Postage due packages (USPS).

[mrsilv04]

Today was yet another in a long list of "Postage Due" packages, that have been sent to me via USPS from eBay sellers, or from RockAuto. Either people are guessing at postage, or they're doing this intentionally.

The Post Office has always delivered these packages in the past, and have left a little envelope labelled with the amount due to pay in, which I have always done. Then, I have to spend the time and effort to collect from the sender. Not quite fair to me, but I've done it several times.

However... today, I received a notice in my mailbox, that I have something with postage due.... but now I have to go pick it up at the Post Office, and pay for the postage due there.

Does anyone know, is this a new 2016 policy change with the USPS?

The problem is, I have a job... but the Post Office doesn't have hours that are especially convenient for people who actually work from 8 to 5.

Can I refuse the package in writing, and tell them to return it to the sender.... or just do nothing and let it sit there until they get tired of looking at it, and let them send it back on their own?

I'm getting tired of dealing with a problem that the USPS refuses to recognize, where they willingly allow these packages which do NOT have enough postage, to enter their system.

As far as the eBay issue, I am going to start including in the special instructions box (or whatever it is called), on the PayPal checkout page:

"Any shipment which arrives with insufficient postage will be refused. In addition, negative feedback will be left. Calculating the proper weight and postage is YOUR responsibility as a seller.
If you do not agree, please cancel this transaction, and promptly issue a full refund".

 

[dishdude]

I've only had this happen once, I had moved and something that was out of stock at Amazon (an Echo) took months to ship. Anyways, since I had moved and forwarded my mail, I got a little slip in my mailbox that postage was due. I just called Amazon and they shipped me another.

It is the sellers responsibility to get the package to you. If the tracking shows it wasn't delivered, you'll easily win any chargeback or dispute you file.

 

[Rand]

that is weird I have never gotten anything with postage due.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Rand
that is weird I have never gotten anything with postage due.


Maybe it is just my Post Office, and they are literally taking the time to weigh and check every package that goes through there, I don't know.

You know, things are always worse when you live in this God-forsaken excuse for a state.

 

[BigD1]

Are these packages from high volume sellers?

I buy more from Ebay than any where else, and I have not had this to happen yet.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Originally Posted By: Rand
that is weird I have never gotten anything with postage due.


Maybe it is just my Post Office, and they are literally taking the time to weigh and check every package that goes through there, I don't know.

You know, things are always worse when you live in this God-forsaken excuse for a state.


I have had plenty of ebay and other packages too..

Maybe its one of those things they do when they are angry at work.(Postal employees)

 

[cptbarkey]

over 900 transactions on ebay and i've never had this happen as a buyer or seller.

 

[Eddie]

I don't want my postman to go through the extra work because some person/store goofed on the weight/price to send a package. Call the sender and tell them to send another whatever with the correct postage. They can then deal with the post office. If senders get in the habit of sending stuff under portaged, maybe they expect only 10% of those receiving packages will go to the trouble of requesting their money back.

 

[totegoat]

I rarely buy anything that doesn't ship for free. Thankfully I haven't had to pay ransom for any packages. Good luck.

 

[The_Jeff]

I had this problem as a seller.

My corner post office, a legit USPS operation with sign etc didn't have any fancy computer, and the little old lady weighed my box on a scale and stuck a bunch of stamps on and hand cancelled them.

I figure the load of stamp paper put it over the edge into the next ounce and it got bounced, further down the line.

Hilarity ensued. I of course got most of the blame, even though I handed it off to a supposed good PO like any other.

 

[EdwardC]

Interesting, I've never had that issue with anything I've purchased online/eBay and shipped to Chicago. I probably just jinxed it for myself!

 

[Ethan1]

Originally Posted By: Rand
that is weird I have never gotten anything with postage due.


+1

 

[dparm]

File a complaint with eBay immediately. If it is a mistake, it will come out in the investigation. If they are doing it to try and collect more of the sale (shipping fees are not included in eBay/PayPal fees), they'll get caught red-handed.

eBay customer for 15+ years and I have never had this happen to me. Ever.

 

[mrsilv04]

OK... I'm starting to get a creepy feeling that this *IS* something that is happening, only with the mental midgets at my local Post Office.

They even pimped one of my RockAuto packages, for postage due.

 

[Rand]

maybe their equipment is faulty?

Something more sinister?

its actually short on postage?

who knows.

 

[Abakev]

Those packages that were delivered with an envelope were probably paid for by your mail carrier and they were doing you a favor. You may have had a different carrier on the day you just got the pick up notice.

 

[AKhan87]

Originally Posted By: Rand
that is weird I have never gotten anything with postage due.
+100 what the h?

 

[RedOakRanch]

My wife has a friend who works at a post office and it is a real thing, it happened to me about a year ago. Apparently the glitch is that there are old and new sorting machines and the old ones were loose, in terms of weight, so the packages would start shipping but then be flagged at the next sorting location. I had my 7 cents paid for by the lady behind me who didn't want me to go back to my truck to dig for change!

 

[crazyoildude]

my post office is pretty bad but that has never happened to me... My regular mail carrier retired two years ago and now we have all part timers and some actually look like they never went to school... I get mail from all my neighbors and they get mine ..its really bad! Complaining does nothing, this is why the U.S.P.S. is in such bad shape.. I try my best not to use them at all but sometimes it just cant be helped. If you look at some of the people that work there these days you will understand. Some barely speak English. Some drive their personal cars its just nuts. The old timers were great but they too were fed up with all the B.S. and really did not care but at least got it right.

 

[stephen9666]

I've also never received a package postage due. And I order lots of stuff online.