Train99 Forum
Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: pjdog350 on December 08, 2020, 04:56:55 AM
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Has anyone else had the mail (USPS) lose there stuff. I'm still waiting on a Lionel 1901 to 1942 Greenburg book. My friend in New York mailed allot of parts for my 5 Lionel 1700E restore projects. One of those items lost is a 1700 Motor. I've had 3 EBay purchases never show up. One guy on EBay said that was my problem and refused to refund the money? EBay showed him the error in his ways! I didn't know you could type those kind of words on the feedback. He was real upset over 15.99?
Anyway I hope you are all doing better than me. I forgot - thinking of getting a Lionel 259E. Saw one on another forum that someone (A Women I Think) had gotten at a thrift store for $30.00 and put $ 25.00 in it. So for $ 55.00 they had a super nice looking and good running prewar train for the Christmas tree this year.
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Lost shipments are rare. I've only lost one box sent to US address in 22 years. That was a box sent to the wrong zip code that ended up in a different post office and the box holder kept it.
Anything sent by Priority mail has $50 or 100 of insurance on it. I don't know how they judge the claims, but the few I've had were paid without any contact after I filled out the online form.
The post office can be a mess.
I don't do parcel post anymore because I've had the boxes get buried and then the buyers complain daily that the tracking shows in transit. In one case, a woman in Texas had ebay get her money back from me and then got the Tonka truck a week later. She mailed me a check and was apologetic.
Don't be abusive to the sellers because the PO is screwed up.
I mailed LGB trains to the Jersey shore and they got to the regional sorting center in Philly, and then went to Puerto Rico. The first time this happened, it was funny. The trains were going on vacation. The second time it was a hassle, and the third time was the last time I was willing to deal with the buyer's complaints.
Now is the Christmas rush and the post office has surly temp workers. Give everything a chance to clear out. You have 30 days from the date of expected delivery to
The 259E is a great loco. Do NOT buy one with bad wheels. They are all 2-4-2 locos so if they don't have a trailing truck, it's been removed. The late body 258 is the same body with an 027 motor. Either in black is cheap. Really clean gray is a bit more, but still a bargain.
At some point you'll be after 1689 and 289 locos for your 1703 stream-liners. You should start looking for the 289E locos now. That's one of the most difficult locos to find.
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We're way backed up here in the Detroit area. The News showed a line of about 30 semi's waiting to pick up mail. I guess that's to be expected with all that is going on. I've got about a dozen packages in limbo right now dating back 3 weeks. Hopefully eBay and the recipients will understand the crunch. Don't need adverse feedback or penalties because of the delay.
https://www.clickondetroit.com/consumer/help-me-hank/2020/12/07/trucks-lined-up-outside-us-postal-service-mail-distribution-center-in-allen-park/
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The 1700E package showed up today. I was really surprised because I was sure that one was a goner. Problem is the 1700 motor was not in the package. Called my friend (Bill) and informed him the PO delivered the parts. Then asked what happened to the motor. They are really getting hard to find. I heard some lip boggie but I think he said he could not find it in a timely fashion. He does have lots of stuff. He is very busy filling orders. His inventory on the computer said he has one but? So I'm on the hunt for a motor again. May even settle for a Marx if I knew what Marx motor to get? I know nothing about Marx.
When I was a kid in Indianapolis I remember going up tp the 5&10 store. Danners I think. They had glass bins full of Marx trains. The where all in different piles. Engines here, boxcars there, cabooses over here.
Book is still MIA.
Later - Be safe everyone.
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I just had a second transformer destroyed in the mail. I'll get the price of the unit from the post office, but not the shipping.
I'm done. I'll sell little cheap crap though the end of the year.
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USPS came through today and delivered the Greenburg 1901 t0 1942 Lionel trains. I guess my lack of a college education is showing here as I'm now more confused than I was without the book.
I'll study it for a while. Looks like I have the wrong cars as the book says the colors where on the smooth sided cars. Just like Terry said.
Glad the book showed up. Tracking says the book is in Jacksonville Florida? So much for USPS tracking. I will say we have a very good mailman!!
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Ebay buyers are getting antsy. Had one file a "pending claim" today. USPS has had the item in NC since Nov 29. Just not delivered
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I've got the same thing with a box that has been sitting at the PHX sort facility since the 3rd. Hopefully it will start moving before eBay gives the buyer his money.
Also, I've been waiting for a box of handles for transformers for 8 days now. Maybe today.
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I've got items I've shipped before Christmas that have gone nowhere.
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I’ve been waiting for weeks. On a 1700 Parts package I ordered from a good friend in NY. I’ve had several packages from him arrive very late shipped USPS. So I stayed quite. Finally yesterday I thought I’d call Bill and ask him to check the tracking as I’m waiting to assemble a Chrome & red 1700. The one for the 229E motor?
When I asked him to look he got real quite??? Then apologize because he could not find the order? Well I’m real close to 80 years old and I’m having allot of trouble with short term memory. So I said I understand. Not a problem! Just make up my order and drive them down here? He laughed. Said he be here today!
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All my stuff showed up. The box of handles showed up on the 21st with a sticker from the post office saying delivery by December 7.
Oddly in past years, the PO paid insurance claims without question. I never had a claim over $40 and this year I had two in the mid $30 ranges. Both of the claims this year resulted in the post office sending me letters telling me to take the broken transformer and the original packaging to a local post office.
I already refunded the buyers' money and told them to throw out the transformers.
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They never lost a shipment for my orders. Anyone.....knock on wood.
Ordered paint brushes from Amazon and got an empty bag !
Like the driver didn't notice it was an empty bag? ! I noticed as soon as I looked at it sitting on the porch.
They sent another right away.
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We sell and ship a lot of trains, all by USPS. We had many packages get "stuck" from late November into early December. Tracking just stopped, as they were nowhere. We had to issue many refunds to buyers, and made claims to the PO, which they paid. However, most packages have finally moved, most have finally been delivered. Understanding buyers have re-paid invoices and we have returned many checks to our Postmaster. Due to Covid, understaffing, increased internet buying, political disruptions etc, the Post Office redirected huge amounts of packages to different destinations, warehouses and some just sat in semis. There was no tracking on these items for as long as a month, until they were dug-out and finally sent on their way.
Hopefully the PO will be able to anticipate holiday increases in 2021 and we will not have this problem again. As most of the issues were resolved, the main loss is in wasted time, and expense to the PO of processing refunds. We will never know how much business that we lost, because of buyer's fear of not getting their items.
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My USPS mail deliverers are pretty good, when I get a package they will ring my bell.
I also track and as soon as they deliver I get e mail notification.
Back in that time period was when the mail in ballots was going on?
During that time I got one delivery but the tracking didn't work at all, plus they didn't do the email notification.
It was just a toss and run, I think they were so busy with Christmas coming up and the mail in ballots and this damn virus with everyone buying on line that the USPS just told them to forget all that and just hurry.
Back to normal now. :) At least for me.
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I read Jim's message and like the part about his buyers paying him after he refunded them because the boxes were lost.
I had a buyer pay me for a Tonka that got stuck in the mail a few years ago. She got the money back because if I didn't refund, eBay would have given it to her, and I would have been out the eBay fees too. She sent me a check when the truck showed up.
I think that overall the people we deal with just want nice toys to play with.
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I have been proactive of notifying my buyers after waiting 2 weeks for delivery that they will no doubt have an extended period of waiting for packages to arrive due to the current conditions. They have all been receptive and understanding and also thank me for letting them know. I have only had one request for a refund which I gave as it appears his package is surely lost.
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I bought some Train stuff the other day and USPS said they would be here on the 11TH (today). Two of the items showed up today. Two other items where to be here tomorrow but it also showed up today. It looks like things in the world of shipping are getting better.
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Train collectors are lucky in that we deal with a segment of the population who are basically honest and hold the same values as we do. This past holiday was an extreme condition that caused many situations that presented opportunities to defraud sellers, the PO and the "system". Our customers were mostly understanding and patient, and all eventually got their items. We had only one customer who left us a neutral, because "it took a month to get his item and he paid for 3 day express mail". The seller's fault, of course not, but he just needed someone to complain to. Ebay automated system said this feedback did not qualify for removal, however follow-up with the Ebay for business group got a favorable decision and the neutral feedback was removed.
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That's great that EBay supported you! I also agree with your statement that train collectors are good honest people. I've only had one problem in over 30 years.
These are my new items that came yesterday. Just two of them. The motor I got is in the parts box waiting for a place to work?
I thought I bought a 258e but a 259E arrived. Probably my mistake.
It was may mistake. The auction clearly said 259E. It does not run. It’s really a mess but looks real good. I don’t think I’ll restore it!
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I’m having nothing but trouble with the 259E pictured above.
The 1700 streamline pictured above is another matter. The motor runs great. E-unit a little sticky at first but after a few cycles it’s performing very well. I almost hate to give it a bath but that’s what I always do when I get another Lionel train. I like all the years of crud to be watched off. I did see some brass tube wrapped around the axle shaft and there seem to be some play in the rear axle bushing? One wheel has a groove worn in it.
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I am putting this in the above thread, as it has to do with shipping frustrations.
We sell on Ebay, ship items daily, so lots of packing to do every AM.
A guy in Milwaukee bought a rolled calendar (20" long) a Marx tender and an Ives signal. My standard box that this combo would fit in is 24x9x9". At 3 to 4 pounds that would cost over $25 to ship, from western KY. If I just cut the height dimension down to 7" the price goes to a reasonable $11. Two inches more than doubles the price????? WTF USPS?
Just venting, not easy selling and shipping mail order, however we have been doing it since the late 1970's and will continue until I die.
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That's the dim. Dimensional weight.
Did you notice the shipping companies raised their rates for the Christmas rush, then lowered them, then USPS raised them again.
Medium flat rate boxes:
In November: $12.80
In December: $13.20
In January $12.80
Today: $13.34
A good note. . . My buyer complaints about shipping fees are much lower than they used to be. I guess all the shopping from home during the 3-weeks to flatten the curve educated them about shipping costs.
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I think they add a fee for the Christmas rush, then remove it, but then have a general rate increase after the first of the year.
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USPS is really screwing up my 259E drive wheel problem. My parts guy in New York sent me some wheels that don’t have the post for the crank that pushes the drive rod into the steam piston. SO they are useless to me. I waited so long for these I ordered another set from a vendor on EBay. They got to Orlando FL, then went to Tampa FL. Tamps is only 45 mile south on Hudson? Now they are in Dallas TX. WTF.
The toy train Gods don’t want me to have a 259E I guess. Everything is against me on this project? I thought at first maybe the toy train gods think I have to many trains. But then I see Jim’s trains, Terry’s train and You other guys got the train market cornered. So what’s up with me getting some drive wheels for the 259E?
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At the little post office I go to only one person is working there that was there in November. The mailman who does my neighborhood comes by anytime between 2 and 6. It's like they're being run by the Soviets.
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The drive wheels that got to Jacksonville Fl, then Orlando Fl., then Tampa Fl, then Dallas Tx, then Jacksonville Fl. Again, now are in Hudson Fl. That’s only 3 miles from the house. I hope they come to my house now rather than going some where else?.
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I had a complaint from an eBay buyer in Texas.
Tracking says "Due to severe weather, packages may be delayed." I 've never seen that before.
The box made it 35 miles and has been sitting in the regional sorting center for 7 days.
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https://www.facebook.com/1613988168825686/videos/1104109040031912
The above link explains why USPS is re-routing packages when a destination facility is overwhelmed or short of staff due to Covid or weather, such as recently in Texas.
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I can't say that I have had anything lost, delayed for about 6 weeks though, but nonetheless, I have a package that I dropped off inside one of our local Post Offices that apparently has gone into another dimension. No record of acceptance, no tracking. Too bad, as it was a DVD from a VHS tape sent to a friend of mine of movies when we and our mutual friends were 53 years younger. Maybe it will surface some day.