USPS never received package

[sgtmajorsstash]

So on my first ever sale, I dropped off the package at my local USPS office, had it scanned, got a receipt (lost it, big blunder on my part), and went about with my business. It's been three weeks now and when I checked the tracking number a few days ago, it turns out USPS never received it even though the shipping label had been created. I literally saw the worker scan it, put it in the cart, and had a receipt printed with no problems. There's a possibility something screwed up when I accidentally purchased multiple shipping labels navigating back to the shipping managing page and voided all but one, but I made sure to double check the IDs on the voided shipping labels were different from the one I printed and taped onto the package. I only submitted a missing mail request yesterday, and I have messaged the buyer about this, but he doesn't seem to have even read it as he hasn't opened any case against me despite not receiving his package. Now I know to always get a receipt and have them print out the shipping label and scan it.  

[sgtmajorsstash]

It was also under Ground Advantage which may have something to do with it too; I've read around a little and its possible the package is supposed to be scanned before delivery upon arrival at the processing station, but I don't think even Ground Advantage takes three weeks as my other two sales arrived in less than 5 days under Ground Advantage as well with no problems (both of these other sales I had them print out the label at the PO).

[a_c_green]

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@sgtmajorsstash wrote:

I only submitted a missing mail request yesterday, and I have messaged the buyer about this, but he doesn't seem to have even read it as he hasn't opened any case against me despite not receiving his package.

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Wait a sec: how do you know he never received it? If he did not contact you about this then you do not have a problem. Asking him if he received it simply indicates that you have no idea where it is. If you know that the package had the right address on it and you witnessed the USPS employee receiving it then you can safely assume that the buyer received it long ago. It sounds more like you are looking up one of the other labels that you voided.

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@sgtmajorsstash wrote:

Now I know to always get a receipt and have them print out the shipping label and scan it.  

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There's no need to limit yourself to having only them print out the label (though that is a valid option for on-line purchasing of a QR code for them to scan). Just print and label your packages one at a time in order to keep track of which label goes on which package.

[adamcartwright]

@sgtmajorsstash 

That was a $350 sale.

If the buyer hadn't received it by now, I'm sure he would have contacted you or opened an INR.

[albertabrightalberta]

It's never a good idea for a seller to contact a buyer to ask whether an item has arrived. 

Although most buyers are honest, there are some who will open INR (item not received) claims if they notice that tracking doesn't show delivery. And if not notified that there's no delivery scan, they may not have noticed, but poking the sleeping bear may not end well. 

OTOH, if the buyer didn't receive the item, you can be sure that they'll contact you and ask where it is. 

At that point, without a delivery scan, you are on the hook but don't go looking for trouble! 

[sgtmajorsstash]

Removed for an error I made myself.  Problem still stands: when will eBay recognize the new tracking number as delivered and I can get paid?

[sgtmajorsstash]

Then the problem is that eBay does not mark the package as delivered and will not release the funds to me. 

[sgtmajorsstash]

Apologies, I checked back on my labels and it appears that yes, you are correct, I was looking at the wrong label. I have inputted the correct tracking number, but I am not sure when eBay will correctly release my funds.  

[a_c_green]

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@sgtmajorsstash wrote:

eBay lists the package as "shipped", but the USPS tracking number when I checked it a few days ago said "shipping label created, USPS still awaiting the item".  So that's how I believe they have not received the package, as well as eBay still saying I will receive the funds 3 days after delivery.  

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Right; however, eBay updates the status to Shipped when you print the label, that's all. They will add a notation such as "USPS in possession of item" to their tracking history once it has received an in-network scan from a USPS employee (or an automated scanner as it passes through a sort facility).

You know that you were standing in the post office watching the clerk scan your package and print a receipt. When you hear the beep of the scanner, that number is in the system. If you cannot see any tracking history of either that event or anything later on, you are simply looking up a different number, apparently one that you actually voided earlier.

All evidence (such as it is) suggests that your package probably arrived at the buyer's address just fine. eBay will eventually release your funds to you, as the absence of a Delivered scan may only delay things for a while; they will not be keeping your funds forever.

P.S. When you void a label, USPS doesn't refund your payment right away, but waits some period of time (I'm thinking 10-14 days minimum) before they credit your account for the unused label, just to verify that the voided label was indeed never used. In your case, I think they may have seen that the package was using one of the labels you voided, so they would not be refunding that, but probably let the package travel on to its destination.

[soh.maryl]

Since you appear to be a fairly new or infrequent seller, you do know that eBay can hold your funds for up to 30 days, even if tracking indicates delivery, right?  

[sgtmajorsstash]

I checked the correct tracking number, and it actually arrived to their porch two weeks ago lol.  So if I'm understanding you correctly, as long as the buyer raises no concern (not just in my case), funds will eventually be released?  

[adamcartwright]

@sgtmajorsstash 

That's a new seller issue.

I have a package that hasn't been marked delivered since July and did get my money on time. 

[albertabrightalberta]

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@sgtmajorsstash wrote:

I checked the correct tracking number, and it actually arrived to their porch two weeks ago lol.  So if I'm understanding you correctly, as long as the buyer raises no concern (not just in my case), funds will eventually be released?  

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So you had the incorrect tracking number on the order? 

[shujakh0]

Yeah it happens sometimes with USPS. You did right by filing missing mail form. Just keep buyer informd and wait few days, it mostly apears later.

[sgtmajorsstash]

That's fine by me as long as they DO hand it over in the end.