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

I have a package that was shipped out of PA on 11/29, which has been sitting (according to the scan) in NJ since 12/3.I live in Chicago.

I also have a Harmer priority mail package taking a siesta. Unfortunately where it is resting is not clear since the last scan was "departing regional facility". I know the local Post Office is swamped and employees working long hours to get stuff delivered. But it is still quite unnerving to have my stamps floating around in a snowstorm somewhere. Here's hoping they packaged it well.

USPS is going to be paying a lot of insurance claims. I wonder what happens to those shipments when they are eventually "discovered" 6 months later.

I think this forum needs a specific USPS section to where we can praise, criticize, or ask questions about the USPS and their service, rates, policies, etc..

I have always thought that collectors needed a USPS-sim like game to pass the off hours. Or USPS Mogul, USPS builder type computer game lol

Even worse now is their tracking system. It's all but useless and even I can run a tracking system the way they do. I just looked for one I'm waiting for and their system states "In transit to next facility", that's it. Oh, that was updated 2 days ago. Might as well just put "on it's way to you" and call it good.

On Friday I received a package finally that was worth a bit of money and found out that it was never scanned at all or at least that is what tracking shows. When delivered it was never scanned OR the system is broken. So I checked another one coming from the same seller and it too was never even scanned in as received by the USPS let alone being transported anywhere. The package from Harmer has been sitting in NJ for six days now. This is really, really, really bad. I know that there are bills that have not made it along with checks. What an unmitigated mess.

One more thing:

Apparently the USPS has never heard of Proper Prior Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance

My package that was last scanned as being in NJ since 12/3 now shows that it is in the Chicago area - 16 days later. The question now is how long will it take to travel the 10 miles to my local post office.

Have you ever tried to collect from them ???? I had a shipment that tracking showed was clearly lost after being "out for delivery". They rejected my claim two times despite all the information I provided.

After two times it had to go to an advocate. Luckily the advocate sided with me and I got $50 !!! Can you image if they fight that hard for a crummy $50 what they'd do for real money?

Then and there I quit using insurance. I'll save the fee and take my chances.

I could tell you a real horror story about registered mail. It makes me mad just remembering it.

kcaramat: Now you know what I've been talking about re: a registered shipment sent Oct 01 and never received. Yes, I got a refund from the seller, but he's still dealing with USPS as far as I know. Tracking stopped Oct 6 and that was a system-generated track, not a carrier's track.

I purchased two fairly costly items (about $250 total) on Nov 28 and they are still MIA. I contacted the seller to let them know they had not arrived but that I understood that the USPS was crushed and that 'no action is currently needed' on his part. He sent a professional reply and asked to me let him know when they arrived.

But my question is this, I have 30 days from expected delivery date to open a case with ebay. This cutoff date is approaching so I assume that my options will be one of two things;
1. Let it the cutoff date pass without opening a case. Hope that USPS eventually shows up with the items or that the seller will be kind enough to refund me if at some point if they never arrive.
2. Open a case with ebay.

I welcome opinions on what I should do if the cut date is reached.
Don

What I have done in the past for significantly late arrivals is to put in the claim with ebay. If the item arrives later then I send a payment to the seller. The only real problem with this is that then the transaction happens outside of ebay. That can be a good thing too :)

If a significant amount of money is involved, I would first contact the seller and ask for a refund before the ebay time limit expires, with the understanding that if the item appears (and his tracking should show it was delivered), I will refund his refund. This avoids a "hit" to his ebay account. If that's not acceptable to him, then I'd file the ebay "not received" complaint and let the chips fall where they may. If the monies are insignificant, I'd let it ride and wait for the Pony Express to deliver the mail.

Credit cards and Paypal may have different time limits on disputes. A lot depends on how you paid for the item(s) initially. This is why I avoid using postal money orders.

I'm on the other side. Made my first eight sales on ebay earlier this month. One of my buyers has very low feedback (as useless as it really is) and is now panicked his item is lost and asked for a refund. ebay says I have to respond by the 24th. Still hoping the package clears the hub it's stuck in, before I refund his payment. Getting it back may be fun too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Damon...274599960775