Clubs lost in Mail? Need advice

Just looking for some advice on how to proceed. A fellow GolfWRXer purchased a set of irons from me two weeks ago. I mailed them out to him on 4/18 and followed the tracking number throughout the week. He messaged me on 4/23 to tell me the clubs still hadn't arrived. On Friday 4/24, after checking the tracking number I messaged him that USPS said the clubs were out for delivery and would arrive late on 4/24. Well he never received the clubs. Furthermore USPS tracking site removed all the previous information for delivery and was now saying in transit. The clubs appear to be missing. Have made several calls and emails to the USPS but nobody can tell me where the clubs are located.

Don't know what the policy is when something like this happens. And any advice on how to proceed would be appreciated. But I’ve never had something like this happen to me before.

I bet he still ends up getting the clubs. Unless the address got removed from the label somehow.

Did you send them USPS priority?

It's only been 7 business days. There are extreme delays right now with USPS.

What are the origin and destination cities? Give it a few more days.

Yea I was going to give it a few days and see if they turn up somewhere. Just was really odd how they were out for delivery one day and then the next day the whole history of tracking the clubs from the Northeast to the South with stops at different facilities in between all disappeared. The buyers post offices said they are not there even though when I checked the tracking # on 4/24, the clubs were out for delivery.

I'm sure the buyer is frustrated with the process too.

The clubs were sent USPS ground.

I've had the same thing happen where it says out for delivery for 2 days and then says in transit. The package still got there but a couple days later. It's just the state of most delivery services during this time. They're doing their best, but like many of us, it's just harder for them now.

Something similar happened to me this morning.. USPS tracking said a package was at my local service center at 8AM - but by midmorning, the update was deleted and status showed as last scanned in Cleveland. So at least my package's location appears to be known, but their network is in shambles right now. Many 2-3 day points have taken 10+ days to deliver, often without any tracking updates added to the #.

I'm hoping this works out for the both of you. FYI I'm asking all shippers to send packages via UPS or FedEx until USPS starts to manage their business a little better. Other carriers certainly aren't immune from the current uptick in activity, but I've personally had better luck with UPS and FedEx over the course of the last six weeks.

I have a set of clubs I sold on eBay Feb 2nd and shipped the next day that still show in transit. At one point they were out for delivery. I never heard from the buyer that they were not received so I’m assuming they were delivered and he is happy-no feedback left either.

As others have said, they may show up still.

Did you insure the shipment?

Just wait

usps is taking a lot longer cause of COVID

i betcha it shows up

just got a cover after two weeks

tracking didn’t really show much at all

USPS is all messed up right now this is happening with most packages

Post office is a hot mess right now. Some packages take the normal 2-3 days others may take 2 weeks. No rhyme or reason. Bought an item on eBay and then another item from the same seller 3 or 4 days after the first item and the 2nd item showed up in 2 days while the first item took 2 weeks. Florida to Michigan.

i have one package right now that still shows “in transit to the next facility“. Code words for it will get there we just don’t know when.

I had a set of irons tangled up in the queue for about 5 days — purchased Thursday the 16th and just got them delivered at my door today. Unfortunately it’s just the state of things right now. Another package I bought had tracking info last Thursday and isn’t expected till Monday. I’d ask buyer to give it a week or so.

In the same boat here. Had 2 shipments 3 weeks back get hung up and buyers filed claims so I had to pull back and refund. Took between 10 days to 2 weeks to return. As long as your buyer is understanding just ask for patience and hopefully all will be ok, eventually.

I sold a set online a week ago and sent USPS. Still says in transit and it was from Indiana to PA. Just the nature of the beast.

Well I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one going crazy with the USPS.

I guess there is hope this will all work out.

Thanks for the comments.

You'll be fine, they will show up. In the future do all parties a favor and use Priority Mail.

Lesson learned. Or maybe go back to UPS.

To answer the ultimate question if they were to be lost, the procedure I assume is to fully refund the buyer and the seller recoups the insured amount from USPS.

USPS ground? that takes even longer. it their slowest and advertises 2-8 business days. due to COVID-19, it's a heck of a lot longer than that.

for single small clubs - i'll use USPS priority mail

driver, fairway, multiple clubs or iron sets - i used FedEx. UPS for me is always a day later on getting the package to it's destination and more expensive.

YMMV

I heard this on the radio this morning. USPS SoCal distribution center is the largest in the nation. They process 250,000+ pieces of mail/packages a day. They are currently hiring workers and are ravaged because of the Covid-19 outbreak. That’s a lot of mail folks. They are way behind and hopefully this works out for the OP. Just wanted to share what I heard and it’s not hearsay or conjecture but they really are just absolutely swamped and up to their eyeballs.

I had a package that was scheduled to arrive at my house on April 8. Tracking was going as normal until the delivery day when all tracking info was wiped. The next day it was in Oklahoma City in transit to destination. Two weeks later, it was delivered in Puerto Rico. I got my refund a short time later when PayPal found in my favor using the sellers tracking info entered into eBay.

Yup, USPS is a mess right now.

I had irons out there for 18 days and they ended up getting delivered I also had a shaft delivered in a different box that what I sent it. Usps is a complete sh show right now

I’m in Pittsburgh. There was an article in the local paper stating that temp workers were being sought. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before even for the Xmas rush.

I forgot to mention that USPS is doing 45% more right now than what they normally do during the Christmas Crush. Outta control!!

USPS is getting crushed right now. Just be patient. Waited 20 days for a putter. I currently have 4 other deliveries I'm waiting on right now, 2 FedEx, 1 UPS, and 1 USPS, they are all delayed. It's just part of the madness that is going on out there right now, thanks to these stay at home orders and business closures overwhelming the mail/package delivery service.

I've experienced no delays with a dozen or so Priority Mail deliveries during this time

Selling on eBay and I have converted fully to FedEx Ground. Cheaper on most everything than USPS, slightly slower normally but no issues otherwise. Insurance is cheaper and filing claims is much quicker. Even on the BST here, I am going to start using it. If you can find your nearest hub or FedEx Office, its easy.

Same here. I have three items shipped in mid April from NY, which are still in transit.

Talked to Post office and supervisors, but no luck.

What I learned are as follows;

1) Major distribution centers in NY/NJ area have limited workers for distancing. Some centers were closed due to infected employees and sanitization.

2) Number of trucks are much less than normal operation.

Therefore, the packages sorted at NY/NJ distribution centers were backed up.

I don’t know why, but two missing packages are bound for Ohio.

I switched to FedEx ground recently and found the service was realizable.

Be real careful with FedEx on ebay. The prices when printing a label are just quotes and then FedEx charges ebay the actual costs after delivery, and then ebay charges your account. I shipped a bag on ebay with FedEx, quote was around $18 (USPS was around $23) and then my Ebay invoice (about 3 weeks later) showed the shipping charge was $50. Lots of other stories like this if you google the topic. USPS is just as reliable and the cost at checkout on Ebay is the actual cost. No surprises later and don't have to remember to check invoices later.

To put the NY/NJ USPS timing into perspective...my accountant mailed my tax returns to me on April 21. I received them on May 1.

He lives 15 miles away.

Are the quoted prices based on actual dimensions and weight? I would think they could provide accurate costs if these 2 items were provided. Now if you are only providing one (or none) of these items, I can see there being additional charges applied. I just shipped out two golf carts via fedex, guess I will see.

Yes, you have to enter dimensions and weight on ebay to print a shipping label