The USPS damaged a package and the items inside - what options do I have

[cinema_visions]

I shipped a package from California to New York state via USPS Media Mail, and it arrived at my customer's residence with a big crunchy bend on one edge / side.  Inside were four 1940s paper lobby card movie posters that were torn in the same spot about 3 to 4 inches.  I have been told that since the customer opened the package, the USPS no longer has to take any responsibility for the external damage to the package that effectively destroyed the value of the contents.  This is about $50 worth of poster material.  Is it basically my responsibility (per eBay rules or ethics in general) to refund the customer in full, including the $8 shipping fee he paid me even though I packaged the material quite well with 4 layers of rigid cardboard around the posters, but clearly something very heavy slammed into the package.   Suggestions for compensation from either the USPS or eBay, or am I just on the hook for this?

[maxine*j]

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@cinema_visions wrote:

I can see how this confusing.  I use the free Priority Boxes from the post office, cut them into multiple 11 x 14 inch sections, then ship them inside a DuPont tear proof / water proof envelope... 

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Words to the wise: 

You are not taking the Priority boxes for use as packing material, are you?   That is wrong,   The Priority supplies  are for mailing at the Priority rate.  They're not there as free packing materials, you know, and if you're doing it, you should hope to heck that your local P.O. doesn't twig to it.   If they do, they will open and check everything you mail, looking for more violations.  

They will especially check anything you ship Media Mail, since it is so often abused.  So you do know, I assume, that you can send posters Media Mail only if they are of an educational nature and fall under the category of Printed Educational Reference Materials.  So you can send a poster of, say, the periodic table, or one showing all the species of fish in the Great Lakes, or an illustration of the human muscular system.  You can't send art, or travel, or event posters, or the like, Media Mail.

None of this is to criticize or accuse, and I hope I'm just telling you what you already know, but it may save someone else grief.

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[nobody*s_perfect]

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@cinema_visions wrote:

I can see how this confusing.  I use the free Priority Boxes from the post office, cut them into multiple 11 x 14 inch sections, then ship them inside a DuPont tear proof / water proof envelope, in this case I shipped it Media Mail with tracking, which is supposed to have $50 insurance ... .

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It sure is confusing, but perhaps you are the one who is confused:

1. Movie posters are not eligible for Media Mail.

2.  Media Mail does not include $50 of insurance.

3. Priority Mail boxes are not supposed to be used for anything other than Priority Mail, certainly not as reinforcement when shipping via other services.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@cinema_visions wrote: ... Suggestions for compensation from either the USPS or eBay, or am I just on the hook for this?

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You are on the hook for this.

[1786davycrockett]

Why were these shipped via USPS Media Mail in the first place, since USPS does NOT consider them to be "media."  Here are the USPS rules on media:

MEDIA MAIL SERVICE

Media Mail shipping is a cost-effective way to send educational materials. This service has restrictions on the type of media that can be shipped. Media Mail rates are limited to the items listed below:

• Books (at least 8 pages).
• Sound recordings and video recordings, such as CDs and DVDs.
• Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music.
• Printed music.
• Computer-readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media.
• Sixteen millimeter or narrower width films.
• Printed objective test materials and their accessories.
• Printed educational reference charts.
• Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and medical students.

You should have properly shipped them as USPS Priority, using multiple layers of cardboard -- and definitely NOT unused USPS Priority items which you took from the post office -- this also is a violation of USPS rules.

Sorry -- no sympathy here.

[a_c_green]

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@cinema_visions wrote:

I use the free Priority Boxes from the post office, cut them into multiple 11 x 14 inch sections, then ship them inside a DuPont tear proof / water proof envelope

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@cinema_visions: Um, yeah, you don't get to do that. As you probably already know, the USPS PM boxes come with printed warnings that they are provided only for Priority Mail use, not as padding in lower-cost shipments. Drawing the USPS' attention to this particular damaged shipment by having the buyer turn it in for your damage claim would not end well.

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@cinema_visions wrote:

in this case I shipped it Media Mail with tracking, which is supposed to have $50 insurance

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While Media Mail does have tracking, it does not have any insurance.

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@cinema_visions wrote:

but the USPS where I shipped it from said once a package is opened by a customer, the USPS is no longer liable, insurance only really ever covers if the package is outright lost.

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As was already pointed out, that's not correct. While a package that disappears en route is a relatively easy claim to win, it is possible to win a damage claim as well if the package was insured in the first place, and especially if there is obvious external damage beyond the usual bumps and scrapes. However, in this case it was a Media Mail shipment that would not be insured. On the other hand, no one opened it for inspection along the way, so at least you didn't get socked with extra charges for wasting Priority Mail supplies.

[yuzuha]

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@cinema_visions wrote:

I can see how this confusing.  I use the free Priority Boxes from the post office, cut them into multiple 11 x 14 inch sections, then ship them inside a DuPont tear proof / water proof envelope, in this case I shipped it Media Mail with tracking

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That is not allowed. Priority Mail boxes can ONLY be used for Priority Mail shipping. Shame on you.

[the-hook-and-the-loop]

One time USPS damaged my shipment and I sent pictures along with a receipt for what I paid for the merchandise into their customer service and about 2 weeks later there was a check from USPS in my mailbox. I almost passed out. Can you provide a receipt for what you paid? Not what you sold it for. It's worth a shot.

[bonjourami]

Without insurance?The op shipped posters which do not qualify for Media mail..cant imagine the p.o. would be too happy about that.

[wrong66]

I wouldn't send that photo of Priority Mail supplies being used as packing for MM to the USPS. You could kiss your claim goodbye.

[maxine*j]

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@wrong66 wrote:

I wouldn't send that photo of Priority Mail supplies being used as packing for MM to the USPS. You could kiss your claim goodbye.

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Especially since MM was mis-used, as well. 

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[a_c_green]

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@the-hook-and-the-loop wrote:

Can you provide a receipt for what you paid? Not what you sold it for.

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The value of the shipment would be what it most recently sold for, basically the sale associated with the item (if there was a valid claim to be made here, which apparently there is not). The seller would need to provide proof of the payment from the buyer (to establish its value at time of shipping) as well as his proof of shipping (price paid, etc.).

[albertabrightalberta]

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@bonjourami wrote:

Without insurance?The op shipped posters which do not qualify for Media mail..cant imagine the p.o. would be too happy about that.

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Yeah, especially when he shows the pictures of the damage to the post office with the cut up priority packaging that was used  to pack it! Double whammy no-no. 

[albertabrightalberta]

5900 listings with "economy" media mail shipping. 

As someone who pays for appropriate shipping and who buys my own shipping and packing supplies, this really ticks me off! 

[chapeau-noir]

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@cinema_visions wrote:

I can see how this confusing.  I use the free Priority Boxes from the post office, cut them into multiple 11 x 14 inch sections, then ship them inside a DuPont tear proof / water proof envelope, in this case I shipped it Media Mail with tracking, which is supposed to have $50 insurance, but the USPS where I shipped it from said once a package is opened by a customer, the USPS is no longer liable, insurance only really ever covers if the package is outright lost.

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Those boxes aren't really 'free' - they are only free WITH THE USE OF PRIORITY MAIL.  So the rest of us are paying for your misuse of them - our shipping bills are high enough as they are. 

[the-hook-and-the-loop]

I'm sorry but USPS specifies they will not reimburse you for the price of your sale. Only YOUR cost with a receipt.