USPS (United States Postal Service)
USPS is no longer the establishment it once was.
When I purchase postage on eBay it comes with a cost for insurance. A product that is imbedded into the price of the postage for a product I may or may not what for a service I may or may not need, but I have to purchase.
I don't often have claims but in the last 6 months I have had two out of all my sales.
That is me spending 9-12 thousand a year in postage and in six months one claim for 22.00 and one for 36.00. Both of the claims Denied for (Insufficient evidence of Value)
Evidence of Value is suppose to be one of the several documents I download to even get a claim number. Without downloading the proof of purchase, you can not even start a claim. The customers email, USPS clearly has so they did get the paperwork, this paperwork is all on USPS´s online site and I know this, because the sent the denial letter to buyer, as of today I only have this information, and I personally have received nothing. They could have spent the same time and ask for his proof of payment to match with mine, but then again that would be trying to work it out and clearly their job is NOT TO WORK It OUT.
As a long-term selling member on eBay it concerns me greatly that USPS behaves in this manner and that eBay is not setting a better firewall for this business.
-How about optional insurance. USPS removes the insurance from the postage price since they can not find a system that works. We purchase all our insurance as we like from the eBay insurance already offered. However, they have to reduce the postage. We are currently paying for a product they are not servicing.
OR
-USPS does not want to remove the cost from the postage. Ok then, they can do like all the rest of us. We get a CLAIM button on our eBay listing that automatically generates and completes the paperwork needed for the USPS claim. This should not be a complicated program as we already have one with the eBay insurance. The claim is processed with one button. As for the buyer, he must submit to the seller with his claim initially, full evidence in photo or his claim is denied before it gets started. If it is "item not received" that is different and can be handled thru the tracking number. But claims for damage, or missing items. This process should work. eBay never sees an item and operates on the basis of photos and so does the buyer and seller. I think USPS, needs to do the same. FedEx now does door to door photos on packages. I am not saying they need to do that but clearly, they need to do something because they are failing way to often. There is no longer dependability with many aspects of the USPS and it appears that they are trying to ignore their part in this. When I purchase postage for 17.00, I expect to get my package delivered and in good condition. USPS no longer even sends you the "Ooops we are sorry we had an accident with your mail" This card, you used to get, when they damaged your mail.
The buyer should not have to go the USPS for anything. They purchased an item and it was delivered damaged or with missing items. The boxes I have seen destroyed in the mail the post office would have declined mailing for improper and poorly wrapped but happily drop this USPS damaged box at the door of the buyer without issue or explanation as to what happened. The USPS should have looked at my photos and the buyers and been able to figure this all out. In addition, USPS certainly should NOT have any reason to keep anything. USPS did not pay for item and has not honored the claim , only after they pay the insurance claim are they entitled to ownership of items. But yet they ask the buyer to drag his delivered box back to the local USPS where they want to fill out paper and keep the item. I had one USPS to lazy to do the paperwork, they sent a box of broken glass back thru the mail "return to sender " to me, I then had to drive the 35 minutes back to the local post office so my postmaster could do the paperwork.
For me this is about our government. It is about them thinking they do not have to work and operate under common sense standards and how they feel they are immune to holding up their end of a contract. I encourage you to send your own letter if you so choose. We once lived in a world you could depend on. Now we live in a world that you depend on mercy when you can get it. I may not see it get better in what is left of my life but I refuse to sit idly by and watch what is so clearly broken and horribly wrong.
Bottom line, what USPS is doing is one of the biggest class action lawsuits I have ever seen.
USPS demands payment (extortion) for a non optional service and then continually denies valid claims when you ask for the service to provide what you purchased.
USPS is a service provider yet when they get paid to deliver a package and then don't deliver, the package, they still get paid. I wonder how this would work with the heart surgeon or the car dealership or the restaurant. I believe the police would be called and charges filed. Yet even in the current claims you can not and will not get back your shipping cost when the USPS fails to do their job.
A brief note about the USPS Help Desk....... Completely and absolutely pointless! They will listen to you and then direct you every time to go back online. They can not do anything. They can only listen. So, you will wait on hold 3-4 hours, explain your entire story and be brushed off just to learn this. Take the same staff and let them actually do something to complete the claims. Or close that desk and pay the claims, either way I have a dog that will give me the same amount of listening and helpful information.
I hope someone out there is hearing this and others stand up for what is wrong!!!!!!!
Letters can be sent to USPS Postmaster General, Attorney General, Insurance Fraud Commission, and eBay. Google and you can get emails and mailing addresses.
Truly complaining to others is a vent. But mailing to people that can make a change is what you really need to do.
All My Best
