USPS delays, tracking not updated, numerous orders

[gotclubs]

Hello All,

I know the pandemic is messing a bunch of things up lately but I am curious to see if others are noticing longer than normal delays with USPS priority mail. This week I have had (that buyers have brought up to me) 10 packages drop off of tracking. It seems they end up arriving but instead of 2 days it is taking 8-10, with a 4 day drop off in tracking updates.

Is anyone else experiencing this right now or am I somehow getting very unlucky?

[catzrule7]

I am so livid --- just watched our postman come, drop off mail, walk away completely IGNORE my boxes! I even had a scheduled pick up for the packages.  I had to chase him down the street and ask him to take the boxes.  Maybe that was a mistake -- who knows what he is going to do with them now!

I have tried reporting non-scanning at pick up....does no good.

Will try going to the actual post office tomorrow for any new orders, but not sure how safe it will be. 

[moondogblues]

As a buyer, I am seeing tracking numbers appear on my items and then no movement at all. Some are just sitting at the sellers place and some I'm not sure what is going on. Many of my packages (especially those dropshipped from A-Zon) are getting to me very fast. Some just sit for days, sometimes weeks.

[moondogblues]

What is distressing to me is that a lot of people do not want to go anywhere, much less the grocery store, and are now utterly dependent on the USPS for food.

[barneyarne]

Yes I have a priority package no scans at all! It's like it just disappeared into thin air!!

[membersinceaug2001]

Sorting facilities have a lot of workers out sick, so packages are being trucked to other sorting locations.

Source: my wife is a postie!

[catzrule7]

I actually just got a call from a USPS Customer Service rep regarding one of my packages that has been stuck "in transit" for 11 days.  He said it is still in the system, but because there are so few flights, most everything is much slower and may have to go on trucks. He DID actually seem to care, but said it can take much longer for any package to arrive.

While that is all well and good, and I DO understand, eBay still only gives us a few days to refund/reply to an INR so we're going to end up refunding many shipments that will eventually arrive at their destinations.  And your guess is as good as mine as to if any of those buyers will offer to repay.

[fearless_imports_exports]

I've been selling on eBay since 1998 and I have never in my life seen it this bad.  In the past week alone - I have dropped off over 100+ FCM packages and had them scanned with a scan form - I see the tracking updated to "ACCEPTED" and that's it, nothing more.  I ship every day on time to meet my Top Rated Seller obligations.  Today I went back to the PO to ask what was going on and the response I got was it could easily now take 2 weeks to deliver a package from NYC to NJ.  

I called the USPS 1-800 number and opened a case but I doubt that will do any good.  USPS customer service didn't even ask for the complete list of tracking numbers.  I've answered every customer's email telling them to please be patient and most are however some have already opened INR cases against me.

My only option at this point is to put my store on vacation mode till better days arrive.........

tyler@ebay - please help!!!!!!!

[7606dennis]

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@catzrule7 wrote:

I am so livid --- just watched our postman come, drop off mail, walk away completely IGNORE my boxes! I even had a scheduled pick up for the packages.  I had to chase him down the street and ask him to take the boxes.  Maybe that was a mistake -- who knows what he is going to do with them now!

I have tried reporting non-scanning at pick up....does no good.

Will try going to the actual post office tomorrow for any new orders, but not sure how safe it will be. 

---

Actually, if you scheduled a pickup your regular carrier isn't the one that is suppose to pick them up, I believe.

[catzrule7]

In my small-ish town, it is the carrier on the route that picks up packages with or without a scheduled/online request for pick up.  The guy who didn't take my packages (3rd time!) and I chased down marked as completed the pick up (I received the USPS email confirming the pick up about 2 minutes after I gave him the packages.)

Our usual carrier has been MIA for a few months, which is just adding to the problems.

Like others have mentioned --- I think I'm DONE 'til this is all over. Going to downgrade my store to Starter and put it on vacation.

[ricardos.records]

Yes and customers that must live in a gave are opening late cases ... and those that run Ebay have not acknowledged it at all. Sure they know there's a virus effecting everything, You can't get EBay on the phone.  But do they  help the sellers out by getting rid of the expected delivery ( which is a joke anyway ) or making it so a buyer can't open a case if there is tracking ... no way 

[ekmadonna]

I am still waiting for a $85.00 purchase on Etsy that was shipped CANADA POST from April 1st. The tracking stops at April 7th when it was handed over to USPS! This package is now 4 days past expected delivery and 12 past what the seller said I could expect it in. All tracking has stopped completely since it hit the USA. This seller told me his mailbox is flooded with messages from other buyers who are wondering where their packages are also.

[ladyindecadence]

The USPS requires that you wait 15 days before you can start a missing package claim on a priority mail package. It would be reasonable that ebay would extend the date that a buyer can open an item not received case to 15 days after the most recent tracking update. How about some of the blues pass this information up to those in charge and add a bit of temporary seller protection that sellers really need.

[patd3283]

Knock on wood, our little PO and the Atlanta sorting center have been doing a  great job.  One package was delivered 3 days early.  They were quick to get the plastic 'cages' up and have the 6' intervals marked on the floor with a separate area for prepaid postage packages.

Feel lucky - hope it continues.  We are late to the corona virus thing here.

[catzrule7]

My current issue is that even though the carrier either picked up ... or I gave them my boxes, they have not scanned the last 10 packages --- so all of them only show that I printed a label.  Not only does the buyer think that I have not shipped, but neither eBay nor the USPS will do anything about these "missing" packages .... even though they were picked up by USPS.  I can only pray they show up at some point or I will not only be receiving numerous "defects" for non-shipment from eBay which are not my fault, but have buyers who think I'm scamming them .... as well as losing/refunding several hundred dollars.

I'm glad I decided to stop selling as of last night ..... not worth the headache. I've lost more money this month than I've made because of the USPS. 

[cntryair]

I have really been trying to use FedEx as much as possible. The last 20+ packages I have shipped with them have arrived on time, had tracking updated along the route and generally been smooth sailing.