posted on August 1, 2002 09:56:28 PM new
I know that the USPS had all of those auctions listed and I know how many people claim 'its in the mail'.
still
I don't buy it.
My experiences with the PO tell me otherwise ~
Does your stuff get lost in the mail?
Here are some of my USPS stats (about 98% priority mail):
I'm the Seller
Total Packages I've shipped: 4000 plus
Packages confirmed as lost: one
Packages AWOL & reappear: three
Payments claimed as lost: approx 40
I'm the buyer
Total packages received: 250-ish
Packages AWOL: one
(unconfirmed if Seller really mailed it, though!)
Does the PO really lose that much stuff?
They don't seem to lose mine.
Is it because I ship priority?
or is this similar to your experiences?
still waiting for the arrival of a big check from Publishers Clearinghouse...mebbe it's lost in the mail?
posted on August 1, 2002 10:13:51 PM new
My experience is very close to yours. In over 1000 packages mailed via priority mail, only one has ever been lost. I've lost track of the number of times a bidder has used the excuse that they sent a check and it "must have gotten lost in the mail". My conclusion is that in 99% of the cases where a check gets lost in the mail, the deadbeat wasn't bright enough come up with an original lie, so he went with the old standby.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on August 1, 2002 10:33:06 PM new
About a year ago, I had a buyer who swore up and down that the check had been sent; I waited several weeks and never got the check. The buyer promptly sent me a new one and I told her that if the first one "ever showed up", I'd return it. Needless to say, I was skeptical. Well...about 3 months after all this, I received an envelope from USPS...and in it was a partially burned, smelly and still damp letter/check from this buyer! I e-mailed her and, sure enough, she remembered that a postal truck had caught fire and apparently, her check was in the truck at the time! Bizarre...but guess it shows that sometimes, it really IS true that the "check's in the mail."
posted on August 1, 2002 10:43:48 PM new
same for me 4 years worth of auctions,not a big seller but hundreds of packages most always priority mail Postmaster says since less time & handling much safer
anyway
1 lost none broken
purchases none lost
Purchase 1 box of glass broken seller had wrapped in bubble wrap then used finely shredded paper the heavy items all settled in the bottom 1/2 of them broke,a shame!(Nicely refunded portion of price for what broke)
on another note: re checks only 1 bounced check,actually didn't bounce but would have same bank as mine,went to bank in person & was told not to deposit it as it would bounce.emailed the bidder she sent me double the amount in a money order,i had to buy her an item on auction to send as a gift to even it out..i would never charge double LOL
that is really pretty good people are basically good
Did have one lady say the check had been mailed waited 2 weeks,she sent another this lady ended up being a good friend,super honest person Never did get that check.
so,one lost check in 4 years.
posted on August 2, 2002 12:53:37 AM new
Priority mail has always been bad for us. Lately it has just stunk.
UPS hasn't been nearly as bad.
In the past 2 weeks:
7 lost (with DC)
5 returned for various reasons.
1 damaged. It smelled like urine when we got it back.
blueyes29: I just got a payment mailed from within my state after two months. Addressed properly and undamaged. That happens more than I like to think about.
posted on August 2, 2002 01:19:56 AM new
In more than 5,000 transactions I've never had a package lost in the mail.
I had one disapear but I'm not sure it ever made it to the PO. Strange though, I've had dozens of payments lost in the mail, according to my customers.
Finer Fashions on Ebay, top designers, latest styles. http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/feistyone/
posted on August 2, 2002 04:15:54 AM new
I think most of the lost payments were never sent. However, I also think that it is much easier for the Post Office to lose, damage, whatever a letter vs. something the size of a package. Letters very often get eaten by the processing equipment.
posted on August 2, 2002 05:00:58 AM new
I've been selling for the past 3 years and until about one month ago I've had virtually no problems with the USPS. About one month ago the whole thing went to hell in a handbag. Evidently the USPS has changed their package handling process nationwide and there are lots of bugs in the system. I obtained this info from the manager at the post office I frequent on an almost daily basis. I've shipped approx 60 packages in the last two weeks and 10 of them have been misplaced. To the USPS credit all but one has been successfully located in other parts of the country. Any new system is bound to have problems and hopefully the USPS will have these problems straightened out in the near future.
