Held at post office

[ericsells75]

Is held at post office a sufficient status for delivery attemp against an INR claim?
Item was out for delivery but then changed to held at post office so I’m just wondering if this would hold up against an INR? Or does the tracking have to show delivered?

[t_bjarnason]

Tracking will need to show "delivered" or "picked up" or something similar to that effect showing that the buyer has picked it up and received it. The post office having the package does not constitute delivery. 

I'd start by messaging your buyer and letting them know, this way you'll have a communication trail. 

Either they will pick it up, or file an INR and not pick it up. If they don't pick it up, the item will be returned to you after their pickup window passes, so even if you do get an INR, you will at least get your item back. 

Sometimes people take their sweet time getting to the post office to pick items up as it might not be easily accessible to them. 

[ricarmic]

I believe "refused" is also considered delivered, but I could be wrong.

We also don't know what the buyer may have set up with the post office. I had one go wayyy past delivery date, and past the usual 14 days PO held date, and no responses from the buyer. It turned out he was on a long overseas trip and had already negotiated a deal with his PO to hold all his stuff till he got back.... so all my stress and worrying was for naught.....

Hopefully someone has had an INR for an item showing a held at post office status...so we'll know what might happen!

[pjcdn2005]

Ricarmic is correct.  Held at post office is considered the same as delivered if an INR is filed.  A package is held at the post office the buyer had requested it or if a delivery had been attempted but couldn't be delivered because a signature was needed, address was incomplete etc.

Evidence of successful delivery
We require all of the following to prove a successful on-time delivery:

• Tracking number from an integrated carrier which was uploaded to eBay and shows a shipping scan before the latest estimated delivery date;
• A delivery status of "delivered" or "attempted delivery" (or equivalent in the country to which the item was delivered);
• The date of delivery or attempted delivery;
• The recipient's address, showing at least the city/county or postal code (or international equivalent) that matches the one found on the Order details page; and
• Signature confirmation, on orders with a total cost of $750 or more. Learn more about our signature confirmation requirements.

[reallynicestamps]

And there is this.

UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...
 
This is the part I'm referring to
 
Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item


• Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer
Not covered

• The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup
Not covered

• The buyer provided an invalid or incorrect address at checkout Not covered
•  
•  
•  
• I don't know how to do screenshots.  There is a LOT of information on that page.

[recped]

How long has it been in "held at Post Office" status?

I ask because many times people have posted similar issues and it turns out it's only been a couple of days and/or a couple of days including a long weekend (post from a couple of weeks ago).

Some sellers seem to think that when the Post Office leaves a notice card the very first thing the buyer will do is run down to the Post Office, the truth is for many buyers your package just isn't that important, they have at least two weeks to pick it up so they are in no rush and will leave it for quite some time.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

And there is this.

UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...
 
This is the part I'm referring to
 
Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item


• Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer
Not covered

• The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup
Not covered

• The buyer provided an invalid or incorrect address at checkout Not covered
•  
•  
•  
• I don't know how to do screenshots.  There is a LOT of information on that page.

---

According to the pages related to hold for pick up parcels are supposed to be held for 15 days with CP/USPS. Reminder cards send to consignee vary along with this hold time before items get returned to sender. This is definitely something where mileage and how rules are applied can vary.

I've had packages over the last 15 years where there was 1 attempt and it was returned after less than a week. Buyer happened to go out of town for a family emergency. Had to make arrangements for buyer to repay postage and item to be resent.

Customers pickup purchases at post office | Business | Canada Post (canadapost-postescanada.ca)

What are the Second and Final Notice and Return Dates for Redelivery? (usps.com)

There can also be exceptions/extentions/forwarding due to extreme weather conditions and/or forest fires.

-Lotz

[mr.special-editions]

I'm assuming this is with CP due to it being at a post office. I would follow up with Canada Post. Hop on their website, put in your tracking, open virtual chat (blue chat bubble bottom of screen) Type in Agent then follow the instructions. You will be connected with a rep. Tell them you are concerned about the delivery status and ask them to open a ticket. Tell them it's a business sale and that you need to know where your item is and if it has been delivered or not.

Any tracking with CP that does not go to delivered, follow up on it only takes a few minutes. They use GPS scans that are accurate within 3-5 feet. If they failed to properly capture the delivery scan, they will let you know. They cannot alter the tracking in anyway such as forcing it to show delivered, I've had similar situations where the tracking shows something like yours, CP couldn't locate the parcel therefore issued a cheque for insurance without me even asking.

I had a recent experience where the tracking was so bizarre, when my customer picked up the parcel it said it was successfully returned to me. I will make a post about this when I have more time because I was able to get Canada Post to send me an official letter explaining the tracking, their mistake and confirming my customer got the item.

[recped]

Calling CP about a package that is showing "hold for Pickup" is a waste of time. It's either because a notice has been left and they are waiting for the recipient to pick it up (or return if they never do) or the recipient has a Hold Mail order in place because they are away. Hold Mail orders cost money but they can be extended for as long as you want if you keep paying the weekly fee.

All CP would tell you is that it's on hold. We can't assume this is with CP because the same services are available from USPS to any one in the US. In either case the package is not lost, the delivery status is known and there will be no GPS location for delivery because it hasn't happened yet.

[mr.special-editions]

Held at post office doesn't always mean the item is still there. CP reps via virtual chat generally create a ticket or escalate the issue. Calling about this in my experience would likely not get you anywhere.

If a tracking does not show delivered for any reason, I take 3 minutes of my time and address the issue. I prefer to stay ahead of a possible issue and it has worked very well for me.

If you call CP it's not always a waste of time, depending on your issue and how you conduct yourself, you can get through to a supervisor. They will listen to your issue or concern and possibly allow you to negotiate a resolution with them. For example, I did this during the last postal strike the CP supervisor granted me 'courtesy' reimbursements, I received shipping refunds for multiple buyers that had to wait extended periods of time. This is one of the reasons I use CP.

[avidhiker-33]

Echo @t_bjarnason's suggestion to message the buyer if you have not already done so.  Also worthwhile to sign up for CP alerts on tracked packages imo.

Earlier this year I used registered mail for a higher $$ blu-ray sold to a buyer whose apartment was above a small strip mall. 

When I received a 'Final Notice' alert from CP I messaged the buyer, providing the tracking #, pick-up location, and the RPO's operating hours.  Apparently the buyer hadn't received the original p/u notice, and used the info in my message to pick-up the package later that day.

[mr.special-editions]

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@avidhiker-33 wrote:

Echo @t_bjarnason's suggestion to message the buyer if you have not already done so.  Also worthwhile to sign up for CP alerts on tracked packages imo.

Earlier this year I used registered mail for a higher $$ blu-ray sold to a buyer whose apartment was above a small strip mall. 

When I received a 'Final Notice' alert from CP I messaged the buyer, providing the tracking #, pick-up location, and the RPO's operating hours.  Apparently the buyer hadn't received the original p/u notice, and used the info in my message to pick-up the package later that day.

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I agree, excellent points.  Sign yourself up for delivery updates.  Message the buyer if you notice they haven't picked up their item.  In your case it helped the buyer which they would appreciate and also would protect you if the buyer failed to pick it up.

However 'Held at Post Office' is not the same as 'item available for pick up'

[dinomitesales]

It would be nice if OP responded to this thread; was this item being delivered within Canada and the tracking updates are from Canada Post? I don't think I've ever seen tracking details go straight from "Out for Delivery" to "Held at Post Office". Actually, I don't think I've ever seen "Held at Post Office" ever - it would say something like "Item Available for Pick-up".

Mail can  be held with a "Hold Mail" service, but it wouldn't be held at a post office, it would be held at the local sortation depot, so that doesn't make sense either. 

@ericsells75 feel free to PM me the tracking number and I can take a look at it, if this particular transaction is still an issue for you (I work at a Canada Post retail outlet and a good chunk of my time is spent deciphering tracking details).

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@dinomitesales wrote:

It would be nice if OP responded to this thread; was this item being delivered within Canada and the tracking updates are from Canada Post? I don't think I've ever seen tracking details go straight from "Out for Delivery" to "Held at Post Office". Actually, I don't think I've ever seen "Held at Post Office" ever - it would say something like "Item Available for Pick-up".

Mail can  be held with a "Hold Mail" service, but it wouldn't be held at a post office, it would be held at the local sortation depot, so that doesn't make sense either. 

@ericsells75 feel free to PM me the tracking number and I can take a look at it, if this particular transaction is still an issue for you (I work at a Canada Post retail outlet and a good chunk of my time is spent deciphering tracking details).

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From my past experiences with personal mail carded for pick up the usual pattern is for the card to arrive in the morning and the package to arrive at one of 2 local pick up points later that afternoon. Even a couple of times the next day. Once it does arrive at those depots it will show in the system that it is at the depot ready for pick up. Much depends on how efficient the depot is at scanning those packages as they arrive. I've witnessed on many occasions customers arriving with cards but the clerk unable to find the package and them being told to check back the next day.

Usually with hold for pick up items are picked up within a day or 2. During the peek of Covid I had a package go to the US. Based on the address customer was in a Seniors Home. In USPS's system it showed package attempted delivery followed by carded for pick up with pick up location. Approximately a week later the package was still showing ready for pick up. I messaged the customer the let them know it was being held for pick up. Package was eventually picked up about a week later.  With valid email addresses/phone numbers on packages it is much easier for a depot to get a hold of the receiver. Many depots are short on a room and can be quick to do the return to sender even if the 15 days is not up. If/when customers do not check tracing and automatically file an INR it can leave sellers quick to be on the hook for funds on hold. 

-Lotz

PS. In the past when most customers left feedback it was good way of confirming all was good.

[ericsells75]

@dino there isn’t much to respond, I thought it was actually a pretty simple question and it seems to have gotten out of hand. All I wanted to know is what status covers a ‘delivered’ in eBays view. I appreciate the responses but I was treating this a s a yes no question

[mr.special-editions]

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@ericsells75 wrote:
@dino there isn’t much to respond, I thought it was actually a pretty simple question and it seems to have gotten out of hand. All I wanted to know is what status covers a ‘delivered’ in eBays view. I appreciate the responses but I was treating this a s a yes no question

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If you want a yes or no answer you need to contact CP.  They need to tell you if they have delivery confirmation or not.  If they have delivery confirmation then yes you are covered and I would request that they send you that information.  If they do not have delivery confirmation you will not be covered by eBay.

[ericsells75]

Hi @mr,
I mean this without offencebut you missed the point of the original post and my follow up. This thread got spun way off track and should just die off

[reallynicestamps]

Not really.

Although you asked the question and got 16 responses, some 288 other members have looked at the discussion.

It is quite possible that some of those silent readers found information in the "off track" posts that was applicable to their situation, if not to yours.

[mr.special-editions]

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@ericsells75 wrote:

Hi @mr,
I mean this without offencebut you missed the point of the original post and my follow up. This thread got spun way off track and should just die off

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My friend no offence taken.  This is a forum.  I have answered your question in almost everyway possible and provided clear instructions if you want to protect yourself from an INR case.  Happy to do so.

As a reminder 'Held at Post Office' will not protect you in an INR case.  If you want protection, follow my instructions above.

Good luck, hope it works out for you

[pjcdn2005]

As a reminder 'Held at Post Office' will not protect you in an INR case.  If you want protection, follow my instructions above.

@mr.special-editions 

Why are you so certain of that? If the post office is unable to deliver a package because a signature is needed and the item goes back to the post office/outlet, tracking will show  'waiting for pickup'  ebay does consider that as delivered. It is the responsibility of the buyer to pick up the item at the post office.  If the 'held at post office' means something similar, I suspect that is being held on request of the buyer and the seller has fulfilled their duties as far as delivery goes.  I'm not familiar with the term hold at post office so it

could mean other things but there is a very good possibility that ebay would handle it exactly the same as a waiting for pickup scenario.

 A delivery scan is not needed 100% of the time in order for a seller to win an inr.  For example if there is an attempted delivery scan and the buyer files an inr claim, the seller would win.   If the address is incorrect and the item is undeliverable, the seller would win an inr claim.