Package Not Showing Up in USPS System - RESOLVED!

Sethro

Hi all. I am hoping someone here can point me in the right direction to help me with this situation, or possible inform me of some positive personal outcomes in similar situations.

I sold an item on eBay, printed the shipping label through same, and took the package down to the PO to drop it off.

When I get there, the line is extremely long and I don't have much time. Instead of waiting in line to have the item scanned in (which I normally do NOT do, but this particular item had a higher value so I was at least considering it), I drop the package on the side counter, which has about 30 other packages on it. Now, although I know I am wrong in not waiting for the scan, I can tell you that over the years I have dropped literally hundreds of my prepaid postage eBay packages at that very same side counter, without incident. And at the encouragement of the postal workers.

I go home that night and see that it still hasn't been scanned in. And days pass and it is still not scanned in. It had now been six days since I dropped off the package and it is not been scanned in yet. Just that same Electronic Shipping Info Received message. It was sent priority 2-day mail with signature confirmation, so even without being scanned, shouldn't it have been delivered by now?

So I call the main number of the post office to ask what I can do next and the woman who answers tell me I should've had the item scanned in. (Great solution to my problem. I'll go jump in my time machine and fix that right now!) Then says I need to wait five days until they can do anything more.

I then go to the PO where I dropped it off, and the really nice woman who is always helpful tells me pretty much the same thing. So since Saturday (today) doesn't count as a business day I will wait until Monday to take the next step, whatever that means.

I guess I am a bit perplexed at this situation for a couple of reasons. But the main question I have is what happened to the package? I mean, if it really is not somewhere in the PO system (which I am having a hard time believing) then either someone stole my package off of the counter or a postal worker did. But honestly, the box was non-descript, didn't look particularly valuable in any way, at least to me, so I think that seems unlikely. It was a larger package (maybe 18"x 9" x 4") so it doesn't seem like it would be easy to just walk off with.

So first, does anyone know the next step I should take? Am I filing a lost package report or something?

Second, has anything similar happened to anyone before, and if so, what was the outcome?

I am kind of stressing out about this because I am selling off the last bits of my collection for personal reasons and taking a hit on this is really going to hurt. Bad!!!

Thanks!

charrigan

Call USPS customer service (national level). Tell them that you have a missing package. They will issue a request to the local PO to attempt to locate it within 1 business day. Hopefully this will cause them to look around and find the item. Most likely, it's sitting in a corner unscanned.

bobbyw8469

I used to drop off packages same as you. One showed up missing - never got a scan. Ever since then, I ALWAYS make sure the items get a scan - no more dropping off packages unattended for me. In my instance, I have to refund and move one. That will probably be what you have to do as well.

mtcards

Had a similar situation where 7 days passed before the only transaction listed was "delivered". Kind of confused as to how it passed through so many locations without ever being scanned.


I used to use ebay shipping because of the savings, but have now found that the $1.70 (I think thats what it was) for a first class package for a single card is not enough of a discount over actually taking it in line and having them do all the work and scanning it as I pay for it, especially considering the cost of ink/supplies. 62 cents less the cost of supplies is not enough for piece of mind.

coachnip13

<< <i>Had a similar situation where 7 days passed before the only transaction listed was "delivered". Kind of confused as to how it passed through so many locations without ever being scanned.


I used to use ebay shipping because of the savings, but have now found that the $1.70 (I think thats what it was) for a first class package for a single card is not enough of a discount over actually taking it in line and having them do all the work and scanning it as I pay for it, especially considering the cost of ink/supplies. 62 cents less the cost of supplies is not enough for piece of mind. >>



Why not take the savings and just have them scan it in if you're going to wait in line anyway?

jimq112

If there was a long line, and people had access to that part of the counter, then yes a customer could have stolen it. The clerks are so overburdened these days that most of them don't have the time to watch the other areas of the office, they're busy trying to get the line moving. USPS stores are mystery shopped and having too long of a wait time in line is a bad problem.

A postal clerk stealing it from that office would be pretty unlikely. They have to sort them into cages based on destination and it would be hard to hide it in a place to smuggle it out later without getting caught. A large package would be even harder to smuggle out. Getting caught means getting fired, not worth the risk especially for a nondescript package.

Stuff disappears from sorting facilities, but the people there would have no idea that it hadn't been scanned.

I would bet on somebody in line, watching you check the line, and just drop it off without getting it scanned, probably picked it up.

If you ship more stuff, do a carrier pickup. We scan every package into the system at time of pickup. Harder for it to get lost that way.

Hope it turns up for you.

grote15

If you ship more stuff, do a carrier pickup. We scan every package into the system at time of pickup. Harder for it to get lost that way.

+1

Or at least drop it off in the mail slot/box inside the post office so the item goes straight into the bin and cannot be swiped by a thief watching you in line.

I hope the package turns up~I have had a few packages fly under the radar with no tracking updates till delivery date, but it is very unusual.

Dboneesq

<< <i>

<< <i>Had a similar situation where 7 days passed before the only transaction listed was "delivered". Kind of confused as to how it passed through so many locations without ever being scanned.
I used to use ebay shipping because of the savings, but have now found that the $1.70 (I think thats what it was) for a first class package for a single card is not enough of a discount over actually taking it in line and having them do all the work and scanning it as I pay for it, especially considering the cost of ink/supplies. 62 cents less the cost of supplies is not enough for piece of mind. >>



Why not take the savings and just have them scan it in if you're going to wait in line anyway? >>



+1 - This is what I do with all the packages I mail.

mtcards

<< <i>

<< <i>Had a similar situation where 7 days passed before the only transaction listed was "delivered". Kind of confused as to how it passed through so many locations without ever being scanned.


I used to use ebay shipping because of the savings, but have now found that the $1.70 (I think thats what it was) for a first class package for a single card is not enough of a discount over actually taking it in line and having them do all the work and scanning it as I pay for it, especially considering the cost of ink/supplies. 62 cents less the cost of supplies is not enough for piece of mind. >>



Why not take the savings and just have them scan it in if you're going to wait in line anyway? >>




I prefer not to deal with printing, taping, etc. the mailing label. If I am standing in line, it is worth it to me to have them use their tape, their labels.

grote15

I will go to the clerk if item is too large for the slot inside the PO or if it is high-end ($500+). For anything else, either local pickup or dropping off inside the PO in the slot to the bin is sufficient. The few packages that go astray typically do so while in transit, not within the originating PO.

edit to add: There is also very nice discounts for Priority and Express Mail packges if you print your label on line at USPS.com.

brendanb438

USPS never took official possession of the package. You are SOL since you didn't get them to scan it in.

Same goes if you drop a package into a drop box, until they scan it as received you are assuming all responsibility for the package. Sucks but it is that straight forward.

JMDVM

I'm having the same problem---but as the recipient. I'm waiting for 2 packages from 2 different sellers that have multiple negative feedbacks for items not arriving to the buyer. Tracking numbers show items were never scanned into the system.

Mickey71

I've had this happen to 2 packages that I had to give a refund and the other package was showed as delivered in like 2 hours from dropping it off. Delivered in Seattle......the buyer lives in Michigan. WTF. Lots of no scanning lately. It's pissing me off.

brendanb438

<< <i>I've had this happen to 2 packages that I had to give a refund and the other package was showed as delivered in like 2 hours from dropping it off. Delivered in Seattle......the buyer lives in Michigan. WTF. Lots of no scanning lately. It's pissing me off. >>



I have had this happen before and it was due to the postal service for some dumb reason refusing to ship the packages out and they ended up back at my house within 72 hours of being scanned delivered. How long has it been since this happened to you and what did USPS have to say about it?

Mickey71

Brendanb438,

The package that shows delivered in Seattle....the guy actually did get it about 3 days later in Michigan. Tracking shows delivered in Seattle. Glad the buyer is not dishonest. He left positive feedback and I never mentioned anything. The other 2 packages received no scans at all. I had to refund....no acceptance scans or anything. These were dropped in a blue box in a busy area. The USPS screwed those up. No one could have taken those from the box. Very busy area.

Sethro

Thanks for all the responses. I called the PO today and they opened an investigation. I also finally contacted the buyer about the package not showing up. Hopefully he is understanding and can give me a little more time to see if this package can be found.

Sethro

So I followed up with the buyer and let him know I opened a case with the PO. He messaged me back right away and told me he received the cards last week!

WHEW!

Meanwhile, it is still showing up as electronic shipping info received.

cpamike

<< <i>So I followed up with the buyer and let him know I opened a case with the PO. He messaged me back right away and told me he received the cards last week!

WHEW!

Meanwhile, it is still showing up as electronic shipping info received. >>



I've had a couple of seller contact me over the years in a panic that the package did not reflect it was delivered when it was. Most people are honest and I'm glad your buyer was as well. Karma works both ways.

Dboneesq

GREAT NEWS! Glad to hear it worked out well.

CollectorAtWork

Glad to hear the good news. I've had this happen as both a buyer and seller where the tracking information was never shown as Delivered, but the package was delivered. Often it's just that the last leg forgets to scan the package when it's delivered, but sometimes the bar code label was damaged in the mail. The last time this happened, the Post Office damaged the package, and it was in one of those plastic bags with the apologies from the Post Office. Luckily the contents of the package were still in perfect shape.

Sethro

Just got a call from USPS. They completed their investigation. This is what they found:

1) I printed the label on the 13th, but brought it to the PO on the 14th. I must drop off packages on the day I print the label.
2) I need to have packages scanned in by a postal clerk.

Interestingly, all of their information they based their "findings" on came directly from me. What kind of investigation was this? To top it off, the woman who left the message was a bit snotty. As if this was all my fault. Clearly they have to bear the brunt of the responsibility, since the package went all the way through their system with no scans anywhere, including the signature confirmation I paid for!