Problems in Shipping

In our 5 years of selling on ebay & shipping out everyday with the Postal Service we have never had a problem like this one before. We mailed out a Poster in a Long Tube box from the USPS going Priority mail. The buyer wanted it fast because it was supposed to be a gift. This was last month. A couple weeks ago we get an email asking where it is. When we tracked it on the USPS website it said it was headed to "Deadmail" What is that??? Never saw that one before. Went to my local post office where we do all our shipping and they got the same notice. The only thing they could tell us was wait and see where it goes from there, they didnt have a very good explanation as to what the Dead Mail zone was just that if a label falls off (ours are taped on) or if the box gets destroyed that they have to got to the other facility where they can be opened. Obviously they had my label since it was scanned again. Finally get a notice that it was scanned there at the "Deadmail" and would be heading to its destination. In my mind that should have been where it was headed to NC. A couple days later I received the label still attached to the box only I just had a small part of the box left. Great, no poster, no box. So either someone took my poster out of the box or the whole thing got destroyed except of course this label. Sure hope that person is enjoying the Vintage Cheryl Ladd Lifesize poster for free! Now we had to reimburse the money to the buyer plus pay our consignor their money. Not a good day. I guess we should count ourselves lucky since we have sold over 2500 items and never had anything get lost before. But it is still very frustrating when its something that is out of our hands.
Other than that the month has been pretty good with sales. Having a hard time finding places to shop though. I think we have hit just about every place in Lower Sussex County. Can't wait for yard sales to start up again.We did go to the Merchants Attic in Rehoboth this past weekend and found some really unique items to try. A Barbie carrying case with a Tammy Doll & clothes, a chalkware lamp (which we have never seen before) Some Breyers Horses and Disney figurines. So we are hoping for a great sales week. Wish us luck!