USPS tracking status: received but acceptance pending

[AuYeung]

I bought a BD through a Facebook group in late February from a seller who has a good reputation. He provided me with the USPS tracking number after shipping the BD and the status updates looked good. Here's the history with the sender's location redacted:


February 23, 2022, 4:07 pm
Arrived Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
xxxxxxx, CA 90xxx
Shipping Partner: ASENDIA USA

March 2, 2022, 10:49 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
xxxxxxx, CA 90xxx

March 3, 2022, 4:38 pm
Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item
xxxxxxx, CA 90xxx
Shipping Partner: ASENDIA USA

March 3, 2022, 9:12 pm
Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
Your shipment was received at 9:12 pm on March 3, 2022 in LOS ANGELES, CA 90009. The acceptance of your package is pending.


After two weeks there were no updates from the USPS beyond the evening of March 3rd. I asked the seller to try to get a status update since he shipped with tracking but he just said he would give me a full refund if there was no movement after another week.

So I gave it another week but I had still gotten nothing in the mail while the tracking history remained unchanged. I asked the seller again to follow up with the USPS for some sort of explanation as to what was going on. He responded with an apology and gave me my money back.

I'm not out any cash as a result of this failed transaction but I'm left with questions. The seller gave no indication that he made any attempt to check with the USPS like I asked. He may have done so but if he did he didn't give me any details about those inquiries.

Then there's that final status: "Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending". That makes no sense to me. How is a package received but not accepted? Does anyone understand what this message means?

I'm tempted to put on my conspiracy theory hat and suspect the seller of getting a better offer for the BD and somehow aborting the shipment from his end. Is that possible based on the tracking history?