USPS Priority Mail Package Gone MIA - How Can I Get Them To Find My Missing Antique Item?

[futurespast1113]

Hi all (Sorry so long, but I am really disgusted right now).

I purchased an antique wooden box that was made in 1848 that has a rare hand colored lithograph pasted inside of it. I have been collecting antiques for over 25 years and always wanted one of these type of antique sewing boxes with this antique Godey's lithograph to add to my collection. I was thrilled to have purchased it and paid for Priority Mail and the seller shipped it out on August 3rd. 

I was so excited about it's arrival that I spent over $40 buying supplies to restore it. I was going to make new trays for the missing trays in the interior of the box. Now I am out the item and all the supplies I paid for. Finding another one of these for the price I paid will be almost impossible 😞

I noticed that lately  (the past 2 weeks) a lot of my Priority Mail and First Class packages have all been arriving a few days to a week later than normal. For the most part, my mail has been on time and I have had no other issues. It's been years since they lost any of my packages.

The package was going from Cambridge, Ohio to Long Island, NY. On August 5th it reached the Metro New York Distribution Center hub which is 7 blocks away from my house. On the 9th the tracking said "In Transit Arriving Late". After that no more scans were made ever again.

I filed service requests/missing mail online and after about a week one of the claims for service was replied back to me via email. It stated:

"I am sorry to learn that your parcel has not reached its destination.

Because so much time has passed since its mailing, and our searches initiated by your inquiries have failed to locate the missing parcel or its contents, we must reluctantly conclude that the item is lost."

I am so **bleep**!😡 I even sent them photos of the item when I filed the claim. I spent hours on hold when I called the 800 number and couldn't get a rep to help me as by the time someone would pick up they would hang up on me. I called the USPS C&IC here on Long Island and all I got was an automated message to leave my phone number and someone will call me back. Nobody ever did. I also got the private number of my local post office and asked for the Post Master.

The person who answered the phone did not want to put me on with he or she and gave me a different number to call where nobody answers and asks me to leave a message which I did, but nobody ever called me back. I also went to social media (Twitter) and got no replies from my DMs that I sent @usps Help.

I want my item and not a refund. I guess I am venting here because I am really upset as this item is not some mass produced cheap Chinese piece of junk that I can just replace on Amazon. This item lasted since 1848 until the bumbling idiots at the post office lost it.

The tracking number still says "In Transit Arriving Late". Does this mean, I may still get my item? Does anyone know if the Post Office will remove the tracking number after it is deemed missing? I am hoping and praying I will still get my item. I am sick to my stomach about this to be quite honest.

Can anyone here give me tips on how I can get someone from the post office to really search for my missing item? I do not think anyone has even bothered to look to be honest. I am only 7 blocks away from the hub. Am I allowed to go there and search for it myself?! I have no problem doing that.

I sent a message to the seller requesting a refund since the USPS said it was missing. The latest delivery date that ebay gave me for this item was on August 11th. It is now August 21st. I have have not heard back from the seller yet. If she gives me a refund and they find my item, I would pay her back. 

Thanks in advance for any help any of you can give me. Sorry this post is so long. I am just really upset and very disgusted right now.

[mjthread]

I wish I had an answer and if you find a resolution please post it as two items I have shipped have been "lost" so I have had to refund the buyers and now I am out the item as well.  Their email responses that my issue was solved by them emailing me that it was "lost" is unacceptable. I just sent a book that I was reimbursed $3 by buyer via UPS which cost me $15. Needless to say I'm not going to be selling much on ebay until these issues are solved. 

[mtgraves7984]

Since you are past the Estimated Delivery Date, all you can do is file an Item Not Received claim. I think it's admirable that you will pay the seller if it arrives after you receive a refund. Sorry this has happened to you.

[ed8108]

With in transit arriving late, the good news is that It may still arrive.

When would be impossible to guess, could be tomorrow or even another 2 weeks or longer.

Hope it does turn up very soon.

[mycollectiblesandmore]

I have had 3 items lost for a time, but they DID finally find them and sent them on to the buyers. BUT, I did have to go to my post office and had all the info with me and a copy for them. I asked for the supervisor. She did help, however the first item was going to CA from AZ and it took over a month to get there. And they buyer was nice at first but then said it was my responsibility to get it to him. I told him, that as a seller, my responsibility was to get it to the post office, after that it is out of my hands. After he did get it he didn't have a lot to say. I had to contact the supervisor several times to get the last 2 found and finally delivered.  I would suggest going to the post office in person, it seems to help. I wasn't able to file the claim online so I had not choice but to go to the post office. The Post Office website was not working correctly at the time.  I hope this helps and you get your package soon.

[futurespast1113]

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@mjthread wrote:

I wish I had an answer and if you find a resolution please post it as two items I have shipped have been "lost" so I have had to refund the buyers and now I am out the item as well.  Their email responses that my issue was solved by them emailing me that it was "lost" is unacceptable. I just sent a book that I was reimbursed $3 by buyer via UPS which cost me $15. Needless to say I'm not going to be selling much on ebay until these issues are solved. 

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Oh man! That really sux. I feel for you.

I got a message from the USPS that it was "RESOLVED" too. To me that does not mean it is resolved when they lose a package. My seller got back to me and said she did not want to be out the ebay selling fees that she paid for the item and that she did not know how to give me a refund and didn't want to have to pay me close to the $4 in taxes that I paid for it on top of it. I was getting even more annoyed and impatient so I filed a claim for item not received.

I tried to work it out with her without getting ebay involved and had no choice, but to file a claim against her. I feel bad for her, but am out a total of $40.07 for the item. I am so mad at USPS right now!

[futurespast1113]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

Since you are past the Estimated Delivery Date, all you can do is file an Item Not Received claim. I think it's admirable that you will pay the seller if it arrives after you receive a refund. Sorry this has happened to you.

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Thank you. I could never have the heart to stiff the seller if it does arrive. She is just as innocent as I am in all of this. USPS used to be awesome. Now, not so much.

[futurespast1113]

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@ed8108 wrote:

With in transit arriving late, the good news is that It may still arrive.

When would be impossible to guess, could be tomorrow or even another 2 weeks or longer.

Hope it does turn up very soon.

---

Thanks for the hope. I needed some. If I get a refund from the seller and it does turn up I will pay her back. It's such a shame that an item like this that is so old has gone missing. If it was some cheap, Chinese junk I ordered on Amazon I would not be so upset. I wonder about all the old, rare antiques that must be floating around inside the USPS hubs never to be found again. It makes my stomach turn in disgust.

[quadrajetpowerllc]

We have 75 orders shipped with USPS currently that are delayed, and no tracking. Our customers are complaining. I am wishing we had an alternate to USPS.

[futurespast1113]

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@mycollectiblesandmore wrote:

I have had 3 items lost for a time, but they DID finally find them and sent them on to the buyers. BUT, I did have to go to my post office and had all the info with me and a copy for them. I asked for the supervisor. She did help, however the first item was going to CA from AZ and it took over a month to get there. And they buyer was nice at first but then said it was my responsibility to get it to him. I told him, that as a seller, my responsibility was to get it to the post office, after that it is out of my hands. After he did get it he didn't have a lot to say. I had to contact the supervisor several times to get the last 2 found and finally delivered.  I would suggest going to the post office in person, it seems to help. I wasn't able to file the claim online so I had not choice but to go to the post office. The Post Office website was not working correctly at the time.  I hope this helps and you get your package soon.

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Thanks for that helpful information. I will try my luck at the post office in person. The distribution center where the package is missing is only 7 blocks from my house. I feel like taking a trip there and ask if they would let me search for it. 

I appreciate the hope you gave me that it might eventually show up. I am hoping and praying. What is going on with the USPS lately? They used to be so awesome until the past 2 weeks or so. Almost all of my packages are delayed now. 

[ed8108]

I seriously doubt you will be afforded an opportunity to search for this overdue mail article, I am sure some rules would be violated.

However in discussing the package I would stress that the contents have significant sentimental & not commercial value.

[lilbama911]

Google usps mail search, fill out the appropriate form and the post office will search for your package.

[buyselljack2016]

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@mycollectiblesandmore wrote:

I have had 3 items lost for a time, but they DID finally find them and sent them on to the buyers. BUT, I did have to go to my post office and had all the info with me and a copy for them. I asked for the supervisor. She did help, however the first item was going to CA from AZ and it took over a month to get there. And they buyer was nice at first but then said it was my responsibility to get it to him. I told him, that as a seller, my responsibility was to get it to the post office, after that it is out of my hands. After he did get it he didn't have a lot to say. I had to contact the supervisor several times to get the last 2 found and finally delivered.  I would suggest going to the post office in person, it seems to help. I wasn't able to file the claim online so I had not choice but to go to the post office. The Post Office website was not working correctly at the time.  I hope this helps and you get your package soon.

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Nice thought, but not in line with eBay policies.  We sellers are responsible until the item purchased is delivered to the buyer, in the condition listed.

Had you told me that an INR would probably have been opened within minutes of getting your message, or at least within the time allowed by eBay.

[murphken]

I have not put much on Ebay since I had and still having issues with late shipments and lost packages for the last 1.5 months.  I sure wish Ebay would give us more updates.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Geez, I would be upset too, esp with a great treasure...this is what I do when I run into a late package and it has been mentioned on the boards as well...go to USPS tracking: put in the tracking # then below it will say: request for updates either by text or email..I do both, one on my desk top and text on my cell..worked for me every time seriously. Sometimes it just "shakes loose a stuck package" ...Anythings worth a try right now, but no you cannot go into your local PO and look for the package yourself..lol...best of luck to you!