Buyer claims postman left her order in the rain!

[sewdrapes]

Buyer contacts me Sunday afternoon that her mailman left her package on the sidewalk.  Apparently it rained the day the box was delivered (Saturday).

I get the feeling she never picked up her package on the front step (tracking shows package delivered on front step) the day it was delivered and just discovered it on Sunday.  

I checked the weather in her area and it did rain the day it was delivered.  I packaged her items in a box with items wrapped in tissue and then wrapped in clear plastic with bubble wrap on the bottom and top of box.  I think I did everything correct to get this package to her address except knocking on her door and hand delivering it to her.

She is now requesting a refund with me paying return shipping!  She sent photos of the wet box.  

I was very sympathetic with the situation, but requested time to figure out with the post office how to handle this before jumping to refund her.  I told her I will stop at my post office in the morning.  I was having trouble filing a claim online and even gave her the instructions as to how to file a claim.  

Will ebay make me the responsible party for her postman leaving the box in the rain?  She would of received emails as to when to expect her package.  I get the feeling it was left outside all day....then it rained and she found it the next day.  How am I responsible?

Never had this issue!

Eileen

[postingid2017]

I am just taking a stab in the dark, however, I do not think so.  I could see the package may be on the step if she has an enclosed porched.  I've seen FedEx, UPS & USPS leave packages on step whereas the porched is enclosed and the door locked.  I've had wet mail but not packages.  But on the sidewalk?  I find that a bit sketchy.

Hopefully, a more seasoned response will dispute what I stated, but if it was delivered on Saturday and she just now found it on the sidewalk, it is just not sitting right with me.

[americangradedcoincompany]

As long as you used Paypal and it was comfirmed DELIVERD with tracking number , you are covered under Paypal shipping.  You must use ebay labels and must be purchased through Paypal.

Good Luck!

Phillip  Bernier

President

A.G.C.C  Inc.

[missjen831]

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@americangradedcoincompany wrote:

As long as you used Paypal and it was comfirmed DELIVERD with tracking number , you are covered under Paypal shipping.  You must use ebay labels and must be purchased through Paypal.

Good Luck!

Phillip  Bernier

President

A.G.C.C  Inc.

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@americangradedcoincompany Um no. This is not true. Not sure where you got your information but its wrong.  this is an SNAD and it does not matter where the OP got the label. Paypal doesn't pay for shipping damage. This is NOT an INR case and even if it was, again, it does not matter if the OP got the label through ebay and paid with paypal. 

[missjen831]

Most likely yes, ebay will hold you responsible. I don't agree with it but its most likely what will happen. If you shipped priority mail, then no matter where you purchased the label, there is a minimum of $50 insurance. The insurance is your protection, the buyer has the MBG. 

[muttlymob]

I get the feeling she never picked up her package on the front step (tracking shows package delivered on front step) the day it was delivered and just discovered it on Sunday.  

So?  What difference does it make if she never checked for it on Saturday.  Or wasn't home all weekend.  Or whatever reason she may not have gotten to the package instantly upon delivery.  Mail carriers are not supposed to leave packages exposed to the weather, so when she got to it should not have mattered.

She would of received emails as to when to expect her package. 

Unless she told you she received email notifications of package delivery, how would you know this?

Slow down with guessing her actions and motivations.  Address the actual problem without jumping to blame the buyer.

Damage that happens after delivery should not be covered by eBay or PayPal, but that doesn't mean one or the other won't find in her favor.

[zmoz]

muttlymob wrote: 

She would of received emails as to when to expect her package. 

Unless she told you she received email notifications of package delivery, how would you know this?

He knows this because ebay automatically does it with every item. They send an email telling you it shipped, with the tracking number showing when it will be delivered. Additionally, they send another email once a tracking number shows delivered. It's automatic with ALL ebay items...

With that said this is a problem between you and USPS. You are responsible for insuring packages up to their value, and if you didn't, it's your loss. USPS is at fault for leaving the package in the rain and should pay for it with any insurance you might have.

[missjen831]

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@zmoz wrote:

muttlymob wrote: 

She would of received emails as to when to expect her package. 

Unless she told you she received email notifications of package delivery, how would you know this?

He knows this because ebay automatically does it with every item. They send an email telling you it shipped, with the tracking number showing when it will be delivered. Additionally, they send another email once a tracking number shows delivered. It's automatic with ALL ebay items...

With that said this is a problem between you and USPS. You are responsible for insuring packages up to their value, and if you didn't, it's your loss. USPS is at fault for leaving the package in the rain and should pay for it with any insurance you might have.

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I was going to say the same thing--ebay in very recent months has started sending out a delivered email notification in addition to the shipping confirmation. They used to only send a shipping confirmation (which only tells the ESTIMATED delivery date) but now they are sending an email when the tracking shows the item was delivered. 

[lja440]

I'm a mail carrier. 

While I try to put packages in a safe place, I can't be expected to know each customers schedule and how long it will take him or her to decide to pick up their package.  Some I do have an idea. I have one that has a big wrap around porch. I am constantly moving FedEx packages under the roof from the driveway. He is a truck driver and it is not uncommon for a dozen or more packages to sit there for a week or more. I't a very safe area so no worry about theft. BUT!!! it is up to every home owner to provide a safe area to leave the mail, it is our responsibility to deliver it. I'm in Ohio so weather can change minute to minute, if I never left a package where it COULD get rained on the only ones I would be delivering are the ones that would fit in the mailboxes.

I'll tell you that most likely with a package left exposed due to the customer not bringing it in, getting wet insurance will be denied. IMO it is totally the buyers fault if something got ruined.

That said I do sell larger lots of books and clothing. My book boxes are lined with a clear bag, I also cling wrap each book (I find they pack better with the pages secured). I did have a large lot that was delivered under a small cover shallow porch. The lady was at a relatives and a bad storm came up. She stayed over rather than driving home through it. With the heavy rain and winds the box was soaked to the point that she could not pick it up, but the books were safe and dry. 

[captaindavesgoodies]

Been there done that and had to gve refund.

Use plastic bags for items that may get wet!

[shoptalkid]

Was it just the  box that got wet?  How are the items inside?  Damaged?   The fact that things that get left sitting outside in the elements doesn't necessarily mean it's automatically the sellers' fault.   But it's easier for buyers to blame sellers than to take responsibility for the delivery location or to contact their carrier.   Your buyer could have been gone all weekend for all you know!  One of my neighbors was gone several days and had a huge box on their porch that got soaked in the rain.  I eventually brought it in to my garage to hold it until they returned. . 

I always put my items in plastic bags within the mailer/box, but big box sellers don't even necessarily do that! 

[americangradedcoincompany]

Oh, ok.  We ship through paypal all the time if we post a tracking number with them and it is proved delivered they cover us.  Have several time.  We only have shipped a couple thousand items 🙂

Call them 🙂

Good luck. I nipped that hassel in the bud a long time ago!

After it happeded once 3 years to us.  Not many people know about how to do the proceedure right bit I am sure everyone can call Paypal as I and do thier own D and D.

[chung-lee-2]

In my opinion I would tell your buyer to go chew on the mailmans behind not yours , because you did not deliver it the mailman did .

[missjen831]

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@americangradedcoincompany wrote:

Oh, ok.  We ship through paypal all the time if we post a tracking number with them and it is proved delivered they cover us.  Have several time.  We only have shipped a couple thousand items 🙂

Call them 🙂

Good luck. I nipped that hassel in the bud a long time ago!

After it happeded once 3 years to us.  Not many people know about how to do the proceedure right bit I am sure everyone can call Paypal as I and do thier own D and D.

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@americangradedcoincompany You still don't get it. You are talking about an "item not received case". This thread is NOT about an item not received case so your information is irrelevant and doesn't apply Here. The OPs buyer received their item but they are complaining that it was damaged by the. This a "signifigantly not as described" case and neither eBay OR PayPal will cover the seller. 

[postingid2017]

I agree, there have been times that no one in my household got the mail from the box on a Saturday.  However, when the buyer stated that it was on the sidewalk on "Sunday" that is sketchy to me. The first rule I learned while working in a legal environment . . . "if the story being told is not making sense, it may not be the truth.

I do understand Business Law, and eBay will throw in "you hired the third-party," however, the third-party should take some care when delivering.  If it were me, I would not accept the return and who cares if it will be a "forced return" as eBay should have some common sense.  Who knows, maybe the delivery person wants to be terminated.