Slow USPS Deliveries - Grumpy Old Men Complaining About Post Office, Ebay, & Kids On The Lawn

"The failure was with the postal system, the sellers who controlled the shipping service used (and continued to use USPS even through they understood the delays and risks), and buyers who don't cut sellers any slack."

Problem is for lower priced items there is no practical alternative to USPS.

"eBays business plan has always been the same, they side with the buyer so that buyers will feel ok with buying something sight unseen and from someone they do not know half way around the world. It is why ebay became successful and why they have millions of buyers."

Minor point, but it was not always this way. Years ago I had a major problem with a bigger $ than normal purchase and ebay's response was "Contact law enforcment".

Don, I agree that a seller is responsible for getting the purchase to the buyer - that's the law in the UK and Europe. As I've always paid the postage or courier fees for my clients, I can choose which service to use. Since USPS and UK Royal Mail have been struggling for the past few months, I've lowered the purchase value, by more than half, of paying extra for Royal Mail Special Delivery for the UK and FedEx for USA & Europe. Costs me more, but the amount of stress and time saved in chasing delayed or lost shipments and filing compensation or insurance claims is worth it.

Steve

On Dec 14 I mailed a Christmas card from Michigan to my daughter in Virginia. It got caught in the backlog and assuming it was lost I re-mailed on Jan 11. Low and behold that same afternoon the first envelope arrived (28 days!)

Well yesterday the 2nd envelope arrived (16 days!) Things are getting better. lol

I had been holding off listing on ebay until things got better. I hope I wasn't premature! I just had 30 auctions close last weekend. To the item going to the buyer in VA, please be patient. I certainly hope the shipments to the other states fair better.

I've seen an improvement in my recent shipments. Anything shipped in December or early January are slowly getting to the ultimate destination.

At this point, I think all of my "missing" December shipments have arrived at their destination, and all of my buyers of refunded items paid me for them, so it's squared away. Anecdotally things are improving, though they are still not necessarily "normal" as we used to know it.

Yes, my mail to US customers (from Canada) is moving better than it was 4-6 weeks ago.

I contacted the 2 buyers who received a refund. One admitted it had arrived and asked for my PP address (otherwise he made no effort to contact me).

Well, seven weeks after the USPS took control of my Registered Mail package from the Ukraine and it fell off of the map it resurfaced in NY. Should be here any day now. Right?

Don't bet on it, Roger. My Oct 02 registered shipment is still floating in the ether somewhere.

Uboatnut - Yeah, I will not believe it until it I have it in my sweaty little palms. I initiated a USPS search request a few days ago and that it is when it surfaced suddenly. Have you done a search request?

Good luck all. The mail is not only slow, but also unreliable. I always send checks for any purchase I make. I
Have had checks returned marked"undeliverable as addressed, unable to forward". Of course I put them in a clean addressed envelope and they are delivered
When the USPS gets overwhelmed I think they just return mail.

The WSJ had a chart a couple of weeks back showing on time delivery declined substantially in July and August. Sunday the Paper had above the fold, "Post Office in Chaos" a full page on A10. Geographical pricing , whatever that is, is approved to raise revenue. Last year myAPS dues were retuned due to "undeliverable as addressed, unable to forward" . I used the preprinted envelope that came with the invoic.

I attributed that return due to my use of surplus postage, subsequently I now always use a forever to send a check. My screen keeps wiping out so I break up my post into little bites. I have a sense of humor, but the USPS isn't funny anymore. Good luck with your mailing

I am thinking that all my future payments to vendors will be sent with tracking. I don't know if that will help, but at least ill know my vendors are paid.

Hi GMC
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