customer hasn't recieved the order I shipped over a week ago

[sliverofwoods]

I'm new at this! Please advise!
I shipped three orders out on Sept. 6th in the late afternoon, from the post office.
I had one customer in VA that received his order within three days (happily!).
I had two orders going to CA. One of which the customer has convo-ed me and tells me she has not yet received her order. !? I have written to her letting her know I'm sorry she's left waiting...and that I will try to check it out on my end...with the post office. >??!!<
The other CA customer I have not heard from...but (have just) decided to write her a note and ask if she had yet received her order....wonder if it's just a "mail thing".
Okay...my question...How do I proceed?

[Former_Member]

If you shipped in the late afternoon, it probably didn't get shipped until Sept. 7. It's only been a week! Shipping can take 7-10 days for USPS mail. Honestly, I'd just give it a few more days. If you haven't already, consider writing in your policies that orders within the US can take 1-2 weeks to arrive, because that's the normal time frame. Some orders arrive in 3 days, others take 13 days.

In the future, I would recommend using PayPal for shipping labels. You just to go PayPal, click all the things it asks you, print out the label, stick or tape it on, and send it! The good thing about PayPal is that the labels have a barcode which tracks shipping. That way, you can go online and see that an order has indeed been shipped or delivered, and your buyer can also see it on their PayPal. The delivery confirmation adds 19 cents to the shipping cost, but for me, it is totally worth it to help avoid situations like this.

[Former_Member]

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/6766858/page/3/

[sliverofwoods]

Whew! Oh thank you for the info. AlmondCraft! Good advice.

[Former_Member]

One lady I shipped an order to took almost 3 weeks, when normally my orders arrive in about 3 days, maybe 4. I couldn't believe it! I think it might have been because of Labor Day?

I ended up having to resend her order (thinking it got lost in the mail) and unfortunately for me ( but fortunate for her) the package arrived a couple of hours after I contacted her to tell her I resent her order.

So, just tell your customer that it could take up to 3 weeks!

[aubabi78]

110% agree with always having a confirmation for anything you ship. Even just as a peace of mind for yourself to know where it is. Shipping doesnt have to take that long if you use USPS. Just dont ship anything parcel if you can help it. I think a lot of customers are okay paying the extra shipping to get it shipped first class. Thats all I ship in and I live in California and my east coast customers get the product in about 3 to 4 business days. I do have a lost package out there that I shipped on August 27th. I have tracking on it but they said because of the hurricane on the east coast all items shipped parcel had about a two to three week hold on them!! One and only time I shipped parcel on accident and it needed to be there for a wedding! :( didnt make it and now all my work has been for nothing!