USPS Media Mail terrible service

[joshua24fan]

Has anyone had any issues with Media Mail in the past few months? I sell an average 1-2 movies a day. Three packages in the past two weeks have either shown lack of scans, huge delays, and another one that keeps looping between St Louis and Memphis. I have already had to refund $30 and I am looking at possibly having to refund another $47. Beyond frustrated right now with them. I am definitely using first class from now on.

[joshua24fan]

Here are two examples:

In Transit to Next Facility

Jun-05-20, 00:00 AM

USPS in possession of item

Jun-01-20, 13:48 PM, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30092


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

n Transit to Next Facility

Jun-09-20, 00:00 AM

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

Jun-06-20, 04:06 AM, SAINT LOUIS MO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Departed USPS Regional Facility

Jun-05-20, 21:21 PM, MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

Jun-04-20, 11:27 AM, MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Departed USPS Regional Facility

Jun-03-20, 13:32 PM, SAINT LOUIS MO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility

Jun-03-20, 08:54 AM, SAINT LOUIS MO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Departed USPS Regional Origin Facility

May-23-20, 16:30 PM, MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility

May-22-20, 08:06 AM, MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Accepted at USPS Origin Facility

May-22-20, 06:51 AM, POWDER SPRINGS, GA 30127

[orangehound]

As the lowest priority of all mail services, Media Mail always moves at the speed of honey for about 2-3 weeks around Christmas.

With Covid-19, mail volume over the last few months has been nearly the same as Christmas ... with fewer workers ... social distancing at USPS facilities ... and closed USPS facilities.

So, yeah ... slow Media Mail has been a frequent topic.

[joshua24fan]

And Ebay doesn't seem to take this into consideration when rewarding the buyer a refund because of the USPS delay.

[simba6]

Media mail was always slow. Now it's even worse.  Best not to use it.

[orangehound · Accepted solution]

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@joshua24fan wrote:
And Ebay doesn't seem to take this into consideration when rewarding the buyer a refund because of the USPS delay.

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True.   But, there is also a responsibility on sellers ... if risk is a concern for sellers, then they need to learn about high-risk selling behavior and make adjustments to lower risk.

We've known about the Media Mail problems for months.    At this point, if a seller continues to use Media Mail during this pandemic, then they are effectively agreeing to occasional losses due to ultra-late deliveries.

[joshua24fan]

I wasn't aware of the risks when I sold these three movies a few weeks ago. I have sold others and usually ship first class, but these were heavier and I guess I was trying to save a couple extra dollars. Losing almost $70 to try and save about $5 stings, lol.

[mattb1]

I'm waiting for a MM package that shipped on June 1st from FL to WI.  It was in Chicago on June 3rd, now it's been stuck down there for the last 8 days...  I also had a Priority Mail package shipped the end of May that took 9 days from NJ to WI.  It went from NJ to Milwaukee, WI in 2 days, then they sent it to Indiana for some reason, then to Green Bay, then back to Milwaukee.  Screw the USPS.

I haven't had any delays whatsoever with Fedex or UPS.

[yuzuha]

Honestly, I have encountered those sorts of problems with Media Mail for years.  That's why I stopped using it a long time ago.

[di2360]

I collect dvd's.  I use media mail all the time. I have noticed it has been slow depending on which US States it has to go through. Some I get in about 4 or 5 days. Or the normal 7 - 10 days.  I also order other stuff and first class is slow to. The Northeast seems to be the States that are really slow.  Right now I see a different mail person about every few days. I have seen pictures of post office's with packages stacked up. Read these board's. I have a package from April that the Post office claim they are still looking for.  Too much going on for the post office right now. Which sucks for us. 

[lex-talon]

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@joshua24fan wrote:

Has anyone had any issues with Media Mail in the past few months? I sell an average 1-2 movies a day. Three packages in the past two weeks have either shown lack of scans, huge delays, and another one that keeps looping between St Louis and Memphis. I have already had to refund $30 and I am looking at possibly having to refund another $47. Beyond frustrated right now with them. I am definitely using first class from now on.

Nope. I sell cd's shipped by MM and so far, no delays. Had one make it to Ca. to Fl. in three days. Have to give huge kudos to my local Postal hubs. 

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[joshua24fan]

That's great. I am near Atlanta and most everything that goes west of Mississippi has to go through Memphis and apparently thats where my MM is getting logjammed at.

[backroomnoir]

It's been significantly slower since the heath emergency.  I stopped using MM for movies, as most DVD / Blu's weigh under 4 ounces in a bubble mailer.   

[joshua24fan]

Yeah, but I haven't had any issues in March, April and first part of May. Only the last three weeks have given me issues. That's why I wasn't sure if it was coronavirus delay or something else.

[backroomnoir]

Not sure, I think they slowed MM even further myself.  Even priority mail has been taking weeks for me in some cases.    

California / LA area has been particularly slow for me.