Some of my long time (20 plus years) eBay seller friends have recently stopped shipping items outside the U.S. What has happened to them is that due to Covid problems (mainly staffing of foreign post offices) packages they sent can take a month or more to get to European locations. The sellers communicate with bidders explaining that they can track that the package made it to Europe but that it appears to be stuck at a post office. Some bidders were OK with waiting while some filed with eBay for a refund. The way eBay rules are now set up, the sellers pretty much has to OK the refund. So, the seller eventually sees that the package has been delivered and contacts eBay about getting a refund or getting the item back. eBay tells the seller he will have work with bidder to get the item returned, and that they would not help. In a few occasions the bidder would not cooperate and the sellers lost a few hundred dollars. So my seller friends stopped shipping outside the U.S. until things are back to normal.
It's just as bad for domestic shipping. I have 2 items I bought, and one item I sold, all with tracking #s that have disappeared into limbo for over 3 weeks now. One other item I sold took 5 weeks to get delivered...and it was only 250 miles away. Sadly, after 20+ years of dealing antique toys on Ebay, I'm forced to stop because I can't trust the USPS...they're just too fucked up
I think all the carriers are under pressure. I have had no issues with USPS shipping to Canada and they are my go to. It might take a couple days longer because I select a less costlier option. I just received an order from C&G Ford parts & it took 10 days. I order parts from Drake & it took about the same. If you look at how companies ship. They fill out the USPS or Fedex on line that shows that it is shipped but if one actually looks at the tracking it may be a day or two before the vendor actually puts it in the hands of the carrier as that is the day that it shows where the parcel actually arrived at the carrier location. The C&G Ford parts cost $4 more to ship USPS vs Fedex. Fedex bends Canadians over with customs brokerage fees where as it is very low through the post offices being the lower final cost. So give it a day or 2 to be picked up, a day or 2 in customs then the actual travel time is okay. Europe & offshore locations is a different scenario. The pain is the numbers shopping with their mouse instead of their feet.
I just got a package from Kanuckia land with no problems here... Mind you it was several days in customs.
Haven't had any problems getting things shipped to Canada but I just ordered this nifty center finder for round stock for my drill press and will see how that goes.
I'd say that generally the problem is world wide. it doesn't matter where you are or how you ship it is usually taking longer. The big problem shipping packages by USPS and not sending them by priority mail is that they end up getting hauled across the country by contract shippers who seem to wait until they have a full trailer load before the trailer leaves the loading dock. Package gets handed over to a shipping partner and then goes off the radar for a good number of days before showing up at a regional post office again.
I was going to ship a '32 Chrysler radiator cap to Argentina and the U.S.P.S. clerk at the window told me it would be 6 to 8 weeks, IF ,it ever gets to the address on the package.
Thanks for the heads up as I have a potential client in England/ Even though he says no hurry, why chance it?. Recently, I shipped a package to Canada via UPS with no problem, it even arrived a day early. Another item sat in the Post Office close to the final destination for 5 days, so it seems that shipping is sporadic at best.
The way Ebay is set up, the seller does not have to OK the refund. Ebay just go ahead and do it, regardless of the circumstances. The seller could be 150% in the right, but Ebay have their "The seller is ALWAYS wrong" rule, and they stick to it.
nothing is coming out of some countries at all (parcel wise) FedEx is working as well as ever from USA to Australia.
I recently shipped a package to Luxembourg by USPS PriorityMail. Tracking went well until package arrived at Luxembourg Customs. Never got confirmation of delivery. Things I sell on eBay I now send UPS or FedEx so I get proper tracking and delivery confirmation of delivery. UPS and FedEx are usually more expensive but at least most times it is on time. I had things shipped in early December that didn’t get delivered until three to four weeks later using USPS. I shipped one package USPS and when I asked postal worker when it would arrive was told “I have no idea”
It’s frustrating for those of us outside the US, I have ordered a few thing and had zero problems or delays with them arriving up here. I totally understand the hassle of shipping stuff across the border, I find stuff down there and would buy it but people don’t want to get involved. Like I said I totally understand, there’s just way more stuff for sale there for sale. All the cool stuff is a long ways away. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I recently shipped a large package (13 lbs.) to Scotland & gave the buyer the choice of USPS, UPS & Fed Ex. I got estimates from all three shippers. USPS was about a third of the cost of the other two, but because of the recent irregularities with USPS, the buyer opted for Fed Ex. The package did get there quite fast (on time) & we were able to properly track & insure it.
I recently bought a cast iron dual quad intake for a big block dodge off eBay and it got to me in Northern Alberta Canada from Illinois in a couple of weeks, no complaints there Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I sent a package USPS priority mail to England in June 2020, it was finally returned to me in December 2020 with a note that stated no one had came to the post office to pick up the package.
I'm in Australia & I have had no real dramas. I have had items sent USPS they have been delayed but they show up. Most of my items these days are sent via ebay's Global Shipping Program. My only problem was a seller sent me mirrors instead of tail lights, we're in the middle of sorting it out now.
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