Newbie seller

USPS is notorious for taking forever in the event a claim is filed which brings to the fore my first point.  Avoid USPS unless using priority mail and limit that as well.  Priority mail only for small  light weight packages--ship anything over 10 lbs or so via FEDEX or UPS.     

There is no difference in quality or reliability of service using FEDEX or UPS ,  while one may cost less that doesnt really matter in terms of how well the carrier processes your package.  There are all kinds of stories online re/poor handling to put it mildly.     I have been selling on Audiogon since 03 and the first order of business is pack your item as if it may be tossed off a train as its quite common for packages to fall off a 6 foot high conveyor at the hub.    As far as your delivery goes it would be quite a rare situation for a buyer to not contact a seller re/non delivery.   Likely he got it.  

Bottom Line....Dont use the Post Office for anything except MEDIA MAIL

Yup.  Done.  Thanks for all the comments.

My guess is the buyer got the package and responded affirmatively to a paypal inquiry.  He may never respond to you.  You're good.  I wouldn't waste my time filing a claim.  

It's REALLY HARD to be newbie seller in 21st century

It is my understanding that PayPal will only release money to your account if the buyer OKs it or if you submit tracking proof that the item was delivered.   

As somebody who retired from the Post Office TRACKING means nothing especially during the summer when the regular carriers are on vacation and there are SUBSTITUTE carriers who are not familiar with the route they are delivering. There are NO REPERCUSSIONS at the post office for Carriers who dont do their jobs correctly (Scanning).  You cant get fired from the Post Office unless you murder somebody...and even then it has to be on Post Office property. Thats how strong the Union is.

If you shipped FOB your location? It is the Buyer who files the claim.

Update:  I've emailed the buyer twice with no response.  I guess its safe to assume that it was delivered.  It didn't occur to me that the USPS tracking would be so screwed up.  Well, thanks to everyone for the comments.

@brunomarcs 

I too have purchased audio by writing a personal check.  After talking on the phone with the seller and receiving several other pictures at my request.  He was sort of amazed that I would send a check.  And at the same time possibly a little anxious that the check was real.  I told him no problem let the check clear and then send them.  It was a pair of mid-range drivers for my speakers that were NIB, which is simply unheard of, I would bet there are only a few in the world.  It was smooth as silk and the seller lives in Hawaii and me in NJ. 

There are plenty of good honest people, don't let the bad ones drag you down.

Regards,

barts

I've only bought on us audiomart other than eBay.  Each time I talked over the phone to sellers on AudioMart,  I mailed personal checks and postal money orders. 1500, 1300 and I was 2000 dollars. Each time the sellers could've easily stole my money but each time they shipped the items in a timely fashion and verified delivery with a signature, also the sellers were surprised that I would trust them with this type payment, I have no leg to stand on should they decide to steal the money.  I figure my luck will eventually wear out and no longer buy anything like this. PayPal doesn't exist in my world. 

The post office is definitely not a well oiled machine. Contact the buyer and get some peace of mind.

All the best.

If I was paid I’d assume buyer received their product. Complicating or creating an issue at this point could very well give people ideas. 

Cheers 

If the package fails to materialize, fill out the form on the usps website. Usps will wait a period of time. If the package fails to materialize, you will receive the insured value plus shipping fees. If memory serves…..

Fyi-  I have sold vacuum tubes that were shipped USPS to Portland and I never received confirmation that they were delivered.  I contacted the buyer and confirmed that were delivered days ago.  Thus may bd a common issue in Portland.

Agree the package likely was delivered and tracking wasn't updated. USPS is the worst. As a dealer, I only ship gear with Fedex if I can (unless using third-party logistics solutions). Even UPS is more likely to damage items in transit.

That's why I rarely use USPS when shipping valuable item.  But if I do, I would use USPS priority.  Tracking seems to be unreliable when using USPS Parcel Select.  Just my experience.

So true. The USPS tracking system very often doesn't update. I wouldn't be surprised if the buyer has the item. Don't you think he would have contacted you if he didn't receive it?

Are you just trusting the post office tracking system?

Have you contacted the buyer to see if he received it?

You didn’t hear a peep from the buyer, maybe he got the package.

Contact the guy and find out!

Oh, shoot. Sorry, didn't read dill's post until I wrote this.

Well darnit, I'm posting it anyway!!

Just because you didn't get notice of delivery, doesn't mean it wasn't delivered. Contact the buyer and ask for a verification.

To tell you the truth, I don't feel good in this situation.  I've got my money but the buyer is stiffed through no fault of his.  If I refund his money I'm the one getting stiffed.

There are a lot of problems in the mail/shipping business these days.  I would contact the buyer and see if he received the gear first.  If you have the money from the sale I doubt that an insurance claim is going to be approved.