missed 3 days last week and his wife missed 2 days staying home all week with a child sick with fever and strep. All are healthy once again.

Wife had 2 clients out of 5 cancel today with flu. Stuff is going around. I took my vitamins 3 times today, lol.....

Best to all, stay healthy. 

[cowboykites1]

Louis DEIchimp is destroying the USPS while every shipping company from UPS to FedEx and retail company from Amazon to Walmart improve their delivery operations.   

He’s just a good old tool from a bygone era of letting the &**& shipments though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_DeJoy

[carlmarxx]

Go to the PO and have them print out the internal tracking system scan  .this may have  the last location  and  get search in requested  .   

[fbusoni]

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@cowboykites1 wrote:

Louis DEIchimp is destroying the USPS

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Hyperbole much?  😄

I think he's done a great job, given the immense challenges faced by USPS.

All my eBay shipments are delivered on time; and in many cases GA is cheaper than media mail... AND media mail these days goes from the east to west coast in less than 72 hours.

In the last 10 years I've had one parcel go missing and I was compensated for it in full.

But keep in mind that when a monolith like USPS delivers 150 million pieces of mail a day, there are going to be hiccups.

@jas31l 

FWIW, I think @lakefor94 is correct.  This is most likely a distribution center-specific issue.  Perhaps you can switch temporarily to another service.   

The USPS OIG audits USPS operations... perhaps there are reports available that give insight into the problems at Oklahoma City. 

[american_valor]

Yes, it is happening so often now I am pausing my EBAY buying, they have lost several of my packages in the last 3 weeks with that same status."In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late" 

Something is VERY wrong with the USPS system it seems.

[annadryl]

I have had no problems here at all with USPS, zero. I think it might be a regional issue with a hub or system close to you. It could be the weather lately too, always maybe slower wherever it is. When this happens, we gotta stretch out a bit.

[lakefor94]

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@annadryl wrote:

I have had no problems here at all with USPS, zero. I think it might be a regional issue with a hub or system close to you. It could be the weather lately too, always maybe slower wherever it is. When this happens, we gotta stretch out a bit.

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True. I check to see where every shipment is going and make a game-time decision on carrier for every order.

Me, the seller, will always be responsible for choosing the carrier and the delivery of the shipment.

What Dejoy is trying to accomplish across the nation is a mission impossible considering the antiquated and dilapidated conditions of USPS facilities across the USA. I won't mention some of the other issues.....

Peter Graves, RIP, could not do it any better or faster if he was around.

[deserdog]

I have not lost an item using USPS for years. Only 3 since 1999. I notice that lots of peopel are saying it is poly mailers that are getting lost. I use them on some orders and even tyvek mailing envelopes for some. . I complete cover the shipping label with tape. 

[cowboykites1]

He HAS done a great job.  Here’s a some lyrics from a 33 year old song……..

And now, a word from the president
**bleep** it feels good to be a gangsta
Gettin' voted into the White House
Everything lookin' good to the people of the world
But the mafia family is my boss
So every now and then I owe a favor gettin' down
Like lettin' a big drug shipment through
And send 'em to the poor community
So we can bust you know who

So voters of the world keep supportin' me
And I promise to take you very far
Other leaders better not upset me
Or I'll send a million troops to die at war
To all you Republicans, that helped me win
I'd sincerely like to thank you
'Cause now I got the world swingin' from my nuts
And **bleep** it feels good to be a gangsta

[greatstuff80]

DeJoy literally destroyed numerous brand new sorting machines when he took the office. They were supposed to help move things faster. It was never explained why he did it. 

[lakefor94]

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@greatstuff80 wrote:

DeJoy literally destroyed numerous brand new sorting machines when he took the office. They were supposed to help move things faster. It was never explained why he did it. 

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Appreciate the valuable tidbit provided from 5 years ago. Part of the antiquated equipment one would assume unless you have the inside scoop to share. Spare us the mail in voting theories.

Updating equipment is part of the process. Out with the old, in with the new. 

[jas31l]

These are just a few of MANY examples.. And it's not I sell 100 items a day.. I sell MAYBE 1 per day on average!! Many of them never get out of OKC.. in transit to next facility every day.. at first "ARRIVING ON TIME" then "ARRIVING LATE" then the scanning stops.. and by the way, I have submitted claims with USPS; they just deny them and say the item was delivered.. and I appeal saying NO IT WASN'T.. tracking shows NOT delivered and customer complains hasn't received item.. and they just deny saying item was delivered sorry.