what is going on with this shipment

[broadwaynyc]

The package with a laptop has been bouncing back and forth in the Seattle area for the past 6 days.

Was there an error on the shipping label?

eBay is giving me another two days before I can file a Item Not Received on March 28.

If I don't receive it by then, should I file immediately?

Or should I wait another few days? If I wait, how long do I wait? 

[gator08041971]

To be honest, this isn't the Seller's fault, and USPS has been having issues in various hubs across the country right now.

I would do the good buyer thing and try to be patient.  Whatever you do, try not to be harsh to the seller, its not their fault USPS is goofy sometimes.

I would try to wait it out a few more days.  I have had a few recent USPS shipments that were a day or two behind schedule, but they still arrived okay.

Now, you could try to reach out to that hub in Seattle and see if they have any additional information regarding the delay with the shipment directly from them.  But that won't mean you will get answers.

https://tools.usps.com/find-location.htm?location=1387408

That should be the info for that office. I recommend the local number, not the 800.

[broadwaynyc]

I know it is not the seller's fault.

But I also don't want to lose my money if the package ends up being lost in the bowels of the USPS system.

[soh.maryl]

There was an estimated delivery date in the listing when you made your purchase.

Per the MBG, a buyer has 30 DAYS after that date to open an item not received case.

Due to the current well-known issues with the USPS, you are free to wait a  little longer to open an INR case, always keeping that 30 day limit in mind. 

[broadwaynyc]

Thanks.

It is lost in one of those big USPS distribution centers. Not sure how to reach them.

I have submitted a help me find my mail request.

It was sent Priority Mail, so that should get some notice. Who knows?

[ltldpr]

Looks like the USPS "Delivering for America" plan has made its way to the Seattle area, just like Richmond, VA, Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA before it.

"Delivering for America" was supposed to make things "more efficient". 

In an upside-down Twilight Zone episode, that's exactly what's happening by having 18-wheelers full of mail going back and forth between the same facilities for days - so very much more efficient! 

You'll receive it eventually, and probably fairly quickly now that you submitted a lost mail request.

Sorry that you're dealing with it. Some of us sellers have been dealing with it as well. I haven't listed a single new item since January because of the same issue, but Houston/Missouri City, Tx, and even set my listings to a 30 day vacation in February. Thinking about doing it again. 

[redlinear]

Most of the time, when tracking looks like that, it's just in the wrong place, trying to get back to the right place. Put on the wrong truck or something like that?
Give it another week or so, then submit an item not received if you still don't have it.

[broadwaynyc]

Two months ago I was mailing something from NJ to a friend in NC.

It took the scenic route to Austin, TX   😂

It was a week past the expected arrival date before I initiated the find my mail.

And they did find it.

Crazy.

But not as crazy as Priority envelope sent via FedEx --- the original FedEx , not Ground or Home.

It went from Nashville to Memphis to Paris, France to NJ.

I was rather envious because I would like to visit Paris, France again.

[chapeau-noir]

The Kent sort center is usually very efficient, so this isn't usual, but I did have a package some time ago with that same weird pattern - back and forth. It finally broke free after another day or so and got to its destination.

My advice is to go to the USPS website and put a trace on the package - it seems like it shouldn't help, but I've had that help a package break free more than a few times and it doesn't hurt. You can do that through the tracking number.

[broadwaynyc]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

The Kent sort center is usually very efficient, so this isn't usual, but I did have a package some time ago with that same weird pattern - back and forth. It finally broke free after another day or so and got to its destination.

My advice is to go to the USPS website and put a trace on the package - it seems like it shouldn't help, but I've had that help a package break free more than a few times and it doesn't hurt. You can do that through the tracking number.

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That's what I did and I think USPS will take is seriously since according to their estimate, I should have received the package yesterday. This was Priority Mail and not Ground Advantage.

[yuzuha]

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@redlinear wrote:

Most of the time, when tracking looks like that, it's just in the wrong place, trying to get back to the right place. Put on the wrong truck or something like that?

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Or the label has somehow been damaged and the scanners are having a hard time reading it.

[ltldpr]

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@broadwaynyc wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

The Kent sort center is usually very efficient, so this isn't usual, but I did have a package some time ago with that same weird pattern - back and forth. It finally broke free after another day or so and got to its destination.

My advice is to go to the USPS website and put a trace on the package - it seems like it shouldn't help, but I've had that help a package break free more than a few times and it doesn't hurt. You can do that through the tracking number.

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That's what I did and I think USPS will take is seriously since according to their estimate, I should have received the package yesterday. This was Priority Mail and not Ground Advantage.

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Did you ever receive your laptop?

[broadwaynyc · Accepted solution]

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@ltldpr wrote:

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@broadwaynyc wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

The Kent sort center is usually very efficient, so this isn't usual, but I did have a package some time ago with that same weird pattern - back and forth. It finally broke free after another day or so and got to its destination.

My advice is to go to the USPS website and put a trace on the package - it seems like it shouldn't help, but I've had that help a package break free more than a few times and it doesn't hurt. You can do that through the tracking number.

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That's what I did and I think USPS will take is seriously since according to their estimate, I should have received the package yesterday. This was Priority Mail and not Ground Advantage.

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Did you ever receive your laptop?

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Yes. I received the laptop.

It arrived at the post office yesterday March 28, 2024 and I picked up today Friday, March 29, 2024.

The error was with the seller. 

The label he put on the box was not scannable.

I have attached a photo showing what I mean.

The crease in the label is what caused the problem.

In addition, the USPS put a bypass label on it. I have never seen something like that before.

[gator08041971]

Well, that will do it.  Ugh.

I am paranoid with my labels, and try to make sure they are as flat as I can.  lol  I have had a couple try to wrinkle like that, but if it messes up too bad, I just reprint it.

[broadwaynyc]

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@gator08041971 wrote:

Well, that will do it.  Ugh.

I am paranoid with my labels, and try to make sure they are as flat as I can.  lol  I have had a couple try to wrinkle like that, but if it messes up too bad, I just reprint it.

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He didn't apply the tape correctly.  The label itself was fine.

He should have removed, reprinted, and re-taped the label. I use PirateShip to mail packages to friends, and it is no big deal to print a new label.

I will let him know that he needs to be more careful. 

He also used a junky Amazon box where the bottom paper tape was coming apart, which isn't a professional "look" since he seems to be wanting to do a used laptop business on eBay.