USPS Claims

[valsun_28]

Once again, a claim has been denied by USPS.  Since I have had claims denied by the USPS in the past, I have taken extra care in packing and shipping my items.  Since I ship mostly breakable vintage items, I wrap, double box, and add air pillows (if that's what they are called).  For the most part this has been successful but here is the scenario of this last sale.

Sold a vintage cookie jar to a customer.

She notified me the item was shipped and broken when she received it.  She took pictures and sent them to me, and I issued the buyer a full refund

I asked her to keep the box, packing materials, and the cookie jar so I could submit a claim.  In the meantime, I filed a claim online which requires a ton of information including proof of when the item was purchased and price paid, all of the information including date sold, amount, tracking number and the buyer's address, telephone number and non-e-bay e-mail address (which I "think" is against E-bay policy).  I provided all of this information (with permission from the buyer) on the online form and submitted the claim.  I received a letter about 10 days later requesting the item, box, and packing materials be taken to the nearest post office.  I e-mailed a copy of the USPS letter to my buyer, and she graciously took everything to her local post office.   I just received notification from the USPS that my claim was denied!  Why? Because they said the damage was not caused by the USPS!  REALLY?  Who was the damaged caused by, then? Gremlins?  USPS $100 coverage for Priority shipments is a joke if they deny your claim after you provide them with everything to legitimize the claim.  Oh, and not to mention a vintage 1940's Cookie Jar is not something that be re-ordered online.    This is my third claim with USPS and will be the last time I ship using the USPS.  I would be interested in others weighing in and if they had a similar situation and what the resolution was.   Thank you for allowing me to vent!  That and a glass of wine!

[dhbookds]

Did you get a pic of the box itself?  Not doubting the buyer.......but just wonder what it looked like-what damage it had.........

[lakefor94]

I think you pretty much covered the tale of the tape.  I always laugh when members ask posters if they bought insurance. Waste of good hard earned money over time unless USPS completely loses the shipment and there is no delivery scan.

[dnasilver]

"telephone number and non-e-bay e-mail address (which I "think" is against E-bay policy)."

eBay cannot have a policy that keeps you from sharing anything with a US Government entity. 

How do you know for fact that the buyer did not damage the item? 

[lamber9347]

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@lakefor94 wrote:

I think you pretty much covered the tale of the tape.  I always laugh when members ask posters if they bought insurance. Waste of good hard earned money over time unless USPS completely loses the shipment and there is no delivery scan.

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@lakefor94 Oh my goodness, I laugh at the same thing. So many folks on here will quickly ask that, as if it means anything. The only time I've heard of USPS refunding anyone is for a legitimate lost package, after several months. I just never see anyone say they prevailed in an insurance claim with USPS.... 

[showmecurrency4u]

the post has denied several claims  where they lost the package or was stolen by an employee and they did not pay the claim until i send in more information . if i conduct my business like the post office i probably would be arrested  for mail fraud.    i  now know what i black hole is... it is a sort center. 

[mandisattictoyz]

On the usps site, you can email them and tell them they need to pay up.  I do this every time they deny it and they send a check in the mail

[stainlessenginecovers]

Unless the box itself has notable destruction and the buyer reports this to the carrier same day or next day at best, showing the 'destruction'- there is NO insurance for breakable items being damaged during shipping. 

The insurance covers 'damage' caused by the carrier (again- obvious box damage) or lost package (tracking just 'stops') 

[mam98031]

Unless there was visible damage to the exterior of the box, this outcome should not surprise anyone.  If there was no damage to the outside of the box, the conclusion would likely be that it was how the item was packed.  Of course that may or may not be true but it would be the conclusion that USPS would come to.

When getting pics, the most important one is of the exterior of the box, the damage product too, but it isn't near as important as the box.

Something else to consider when working on a situation like this.  USPS is pretty good about putting a note or sticker on the outside of a package when they damage it.  I've personally received many of them over the years.

So what did the exterior box look like?

[ten_o_nine]

In my opinion, the item should not break during transport no matter who the carrier is, if you really know how to pack, it will not break.

[gemarakop_trading]

Ship ups 

[gemarakop_trading]

I don’t understand why people don’t use ups fewer problems and when there is I have a check within the month.

[ten_o_nine]

I agree. UPS can give you problems if not packed well but they are not as bad as USPS.

[lakefor94]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

In my opinion, the item should not break during transport no matter who the carrier is, if you really know how to pack, it will not break.

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True

[stainlessenginecovers]

@gemarakop_trading 

@ten_o_nine 

UPS on eBay is eBay's account and therefore there is no shipping insurance protection (unless a seller uses thier own personal UPS account)

Besides; if the box it not damaged, UPS is not footing the bill for a breakable either.