eBay

egarchow89 · ‎04-25-2018

Hi All, I recently bought an item and USPS mangled the box pretty badly, damaging the item inside. My first thought was to just return the item for a refund and let the seller deal with the issue, but since he said that USPS would want to examine the item in the original packaging, he opened a claim, and USPS sent me a letter to take the item in to the post office for inspection, which I was at first fine with.

All this was fine until USPS said to continue the claim, they would need me to surrender the item to them, which made me nervous, since I would not have the item anymore and I am not sure I would have a way to ensure the seller refunds me without the item to send back. I do have a receipt from the post office showing I gave them the item. I've sent the seller a scan of the receipt and am waiting for a response.

Just trying to get out ahead of the issue, but did I put myself in a pickle here by agreeing to surrender the item to USPS? Most people I've worked with on eBay are decent, but I want to know what to expect in the off chance the seller doesn't believe/doesn't care that I surrendered the item to USPS as part of the claim he requested.

Thanks for any tips or past experiences with similar situations!

Anonymous · ‎04-25-2018

@egarchow89 wrote:

Hi All, I recently bought an item and USPS mangled the box pretty badly, damaging the item inside. My first thought was to just return the item for a refund and let the seller deal with the issue, but since he said that USPS would want to examine the item in the original packaging, he opened a claim, and USPS sent me a letter to take the item in to the post office for inspection, which I was at first fine with.

All this was fine until USPS said to continue the claim, they would need me to surrender the item to them, which made me nervous, since I would not have the item anymore and I am not sure I would have a way to ensure the seller refunds me without the item to send back. I do have a receipt from the post office showing I gave them the item. I've sent the seller a scan of the receipt and am waiting for a response.

Just trying to get out ahead of the issue, but did I put myself in a pickle here by agreeing to surrender the item to USPS? Most people I've worked with on eBay are decent, but I want to know what to expect in the off chance the seller doesn't believe/doesn't care that I surrendered the item to USPS as part of the claim he requested.

Thanks for any tips or past experiences with similar situations!

Hi @egarchow89, surrendering the item to the courier for an insurance claim is the correct step to take, as there would be no expectation for you to return this item. Returning the damaged package would actually void the seller's insurance, so we ask that comply with the shipper's requests. As soon as you are able to ask eBay to step in, we will ensure you are provided with a full refund if the seller has not resolved this for you already. If you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact your seller or touch base with our Customer Service teams.

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chrysylys · ‎04-25-2018

@egarchow89 wrote:
Just trying to get out ahead of the issue, but did I put myself in a pickle here by agreeing to surrender the item to USPS?

As long as you have official documentation, you should be fine. You just have to let the process play out.

How much was the item and when did you receive it?

Forget keeping up with the Joneses. Be the Finklegrubers!
OK kids, time to get the Dodge loaded up again. I hear 'Poppy's By the Tree' calling. This trip might be a long one too.

mudshark61369 · ‎04-25-2018

@egarchow89,

Did you photograph the item and or packaging, for the seller? Was there postal notice saying the package was destroyed by the P.O. when you received it? Did you get a receipt / claim number from the P.O. when you surrendered the item?

Any and all info you have will help the seller get reimbursed by USPS. However, the seller is held responsible for getting an item to you, in the condition as advertise, and you should not have to wait to get a refund. If you have a claim number, or receipt scan the receipt, or send the claim number and other info to the seller, then ask them to refund you.

FYI, you could have gone to the USPS customer service site and arranged for them to pick up the package, rather than making a trip to the P.O.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

missjen831 · ‎04-25-2018

@mudshark61369 wrote:
@egarchow89,

FYI, you could have gone to the USPS customer service site and arranged for them to pick up the package, rather than making a trip to the P.O.

Package pickup is for outgoing mail not surrendered damaged item claims

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

southern*sweet*tea · ‎04-25-2018

A good seller would refund you once you showed documentation that the package was surrendered. Insurance is for them, not for you. You have the money back guarantee.

@Anonymous alan@ebay What would be the proper painless procedure for this buyer? S/he should not have to sit on pins and needles wondering if a refund will be forthcoming if their seller is less than honest.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

Anonymous · ‎04-25-2018

@egarchow89 wrote:

Hi All, I recently bought an item and USPS mangled the box pretty badly, damaging the item inside. My first thought was to just return the item for a refund and let the seller deal with the issue, but since he said that USPS would want to examine the item in the original packaging, he opened a claim, and USPS sent me a letter to take the item in to the post office for inspection, which I was at first fine with.

All this was fine until USPS said to continue the claim, they would need me to surrender the item to them, which made me nervous, since I would not have the item anymore and I am not sure I would have a way to ensure the seller refunds me without the item to send back. I do have a receipt from the post office showing I gave them the item. I've sent the seller a scan of the receipt and am waiting for a response.

Just trying to get out ahead of the issue, but did I put myself in a pickle here by agreeing to surrender the item to USPS? Most people I've worked with on eBay are decent, but I want to know what to expect in the off chance the seller doesn't believe/doesn't care that I surrendered the item to USPS as part of the claim he requested.

Thanks for any tips or past experiences with similar situations!

Hi @egarchow89, surrendering the item to the courier for an insurance claim is the correct step to take, as there would be no expectation for you to return this item. Returning the damaged package would actually void the seller's insurance, so we ask that comply with the shipper's requests. As soon as you are able to ask eBay to step in, we will ensure you are provided with a full refund if the seller has not resolved this for you already. If you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact your seller or touch base with our Customer Service teams.

egarchow89 · ‎04-25-2018

Thanks for the reply, mudshark. I photgraphed everything and sent that to the seller. There was no note from the PO, but they did have to tape the box back together. I do have a receipt from when I surrendered the item, as well as a letter from the PO about the claim asking me to bring the item in.

I asked the postmaster and she said and this point there's basically nothing I can do, and I won't be getting the item back myself. I then voiced my concerns that without the item I would not be able to guarantee myself a refund, and she did say that if it looked like the seller was being uncooperative I could come back and she would see what else she could do documentation-wise.

I've already scanned the receipt and sent it to the seller, and asked for a refund (I did that last night). I know it's too early to be justifiably concerned but this is by far the longest I have waited for a response from him and it's after a refund request. It will probably work out fine, I just want to know what to expect if it doesn't. Thanks!

egarchow89 · ‎04-25-2018

Thanks, I appreciate the clarification!

castlemagicmemories · ‎04-25-2018

It is wise to know what to do in advance. That's being proactive and is a good thing to be!

garmentvarmint2004 · ‎04-29-2018

EGAR..

I am woriried about whther you are actualy going to get a refund! Mainly because th PO is now in posrssionogf your dmagdf I do no trust thr PO to do right by you.The PO is well known for refusing damaged-item claims and blaming the damage on poor packaging by the Seller--and now you have no item that you can send back to the seller.

Personally I would never have handed one of my items over to the PO.

Perhaps you are not aware that Ebay's insurance rules changed in a big way a number of years ago. Buyers ARE NOT required to participate in any way ---in any insurance process. You could heve just filed a Dispute with Ebay or Paypal--called a Snad Dispute. Ebay would have ALMOST CERTAINLY found in your favor---and then you could have just sent this item back---and gotten a refund.

I don't know how you can handle this with Ebay now that your item is gone??? Will Ebay accept your pictures and your receipt???

I hope so. And maybe some other more knowledgeable Board Regulars will join this Thread---have some good sugestions for you.

garmentvarmint2004 · ‎04-29-2018

MUDSHARK..

I am heartened that you seem to think this buyer did things correctly-and is going to get a reffund. However, I am very afraid that this buyer made a BIG mistake by giving this item up to the PO.

And I don't know how the pictures she took are are goiing to help her with Ebay? Do you think they will be acepted--now that her itemis gone?

garmentvarmint2004 · ‎04-29-2018

TRINTO..

\

Wel lof course when the buyer returns te item to the Seller---the insurance becomes void. But the buyer should NOT take that into consideration. Buyer received a damaged item and he should do whatever is required BY EBAY to get a refund.

missjen831 · ‎04-29-2018

@garmentvarmint2004 wrote:
EGAR..

I am woriried about whther you are actualy going to get a refund! Mainly because th PO is now in posrssionogf your dmagdf    I do no trust thr PO to do right by you.The PO is well known for refusing damaged-item claims   and blaming   the damage on poor packaging by the Seller--and now you have no item that you can send back to the seller.

Personally I would never have handed one of my items over to the PO.

Perhaps you are not aware that Ebay's insurance rules changed in a big way a number of years ago. Buyers ARE NOT required to participate in any way ---in  any insurance process.     You could heve just filed a Dispute with Ebay or Paypal--called a   Snad Dispute.    Ebay would have ALMOST CERTAINLY found in your favor---and then you could have just sent this item back---and gotten a refund.

I don't know how you can handle this with Ebay now that your item is gone???   Will Ebay accept your pictures and your receipt???

Wow......Trinton has replied and confirmed that the OP has done the right thing and will be protected. I really don’t understand why you discourage buyers from cooperating with insurance claims? It’s not not true that eBay doesn’t require the buyer cooperate. And it’s not true that the rules have changed.

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

missjen831 · ‎04-29-2018

@garmentvarmint2004 wrote:
TRINTO..
\
Wel lof course when the buyer returns te item to the Seller---the insurance becomes void. But the buyer should NOT take that into consideration. Buyer received a damaged item and he should do whatever is required BY EBAY to get a refund.

Yes the buyer should take the insurance into consideration. Did you read Trinton a entire response? eBay wants the buyer to cooperate with the insurance claim.

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

freeshipusa1 · ‎04-29-2018

Since insurance is for the seller ,not the buyer.

What the buyer should have done is to tell the seller to refund him first ,then he wil take the itemto the local post office.

Buyer does not have t o comply with seller request,he has Ebay protection,INAD will ask him to send it back to seller with seller paying for return shipping,this will cost seller more,he has to pay return shipping and receive damaged item back and USPS may deny his claim.