USPS Refusing to Accept EBay Sales Documentation

[colfaxstation]

On a couple of recent lost shipment claims, USPS keeps asking for the same info and refuses to accept EBay sales documentation.  They seem to be looking for a standard cash register receipt to establish the sales value.  Anybody found a way around this?  The last time it happened I had the local Congressman's office contact them and they paid quickly. Just don't want to keep bugging them as they have helped the Museum with more important issues.

[funfactorychannel]

did you give that plus the tracking on ebay associated with the item? or just ask what isnt clear on his end?

[richard1rst]

---

@colfaxstation wrote:

On a couple of recent lost shipment claims, USPS keeps asking for the same info and refuses to accept EBay sales documentation.  They seem to be looking for a standard cash register receipt to establish the sales value.  Anybody found a way around this?  The last time it happened I had the local Congressman's office contact them and they paid quickly. Just don't want to keep bugging them as they have helped the Museum with more important issues.

---

I assume that this is in reference to an insurance claim? If so - understand that the insurance company is intent on paying you for YOUR loss based on YOUR cost, not what you sold it for.

Understand that I am not suggesting that you have done anything underhanded, but understand that there are risk managers who imagine every (even ridiculous) scenarios. What is to stop a con man from "selling" a $2 item to a co-conspirator and deliberately addressing the label so it gets "lost" in the mail and then claiming a $100 loss based on a phony sales ticket.

[mam98031]

---

@richard1rst wrote:

---

@colfaxstation wrote:

On a couple of recent lost shipment claims, USPS keeps asking for the same info and refuses to accept EBay sales documentation.  They seem to be looking for a standard cash register receipt to establish the sales value.  Anybody found a way around this?  The last time it happened I had the local Congressman's office contact them and they paid quickly. Just don't want to keep bugging them as they have helped the Museum with more important issues.

---

I assume that this is in reference to an insurance claim? If so - understand that the insurance company is intent on paying you for YOUR loss based on YOUR cost, not what you sold it for.

Understand that I am not suggesting that you have done anything underhanded, but understand that there are risk managers who imagine every (even ridiculous) scenarios. What is to stop a con man from "selling" a $2 item to a co-conspirator and deliberately addressing the label (or even leaving the label off) so it gets "lost" in the mail and then claiming a $100 loss based on a phony sales ticket.

---

I disagree.  It should be on the price the buyer paid for the item, NOT the sellers cost of product.  I've never seen that happen.

https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

[richard1rst]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

---

I disagree.  It should be on the price the buyer paid for the item, NOT the sellers cost of product.  I've never seen that happen.

https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

---

That is what they did to me. I had to prove what I paid for it, not what I sold it for. The link you provided states "USPS does not pay a claim higher than an item’s actual value.". The question becomes What is the actual value? You could argue that the value is what the buyer paid. But the post office argues that the value is what I paid for it, since I am the one insuring it.

If I have $100 in my bank and I buy an item for $50 my balance is now $50.

I sell it for $100 my balance is now $150.

The item gets lost. I have to refund the buyer, my balance is now $50.

Insurance pays my cost of $50 and my balance is right back to the original $100.

Both I and my buyer are back where we started from. I don't get to profit in an insurance claim.

Parenthetically the post office also refunded the postage and eBay refunded the FVF. So I am still whole as is nothing ever happened.

[inhawaii]

I had this happen once.

The usps lost a GA package.

I filed a claim but it was denied because they would not accept the ebay sale as proof of value.

Every time I print out a ebay shipping label it says my package is insured for whatever the item sold for.

What a bunch of **bleep**.

Not worth the time and effort for a $20 item.

But I wish you success.

[fbusoni]

---

@inhawaii wrote:

I had this happen once.

The usps lost a GA package.

I filed a claim but it was denied because they would not accept the ebay sale as proof of value.

Every time I print out a ebay shipping label it says my package is insured for whatever the item sold for.

What a bunch of **bleep**.

Not worth the time and effort for a $20 item.

But I wish you success.

---

This must be a relatively recent policy... or perhaps it applies only to eBay? 

About 18 months ago USPS reimbursed me for a package they lost.   A buyer on FB marketplace paid me $70 and USPS paid me that full amount.  I used FB marketplace documentation.   

I did notice last night when printing a GA shipping label (via eBay) that there was a note which said "Your package is insured up to $35."   Not sure I had seen that previously.

[johnrj1226]

 Several years ago (more than 8 years)   on two  different occasions in a short period of time two  Priority Mail packages made it to the Jamaica, NY sort facility but never came out - kinda  like  that Poor Ole Charley that  got on the MTA and never  returned - if your not old you problem  don't  know who that is - google and you will.,  Had $100 insurance (was a TR+ seller  items sold for @ 80 bucks including shipping.  Filed claims with  the USPS for my selling  price was  reimbursed fully.  Don't  have a brother-in-law or any other connections that works for the USPS.

Maybe the USPS is doing a "tighten up" as  there reported operating losses were 950 million in 2022, 6.5 Billion in 2023 and 9.5 Billion in 2024 - if you want to get a look back in history google search using these words USPS profit loss history by year  - not a pretty picture at all - guess those  Forever Stamps were a good idea

[bashort]

If the USPS wants to make some extra money they could sell a list of the suckers who pay extra for this worthless product to the extended warranty companies.

Seriously I wish that they would just quit including any "free" insurance, save everyone lost of aggravation