USPS lost my package, seller refuses to open USPS insurance claim

Posted 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

41 comments

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

Some of you guys are down right vicious LOL. PITA, what's next? I got my money back that's all I care. eBay or PayPal are to slow or indifferent to help, so screw them. Bank & Visa was the only way to go and it worked. Glad I allwasy use my visa card. Guidance I got here is all over the places, rather opinions than anything good. There was one guy who knew exactly what was going on and he pointed the scam to me.

grand-and-glorious-purpose

·1 year ago

Cosmic Visionary1264 View listings

@ethanweisinger wrote:
rather opinions than anything good.

I was being nice and I don't have to be, this ain't Disneyworld.

Next time come here before you damage yourself further, or don't

...we get paid the same.

grand-and-glorious-purpose

·1 year ago

Cosmic Visionary1264 View listings

@ethanweisinger wrote:
USPS shows delivered but my package is not there.n and help and eBay deleted my feedback. I am screwed in so many ways is not even funny

@ethanweisinger wrote:
The USPS guy advised for the original shipper / seller to open an insurance claim as this item was covered.

All you have done is make it known to ebay and paypal that you are a PITA.

You should have come here first.

The UPSP guy is incorrect, there is no time an item that has a delivery scan would get an insurance payout for being "missing"

ryry-jj

·1 year ago

1912 View listings

When a buyer is scammed, isn't it better that they go to their payment source and claim fraud and tracking scam to the bank? Doesn't this hit the seller harder if eBay has to refund a charge back due to shipping to a wrong address? Not to mention the seller also has to pay the charge back fee

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

This didn't hit the seller at all @ryry-jj . Because the seller won the eBay INR, they were automatically given seller protections on the payment dispute INR. The buyer's refund came from eBay's pocket meaning our selling fees paid for the buyer's refund.

Compare that to the buyer getting evidence from the carrier and bringing it to eBay upfront, then the scammer responsible has to pay out on the eBay INR and their account gets flagged for fraud.

Also, generally speaking, the payment dispute fee is only charged if the seller fights and loses the dispute. If the seller fights and wins, or just accepts and doesn't fight at all, they don't pay the dispute fee and their eBay fees are credited. That doesn't apply here though as the seller was protected due to the way this played out.

gone.c-33

·1 year ago

@wastingtime101 wrote:
This didn't hit the seller at all @ryry-jj . Because the seller won the eBay INR, they were automatically given seller protections on the payment dispute INR. The buyer's refund came from eBay's pocket meaning our selling fees paid for the buyer's refund.

Compare that to the buyer getting evidence from the carrier and bringing it to eBay upfront, then the scammer responsible has to pay out on the eBay INR and their account gets flagged for fraud.

Also, generally speaking, the payment dispute fee is only charged if the seller fights and loses the dispute. If the seller fights and wins, or just accepts and doesn't fight at all, they don't pay the dispute fee and their eBay fees are credited. That doesn't apply here though as the seller was protected due to the way this played out.

Until they do it more than once and get put on eBayâ€™s radar. Just like insurance companies will cut off customers who make too many claims, or payment providers drop clients for being too risky when many chargebacks are filed against them, eBay can and will drop sellers who have too many chargebacks filed against them even if they are protected under the seller protection policy.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

@gone.c-33 wrote:
Until they do it more than once and get put on eBayâ€™s radar. Just like insurance companies will cut off customers who make too many claims, or payment providers drop clients for being too risky when many chargebacks are filed against them, eBay can and will drop sellers who have too many chargebacks filed against them even if they are protected under the seller protection policy.

Yes, they will. eBay will also drop buyers that file too many payment disputes instead of working with customer service through the eBay buyer protection process.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

OK, so I got to the bottom of this with help from USPS. Is this mail fraud? is it a felony? How do I proceed? Item was around $200. eBay won't even listen and it is right under their nose. The good news is I got my money from the bank already.

Here is the elaborate scam. The seller posted a USPS tracking number for a small envelope he sent down my street. Of course it delivered and it shows delivered. His probably excuse if he gets caught is that he wrote down the wrong address. Nice try.

I went to USPS several times. They managed to pull the address for that tracking number which wasn't mine, was two homes down the street, and also the weight of it. It was clearly a small envelope.

What really alerted me that I am onto something is that I usually get a USPS notification for any upcoming packages through my USPS account. This time I didn't get any notification because it wasn't my address. That should've alerted me.

eBay already closed the case after denying me any refund and again I recovered my money through the bank. But I really want to report this seller for the fraud he committed. What is my venue?

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

That's the same zip code scam. I referenced it in the very first reply on this thread when I said,

"Go to your post office and ask them to look up and make sure the package was delivered to your address. They can check the GPS coordinates on the delivery scan. [...] If USPS says the package was addressed to someone else in your zip code then come here for more advice."

Several of us continued to bring this up throughout the discussion, but you were pretty set on your belief the seller should file an insurance claim. It's good to hear you eventually took our advice to work with the PO on this and ask for the delivery location.

This is the kind of thing to address while you're still within the eBay MBG claim window, not after you've escalated to a payment dispute. Getting a letter from the carrier saying the package wasn't addressed to you is what you'd need to have eBay grant you buyer protections.

That said, if you want to report the seller (and you should report them), go here and click the blue "report a seller" button a bit down the page: https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/resolving-issues-sellers/report-issue-seller?id=4022

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

Well I never believed someone can run a scam like this and naively I was hoping the seller will help and file an insurance claim. Now it all make sense, the seller was the scammer.

I can't report this guy based on the link you sent me, as the eBay case is closed. These m0rons at eBay deserve their sellers to be honest.

I think this will be my last experience on eBay. Is not what it used to be.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/DHL-Messing-up-shipping-or-a-scam/m-p/34918930#M513039
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Item-shipped-to-wrong-address/m-p/34918657#M513034
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Fake-Tracking-Scam-how-do-I-prepare/m-p/34920656#M513092
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-scamming-me/m-p/34954964#M514849
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/I-just-got-scammed-and-I-don-t-know-how-to-proceed/m-p/34955823#M514900

You can contact eBay customer service to report the seller - either go through the help pages or send a DM to one of their social media pages.

ittybitnot

·1 year ago

18 View listings

want to report this seller for the fraud he committed. What is my venue?

@ethanweisinger

You can file mail fraud with the USPS Postal Inspectors. It won't get your money back, and if the "seller" was not in the US, they could care less. Be sure to mention FRAUD/fake tracking scam. Hopefully, you did that with your card chargeback, or they may submit the claim to eBay who will respond with the same phony delivery confirmation information and you may lose again. Call them back if you claimed "Item Not Received" (INR) and make your reason clear. This has been going on here on eBay for over a decade. eBay knows, but has no public policy or published procedures regarding what to do. They change all the time as well. The carriers know, PayPal know, and the credit card industry is well aware as well.

The seller is not going to open any claim, they did it on purpose. USPS, UPS, FedEx etc. do not pay out on claims where the product was delivered. Actually, they did their job and delivered it to the address on the label. eBay protects eBay, with the hopes you give up and go away.

Should there be a "next time", hopefully you will recognize the scam BEFORE it gets too far. Once you go to your card, eBay is no longer required to help you.

For your reading "pleasure". Just this years from this board alone (I may have missed a few, LOL):

Jan. 2025

Feb. 2025

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

There are things you can do, and a few alternatives. Your credit card should be the last resort.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

For what it's worth @ethanweisinger , the post above mine looks really big and scary, but really eBay is a great venue for buyers. The policies are very buyer-centric.

Yes, scammers exist on both the selling and buying side, but that's true for every venue. Buyers have a lot of protections and in a situation like the one you went through, had you come here sooner, we could have directed you to resolution through eBay's buyer protections rather than having to file a payment dispute.

There are posters around here with great advice on how to vet sellers so hopefully a couple of them will chime in. Most sellers here are great, but when you start getting into shopping by lowest price you'll encounter more scammers. Feedback page can sometimes clue you in to issues other buyers have experienced.

You're always welcome to come here and ask for help whether it's before or after making a purchase. People here are very generous of their time helping others.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

Well I just got my Visa credit card resolution back and they agreed to refund my money. My money is back in the bank now. Shame on eBay and PayPal for their so called money protection guaranteed. Protection my **bleep** innit?

buyselljack2016

·1 year ago

107 View listings

Hopefully eBay seller protection covered the seller.

Nevertheless, my list of friends grows ever so slightly.

Shipping to California is just sooooooooooo far away.

campanaelia

·1 year ago

754 View listings

@buyselljack2016 wrote:
Hopefully eBay seller protection covered the seller.

Nevertheless, my list of friends grows ever so slightly.

Shipping to California is just sooooooooooo far away.

I don't get it

The OP purchased from a fake tracking scammer

And you're happy the seller protection covered the seller

And you're adding the OP to you're buyer block list.

Geez

buyselljack2016

·1 year ago

107 View listings

my post was made long before the OP finally got to what happened.

Their approach, and continuance in the direction that they were going did not reflect the type of actions that I prefer from a buyer, so yes, a new Best Buddy List inductee.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

LOL, dude, chill pill will ya ðŸ™‚

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

Yes the credit card charges are disputed as we speak and I am pretty sure I will recover my money.

tobaccocardyahoo

·1 year ago

5503 View listings

Everyone is ignoring the one avenue of recourse which might get you your money back. Open a dispute aka chargeback with the issuer of your credit card, assuming you used a credit card.

The bank which issued your credit card is more likely to decide this case in your favor than any other entity. You are their customer and Ebay, PayPal and the seller are not. And proof of delivery is determined by rules which place a higher burden on the seller.

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:
Everyone is ignoring the one avenue of recourse which might get you your money back. Open a dispute aka chargeback with the issuer of your credit card, assuming you used a credit card.

The bank which issued your credit card is more likely to decide this case in your favor than any other entity. You are their customer and Ebay, PayPal and the seller are not. And proof of delivery is determined by rules which place a higher burden on the seller.

Haven't ignored it, the OP has already some that.

Without some kind of proof, their bank might decline it also.

tobaccocardyahoo

·1 year ago

5503 View listings

@kensgiftshop wrote:
Without some kind of proof, their bank might decline it also.

Burden of proof is on the seller in a credit card dispute. The charge can even be reversed if there is a signature, if the delivery address is not the same as what is shown in the credit card Address Verification System.

Many internet sites fail to check AVS and there is a huge effect on shipments sent to other addresses. Ebay does not check AVS, nor does Amazon. Many smaller sites do.

bonanza125

·1 year ago

8834 View listings

Package states delivered so seller is no longer obligated to do anything. The issue is on your end. Lets say it was delivered but someone stole it that's not covered. Yes Ebay, Paypal, your bank card would all decline it. Yes your negative would be removed cause this is out of the sellers control. They did what they were suppose to do which was shipped your packaged and it was delivered. Your package on being there after tracking states delivered doesn't merit a negative for the seller. You are unfortunately out of luck. Yes it sucks that the package you paid for is lost but place blame on the USPS. Ebay only goes by what tracking states.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

So not even USPS is help accountable / responsible? This is absolutely CRAZY man.

bonanza125

·1 year ago

8834 View listings

Correct!!! This is what will happen they will repeat everything you already know.

mommaknows

·1 year ago

294 View listings

I am sorry, but if your tracking shows delivered..... How can you expect either eBay or PayPal to refund/back you? This is one of the few safeguards sellers have.

I would ask your mail person about it.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

All I asked the seller is to open an insurance claim as USPS advised. I provided the seller with USPS missing item case # and all he had to do is open that claim. I had the time to wait for him to recover the money and then refund me after that. All I asked the seller is to be nice and help.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

@ethanweisinger wrote:
All I asked the seller is to open an insurance claim as USPS advised.

Which is a waste of time. The item is not covered on a lost package insurance claim when there's a delivered scan to your address.

albertabrightalberta

·1 year ago

I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@ethanweisinger wrote:
All I asked the seller is to open an insurance claim as USPS advised. I provided the seller with USPS missing item case # and all he had to do is open that claim. I had the time to wait for him to recover the money and then refund me after that. All I asked the seller is to be nice and help.

You aren't understanding what you've been told.

When an item shows as "delivered" per the tracking, an insurance claim will be denied. Tracking showing delivery is not eligible for an insurance payout because the post office delivered the item.

What you need to do is find out whether the package was delivered to your address. Your local post office does that. If it was delivered to your address, they'll tell you that. If it was delivered to another address, they won't tell you where it was delivered but they can tell you that it wasn't delivered to you.

Depending what you learn from the p.o. will determine your next steps if any.

momtoabeautifuldaughter

·1 year ago

Love my beautiful daughter92 View listings

It shows as delivered so an insurance claim would instantly be denied.

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

If USPS scanned the package as delivered, it won't do any good to file an insurance claim, so there's nothing the seller could do.

Your problem is with USPS if they said they delivered it, but they didn't.

Did USPS say it was delivered to you or another address?

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

I know the USPS guy, he is a nice guy actually. He can't remember where it was delivered if it ever was. The USPS search request for the missing item ended and they couldn't find it. I asked all my neighbors as well. The USPS guy advised for the original shipper / seller to open an insurance claim as this item was covered. The eBay seller simply ignored my request and basically let me lose my money in this transaction. eBay or PayPal didn't help either. I just declined CC charges for this transaction and I am sure Visa will side with me on this.

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

@ethanweisinger wrote:
I know the USPS guy, he is a nice guy actually. He can't remember where it was delivered if it ever was. The USPS search request for the missing item ended and they couldn't find it. I asked all my neighbors as well. The USPS guy advised for the original shipper / seller to open an insurance claim as this item was covered. The eBay seller simply ignored my request and basically let me lose my money in this transaction. eBay or PayPal didn't help either. I just declined CC charges for this transaction and I am sure Visa will side with me on this.

It was covered by insurance until it was scanned as delivered.

You'll probably need some proof the package was not delivered to you for your credit card to help.

momtoabeautifuldaughter

·1 year ago

Love my beautiful daughter92 View listings

@ethanweisinger wrote:
I know the USPS guy, he is a nice guy actually. He can't remember where it was delivered if it ever was. The USPS search request for the missing item ended and they couldn't find it. I asked all my neighbors as well. The USPS guy advised for the original shipper / seller to open an insurance claim as this item was covered. The eBay seller simply ignored my request and basically let me lose my money in this transaction. eBay or PayPal didn't help either. I just declined CC charges for this transaction and I am sure Visa will side with me on this.

It is insured against loss or damage, once the status shown delivered then insurance claim would be denied.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

There's no point in the seller filing a claim as it will be denied. USPS doesn't cover porch theft, nor does eBay.

Go to your post office and ask them to look up and make sure the package was delivered to your address. They can check the GPS coordinates on the delivery scan. If USPS confirms it was delivered to your address then you can report the porch theft and USPS may investigate patterns of theft in the area, but they won't pay out on a claim as porch piracy is considered the recipient's problem of having a safe location for delivery.

If USPS says it was delivered to a neighbor then you or the carrier can attempt to retrieve the package from a neighbor. If USPS says the package was addressed to someone else in your zip code then come here for more advice.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

It say it was left in my mailbox, not porch. We really have no theft here at all.

wastingtime101

·1 year ago

Refer back to my earlier response about going to your post office and having them look up the address and delivery location on the package. It's your only option here.

buyselljack2016

·1 year ago

107 View listings

@ethanweisinger wrote:
It say it was left in my mailbox, not porch.

same thing when referring to theft after delivery.

USPS says it was delivered, and USPS says it wasn't delivered?

I'm confused. Info missing here.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago

USPS shows delivered when I track it but IT IS NOT in my mailbox. So NO it was not delivered. The USPS guy can't find it. I put in a missing item request, they couldn't find it and they advised to open an insurance claim. WHY is so har to understand?

kensgiftshop

·1 year ago

@ethanweisinger wrote:
USPS shows delivered when I track it but IT IS NOT in my mailbox. So NO it was not delivered.

You need to go to your PO and ask them if the package was addressed to you.

There's a scam, where the seller changes the address and has a small package or envelope delivered to a place near you so they get the delivered scan.

ethanweisinger

OP1 year ago