It's that time of year again, USPS delays

[DynaEtch]

Does USPS basically break down when it comes to oversize/irregular packages like tubes and not know how to deal with them appropriately?

Have some irreplaceable uncut sheets that were shipped to me in a tube. Seller a <2 hour drive from me, in the same state (for reasons, seller went with shipping vs doing the hour drive to meet up…this was an eBay deal).

Acceptance scan Wednesday morning around 8:30 am. Nothing until Sat morning, where it got a scan in the next state over (went out of state for some reason). Nothing since. Going into Sunday evening it is sitting in a sort facility in a different state. I am less than a 2 hour drive from the seller. Looks like it’ll take USPS 5+ days to deliver, and thats being optimistic, it’ll probably be a lot more.

In retrospect UPS or FedEX would have been the way smarter way to ship this. Does USPS just not handle large tube type packages correctly, like at all?

(half hoping for the reverse jinx by posting this)

[Sonnys88]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Does USPS basically break down when it comes to oversize/irregular packages like tubes and not know how to deal with them appropriately?

Have some irreplaceable uncut sheets that were shipped to me in a tube. Seller a <2 hour drive from me, in the same state (for reasons, seller went with shipping vs doing the hour drive to meet up…this was an eBay deal).

Acceptance scan Wednesday morning around 8:30 am. Nothing until Sat morning, where it got a scan in the next state over (went out of state for some reason). Nothing since. Going into Sunday evening it is sitting in a sort facility in a different state. I am less than a 2 hour drive from the seller. Looks like it’ll take USPS 5+ days to deliver, and thats being optimistic, it’ll probably be a lot more.

In retrospect UPS or FedEX would have been the way smarter way to ship this. Does USPS just not handle large tube type packages correctly, like at all?

(half hoping for the reverse jinx by posting this)

Most likely being hand sorted / scanned as tubes and irregular size packages are usually non-machinable. They can get stuck in the sorting machines.

That being said, delays with all types of mail including "regular" shaped packages are pretty common right now.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Sonnys88

Most likely being hand sorted / scanned as tubes and irregular size packages are usually non-machinable. They can get stuck in the sorting machines.

That being said, delays with all types of mail including "regular" shaped packages are pretty common right now.

I was doing some online research about USPS and oversize/irregular packages and I think you’re right about the hand-scanning, causing delays.

I just can’t wrap my head around a 2-hour transit by car taking now going on 6 days and counting. Tracking now just has the dreaded placeholder scans “In Transit, Arriving Late” for the last few days, thats all it says. This is one of the worst possible packages to go lost..just have a bad feeling about it.

Lesson: do NOT use USPS for oversize/irregular package such as a big tube. FedEx and UPS are so much better with those. It’s like USPS doesnt know how to handle them.

[DynaEtch]

Also I was at my PO yesterday asking about the above tube package not moving on tracking.

He found a scan on his internal USPS tracking at the NJ sort facility of “Marked for insufficient postage” (not visible on my regular tracking).

The seller says he printed postage out from eBay. Clerk at my PO said USPS has made changes with tube sort of packages lately involving surcharges that eBay does *not* take into account in their printable shipping label program. Something to keep in mind if you’re shipping tubes. But am I correct that should not stop this package in transit or make it go lost? What happens in this case of insufficient eBay postage- doesnt the package just continue to me, the buyer, and seller’s eBay account is decucted the difference?

So I don’t think that’s enough to explain it. In any case it’s been 6 days since shipped for a package 2-hour drive away and no longer updating on tracking.

[ScottBreaks]

Went into PO with a couple PWE envelopes (plain #10 envelopes around 1oz) the other night. I usually try to use the self serve kiosk, but there was already someone there and while I was waiting, he turned and said he was going to be a while. Headed to the counter since it was pretty much empty inside and instantly regretted the decision. The person working the counter felt the cards in the envelope and absolutely refused to sell me postage unless it was as a ground advantage package. My usual post office has never had an issue with my envelopes. They have a little card board slot that imitates a letter chute and if it fits through there, they've been good with it.

Getting stuff in the mail lately has been an absolute nightmare. I'm lucky to have several post offices around me, but each poses it's own challenge. There's a 50/50 shot that the kiosk is working, my usual post office frequently closes due to lack of staff. Other post offices often lock down the entire building including the lobby with the kiosk after business hours (would hate to have a PO box at these locations).

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I was doing some online research about USPS and oversize/irregular packages and I think you’re right about the hand-scanning, causing delays.

I just can’t wrap my head around a 2-hour transit by car taking now going on 6 days and counting. Tracking now just has the dreaded placeholder scans “In Transit, Arriving Late” for the last few days, thats all it says. This is one of the worst possible packages to go lost..just have a bad feeling about it.

Lesson: do NOT use USPS for oversize/irregular package such as a big tube. FedEx and UPS are so much better with those. It’s like USPS doesnt know how to handle them.

Quick update…the package finally got a scan and is now 3 states away, so getting father away with every scan. Sigh.

We are < 2hr drive away in the same state. USPS being USPS apparently

[DynaEtch]

And just like that…massive delays affecting almost all of my USPS packages. Holiday craziness must be hitting hard (already).

I’m going down my eBay purchase list…it’s comical. Can’t remember seeing this bad of a ratio of packages not-moving/off the radar currently. I would say like 8 of the last 10 things I bought have something going on with them. To take an example, a ground adv sent back on Monday from the very next state over. Sunday…nothing, and not a scan since like 3 days ago. Another one….seller lives in CA right next to eBay AG’s PSA hub. He sent it out back on Monday- it’s a graded card so definitely going to the CA hub. Still didnt reach it as of Sunday…in the same state.

[jrd1436]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

And just like that…massive delays affecting almost all of my USPS packages. Holiday craziness must be hitting hard (already).

I’m going down my eBay purchase list…it’s comical. Can’t remember seeing this bad of a ratio of packages not-moving/off the radar currently. I would say like 8 of the last 10 things I bought have something going on with them. To take an example, a ground adv sent back on Monday from the very next state over. Sunday…nothing, and not a scan since like 3 days ago. Another one….seller lives in CA right next to eBay AG’s PSA hub. He sent it out back on Monday- it’s a graded card so definitely going to the CA hub. Still didnt reach it as of Sunday…in the same state.

I'm in the same boat. Expecting 6 packages and currently 5 are late.

My comedy story is that I purchased twice from the same seller on whatnot and they had two shows...one in the morning and one in the evening. Seller dropped off the packages at the same time to the same post office in Liberty, Missouri., scanned by usps as having possession on 12/1. One package left the post office the same day and went to Warrendale PA distribution center. Other package left post office 3 days later and went to Charlotte NC distribution center. As of today, i'm still waiting on both packages which usually take 3 days or so.

[Crosby 87]

I'm getting 8 day estimates on cross country ground advantage packages right now. Not much we can do unless pay more for the other carriers which are just as busy.

[f2tornado]

I had a USPS Ground Advantage package totally fall off the tracking radar on Nov 10th. I put in a mail search on 11/26 and filed a claim about a week ago. It was approved this afternoon.

That was the first package rate item I've sent in the last 30 years that never made it to destination.

[waytoomanycards]

Just got a message from ebay stating USPS claimed my bubble mailer with a regular sized psa slab surrounded by cardboard weighed over a pound, and they adjusted it over $3. SMH.

I disputed their claim for whatever that's worth. It obviously didn't weigh a pound or even more than the 4 ounces I paid for. The buyer confirmed he received the correct contents. Actual weight would be about 3.2 ounces at most. Provided them with a picture showing the weight at their own kiosk.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by waytoomanycards

Just got a message from ebay stating USPS claimed my bubble mailer with a regular sized psa slab surrounded by cardboard weighed over a pound, and they adjusted it over $3. SMH.

I disputed their claim for whatever that's worth. It obviously didn't weigh a pound or even more than the 4 ounces I paid for. The buyer confirmed he received the correct contents. Actual weight would be about 3.2 ounces at most. Provided them with a picture showing the weight at their own kiosk.

So what eight did you place on for ounces? What type SLab (PSA, BGS )? oh and what size bbl mailer?

[waytoomanycards]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

So what eight did you place on for ounces? What type SLab (PSA, BGS )? oh and what size bbl mailer?

Paid for 4 ounces--it weighs 3. PSA slab with ebay 6x9 bubble mailers. For their weight to be right, I would've had to put the label on a different package with different contents, but buyer says I didn't.

[TXRunner]

Bought a bundle of cards from a seller on Mercari on 11/30. The small bubble mailer just showed up yesterday. It sat at the post office, the seller dropped it off at, for almost two weeks before going out. Then it went to my local sorting facility and went in circles there for a week. It finally was delivered yesterday with no delivered scan or anything.

The South Houston center once again showing year in and year out how terrible it is.

[DynaEtch]

Anyone have negative experiences with the Gastonia, NC USPS distribution hub? Man talk about where you don’t want your package to go through.

I have a high end item I sent out early last week (so this was 7 days ago) Priority Mail (remember when that used to be 2-3 days). It ended up at this Gastonia hub where it just sat for days- enough to make me google search it- and wow talk about a black hole hub. Tons of complaints on forums, even a news article about USPS itself conducting an audit on NC hubs this summer including Gastonia, just to find stacks and stacks of delayed packages (70,000+ mail pieces), missing packages, and other problems. How even does a distribution hub acquire an infamous reputation? The report blamed it on short staffing and insufficient training throughout the NC hubs. Apparently NC is not a great place for a package to pass through.

Anyway in my case…the package, end destination TN… did update after days in Gastonia, NC…..to MI. So apparently they had one job but botched it and misdirected it to somewhere else in the country. We’ll see how long this “Priority Mail” package takes to deliver Gonna be 8 days and counting, I’ll chronicle it here.

[Budler]

Personally I do not get frustrated with the USPS just like the time it takes COMC to pull/package/ship a few cards.

Cards not getting to me or the other guy or damaged is less than a 1/2%.

One story about the USPS I have told many times is: ordered some cards from a guy 2 hour drive or less from me. in the morning and the next day, I had them in my mailbox. GREAT less then 35 hours. A month later I ordered the same number of cards from him and over 2 weeks and gone through 4 states I got the cards.

The next one is: I do a lot of trading, and we send the same time. I will get my cards in a few days, and they will get their cards in 2 or more weeks. This happens to all of my trades during this time period. Then for some reason a month or so later, I will receive cards 2 weeks later then what the other trader gets his cards.

In 3 to 4 weeks is when I start really worrying about it. Is his the 1/2% item.

The PO knows there are issues at many of their hubs. It also appears they cannot fix them no matter who is charge. It sounds like one of the hubs in Denver, CO. has a big problem. Not counting the turnover when a PO get a bad person and they cannot fire them they send them to this one hub as it always need workers for some reason. This is what I have been told by clerks and one person high up on the ladder in the PO in Denver area.

How long will your package take to be delivered. I would say 14 days. Is there a prize??

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Budler

Personally I do not get frustrated with the USPS just like the time it takes COMC to pull/package/ship a few cards.

Cards not getting to me or the other guy or damaged is less than a 1/2%.

One story about the USPS I have told many times is: ordered some cards from a guy 2 hour drive or less from me. in the morning and the next day, I had them in my mailbox. GREAT less then 35 hours. A month later I ordered the same number of cards from him and over 2 weeks and gone through 4 states I got the cards.

The next one is: I do a lot of trading, and we send the same time. I will get my cards in a few days, and they will get their cards in 2 or more weeks. This happens to all of my trades during this time period. Then for some reason a month or so later, I will receive cards 2 weeks later then what the other trader gets his cards.

In 3 to 4 weeks is when I start really worrying about it. Is his the 1/2% item.

The PO knows there are issues at many of their hubs. It also appears they cannot fix them no matter who is charge. It sounds like one of the hubs in Denver, CO. has a big problem. Not counting the turnover when a PO get a bad person and they cannot fire them they send them to this one hub as it always need workers for some reason. This is what I have been told by clerks and one person high up on the ladder in the PO in Denver area.

How long will your package take to be delivered. I would say 14 days. Is there a prize??

It’s not even just my specific case but also a larger commentary on USPS generally- priority mail used to be 2-3 day service which is almost shocking looking back at now. Seems like a week (or more) is becoming more and more common for Priority mail. As for my specific case- it’s telling that it is so bad in an area that USPS itself has to conduct an internal audit, just to discover 70k+ delayed/problematic packages within a small network of hubs. I saw this before it got misrouted, and thought to myself, “bet something happens to this package”- and alas, next scan picked up several states away in the wrong area of the country. That is also telling that it was predicted before it even happened.

Sure, it doesn’t really matter if it gets there in the end (well to some buyers it does, and when it’s a > $1k item you as the seller will start having to answer questions when the package is 8 days out in the wrong part of the country). No seller wants to have this going on with a package….Id rather not have it take 2-4 weeks to deliver priority mail, like examples you are referring to (and I do have a hard time believing you wouldnt care at all if it was like 3 weeks out with an expensive item not delivered).

[frenchquarter]

My experience during the past year is:

Ground Advantage - nearly always gets delivered fairly quickly and I have never experienced lost or damaged packages.

Priority Mail - Priority is always slow. Never the 2-3 days as promised. Priority tends to sit for several days in the processing centers before it starts moving.

Express Mail - USPS's premier product is always unreliable. It has been this way for several years. Damage, delays, and lost packages are par for the course with Express, along with theft. Back when I was a Postmaster I spent a great deal of time trying to track down Express Mail because it was always late.

ESE - has been extremely consistent and I haven't had any problems with it during the past year.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by frenchquarter

My experience during the past year is:

Ground Advantage - nearly always gets delivered fairly quickly and I have never experienced lost or damaged packages.

Priority Mail - Priority is always slow. Never the 2-3 days as promised. Priority tends to sit for several days in the processing centers before it starts moving.

Express Mail - USPS's premier product is always unreliable. It has been this way for several years. Damage, delays, and lost packages are par for the course with Express, along with theft. Back when I was a Postmaster I spent a great deal of time trying to track down Express Mail because it was always late.

ESE - has been extremely consistent and I haven't had any problems with it during the past year.

This agrees pretty well with my experience…and whats very interesting about this list is, minus the ESE…it gets less reliable the higher the tier. Priority mail? …gets delayed more. Basically the opposite of what you’d think.

I’ve had comc send me usps Express shipments and it seems like it’s always missing the window. Of the last few of those I got, one took like 4 days and another took 8 days. Sitting at a Seattle WA hub for a long time. This is supposed to be a guaranteed 1-2 day service.

Whereas with the private carriers like UPS/FedEx, 1-day shipping or 2-day shipping actually means something.

[DynaEtch]

A bit of a sidetrack…but USPS is terrible with shipping tubes- it’s like they don’t know how process them. Not a factor in cards really, but I deal with uncut sheets a lot, and man is USPS bad with them. They can take 2-3 weeks to go a couple states away…sitting at hubs for 6-8 days without movement….priority mail or whatever, doesn’t matter.

The first recommendation is to not even bother with USPS at all when shipping uncut sheets in a tube. It’s better shipped ups or FedEx. But if you must…

Try NOT to send this (a tube):


Instead, this is way to send a tube, in a box:




Amazingly that little adjustment can make a 3 week transit into a 3 day transit. For whatever reason. I guess USPS just knows how to handle boxes and not tubes…tubes have to go a special way and I don’t think interact with the automatic machinery in place…plus I’m sure they roll off the belts and what not. Also…the eBay shipping label purchasing isn’t even aligned with tubes- they don’t charge based on LxWxH dimensions, I was told by my PO they recently changed how they do that for tubes and it’s girth by circumference, which the eBay system is not aligned to- another reason to just put it in a box. So if shipping a tube, definitely makes sense to put in a box first with USPS.

[DynaEtch]

Chronicling the Priority Mail package I mailed out last week, 9 days ago (not a tube just a small box) enroute to TN. Went from NC to MI to NJ to GA. It is now in Atlanta, GA. So at least it’s moving I guess? Will have to see how many weeks it takes for a priority mail package to deliver.

[mfw13]

I just had a card arrive that was shipped on November 8th, and for which I received a refund from EBay a month ago.

And it was a Fresno to Seattle trip.....a journey that pre-pandemic (and pre-DeJoy) used to take 2 shipping days.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Chronicling the Priority Mail package I mailed out last week, 9 days ago (not a tube just a small box) enroute to TN. Went from NC to MI to NJ to GA. It is now in Atlanta, GA. So at least it’s moving I guess? Will have to see how many weeks it takes for a priority mail package to deliver.

This package did get delivered, jumping around to several states- about 10 days for Priority Mail. Had another one (card I bought) just take 8 days Priority mail. Supports the point said above that Priority Mail just isn’t a reliable service and often has packages sit in hub for stretches. Other times it does get delivered in like 3 days…so basically a crap shoot.

Originally Posted by mfw13

I just had a card arrive that was shipped on November 8th, and for which I received a refund from EBay a month ago.

And it was a Fresno to Seattle trip.....a journey that pre-pandemic (and pre-DeJoy) used to take 2 shipping days.

Thats wild. Only time I had something like that was a year or two ago- card I bought in the early summer. Ground Advantage bubble mailer. Went lost after months, refunded by ebay, eventually showed up in September- bubble mailer beat to all heck, soiled, stained with dried dark liquid and roller makers on it. Card inside was ok though.

I imagine yours was probably a small mailer/envelope too. I think for the ones that get truly very delayed (months or more)…it’s usually a small mailer/package/envelope that can slip through the cracks and get lost somewhere. This is why for high end cards (such as very high end one I shipped to eBay AG a month ago), I put it in a large box now (bubble mailer inside of a large box, like a horizontal Priority Mail type box). Huge box for one card, but it won’t slip through the cracks nearly as easily.

[BdotHobbs]

I’ve got a good one right now. Ordered a card about 10 days ago. It started in Illinois. It’s gone from Illinois to Missouri back to Illinois back to Missouri to Kansas and now back to the St Louis sorting center for a third time and hasn’t even started heading towards Texas yet. It’s no big deal I know the card will get here eventually but I just don’t understand how this happens and happens so frequently

[thenightman]

Another USPS price hike went into effect today. Ground Advantage from Dallas to California is now $5.20 using eBay's discount. Unbelievable.