Did you call the local USPS center? We sold an inexpensive item recently which showed delivered on their automated system. I called the location in NC (closest to the buyer) and they resolved the situation in 1 day. The item was delivered to the wrong address. It was retrieved by the local carrier and delivered to the buyer.
The seller should take the initiative and call.
Package Has Disappeared in USPS System
I recently purchased a modestly expensive audio product over the Internet, paid for by credit card, to be shipped to me via the USPS Priority Mail system, with tracking and insurance. The vendor, who will go unnamed at the moment out of respect for past good service, emailed me that the package shipped on 20 December, although the package did not show up in the USPS system until about 27 December. Being a patient guy, I figured that the USPS is slow in keeping up with demand over Christmas. On about 28 December, the USPS tracking system said the package had been received, had been sent to a regional distribution center, and had been shipped on from there. However, and now it gets "interesting," on 31 December, the USPS tracking system said that the label had been created but that the package was not in the system. In other words, the package had "disappeared" from the USPS system. At several points in this saga, I contacted the vendor to express my concern, especially after the package disappeared from the USPS system; their response was that I should be patient and await further developments..
On 2 January,I contact the vendor, suggesting they initiate a missing package complaint, file an insurance claim, and requested that they send me a replacement product, assuring them that I would promptly return the first item if it ever showed up. (Coincidentally, on the same date I read a reputably-sourced news item about rampant theft by employees in the USPS system--hardly reassuring.)
The vendor's response again was that I should be patient--in spite of my pointing out that the USPS had obviously lost the package--and await further developments.
However, in spite of normally being a very patient guy, I think, with two weeks having passed and the USPS tracking system now saying they haven't received the package that they previously acknowledged having, it is time for the vendor to send me a replacement item.
I will never use the USPS system for product shipment if there is any other viable alternative.
Several questions come to mind:
1) How long is reasonable to wait for a package that should have been delivered in one to three days?
2) At what point should a vendor realize that good customer service means providing the customer with a product they shipped with tracking and insurance?
3) Would it unreasonable for me to tell the vendor that if they cannot provide a replacement product within a few days, I would like my money refunded? (I am prepared to contest the charge on my credit card for non-performance.
4) Am I being unreasonable?
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The assumption, implied by those who intend never to use USPS again, that private couriers like UPS and FedEx are more reliable than USPS is not borne out by my experience. I never have had problems with delivery of the many hundreds of packages I’ve sent and received through USPS, either coming or going. However, I had a horribly damaged package arrive through FedEx and several packages lost, perhaps stolen, by UPS employees en route to their destination. I have no intention to discontinue use of those couriers, because crap happens. It’s frustrating, but it’s a part of life. I will, however, continue using USPS as my go to courier service, at least until DeJoy has his way with the system. The postal system is especially important to rural America. I have several friends who live in remote areas where USPS is the only courier that will deliver. So, we all should support it whenever we can. |
@mike4597 - great news, thanks for sharing @mulveling - FedEx then UPS - thanks for the info. I’ve a audio components to sell and ship, never done before |
- 95 posts total