Post Office Question

[pinnacle-project]

@oldindiapaleale

This question is mostly for Postmaster Billy but I am posting it here instead of via PM because his answer will probably be insightful to others also.

I sold something on ebay and shipped it on February 5 using Priority Mail with the following tracking number.

9405509699937322599632

The package went from Michigan to Kansas City but then turned around and went to Chicago. For the last several days, the tracking entry only indicates it's "on its way" so I do not know where it actually is. Plus, the last several tracking entries occurred at exactly 12:33 PM each day which seems like a strange coincidence.

So far, the buyer has been pretty patient but that will only last so long. He did open a case against me on ebay but he does not appear to be mad yet. I think he only opened the case because he did not know how else to contact me. I went to the Post Office web site and opened a "Search Request" for the package.

Knowing that ebay typically sides with the buyer, my fear is they will refund all his money and then a day later the package will show up on his doorstep. At that point, I will be screwed unless the buyer agrees to re-pay me.

Is there anything else I can do? How much action should I expect from the Search Request I opened? I opened it a couple days ago and so far, I have heard nothing.

Thanks!


By the way, it is not my intent for this to turn into a Post Office bashing thread. I normally have great luck with them but I guess nobody is perfect.

[willssoda]

Didn't Chicago just have a snow event? If so might just be backed up a bit. Cool thing about eBay, your covered.

[Diamond State Boy]

My only experience with a search request is a reply from the USPS informing me that they exhausted all efforts with no luck. (Received the email 2 weeks after the package had come back to me) I suspect one of you will receive it eventually. Only time out of thousands I had trouble with so no bashing here.

[ConeAddict]

I have had a couple of cans take 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive, they usually find their way. The mail is really efficient when all goes as planned but once something gets knocked off the cart I think it takes a few days for it to get flagged so someone actually goes and looks for it. I don't see a need to open a case with ebay at this early stage, sheesh I am sure the buyer can see the tracking info too.

[pinnacle-project]

. . . I don't see a need to open a case with ebay at this early stage, sheesh I am sure the buyer can see the tracking info too.

The buyer mentioned in the case he opened against me that he had already tracked the package and saw the problem was with the post office. I suspect he just had no idea how to contact me. I just hope somebody at ebay does not refund his money to him while we wait on the post office to move the package in the correct direction again.

[JAL]

. . . I don't see a need to open a case with ebay at this early stage, sheesh I am sure the buyer can see the tracking info too.

The buyer mentioned in the case he opened against me that he had already tracked the package and saw the problem was with the post office. I suspect he just had no idea how to contact me. I just hope somebody at ebay does not refund his money to him while we wait on the post office to move the package in the correct direction again.

I don't think ebay refunds the purchaser's money that quickly once a case is opened. They give the seller a period of time to "resolve the issue" before issuing a refund. Unless the package takes an abnormally long time (several weeks), I think you will be fine.

Agreed, it's become a royal pain that buyer and seller's can't communicate directly once the transaction has taken place. They are so obsessed with loosing a few pennies behind the scene.

JAL

[ConeAddict]

You can contact the seller once the payment has been made but that all can be confusing. You're probably right, the buyer just thinks this is how to look into what is holding up the package.

[oldcrowncollector]

It is crazy but post office sends packages to odd places many times they say saves money don't see how but the tracking is key without tracking you are screwed but someday somehow. They should be able to track where was scanned it was priority open insurance claim they will find it or try harder.

[bantam10]

. I don't see a need to open a case with ebay at this early stage, sheesh I am sure the buyer can see the tracking info too.

My thoughts exactly but that’s how a lot of people are these days.

[oldcrowncollector]

Looked at tracking file insurance claim they clearly messed up somewhere after sending to Chicago was scanned out of there so like either it scans again and turns up or they got to answer to where it is in claim

[oldindiapaleale]

Hi, I looked at the tracking info and the package went to KC as it should have, but then Chicago for some unknown reason and then delayed.
The multiple 12:33s are automatic updates every 24 hours from the last real time scan.
Really don't know what to make of this. There was a lot of this during the pre-Christmas days with packages looping back and forth. What needs to happen is for a person, not a machine, to examine the package for any address problems, which will happen at some point.
It is too early to file any lost package insurance claim, but you are covered with priority mail for at least $50 or more if you bought added insurance.
The buyer should have been more understanding before opening a case, but that is what they do. It is headache but you are covered with postal insurance and ebay seller protection. Hope this resolves itself as soon as possible -Postmaster Billy.

[pinnacle-project]

Thanks for your thoughts Billy.

[DaddyDewrop]

My company ships out packages all the time. 99% of the time they get to the destination with no problem. However, a recent package headed from Milwaukee to California has just spent the past two weeks bouncing back and forth between Des Moines and Chicago! Thankfully, the customer is very understanding, but it's still frustrating for all involved. Seems the new scanners have a few bugs.

[OhioCanGuy]

Last fall, just prior to the big hurricane, I had a guy in Puerto Rico click buy-it-now on a couple of cans I had listed on Ebay. Surprisingly, shipping cost was no different than in the continental US. Anyway, I shipped the cans and a couple days later the hurricane hit. Package was stuck in the Cincinnati USPS hub for like two weeks. Eventually it made it's way on to Puerto Rico. Guy posted positive feedback. I sent him a message to inquire about his situation. I had no idea if he had access to the internet/power until I saw the feedback. Said a lot of damage around him but he had a back up generator for his house so he and his family were fine.

Moral of the story: Through the rain, snow, ice and even a hurricane... the USPS delivers!

Good luck Bryan, I bet it shows up eventually.

[BostonBob]

I have been selling off a large DVD collection that was owned by my brother. All my stuff goes media mail, which is cheap! I had a pkg that went missing in FLA....I opened a case with the USPS and the postal employee in Gainesville (Shamaya(?)) was so polite and professional. She actually called me on my cell phone the very next day and said they were looking into it. They located the pkg and it was delivered within 5 days. She called me again to make sure I was all set. Not bad service for $3!!! Luckily the buyer was understanding....not sure if I got positive feedback, but luckily not neutral or negative. It can be frustrating because it is really beyond your control. Good luck!