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?

[nocoolnamejane]

“  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. ”

That is not true. If you have insured an item, you CAN file a claim for damage even if the item has been opened, but USPS will want to see the packaging as well as the item.

In your case though, even if you purchased insurance, I would advise against trying to collect because of a) your misuse of media mail and b) your misuse of PM shipping supplies.

I suggest you refund your buyer in full and consider this a $58 lesson in how NOT to use the USPS.

[mam98031]

Ebay didn't package the item, so Ebay has no responsibility here, it is all on the Seller.  

We are responsible for what we ship to arrive safe and sound.  If that wasn't true, sellers could throw a glass item into a padded envelope, mail it and hope for the best.

I might add that posters are not allowed to ship via Media mail unless something has changed.  I am confused as I see Priority Mail on your packing in the pics you provided.  Or if you used the PM stuff as packing materials, that too is against the USPS rules.

So did ship via Media Mail as you said in your first statement or did you actually ship via Priority Mail?

Media mail has NO automatic insurance.  Priority mail does.  You can't just use the supplies, then ship via a lower class [that your items don't qualify for] and then expect the insurance from the higher rate shipping method.  It doesn't work that way.

[mam98031]

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@dnasilver wrote:

Best not to ask USPS to refund. They do not make Priority Boxes for you to use as packaging material. This drives up the cost of shipping for everyone.  Looks like you are on the hook for refunding your buyer.

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Excellent point.  In fact there are penalties for doing that.  The OP needs to remember that USPS is a Federal operation.  Which can make the misuse of these materials a Federal Crime.  IDK if they take it that far.

[chapeau-noir]

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@mam98031 wrote:

Ebay didn't package the item, so Ebay has no responsibility here, it is all on the Seller.  

We are responsible for what we ship to arrive safe and sound.  If that wasn't true, sellers could throw a glass item into a padded envelope, mail it and hope for the best.

I might add that posters are not allowed to ship via Media mail unless something has changed.  I am confused as I see Priority Mail on your packing in the pics you provided.  Or if you used the PM stuff as packing materials, that too is against the USPS rules.

So did ship via Media Mail as you said in your first statement or did you actually ship via Priority Mail?

Media mail has NO automatic insurance.  Priority mail does.  You can't just use the supplies, then ship via a lower class [that your items don't qualify for] and then expect the insurance from the higher rate shipping method.  It doesn't work that way.

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<<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.>>

If I were the OP I'd refund the buyer and not even pursue this with the USPS, and take it as a lesson learned.

[mam98031]

I don't think @cinema_visions that Ebay even allows you to purchase shipping via Media Mail with the categories you are posting in.  Do you purchase your shipping off Ebay for items like the one you had this damage issue with?

[dbfolks166mt]

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

     This is not accurate but it is also probably irrelevant since the seller use media mail to ship the items which does not have insurance. USPS will pay you for the value of the item and while they require some proof of value it does not have to be an actual receipt. It can be the eBay invoice and/or evidence of the current market value of the item. If you sold it for a price that is considerably above the current average market price they may question the claim value based on any research they may do. 

[actionfigurevault77]

Why is everyone here up in arms about this guy using these boxes as packing material? Do any of you even know that UPS and Fed-EX will GLADLY take your Priority Mail *ONLY* labeled boxes and ship them right along their merry way via THEIR own service?

Yes, at the POST OFFICE'S expense *other* carriers have ZERO issue with you using those. What does the Post Office do about it? Not a **bleep** thing.....That's how concerned and well enforced they are about those boxes and policies being used for "specific" purposes.....

[mam98031]

I'm not sure anyone is "up in arms" with the OP on this.  Simply discussing it and bringing it to the OPs attention is not the same thing.

Misuse of USPS Supplies can Lead to Fines (thebalancesmb.com)

[albertabrightalberta]

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@nocoolnamejane wrote:

I suggest you refund your buyer in full and consider this a $58 lesson in how NOT to use the USPS.

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I would like to believe that an honest seller would accept that he made a mistake and learn from this experience, however the OP's absence since having been called out for wrongdoing is very telling.

In the hours since it's been noted that the posters weren't eligible for MM and that priority packaging isn't meant to be chopped up and used as packing materials, there are still nearly 6K listings with $8 charge for "economy" media mail (which costs $3.49 for 1 lb. BTW) and no "OMG, I messed up" from @cinema_visions .

I do hope at the very least, the buyer will get a full refund. 

[actionfigurevault77]

Interpret it how you wish. As for the link, here's a couple more. UPS.com   Fedex.com  try sending yours there. 

[mam98031]

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@actionfigurevault77 wrote:

Interpret it how you wish. As for the link, here's a couple more. UPS.com   Fedex.com  try sending yours there. 

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We were not discussing any carrier except USPS.  So what the other carriers would do is of no issue on this particular thread.

[chapeau-noir]

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@actionfigurevault77 wrote:

Why is everyone here up in arms about this guy using these boxes as packing material? Do any of you even know that UPS and Fed-EX will GLADLY take your Priority Mail *ONLY* labeled boxes and ship them right along their merry way via THEIR own service?

Yes, at the POST OFFICE'S expense *other* carriers have ZERO issue with you using those. What does the Post Office do about it? Not a **bleep** thing.....That's how concerned and well enforced they are about those boxes and policies being used for "specific" purposes.....

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Fed-Ex will not take my priority boxes to ship Fed-Ex. 

Both UPS and Fed-Ex also use USPS for last mile delivery for a number of their services - all three entities have logistical agreements.

[cardsforauction]

I guess you could not ship these movie posters in large cardboard tubes?  Is the cost too much for this kind of packaging?  Just curious. 

Media Mail, the packages could take a month to arrive to the buyer and the PO i believe opens the package to inspect to see if the contents qualify for Media Mail and maybe it was not repacked properly by the PO?? Possible damage occurred?

[cardsforauction]

The better option was to roll up the posters and send them in a cardboard tube.  Maybe shipping is a lot more than I think? Not sure what the cost is for that kind of packaging, but I guess I would pass that cost on to the customer.  Media Mail is not a good method.   Media Mail, seems like it worked hundreds of times, but not this time.  I agree with others that the seller is out of luck on winning a claim with the USPS since there was no insurance on this package.  Media Mail is at the very bottom for package shipping.

[mam98031]

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@cardsforauction wrote:

The better option was to roll up the posters and send them in a cardboard tube.  Maybe shipping is a lot more than I think? Not sure what the cost is for that kind of packaging, but I guess I would pass that cost on to the customer.  Media Mail is not a good method.   Media Mail, seems like it worked hundreds of times, but not this time.  I agree with others that the seller is out of luck on winning a claim with the USPS since there was no insurance on this package.  Media Mail is at the very bottom for package shipping.

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The far more important point is they should not be using MM at all.  What they are shipping does not qualify.  If or when they get caught, USPS could fine them for using the wrong USPS mailing method as well as using Priority mailing supplies to package the items.  

The OP needs to figure out the CORRECT way to ship these items and if that increases what they need to charge their buyers for shipping then so be it.  They should not be doing what they are currently doing.

It is also highly likely that they know this because the categories they list in for these items you can not print out a Media mail shipping label.  So they have to be purchasing their labels off Ebay, which it is fine to purchase labels off Ebay, but they are doing it to get around the fact that they are shipping via a method they are not entitled to ship via.