“Package Arrived Empty”

[jhatho20]

My buyer sent a photo of the package sliced open at the bottom and said it arrived empty.  What do I need to do?  I purchased the label through eBay which does not include the insurance.  Do I have to issue him a refund?  Would this be considered mail fraud that I need to report somewhere?  This is the third package USPS has lost of mine.  … what if he’s scamming me… where is my protection?

[dirk12955]

If the package arrived at the buyers doorstep both open and empty,   The USPS delivery 

person should have made a note of it at the time of delivery.

Has your buyer filed a claim with ebay utilizing the MBG?

[albertabrightalberta]

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@jhatho20 wrote:

My buyer sent a photo of the package sliced open at the bottom and said it arrived empty.  What do I need to do?  I purchased the label through eBay which does not include the insurance.  Do I have to issue him a refund?  Would this be considered mail fraud that I need to report somewhere?  This is the third package USPS has lost of mine.  … what if he’s scamming me… where is my protection?

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If it arrived empty and was sliced open, the post office stamps the package as damaged in transit. 

if there's no stamped marking on it, it wasn't slit and empty. 

[simba6]

I have received packages with the side of the box split open and the postal service did NOT stamp it as damaged.    Plastic tape does tear quite easy.   Strapping tape, the stuff with string in it holds up much better.

But to answer your question, If an item not as described case is filed, you will lose. Same for a charge back.

Best to refund before you get your customer service dinged and poor feedback as you can't win anyway.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Not that it matters a lot but what was the item and what postage class was it shipped with? Was this a domestic shipment or did it by chance go through a freight forwarder or through EIS? If went through a FF or EIS you are protected once the item arrives at the freight forwarder or EISS hub. In the case of a FF the buyers MBG ends at that point. Although you may not be protected from a chargeback. In the case of EIS once it arrives at the EIS hub you are protected from just about any buyer claim. 

     Generally when a package arrives damaged or with issues the USPS makes note of it on the package. You can file a report with the USPS and let your buyer know you have done so and ask them to retain the package as USPS may contact them and want the package. If you obtained a scan receipt when you dropped the item at the post office it will have the weight of the package when USPS took possession of the item always good to include a shot of that receipt with your USPS report.

     Ultimately you are probably going to have the refund the buyer but I would have them open an eBay claim. They could be telling you the truth or they could be trying to scam you.