Royal Mail keep losing my packages, am I just unlucky?

emerald_starcat

I sold 10 items before Christmas and 1 of them never got to the buyer.

Then last week I sold 4 items and 1 of them hasn't got to the buyer.

Am I just really unlucky or does anyone else's items get 'lost'?

I am not sure where they all go, they must go somewhere, they can't just disappear?

soolin

emerald_starcat wrote: »

I sold 10 items before Christmas and 1 of them never got to the buyer.

Then last week I sold 4 items and 1 of them hasn't got to the buyer.

Am I just really unlucky or does anyone else's items get 'lost'?

I am not sure where they all go, they must go somewhere, they can't just disappear?

Your loss rate is suspiciously high, I would think I am currently at about 1 loss in 600, possibly more.

I would be looking at what is different with your packages, things like good clear addresses, not using brown paper to wrap items, correct postage paid etc.

Mrs.W_2

As someone who can say whatever she likes about her postman - it's not as if he knows where I live - there are certain areas where a great number of similarly named addresses can cause untold problems.

My neighbours and I spend the early evenings swapping post before dinner time. If anything, our postman is some way responsible for the close community in our village.

Rhymsta

All of my 'lost' parcels, except one, have ended up at the buyers local sorting office. They were out and were lost a card which they either didn't see or ignored.

Definitely worth a phone call to the sorting office.

emerald_starcat

soolin wrote: »

Your loss rate is suspiciously high, I would think I am currently at about 1 loss in 600, possibly more.

I would be looking at what is different with your packages, things like good clear addresses, not using brown paper to wrap items, correct postage paid etc.

The item before Christmas was a craft item in a small padded envelope, I also sold 4 simliar items and they were received ok.

Item last week was a babies grobag new in packet which was packaged in a brand new padded envelope.

Both packages had clear addresses written on them with permanant marker. Postage was correct as went to the post office to get them weighed.

It has really put me off ebay. I used to sell a lot a few years ago and have only just started selling again to declutter a bit but it seems like more trouble than it's worth.

emerald_starcat

Rhymsta wrote: »

All of my 'lost' parcels, except one, have ended up at the buyers local sorting office. They were out and were lost a card which they either didn't see or ignored.

Definitely worth a phone call to the sorting office.

How do I find out which one is their local sorting office?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

emerald_starcat wrote: »

Then last week I sold 4 items and 1 of them hasn't got to the buyer.

Snow? Post sent out on the 17th has been reported as problematic by a few sellers.

soolin wrote: »

Your loss rate is suspiciously high, I would think I am currently at about 1 loss in 600, possibly more.

1 in 600 sounds suspiciously high, oh wait you meant sent to eBayers...

soolin

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head wrote: »

Snow? Post sent out on the 17th has been reported as problematic by a few sellers.




1 in 600 sounds suspiciously high, oh wait you meant sent to eBayers...

Yes, as OP was talking about outward losses I thought I would quote my own ball park figures. I think my incoming rate is higher, but then i buy quite a bit from China and the far east and some of that never materialises.

Rhymsta

emerald_starcat wrote: »

How do I find out which one is their local sorting office?

I found them by typing the name of the place followed by sorting office into google. Of course of it's a really tiny place you might need to look at a map to see the nearest decent sized place.

paulofessex

OP were the items all sent from the same Post Office? Just a thought, may be worth trying another PO. Hate to suggest it but are all the packages actually leaving the PO.

Alas there are dodgy people in all walks of life. I recall years ago how a PO counter worker was done for fraud when searching her home they found multiple Child Benefit Books under the carpet on each tread/step of the stairs, she was cashing them each week.....ok not the same as packages going missing but just shows how dodgy people can be anywhere

Gary123456790

I send a lot of small items and usually put stamps on so often put mine in a postbox. Using a certain postbox more often than not results in damaged or lost parcels so I dont use that one anymore.

I could never be certain if it is just unlucky but i used it occasionally and it only ever resulted in problems.

One comment is, I used to write the addresses in big marker but actually this came out far harder to read than just using a biro. It also makes it a lot larger and so and folding of the corners of the parcel will mean it has to be flattened out to read.

Do you put return addresses on? Last week I had one with half the address ripped off (address was printed then sellotaped on) returned to me.

Gary.