USPS shipping

[j2614z]

Since January 1st I have had a terrible experience with USPS. In the last 30 days, 15 packages shipped have shown up empty and torn apart to the customer. Packages have also shown up smashed and crushed sometimes with footprints on them. In 15 years of selling on E-Bay I maybe had a handful of issues with USPS. Anyone else having problems?

[dirk12955]

".......Anyone else having problems?"

No,     At least not yet.   

Did the 15 damaged packages all go to the same town?       Presuming that they did not,  I'd be on the phone (Or in person) with either the Postmaster or the Postal inspector at my local PO.  

[bgrignon]

Hi,

I can see one negative for a Flat Wear item. I make sure that items over a certain dollar amount always go Priority, as you are covered by the insurance. I see that you have been here for a while, so you obviously know how to package your items. I would contact USPS and find out what is going on. Best Wishes.

[richards*collection]

I recommend not attacking any ebay logo branding if you can help it, the ebay shipping labels have the logo, cant do much about that, so don't be a target, maybe someone is "disgruntled" at the post office, try making claims or switch to fedex.

[woodyscollectibles]

Same problem. I thought I was alone. That's good to know I was not alone. I am shipping out of Michigan. I had several packages end up lost and I filed about $800.00 in insurance claims. I am still dealing with about $100.00 of stuff that needs to be paid for by the USPS. I spent hours on the phone and going to the post office but I did get them to cover $700.00 so far. They think I will give up on the last $100.00 but I followed through with jumping through all there hoops so I should be getting the last $100.00 soon. I had to turn over several items in there original boxes but at least there paying for the stuff they broke. It would have been worse but after filing lost mail claims they found 2 packages and got them to my customers 2 weeks late. All i have to say is if they brake or loose your stuff file a claim. They are good about paying for the stuff. I am big on packaging my items really well to. Good luck to you......Woody

[mudtrucktees]

did you ever think maybe your boxes aren't strong enough or your not putting enough tape to seal the boxes?? Do you realize that 5 lb packages are shipped with 70lb packages? If an almost empty 5lb box has a 70lb box land on top of it they pop open if one strip of tape is sealing it? Walmart and AMazon are one pice of tape shippers.. USPS loads all the packages in a cart and dumps them into bins.. each package is not handled by hand ..there are to many packages to be handled one at a time by hand in this day and age.. 15 years ago mailman used small postal jeeps because they mostly delivered mail..now the volume is huge and they also deliver UPS and Fed ex packages..and yes now AMazon packages that can be huge and won't even fit in most rural carrier postal vehicles..  mail and shipping volume and size of items USPS delivers has changed in 15 years... packaging items you send out has to be well done.. the cheapest way is not always the best way..use a good box and use extra tape...

[mudtrucktees]

USPS delivers Fed ex, UPS and DHL packages.. and now Amazon... so sending to another shipper does not always solve the problem

[woodyscollectibles]

I think it might have had something to do with the Ebay branded boxes as well. I know they just got all the new rates through. I no Trump made that comment about Amazon shipping rates a few weeks ago and that is when I noticed my packages get attacked. They were the ones that had the Ebay brand on them as well. It was the first time I ever had so many claims at one time. Weird! Maybe a coincidence. All I know is I wasted a bunch of time on the phone and going to the Post Office filing claims and dropping off broken returns. I will say they were really nice on the phone and they did a great job taking care of everything for me but time is money. It all started with my shipments going out on 1-16-18 and I am still dealing with them on 1 package for $100.00. I will tell everyone out there that cares just make sure if your shipping through the USPS to ship Priority for packages needing $100.00 in insurance coverage and anything over that buy the insurance for the item. It's so worth it. It is the first time I ever had $800.00 of insurance claims in such a small period of time. I did have $500.00 of insurance through Ebay's Ship Insure as well thank god. I always pack the items super good. Tons of customers comment on how good I pack items as well and that helped on my insurance claim with Ebay. Actually they were really cool about the claim and they refunded me in 3 days. The USPS is dragging there feet on the last claim I have with them. I swear there hoping I will just not bother with complying with all there demands on the last claim to wear me down. I dropped the item off tonight and the guy there is filing the last of my claims. When he opened the box he was surprised as well that the item was broken. All I know is the insurance saved me big time. I also had to file several missing packages with the USPS and those were the Ebay boxes as well but those were found and finally delivered. Good luck to everyone..........Woody 

[richards*collection]

I ran into a ebayer about six years ago, and he was saying that there was a guy in the post office that bragged about, "breaking packages marked with ebay, fragile, but I thought he was pulling my leg, this is a true story, but just a story heard second person, I don't use the branding, or I cover with tape, thank goodness I myself have never had a problem, good luck to you.

[richards*collection]

I know the customers don't understand the high shipping charges I offer on my listings, but these days everything I send with priority or media mail with the insurance, so, it is hard to compete with other sellers who send with less. Because I am a small seller I just cant absorb any big losses, and lets face it, usps is supposedly privatized, so they make a bundle from people like us, I think you should make every loss claim, make them pay.

[missjen831]

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wrote:

USPS delivers Fed ex, UPS and DHL packages.. and now Amazon... so sending to another shipper does not always solve the problem

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@mudtrucktees But USPS only delivers UPS surepost and Fedex smartpost packages o you can ship regular UPS and fedex without USPS involvement. Its only those 2 services that the PO delivers. Perhaps the OP should also investigate this on his end. 15 damaged packages is extreme and maybe he needs to re-evaluate his packing methods.

[mudtrucktees]

he would just have to pay more to make sure it doesn't go sure post...but most people are not aware their packages in the final stages go thru USPS..customers are surprised when USPS delivers them..they say "we were expecting UPS"