USPS tracking issue and packages not delivered
I have been receiving an influx of customers reaching out stating they have not received packages way more than usual. All of them have just stopped in transit around the first of March and these orders are all around the time of the USPS tracking issue 2 weeks ago.
Has anyone else noticed this? I wonder if the tracking issue has something to do with the packages not arriving to their destinations or if it's just a coincidence.
USPS tracking issue and packages not delivered
I have been receiving an influx of customers reaching out stating they have not received packages way more than usual. All of them have just stopped in transit around the first of March and these orders are all around the time of the USPS tracking issue 2 weeks ago.
Has anyone else noticed this? I wonder if the tracking issue has something to do with the packages not arriving to their destinations or if it's just a coincidence.
0 replies
Seller_hYs285lRCwgRv
I am FBM and haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. What tracking issue are you referring to? With AMz buy shipping? I am out of the loop.
KJ_Amazon
Hello @Seller_t19l0Aon4AGm5 Thanks for checking in about recent issues with USPS tracking.
News & Announcement: USPS issue with invalid or used shipping labels
Please refer to the above link for details about how some USPS labels were incorrectly marked as used or displayed invalid tracking information.
On February 27, 2025, we implemented a fix for this issue. USPS has informed us that they’ll still deliver any package that was accepted with duplicate tracking information.
We recommend informing the buyer that they can track the order within the Amazon app instead of on the USPS website. The Amazon app will contain tracking scans as this package progresses through USPS’s network until it is delivered to them.
You can also reassure buyers that if the package doesn’t arrive, they can submit an A-to-z claim to be refunded. If a customer submits an A-to-z claim, we’ll automatically fund the buyer reimbursement and the customer-reported claim will not be counted against your order defect rate as long as you shipped on time using a ship method marked as “Claims protected” on Amazon Buy Shipping.
Seller_CYgVk598XM1p3
Yes! We've been selling on Amazon for 14 years and have never seen anything like it. I spend a good portion of my day now responding to these messages from customers who are blaming us for their shipments being lost in transit by USPS.
Another thing we've noticed in the past week or two, are numerous packages that were shipped to the customers address of record and the tracking ultimately shows as being delivered to a totally different state and city. It's really hard to explain that we're not incompetent after stuff like that.
All orders are shipped out on time with OTDR and Claims protection but it's very disheartening to see so many people not receiving their packages. What in the world is going on with USPS?
We would typically see a drop in our metrics right after the holidays and it would normally bounce right back after the first of the year, but not this year. Something has to get fixed.
Seller_7H4ZGDmVUsSXp
Yes, same here. Buyer wanting refund and sent message, but then never replied to our responses. Something seems not right.
Seller_bLpzUne3tRjkG
I have. I received an order back with the postage removed last week, the first that has happened. And now the USPS tracking updates page no longer seems to allow email updates requests. This reminds me of how it was during the summer of 2020.
Seller_JwUhses8WIuuj
same here, When I check the tracking numbers of complaining customers, it says "arriving late" and there has been no movement for a long time.
Seller_cHU6XL6jaQChu
Specifically since that tracking debacle, I have been having a spike in issues. Packages getting stuck or generally slower than usual and untracked flats not being delivered. All occurring much more than normal.
This is the will of the people.... -_-
Seller_6i0xhF3Ut9rKe
I've noticed this specifically with usps packages being marked delivered but customers claiming they didn't receive. I've pivoted to UPS because they also use a photo confirmation and it's not much more expensive. (ex a package that's $5.50 to ship with usps, it'll be $6.5$-7 with UPS). Had a handful of problems with UPS recently now, but not nearly as many with USPS. For the option I've been using with UPS, i don't recall the exact name but ground advantage basically, UPS accepts the package and then USPS delivers it. If it's close enough, it'll stay within UPS's delivery supply chain for final delivery. Either way, that delivery photo has helped my customers locate their package or confirm that it's not the address, since package theft is rampant around the USA. This has been a massive benefit to myself and customers. Now what Im doing is primarily leaning on UPS but also Fedex as they have a similar deal where they accept then USPS delivers but has a photo confirmation yet is still competitive.
I plan to lean on this through the holiday seasons in 2025 because USPS was so backed up when I would go to drop off bulk amounts at the loading docks, it would sit for several days before going/getting scanned in. Leaving me vulnerable to A-Z claims. With UPS/FEDEX i don't have to wait in line and they're scanning it in immediately.
SOP for any package marked delivered by carrier is to tell the customer to file and A-Z claim. As long as you have an acceptance scan on the package by the due date and purchase it through amazon then they won't pull the funds from you to pay out the customer in addition to it not impacting your defect score. I keep a saved template for this since its probably 95% of messages I receive fro customers. Only issue with this is sometimes you get non responsive customers or hyper demanding ones who wont fill out the claim, but they'll keep calling customer support. It seems customer support either doesn't know about FBM A-Z claim filings and will just relay the message from the customer to the seller in a form that sounds demanding that you refund them. Stand your ground and keep telling them to file A-Z claims imo.
I know a lot of sellers complain about amazon's refund policy but at least this platform has the A-Z claim set up that majority of the time supports the sellers when a package is lost/unable to be located by the customers at time of delivery. Pretty much all other platforms force the seller to refund out of their own pocket and pursue compensation from the carriers, which is extremely difficult and time consuming.
