Anyone ever have a package sent from a seller go into the Twilight Zone?
Slade01
Posts: 294 ✭✭✭
April 8 Heritage sent me 3 Lincolns (about $800) via ground advantage and I live in East Texas 180 miles to the east of them.
By April 9 the package was in Minneapolis and went back and forth to St. Paul (between the two distribution centers) at least 50 times so far, as apparently another package was stuck to mine taking them both into the Twilight Zone. Heritage has been very helpful and I hope to get it resolved soon, as I want the coins since they were a great deal.
As soon as I get a USPS update not sent from Minneapolis or St. Paul it will be a great day. 
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Sorry to hear this. The USPS and the Twilight Zone are one in the same on some shipments.
In a case like this, it's usually one of two things. The zip code is incorrect (sender's fault) or the wrong bar code was applied (PO's fault).
BTW, this reply comes from 31 years of experience working with the PO>
Been there with orders coming from the West overshooting my house by 150 miles or further South. All you can do is shake your head and wonder.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
This!
I've had it happen several times over the years. The package will usually end up back at the sender for a "correction".
It's a cardinal sin... but I have been waiting two weeks for the mail from PA to the Carolina's to arrive.
Modest 1961 Franklin Proof Half cherrypick
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
My IRS filing was sent April 10 and is still bouncing around the country.
Don't jinx me. I have some Daniel Carr coins going cross country next week to be graded. I'd prefer an uneventful four day trip like my last order.
No problem, I'm soaking up all the bad luck right now -- the package made the trek 4 times today between St. Paul and Minneapolis. So not really heading my way yet.
A few years ago I won 3 coins from Germany. After 10 days they clear customs. Next USPS update they're in ST.LOUIS. For the next two months they bounce around at a dozen cities. Finally show up at the house. They saw more of the west than Lewis and Clark.
We made 4 more laps since yesterday, at this rate IF my package ever arrives it will be the biggest money loser for the USPS this year.
At least until today, nobody wants to crawl into the sorters and pull the packages apart, so yeah classic USPS work ethic.
I ordered a coin and watched the coin go past me and be delivered to an old PO box address I had 15 years ago. EBay had my proper address so the seller didn't get that address from eBay. I figured the seller must have sold me coins over 15 years ago and my old address must have been stored and popped up on their computer. Some guy in Florida City had a surprise $300 coin windfall. EBay issued a refund when they saw the address used was not the address listed for me at eBay.
I currently have a cherry pick off of eBay that is MIA. The seller claimed that they gave it to the post office on the 14th but the tracking info still says that the label has been created and they are awaiting receipt from the seller.
This is why I now have to take every single item to the post office (which unfortunately is not nearby) and wait in line to get the scan done in person. Our attorney general has instructed everyone never to use usps collection boxes again, because so many keys have now been stolen from usps employees.
I had pretty much stopped using them anyway, because even the ones right at the post office seemed to involve 24-48 hours' delay on getting into the system.
Which reminds me: has anyone managed to get a ding for DSR shipping speed removed when tracking shows you had the piece scanned within 12 hours of a sale? I do know that ebay now says you shouldn't be using the usps if it doesn't perform well for you, so I'm guessing the answer is no.
My post office closes at 430, so anything after that has to ship the next morning. EBay could care less about anything but keeping their dollar numbers up. But at least my post office is small, friendly, and I know all the employees and postmaster so they open an extra lane when I show up. Nice small town people, very un-USPS in their attitudes. Anyway, my package in Minnesota made 8 more laps the last 36 hours with no end in sight.
I've developed a very good client list, so any more issues with them and I stop selling there other than little crap that none of my bigger clients would want. Several pay me by Zelle now over however many days it takes depending on their limits. Zero cost beats EBay but I found them all on EBay to start. And the others all use PayPal, which is only 3% cost.
Is there any alternative place to list coins that isn't some trash place to consider?
Is it coming from the metro Atlanta area?
All mail from the metro Atlanta area goes through a new distribution center in Palmetto GA that opened sometime in March and it has been a nightmare. Mail can sit there for days before it ever gets scanned and sorted. I’ve had some packages sit there for as long as two weeks. Sometimes they don't even get a acceptance scan when they arrive there. If you get bored just google “Palmetto GA distribution center”.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Minneapolis area. I've opened a refund request through eBay and the seller has ghosted me at this point even though he/she asked me to initiate the refund process.
The seller really has to get involved as the USPS listens to them. My purchase was from Heritage so they are very involved. They would stand behind it, but I want the coins not a refund, they were a really nice deal.
I had a similar situation with a package in Florida once. It didn't last as long as yours, but it had an incorrect zip code and therefore barcode. Once someone took the time to figure it out it got corrected and delivered.
Not exactly the twilight zone, but perhaps TZ adjacent. Literally 50% of all my ground advantage orders end up diverted to the wrong, yet immediately neighboring, post offices for a couple of days before being corrected. I even inquired if this was somehow on purpose, like logistically? Nope. Just good ole fashioned sorting weirdness out of the Orlando distribution center.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
Wow, the package returned from the TZ and showed up in my mailbox today -- all beaten up, but fortunately Heritage does a good job packing and all three coins were perfect. Here's to hoping that this week's shipment heads east 180 miles rather than 50 laps through Minnesota.