rogruth wrote:Since I don't/haven't used e-bay for anything and don't knowingly order anything from the UK or elsewhere, to what do you attribute the problems?
No idea, specifically, but as Chuck said, I suspect it's Covid-related (or that's the excuse shippers are using). As far as USPS goes, the guys I know that work for the Post Office tell me that their daily out-sick employee numbers are about 10%, while a year ago it was just 3-4%. The problem is compounded by the reduction in the number of substitutes each office employs (folks that step in to cover routes or office sorting) and the slashing of approved overtime. Locally that has meant that occasionally entire routes go undelivered for 1-2 days.
Overseas, I've no understanding for what's going on. A mate of mine in Japan used to send me large boxes of kits with the shipping cost around $8-$10. A month ago he offered to send me another load, but warned that the shipping cost would be around $38. These are rates originating from the Japanese post office. In another instance, I ordered a few Dinky Toy reproductions from an outfit in France. The shipping cost was reasonable, but it took ten weeks to get to my door.
Another problem is folks don't seem to feel obligated to ship stuff pronto. I've had stuff ordered from domestic vendors that go 5-6 days before they seem able to get to the post office. I find this irritating. I sell books on Amazon, and when I get an order, it goes out the same day or the next at the latest (unless the order comes in on Saturday or Sunday, then it goes out Monday AM). Then, I am amazed by how things move through USPS. If tracking is reliable, and that's a big if, following your package can be entertaining. It seems that Chicago is where stuff goes to die. I've had shipments I made reach Chicago in 2-3 days, then sit there for a week to ten days with no movement.
So, I've no idea what's really going on. I can't control it, so I've learned to accept it.
