Whose responsibility is it when a package is tampered with?

[chinohighcowboys1963]

In what way was it tampered with?

[divwido]

You haven't given enough information.  Who  is responsible depends a lot of factors.

Did your neighbor tamper with it?  The Mail Carrier?  A thief?

[loveyourimagination49]

Yours because you chose the carrier?
More info needed

[mam98031]

We know you know what happened, but we have no idea.  You need to share a bit more before we can even venture a guess.

[fashunu4eeuh · Accepted solution]

Several factors are at play here, depending on the circumstances.

But generally speaking, if a buyer has received a package that has been rifled, they should immediately inform the postal authorities as well as the sender. Sellers are responsible for seeing to it that a package is delivered in whole to its recipient.

If a package is rifled, then a claim needs to be made by the sender to collect on any shipping insurance. This includes Priority Mail and packages that have been additionally insured by the seller. If no insurance exists, it is the seller who is out of pocket and takes the loss, reimbursing the buyer via refund or replacement.

Loss of goods should have a contingency plan by the seller as part of their overall business management and strategy.

[luckythewinner]

Whose responsibility is it when a package is tampered with?

Morally speaking, most would say that the person who tampered with it is responsibile. 

But moraility does not stop eBay from holding the seller financially responsible in the event of a SNAD dispute.  

[1tuna]

I like the choice of words,"rifled package" is actually a choice to use on some of the usps claim forms.about a year ago I had to report an empty box,went to the police and the lady asked me whats up,I said "i want to report a rifled package". The lady cop looked at me and acted like she never heard the term.Lots of TV shows show some one rifling a desk when looking for something ,Besides a rifle barrel being rifled I can not think of many things that get rifled nowadays. I love the old terms,takes me right back to adam 12

[ianhar010]

The buyer said it was empty when received and sent a picture of the padded envelope that had been torn open.  I did send the purchase 1st class with tracking via Ebay's mailing labels.  I refunded the purchase price and shipping to the buyer, I was just wondering whose responsibility a situation like this is, mine or the buyers.

[ianhar010]

The buyer said it was empty when received and sent a picture of the padded envelope that had been torn open.  I did send the purchase 1st class with tracking via Ebay's mailing labels.  I refunded the purchase price and shipping to the buyer, I was just wondering whose responsibility a situation like this is, mine or the buyers.

[divwido]

That is your responsibility, according to eBay.

[divwido]

Unless that happened after delivery and there's just no way to prove anything.

[rshfs]

usually the USPS puts a sticker on opened packages explaining the loss happened in their facility.

I would write to the buyer and let them know that you will be filing a loss/theft report with the US Postal Inspector...that usually helps such buyers 'find' their item...

[mtgraves7984]

In my experience, USPS owns it if they did it. I've gotten a sticker placed on a new clear plastic package containing the 'rifled' item, even!

Yes, the phrase 'Postal Inspector' is a powerful tool.

[ifyouloveit]

I had a padded air jacket package slit open with knife or razor, the items removed, and the air jacket was delivered empty, clearly cut open. No sticker from USPS. I know the buyer very well, she's a regular and a friend. It was stolen for sure, probably by a USPS employee.

I had dropped this package in the big inside drop off chute of the post office. I can only assume a postal employee stole the contents. Why it was delivered with no 'oopsie' sticker I don't know, but I was not happy and I replaced the entire package for my customer and sent out a new one.