Why doesn't it show package as being delivered?

[erisander_5]

Hi, I sold an item and the buyer had the item delivered to a reshipper in Miami, FL. The package has been stuck in "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late" and I have an upset buyer.

I thought the package might have been lost. However, I went through the prompts through USPS for lost packages and they said it was delivered. They said the following: "According to our tracking records, your package was delivered as addressed to a third-party reshipper located at the destination address of this package. Therefore, the tracking number associated with it is not eligible for further inquiry. For further assistance with this package, please contact the third-party reshipper."

I went to my local USPS as well, but I'm still confused. If it was delivered to the address, why doesn't it just say delivered instead of "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late." USPS office said it's probably because the reshipper hasn't picked it up and scanned it yet. However, the package was delivered to an actual office for the reshipper. Not a USPS office or anything like that.

This is making it more challenging and difficult. My obligation was to deliver it to the address given by the buyer, which happens to be a reshipper. According to USPS, the package was delivered there, but they aren't showing this under the tracker. Instead they are showing it as In Transit and arriving late (but it's already arrived!). How should I proceed?

[orangehound]

More information about the shipment would be helpful ... maybe the tracking number, shipper, etc.

Also, what is the story behind shipping this.  The only listing I see from you is a laptop that says "local pickup only".  I hope you didn't fall for a scam where they proposed some off-eBay shipping strategy that is doomed to fail the eBay system.

[erisander_5]

Local pickup was an option, but I offered shipping too. It was all handled through eBay. I purchased the label through eBay to mail through USPS. Destination address was for a reshipper in Miami FL called "Domex." 

[lakefor94]

I have seen this same "funny business" with USPS deliveries to freight forwarders.

This does not help you now but in the future, use UPS to freight forwarders. UPS always provides a delivered scan.

If the buyer files a Item Not Received case, you will lose without the delivery scan.

[orangehound]

@erisander_5 

Without seeing the full tracking (either the tracking number or a screenshot of all the tracking details), it is hard for me to give you any thoughts.

Generically, the phrase "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late.", is just inserted into the tracking when the tracking isn't reporting properly.

[erisander_5]

Hi @orangehound , I'll send you a message with the tracking # if that's okay. I'll include screenshots here from USPS and eBay tracking since they are a little different.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

It is not uncommon to have the last scan missing on packages to a freight forwarder. It is not uncommon for the PO to check their system and show that the package was delivered along with many other packages delivered the same day.

Some sellers have dealt with these problems by calling the freight forwarder and determining that the package is in transit from them to the buyer. All of the information you need to provide them with is in the address on the package.

Many freight forwarders are aware of the suspicions online sellers have about them, and the impatience of some inexperienced buyers and will cooperate with you. Even to the point of contacting the buyer.

P.S. for big ticket shipments to freight forwarders, I have used USPS signature confirmation and have always gotten a signature, not that the signature matters but the scan shows delivered.

[orangehound]

Let me speculate as to what I think is going on ....

1. The USPS system is burping that it is late because a Priority Mail package (shipped on 5/19) should have been delivered to the addressee on 5/23 or 5/24 at the latest.  These "Arriving Late" messages are not scans, but are intended to soothe.
2. Your package was last seen just before the holiday, on Friday May 24 in the Miami Distribution Center ... 2 AM in the morning.  This is a huge facility.   The package is not lost.
3. Package Search?   I'm assuming you did a package trace on the package.  In my recent experience, this just simply doesn't work any more ... postal workers are too overwhelmed right now to go searching for a package.  I almost wonder if you got an automated or generic response.
4. But was it delivered?  The typical journey of a package is that it goes from (a) Regional Distribution Center, to (b) a Local Hub or Post Office, and then to (c) the Addressee ... your package on Friday was at (a), and still has two steps to make.  It is a holiday weekend.  Now, it is possible that it could have made the journey to (b) and (c) on Friday and Saturday, but I wouldn't expect those two to complete until Tuesday (5/28) or Wednesday (5/29).
   
   That said, there is tracking data that does not show up on the USPS public sites.  You have to go into a USPS office and kindly ask a clerk to give you more details than what is publicly shown.  So, maybe there is some special "transfer to re-shipper" scan down in Miami.  I doubt it, but maybe.
   
   Also, it is possible that the delivery guy did not scan the package upon delivery to the reshipper.  It happens sometimes.  But, your package is missing two scans, not just one ... it is missing a scan at (b) and (c).
5. Either way, it is premature to assume this package is lost.  I don't believe that it is.  What is happening is that the package is going through some sluggish paths of the USPS ... there are a lot of these lately, as the USPS is not able to meet a lot of their deliver standards.

Now, with all that said, what to do?  I would simply reassure the buyer that the package is moving.  The USPS is sluggish these days and is not meeting performance standards, and that is why the messages are showing up.  But, the package is still making its way through the system, and I would assume that everyone will see more movement today or Wednesday, and that delivery to the reshipper will show up one of these two days.

[12345jamesstamps]

I would do nothing unless buyer contacts you.

Tracking may never show as "delivered".

If buyer is honest and doesn't see tracking and it gets delivered you will be OK.

I have still open tracking for "freight forward"....see photo and notice the DATE.

[erisander_5]

Thanks all. This is helpful. The buyer did contact me and opened an "item not received request" with eBay. 

I did get an automated response from USPS saying that the item was delivered to the reshipper. I also went to my local post office and they said the same thing.

[lakefor94]

All that matters is what the carrier scan states that is in the ebay system and that will determine the outcome of the Item Not Received case. 

[elonketchum]

Hi erisander_5,

Were you able to get the INR case in your favor ? Was the tracking info in the USPS page updated to "item delivered" for you ?

Can you please let me know how it turned out for you as I'm also facing a very similar situation to that of yours (only that the buyer hasn't gotten back to me yet or raised an INR with eBay).

Thanks.

[sportargo]

international shipping from Ukraine to USA
same problem
and same city Miami
case was opened for refund in a week.
although usually shipping takes 2-4 weeks

third-party reshipper

[80sneakers]

Did this ever get resolved? I’m having the same issue in the same city and everything, seems like some kind of scam of you ask me.

[erisander_5]

Yes, the package was eventually delivered to the reshipper about a week after it was supposed to. Apparently, USPS Miami is really slow. I'll ship Fedex or UPS in the future to avoid that hub.