Who is responsible for a delivery to the wrong address?

[georg-wenze]

Friday at 12:58, USPS claims they delivered a package.  I was working in the front yard at the time, my wife was just inside the front door working.  I have video of my watering plants on the front porch at about 1:10, one of the last things I did in the front yard that day.

There was no delivery, there were no porch pirates.  The only thing on camera all day is me, and the birds that nest over our front door.  The doorbell was never rung, residents were home, 

So based on what I read here, the USPS can deliver a package at the wrong address on the other side of town, but because our whole city of 60,000 only has one zip code, I'm screwed.   Ebay considers usps tracking to be the word of god, and unimpeachable.  And buyers are shushed and ignored once tracking says delivered.  

Is this really true?

*ONLY* trhe seller has a contractual relationship with USPS over the delivery of this package.  The buyer is powerless, as the buyers contract is with ebay and the seller.  *Only* ebay can hold the seller responsible on the ebay platform.  *Only* the seller can hold USPS responsible.  The buyer has no part of the agreement with the carrier, the buyer cannot sue the carrier, *only* the shipper can.  This is the way the law works in the US.  So ebay has a duty to insist the seller cooperate in filing claims against the carrier.  The fact that tracking is marked as delivered in the same zip code doesn't somehow prove *anything*.

Amazon drivers photograph their deliveries, I have video of them doing it.  They place the package on a white potting bench I have hidden from street view.  USPS rings the doorbell and sets the package on the ground where it is visible from the street, ignoring my potting bench I placed there for their convenience and the safety of the item.  Sometimes USPS doesn't even make it to the front door, instead they leave the box in the driveway by the garage door...  Sellers and ebay, if you don't hold the carriers accountable, we can and will hold you accountable.

The reason I'm not an ebay seller is because our local post office steals mail constantly.  It is well known.  They occasionally arrest someone, but it just keeps happening.   And if you ship from here, it takes 4 days before the item is scanned 350 miles away, good luck filing a claim if the tracking number is never scanned until after it has left the thieves post office, because the stolen packages are never scanned, and if they are they are stolen only after "delivery" is claimed.  And they get away with it because ebay does nothing.  They never steal Amazon packages here, but they love ebay packages...  Wonder why?

They are selective, they won't steal credit cards, but they do steal gift cards.  A lot of gift cards are easy to spot, and our local area community list those as very frequently stolen.  My employer sent me an amazon gift card last month, never got it...  don't expect to.  If ebay won't hold the sellers responsible for USPS theft, then why do you even bother to buy the insurance?  Why do you let the USPS off so easy?  This is a large widespread problem, and Amazon is able to deal with it... why can't ebay?

[koinonia215]

If the buyer provides a correct address, then neither ebay nor the seller would be responsible for a package being incorrectly delivered. The responsibility lies with the USPS if they delivered a package to a different address or if an employee stole the package but marked it as delivered. If you go to your USPS office, they can look up exactly where the package was delivered, as well as verify the address on the label. If you suspect theft by the USPS, you need to report such to them.

[wastingtime101]

What you're describing is regular problems with your local USPS branch. Contact your local post master and file complaints online at USPS.com regarding the many problems you experience.

As for this shipment, the seller is not responsible for mis-deliveries. Contact USPS and ask them to check the GPS coordinates on the delivery. If it was delivered to a neighbor in error they will be able to see that and attempt to retrieve the package for you. You can file an insurance claim if it was a Priority package and they're not able to retrieve the mis-delivered package.

Until you get the problems with your local branch sorted out a P.O. Box is something you can look into - is there a branch in a neighboring town that has a better reputation? Get the PO Box there if it's allowed. I'm not sure if USPS requires the zip code on the PO Box to match your residence or not.

[mtgraves7984]

So sorry this is happening to you. I've had really good luck with USPS, and I feel for you.

I have requested the gps 'ping' on packages coming and going. I've gotten it in about 3 minutes at the local PO (for a package being delivered to me), and within 6 hours of opening a claim at the USPS website (for a package that I shipped cross-country)... both requests were painless.

In the first instance, my package was scanned at a neighbor's house # and located; in the second, the info was used to help me win an INR case.

I'd suggest trying it before giving up. And if it's theft... I'd certainly report that to my local PO. Good luck!

[oldwestgold]

First off you should not make false accusations against anyone else, such as calling Post Office employees thieves unless you have proof of it. Secondly, why post here instead of contacting your local Post Office? Thirdly, a potty bench is not an approved delivery receptacle. The USPS cannot police every household and protect against porch pirates. The USPS responsibility ends once the item is delivered to the correct address. If you have problems, as you state, with your local USPS then I would suggest migrating all of your deliveries to FedEx or UPS. Make an effort and contact your local PO. And you have had 3 transactions on eBay in the past 6 months!?! Seriously, your story doesn't pass the smell test.

[lightlily_arts]

I'm truly sorry that you are having difficulties with your local postal service. I've been using USPS my whole life and in 50 years I've only has a few mistaken deliveries. USPS is not alone in delivering to the wrong address. In the past month Fedex lost one of my packages, and UPS delivered my vacuum cleaner to the wrong house. I'm fortunate my neighbor was honest as he brought to me the next day. Overall the percentage of USPS delivery problems are actually quite small.

It's clear to me that your delivery problems need to be resolved with your local postmaster. You have made it abundantly clear that USPS services in your location are substandard, and that mail theft is a big problem. You mentioned that gift cards were being stolen and that wasn't an eBay issue. Even if a seller purchases insurance USPS won't pay if the package shows delivery. However, you can ask the local postmaster for the their Intranet GPS coordinates to determine where the package was actually delivered. This has to be done in person as it's their proprietary system.

I'm sympathetic, but I don't see why the seller should be held financially accountable for USPS error or porch theft as they have no control over the transit or delivery. I have had my packages stolen including my Amazon purchases as well so I know what that feels like. Perhaps you need to find a way to have your packages sent to a P.O. Box or pay extra for signature confirmation.