Urgh... USPS and Stupid Shipping Problems

[lacrosse_lady72]

I sell some things on half.com and someone who is overseas at an APO address ordered something and I sent it on Jan 11 and it's not there yet. Initially, I sent it without the proper customs form and it got sent back to me, so that's the only information the tracking number says. But I went into the post office and got it corrected and was finally sent off on Jan 11...

I sent an inquiry to USPS and have yet to hear back, though I only sent that yesterday morning, but if they told me they lost it.... what do I do?

Do I refund the buyer the money less the shipping? That doesn't seem fair as it isn't my fault. It isn't their fault either though. It also looks bad that the tracking number says it went back to my house that first time. And right now, and until mid March, the $4 for the book is a HUGE deal for me in losing that money... it's the difference between me eating for 2 days or not... that's how strapped for cash I am right now.

Do I just say, hey it's your problem as after it ships, it's the buyer's responsibility?

I have the receipt with the tracking number on it but I can't find the rest of the customs form. It's a headache and I want to cry. I don't want my rating to go down for something that wasn't my fault and I don't want this person to be without a book either.

I don't know what to do...

 

[erincon23]

How long did the PO tell you it would take to get there? Whenever I've shipped overseas, they say 21 days. From the 11th, today would be the 21st day. Give it another week at least. Stop stressing. If the buyer didn't pay for insurance, you're not on the hook. I'm so sorry that this amount of money needs to be so important! You're not the only one out there in this position -- it's very sad (and we may be there sooner than later, so I feel for you...).

Erin

 

[DMRick]

Stop stressing. If the buyer didn't pay for insurance, you're not on the hook.

Wish that was true. It's the seller's responsibility to get it to the buyer. Insurance is for the seller, not the buyer, since the seller has to prove item was delivered (and on eBay you can no longer charge the buyer for insurance, since they also believe insurance is for the seller..of course this isn't actually ebay, but it's similar). If this was a Paypal purchase, the seller would be held at fault if they couldn't prove delivery. If the seller finds the custom forms, there is a number on that, and she can see if it's sitting in customs somewhere.
While it appears it's the PO fault, ultimately it's up to the seller to get it to the buyer. The seller shipped it, the buyer had nothing to do with the shipping.
I'm sorry OP, that this amount of money would make a such a difference in your life. Sounds like you have it tough right now.

 

[natenapril]

APO addresses and can sometimes take awhile to get their. We had an APO address for about 6 years andsometims things would get held up in California before they arrived. Most peole with an APO were aware of that. Just try explaining it nicely to the customer

 

[KT27]

I currently am in Germany and have an APO address. I am still receiving Christmas cards, things can take 30+ days to arrive. The items are sent to NY and from there the military takes them and tracking won't show anything until it arrives in the APO destination. If you sent it priority it should be a bit quicker but if you sent it media mail be prepared it could be 45 days or so. Have faith it will arrive.

 

[JR6ooo4]

there used to be something called "FOB" Free On Board. that meant that once an item was onboard whatever delivery pickup, it was no longer the sellers responsibility.

I never buy or sell without insurance, ever since I was ripped off buy a seller on ebay a while back. I could tell by the wording of his responses that he never sent the item.

sorry to hear of your struggles. Allow my misery to enjoy the company of your's...

Mikeeee

 

[laurafergie]

APO/FPO Media Mail takes forever. If you resent the package on 1-11, (and you have proof of this) the earliest I would start worrying would be 2-11. 4-6 weeks is not uncommon.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wait.

Things might have completely changed in the last 10 years, but...

APO addresses are actually sent to a US address. They were 10 years ago. So they get to NY or SF or wherever, and then the military takes them over. No customs forms needed as they never "leave" US soil.

And it's very typical, and all military members should understand it, for the military to takes AGES to get it from the main APO address to the base.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Wait.

Things might have completely changed in the last 10 years, but...

APO addresses are actually sent to a US address. They were 10 years ago. So they get to NY or SF or wherever, and then the military takes them over. No customs forms needed as they never "leave" US soil.

And it's very typical, and all military members should understand it, for the military to takes AGES to get it from the main APO address to the base.

The rule or law... whatever it is... must have changed because you do need to fill out a customs form and attach it to the package to send it. Perhaps this is different for a letter, idk.



Anyway, thanks all for relieving some of my stress. I still haven't received a response from USPS but knowing this process normally takes a while is helps. I just wish the recipient knew that too!

New rule for me as a seller, I'm not shipping to APO addresses anymore or FPO for that matter.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Wait.

Things might have completely changed in the last 10 years, but...

APO addresses are actually sent to a US address. They were 10 years ago. So they get to NY or SF or wherever, and then the military takes them over. No customs forms needed as they never "leave" US soil.

And it's very typical, and all military members should understand it, for the military to takes AGES to get it from the main APO address to the base.

Most APO/FPO packages now need custom forms for packages over a small letter/large letter size. Anything small under a pound needs the green form, anything larger and heavier needs the large multi page white form.

Even though yes, they are delivered to a post office box in either, New York, San Francisco or Miami, and even though yes the military picks them up from there and delivers them at THEIR leisure, these days we must abide by the customs rules in that particular country they are going to. After the unibomber and 9/11 things are much stricter now.

Kim

 

[DMRick]

New rule for me as a seller, I'm not shipping to APO addresses anymore or FPO for that matter.

But that would be a shame to deny our soldiers the chance to bid on your items.
I've never had an apo or fpo go missing in eleven years. Since you don't really know how long it is taking to get there, no sense in punishing all.
Maybe you can make up the money by doing something less on your vacation. It's value was $4, did you say? Spread that over a month or even longer, and soon it will be a distant memory for you, I hope.

 

[Sleepy]

New rule for me as a seller, I'm not shipping to APO addresses anymore or FPO for that matter.

I know I am repeating, but I will give our experiences since we have been here about 6 years.


PLEASE don't stop shipping to FPO/APO addresses. Life is very difficult over here. Sure, we have a small department store that has a somewhat decent selection, but you have to understand that Americans are not the people doing the ordering. It is the local people who are hired by our government. This means that they just order whatever they see available on a list, not because they know what Americans really prefer/need for normal life.

It means we might have 5 sets of pot and pans available, or one curling iron. Know what it is like to only see one brand of boys jeans on the shelf and the only size available for 3 months is size 12, when your kid needs a size 8? You have the luxury of shopping an endless number of stores......we have 1. Did you know that a $25 pair of Levis in our store costs us 100Euro in an Italian store? Now add about 40% for the exchange rate. Shopping in town just is not possible sometimes. Our base is rather large in comparison to some of the other locations overseas. I have seen them. Sometimes their "department store" is no bigger than two 7-11's....now squeeze the food section into that. Doesn't leave much selection does it?

It was not until about 3 years ago that more online businesses started shipping to APO/FPO. Understand that there are many restrictions to purchases. For example, we can't buy anything Sony online. I have to depend on someone else stateside to accept my mail purchases, then forward them to me. I always pray that online businesses who ship FPO/APO will offer Priority. If so, it takes about 7-10 days unless it is Christmas season. Backup starts early Dec and stops around mid Jan. This causes delays by weeks.

Some online stores send to APO/FPO and offer priority, only to gouge us with fees. PetCo is one of them. My argument is that the packages are going to NYC, then the military takes over. There is absolutely no reason there needs to be a charge of $60 for priority, when PetSmart charges $20 for Priority on the exact same items/weight. It is price gouging because they know they can take advantage of our situation. I don't think the 2 minutes it took to fill out the green customs form was worth $40.

Businesses that don't offer priority will cause a shipment to take 4-6 weeks. My last package from Petco (regular mail) took almost 8 weeks. I was about to give up, because I have never had a package take longer than 4 weeks. I just know to be patient. I do a lot of shopping online and have only lost one item. Even then, I am not sure if maybe my item was given to the wrong person.

I hope I have been able to give you some insight into our lives. We really do depend on the patience and understanding of those in America to either consider or continue shipping to APO/FPO.....and offer PRIORITY! I seriously don't have a problem paying the extra for it if it is something I desperately need within a week or two.

Understand that many of the people living over here don't know how long shipments take, etc. The average time spend in a foreign country is 2-4 years. With a turnover so great, you are likely to get a new arrival as a customer. Unfortunately, little details like mail is something often not discussed unless someone has a problem. Most of us learn from our own experiences.

 

[mitchfishguard]

I sell some things on half.com and someone who is overseas at an APO address ordered something and I sent it on Jan 11 and it's not there yet. Initially, I sent it without the proper customs form and it got sent back to me, so that's the only information the tracking number says. But I went into the post office and got it corrected and was finally sent off on Jan 11...

I sent an inquiry to USPS and have yet to hear back, though I only sent that yesterday morning, but if they told me they lost it.... what do I do?

Do I refund the buyer the money less the shipping? That doesn't seem fair as it isn't my fault. It isn't their fault either though. It also looks bad that the tracking number says it went back to my house that first time. And right now, and until mid March, the $4 for the book is a HUGE deal for me in losing that money... it's the difference between me eating for 2 days or not... that's how strapped for cash I am right now.

Do I just say, hey it's your problem as after it ships, it's the buyer's responsibility?

I have the receipt with the tracking number on it but I can't find the rest of the customs form. It's a headache and I want to cry. I don't want my rating to go down for something that wasn't my fault and I don't want this person to be without a book either.

I don't know what to do...

mitch from uk. i have bought over 50 sports items from the states. private deals and e-bay, over the past four years. they have all arrived. the reason i write to you is that this month i bought a vikings jersey from california, it came in 4 days. 4 days to britain is amazing. on the third of january, i bought a steve francis basketball jersey and i had a slip testerday from my postman saying to pick it up today from the depot. 30 days later. my point? i accept parcels get lost, but i dont believe it happens that much. its never happened to me. dont rely on the times given but just accept they will come. however to protect the honesty of people like us, make sure you do everything in your power to check on the item before you refund. a genuine claimant will be patient. a crook just wants the item and a refund.

 

[merryweather20]

But that would be a shame to deny our soldiers the chance to bid on your items.
I've never had an apo or fpo go missing in eleven years. Since you don't really know how long it is taking to get there, no sense in punishing all.
Maybe you can make up the money by doing something less on your vacation. It's value was $4, did you say? Spread that over a month or even longer, and soon it will be a distant memory for you, I hope.

I agree. I also reread all the OP's post, and I can't find the part where the customer is even had any demanding, angry correspondence