I ordered from an online retailer in MO last week. It shipped via UPS from there and arrrived here in Phoenix Monday, where it got transferred to USPS for final delivery. Great, I should get it yesterday (Tuesday) I figured.

Last night's tracking info instead shows that the package is now in...Albuquerque NM. Huh??

I asked my UPS guy why packages were going from UPS to USPS to deliver. He said the post office wanted some of the package delivery income but after they started they realized they didn't have trucks to transfer these products and struck a deal with UPS to do so. UPS delivers to the post office and the US Postal delivers to your house.

Just found out that my Campy headset from Austria just made it's longest and most harrowing trip from N.Y. to New Jersey in a lightning fast seven days! Thank you USPS!
Now, I hope the trip from N.Y. to SF will not take till February to complete!....

I've never had any issues with USPS shipping.
I have some issues with their driver though, the old bitty knocked down my mailbox twice last year.

It is most likely due to last weeks storm. I am waiting for a few things too. USPS is generally very reliable for me, but weather does mess things up, and when something gets delayed, it can get delayed for longer than you would expect. It will show up.

I get a lot of these, maybe because I am in a rural area? The shipper still gives me a UPS tracking number, so it is frustrating to see "Delivered", only to find out they are referring to the local PO. Once, UPS attempted delivery on a Wednesday, except the PO was closed for Columbus Day. They tried again on Thursday, so I finally got the package on Friday. I get packages delivered to my door by UPS sometimes, so there doesn't seem to be any standard for who does the final delivery. Nashbar is pretty consistent on sending by UPS, right past my house on the way to the USPS sorting center in Detroit, then back to me. That always adds 3-4 days compared to UPS alone.

I have had the same mail carrier for years and I couldn't ask for a better one. She is very conscientious about where the package is left, bagging it for bad weather, etc. When we built a new house, it was still on her route, so she immediately started taking our mail to the new house as soon as she knew we had moved in, regardless of which address was on the mail. One of the benefits of small town living.

Our driveway is on the side, so we normally go in through the door by the garage. Most packages get left there, too. But sometimes, a box gets left on the porch by the front door, which we rarely use. If I am tracking the shipment, I will look there, but sometimes a box will sit there for a day or two before I find it. Luckily, we are pretty far back from the road, so it isn't as obvious to package thieves.

Things may get better. I had heard they have purchased some fresh Ponies.

I send and receive countless packages via USPS and rarely have any issues. Sometimes packages can't be delivered for any of a number of reasons, and are returned.

From your description of the tracking info, I suspect it's headed back to the sender. When he has it, there'll be a sticker on it (sort of) explaining why.

Sometimes packages are returned for stupid reasons, but that's the exception and overall, I've been very happy with the quality of USPS service. Also, when I compare Priority Mail for smaller packages to other options, I find it offers exceptional value compared to alternatives. However, heavier packages are often less expensive sent by UPS or Fedex ground.

It depends, it depends, it depends. It depends on so many things, and a lot depends on how decent your local post office is. Some are stellar, and some are horrific. It also depends on your regular carrier. I lived in one place where the carriers varied a lot, from excellent to unacceptable, all from the same post office. And of course, since a package crosses the boundaries of many service areas, a lot can happen between there and here.

USPS, UPS, and Fed-X all do a good job here. Our small town has a really good post office and we are on a main street. That said, I had some bad experiences with USPS and Fed-X when we were in Olympia.

Wasn't all their fault, as our address and mail box were out at the road, but house access was via a 500yd gravel drive shared by 2 other homes. I was at the end after a 90 degree turn down to the lake and the area was heavily wooded. Postal carrier would not leave his truck if my dogs were out, and once delivered a taco'ed wheel complete with a fresh, diagonal, muddy tire track across the package.

Fed-X returned a package undelivered for "no response to signature request" they claimed had been affixed to my front door. On 2nd attempt, I had them hold it at their site and picked it up there. A month later, I noticed their slip stuck low in the corner of a garage window about 60' from our front door! Don

Our USPS delivery guy (mail man) is awesome. We've had delivery people that just drop stuff on our stoop- our guy will open our door and put stuff on the porch, out of the weather and prying eyes. He got transferred to another route- had a "normal" delivery person for a while- and after a year or so he got transferred back to our route.

We've had good delivery people and not so good delivery people- I'm really thankful for the one we have now.

+10 Our current postal carrier is the best ever. Awesome!

I assure you this is not the case. Yes it shows I printed the label but eBay also tracks when it gets into the hands of the carrier as well as when it delivers to you. As a seller I get hit with a late delivery mark against me if i do not get the post office confirmation that they have the package in the allotted time. Too many of those and I will lose my top ratted seller status costing me discounts as well as visibility on eBay. In other words, eBay cares about fast shipping.

I recently placed an order through an Ebay dealer in Grand Rapids Mi.. I am in S. Ontario 240 Miles away. Shipping Label made out Dec. 1st. Usps received the item Dec. 7th. It then went through the Global Shipping Program in Kentucky then to Montreal Customs (where it cleared Customs in 2 Hours) and the pkg. made it to my Door the next Day which was Jan. 8th. Five Weeks to go 240 Miles.
This is not a one Time thing it happens regularly with shipments via USPS. Now I try and keep my ordering to UK or EU. Shipping is faster and they don't use the Money grabbing GSP.

Did the seller list 7 day handling in the listing? That would dive me nuts.

My Stats. Of the 5 late that were USPS fault, they were only off by one day....

Late shipment rate
1.80%
6 of 334 transactions


Tracking uploaded on time and validated
99.12%
113 of 114 transactions

He had listed 3 Days handling. I complained about him "dropping the Ball" and he obliged by giving a partial refund. Does not excuse USPS though.

I bought 4 items on 12/31, one in Texas, one in Tenn., one in Wisconsin, and one in FL. All were listed as being shipped free with "Expedited Shipping". They all shipped out 1/2/18, I had tracking numbers by noon. They all showed they had been picked up by the next morning.
The package from Tenn. got here in three days, the one from TX in four. The package from Wisconsin arrived in 7 days not counting two weekend days. The package from FL, send Priority Mail, arrived on Sat. the 13th. It took 12 days to go 1000 miles from FL to NJ, the package read 'On its way to NJ for nearly the whole time, once it hit the regional P/O, it was here that same day.
I realize we had some snow days but nearly 2 weeks???

I had another box sent USPS from here in NJ, about 80 miles away, it took 7 days. Years ago before all of todays tech, a simple letter to any surrounding state took one maybe two days. Now it takes 5.
I was in south FL a few years ago, I bought several items at a fishing show, not wanting to deal with them at the air port, I mailed them home. I shipped them out on a Thurs. I flew home the following Wed. They arrived four days after I got home. They were sent in a large Flat Rate box.

I also noticed that when we have a substitute mail carrier, I don't get packages, only junk mail. They must leave the big stuff behind and let it wait for the regular guy. I had a package show as being here at the local P/O for that day's delivery, yet it didn't show for 8 more days. I also had packages show as being delivered yet not show up for two or three more days. This worries me more than anything else. If it gets lost after some yo yo scanned it as delivered and it wasn't here, or worse yet, at someone else's house, I have little recourse with PP or eBay.

My guess your problem actually is with the Global Shipping Program, not so much the USPS. 99% of my USPS shipments go smoothly and quickly.

Most of my USPS shipments within the USA are taking three days or less to deliver. All are either first class or priority mail.

All of my shipments show the date when the item has been picked up by the post office. Just printing the label isn't enough. Similar to above, if you want to maintain Top Rated Seller status (and get the discounts), you have one business day to get the item in the carrier's hands. One business day isn't too bad for small stuff, but on complete bikes, its pretty challenging.

Only postal service problems on a package was for a complete bicycle.
The box was way oversized and not declared by sender, he used click and ship.
Got into the system, made my local post office then sat, there was tracking. Eventually I got a slip to pick it up at the office.
I could either refuse it or pay the added $43. to obtain it.
Did not like the ransome aspect, but that was the best course of action at that point.
Seller of course refused to acknowledge issue.

Yes the GSP was a big part of the problem. Now in future purchases I will not deal with anyone that uses it.

"Yes the GSP was a big part of the problem. Now in future purchases I will not deal with anyone that uses it."

How do you know when you are ordering?

PS My package shows to be at the post office in my town now. I wonder if I will see it this week?

It shows in the ad. It lists the sellers shipping cost first then lists the GSP charges below.

UPDATE! DELIVERED! I haven't seen it yet so hopefully it is at MY house and doesn't get taken before I get home tonight. It only took fifteen days to get here.

I have had packages left at the front door, back door, garage service door, against the garage door and inside the garage. Shipping out has been pretty good but not perfect. I've had a couple of package get sent to their lost and damaged package facility. Filled out all the necessary paperwork and never heard back. At some point a seller has to make a decision to refund the buyer.

I shipped out a package on Jan. 5th to Thorne Bay Alaska, 1-3 Day Priority and it has gone through Juneau but still in transit to Thorne Bay

On Jan. 10, I ordered some items online from several sellers, one in NSW Australia, another in Japan, one in Florida, and another in Montana. The package from Australia arrived yesterday, 6 days from down under to NJ, the package from Japan is listed as being in NY, the package from Florida is listed as 'In transit' having last being logged in in Atlanta, I believe its showing it being in VA right now on its way to a 'regional' center.
The package from Montana shows being in transit since the 11th, its tracking hasn't changed a bit.

All packages showed as being shipped by the end of business the next day so they all had basically the same starting time, all were to be shipped 'Expedited Shipping'.

I received another package I bought from a seller in NY last Wed, the tracking still shows only that the package was accepted by the P/O in NY.

There's definitely something up with things coming out of FL, I've had a ton of items take three or four days extra from there. It seems they don't rush Priority packages anymore, 15 years ago when I was doing a lot of ebay selling, I could ship a #4 box to California and it would get there in 2 1/2 to 3 days depending when I got it to my P/O.
Now it takes 5 or more and it don't seem to matter whether its Priority or regular mail anymore.
The price went way up to ship and the service got slower.