USPS Lost Package and Seller refusing to Refund me.

[aid_in_the_shade]

Hi,  I am trying to figure out if I did the right thing here. I had a seller who was very nice and I asked to ship something out for me quickly because it is something I needed in a certain time window.

So, the seller kindly shipped the package out for me, which i was appreciative of.  However, the package got lost in transit. It was scanned in by the local post office and never scanned at another distribution center or anywhere. It has been 1/2 a month and I never got the package. The item is several 100 dollars(Also, another reason the seller cant be sitting on an item for 1/2 a month and me have no item to show for it). After talking to my local supervisor at my post office he said the package was lost and that there was nothing more they could do.

However, since the seller was so nice to me I kindly asked the seller to file a missing package claim on his end so he can get his money back and refund me through private message so nothing would go against him.  I, also told him I would refuse the package if it showed up one day down the road so he would get it. However, the seller refused to refund me and would never look into the missing package for me. So, now i opened a case against him and he is still refusing to refund me....Ebay should refund me in this case correct?  I did do the right thing by opening a case against him?  His attitude changed very quickly once he learned I wanted a refund.

[corvettestainless]

If you opened a 'refund' for 'not received', you did the right thing. The seller is given 3-4 days to respond with the tracking number. Unless the seller insured the package for the several 100 dollars, the seller will not be covered except $50 or $100 if they used Priority. The rest, they eat, so that is why the seller is not doing backflips to be out all the $ and the item. Who would? 

[aid_in_the_shade]

Thanks for the response back. The seller immediately responded with same tracking number that was there previously when i purchased the item. However, The package just says in transit arriving late which is what the package has said for a long time now and clearly shows the package has not been delivered.   After talking to my local post office with a supervisor and the post office that the package was last seen and both of them trying to talk to different distribution centers no one was able to locate the package they both said the package is considered lost.  This package was shipped priority by the way.  I was also told by both post offices the seller should submit a missing package claim to which he is also not doing because it should have been scanned in.

Basically since the day it was supposed to be delivered by USPS the seller has refused to look into anything stating that it is common to see a status like this and that is my responsibility to look into where the package is, and not his since he has done his part and shipped it so it is out of his hands, which I disagree with. 

[gadgetmans_attic]

Missing package steps that's where I go if I have a package missing. I don't think it works for first class mail without tracking etc.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Missing-Mail-The-Basics#:~:text=Call%201%2D800%2D275%2D,regarding%20a...

[aid_in_the_shade]

Thanks for the response. However, these steps were already done.  I have already submitted a request. I then talked to my local supervisor at my post office and he said submitting any additional request would be a waste of time.  He actually ended my existing request because he said there is nothing else that could be done. He said all those requests are submitted go to him and that was absolutely nothing else that could be done because he said after leaving the initial post office there should have been another scan at a distribution center and there wasn't. He then said there then is a picture taken of the item on the line and he said none of those steps were done.  So, basically no one knows if the package has ever even made it to a distribution center.   He said it is possible it was just stolen.

He said the seller should submit a missing mail request on his end though so he was able to get some money back though.

[kensgiftshop]

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@aid_in_the_shade wrote:

Basically since the day it was supposed to be delivered by USPS the seller has refused to look into anything stating that it is common to see a status like this and that is my responsibility to look into where the package is, and not his since he has done his part and shipped it so it is out of his hands, which I disagree with. 

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Got news for the seller, they are responsible for the package until it is delivered.

Since you have filed the claim, return to the case in 4-5 and ask Ebay to step in if you don't get your refund by then.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You can just stop dealing directly with USPS.  That's the seller's problem (even if he doesn't think so). Be sure ou follow through on the "Item not received" claim so you can get your refund.

[aid_in_the_shade]

As soon as i posted this it was like magic the package has showed up at my distribution center like 5 minutes ago at 5:35pm.  My guess is it is due to me filing a claim the seller must have done something. Looks like tomorrow the package will likely be delivered.

However, I do not need the package anymore.  What is going to be the recourse now?  Should i just let the package arrive and force a return on the package? 

Due to the item taking 2 weeks to arrive  I reordered the item elsewhere because I needed something at a specific time and I told the seller this upon ordering/before ordering.  Even if this shows up tomorrow what should I do I no longer need this item anymore?

[di2360]

The Seller would need to do a missing package because they ask questions you would not know like the size, color, etc. I have tried to do one myself and they are still looking for it since last April.  But I did get my money back b/c u have 30 days to request a item not received. But Ebay told me not to wait that long. 

[mkaczorsee]

Not the seller’s fault for the late delivery. They shipped in a timely manner. 

If the seller accepts return (check original listing) you “could” open a return. Because this is a “remorse return”...as in you changed your mind...you would be paying the cost to return the item. 

Other option...realize this was not within the seller’s control and just another Covid issue. 

List the item yourself for sale. Gift to someone else. Donate to charity. 

[aid_in_the_shade]

I have to disagree with you here it has nothing to do with (remorse).  It is I needed a specific item  in a certain amount of time to repair something on my pool.  What was not listed above is this item was listed with expedited shipping.  I specifically asked the seller if the part i needed off the item was working and he said yes (that is yet to be determined because I have gotten it yet)  He also stated I would get the item the following week with no issue via message.  Then when the package did not show up on the arrival date it was supposed to he refused to look into saying this is normal when in fact I was told by my local supervisor because I had to check that it was in fact not normal.

I also paid $50 for the shipping and it was expedited shipping!  Also, I looked at shipping out an item twice as heavy/big one and it wasn't but $50.  The issue is the seller should have never shipped this item USPS but instead fedex or UPS. They are better equipped to handle larger items.

It is also not fair for me to pay for expedited shipping and the package arrive really late like this at the very least I need to be refunded the shipping cost. 

[kaltos1]

You are correct, but please understand that us sellers can ship something the same day you buy it and once we deliver it to the post office we have no say so as to when the post office will get that item to you. I personally have ordered stuff and watched the tracking of the item get to the post office in my town then later that day when I should have had it delivered I see updated tracking that it got sent to a different city 100 miles away from me meaning now I have to wait longer. It sucks, but there is nothing we can do about it when it comes to the post office employees doing their jobs. And right now they are overworked and understaffed due to Covid

[aid_in_the_shade]

I honestly think what needs to happen is people need to stop using USPS in general myself included and maybe they will learn.  I have seen 1000's of threads of USPS hurting both buyers and sellers on here and elsewhere. Their tracking is atrocious and literally no one knows where a package if something gets stuck with an in transit message for over 1 week like I did. 

Not to say it cannot happen elsewhere, but it is far less frequent. I never have these sort of issues with FEDEX or UPS.  Even if a package does get delayed they can tell me it was on the drivers trucks and they just didn't make it out to all locations, etc.

If you call USPS their answer is i dont know where the package is and I don't have any way to track it.  Sorry, you will just have to wait and hope it shows up but chances are it is lost.  That was what I was told with this package by 2 different supervisors at 2 different post offices. That is just a ridiculous answer.  This is the whole reason i started a return against the seller because the post office themselves said the package was lost and their advice to ask for a refund from the seller and tell him/her to file a missing package claim.

Not being able to tell customers where there packages are is just ridiculous.  According to the supervisor there are 1000's of packages lost every day in USPS.  They really need to get their act together or just go out of business because things are not improving with them only getting worse.

Even locally I have had to file over 20 complaints to the post office in like 6 months for them not picking up packages with the flag up on the mail box, not picking up scheduled pickups at least 10 times, just throwing mail over the top of packages, losing packages, damaging things, leaving things out in the rain, destroying my front yard with their cars....I could go on forever.

[vintagecraze50]

Obviously this package was NOT LOST as these USPS supervisors told you. USPS and many other carriers are having a difficult time getting these packages delivered due to COVID and MEGA MEGA MEGA internet buying and shipping. People need to get a grip that there are going to be delays and sometimes LONG ONE’S. IF you want something at a specific time now, pay for overnight or go to Amazon 2 day. They have their own warehouses and even they might be having some difficulty now.

[vintagecraze50]

USPS has had severe cuts in overtime by the current postmaster general. They are overwhelmed. People are recommending switching to another carrier, but guess what, if that starts happening with MEGA shipments, all the Brest of them are going to be overwhelmed as well.