Has anyone filed a (up to $50) damage claim with USPS for a Priority Mail package?

[inhawaii]

Has anyone filed a (up to $50) damage claim with USPS for a Priority Mail package?

A customer of mine just received a item from me where the box was totally crushed and the contents damaged. It was in a Priority Mail "shoe box" that had been altered.  I was told that you could alter a Priority Mail box as long as it is not a flat rate box. 

Will the fact that i altered the box "void" my insurance claim?

Is it a hassle to file a claim for a item that costs me about $10 or should i just forget about it?

Thank you for your input.

[tofu107]

she can file online,as long as she has the tracking and photos.

no need to volunteer youhave altered the box,if they dont reject it in the first place,it should be fine

[dougsue123b]

Its worth doing just so you know. Then you can share with us outcome 🙂

[dougsue123b]

Only the seller, or person that mailed it can make a claim, not the buyer.

[tofu107]

NO,I have filed claims as a buyer.
and ask the check to be mailed to me

[sam9876]

---

@dougsue123b wrote:

Only the seller, or person that mailed it can make a claim, not the buyer.

---

False.

[missjen831]

---

@tofu107 wrote:
NO,I have filed claims as a buyer.
and ask the check to be mailed to me

---

I hope you are suggesting the OP tell the buyer to file the insurance claim. Because telling A seller to advise their buyer to do the same is very bad advice. Insurance is for the seller. The seller should refund the buyer and file the insurance claim. Telling the buyer to file the insurance claim is bad customer service and the buyer can get a double refund by filing an eBay or PayPal case plus the insurance claim. 

[missjen831]

---

@missjen831 wrote:

---

@tofu107 wrote:
NO,I have filed claims as a buyer.
and ask the check to be mailed to me

---

I hope you are suggesting the OP tell the buyer to file the insurance claim. Because telling A seller to advise their buyer to do the same is very bad advice. Insurance is for the seller. The seller should refund the buyer and file the insurance claim. Telling the buyer to file the insurance claim is bad customer service and the buyer can get a double refund by filing an eBay or PayPal case plus the insurance claim. 

---

Omg! I meant I hope YOU ARE NOT suggesting the OP tell the buyer to file an INR!

[tofu107]

---

@missjen831 wrote:

---

@tofu107 wrote:
NO,I have filed claims as a buyer.
and ask the check to be mailed to me

---

I hope you are suggesting the OP tell the buyer to file the insurance claim. Because telling A seller to advise their buyer to do the same is very bad advice. Insurance is for the seller. The seller should refund the buyer and file the insurance claim. Telling the buyer to file the insurance claim is bad customer service and the buyer can get a double refund by filing an eBay or PayPal case plus the insurance claim. 

---

I have filed as seller as well as buyer,since I have the item as a buyer,I can take pictures and file online,I can also instruct who should get the claim $$.

In the case when I file,it was my supplier who shipped and insured the package,altho I have to pay for the insurance,out of 200 pieces,only a few are damaged,I took pictures and file,I also notify my supplier I did in case USPS would call her.

Now USPS is sending out letter asking the filer to presnt the item to a local post office,in this situation,the buyer has the item so buyer would have to show up in the local pos office,the seller cannot since she does not have the item 

[dougsue123b]

That is what they told me at the post office the other day, she said they changed the rules recently.

[sam9876]

---

@dougsue123b wrote:

That is what they told me at the post office the other day, she said they changed the rules recently.

---

They lied to you.  The rules have not changed.

[lja440]

From the looks of it and my experience as a mail carrier, this looks as if you left considerable voids within the box. That is the only way that a box crushes in this way. A totally filled box will have small accordion pleats if a side or corner takes a hit enough to crush some. For this reason and not that the box was altered this claim may be deemed 'insufficant packing"

Remember that once you pack an item and then shake the box hard, if you hear or feel the item shifting and moving within the box , it doesn't have sufficient padding, and these voids will allow the box to be crushed when something (other packages) land on it.

You should also note that when voids crush in there is a likelyhood of the box also coming open with can cause the total loss of the item.

[inhawaii]

I've already sent a replacement to my buyer, this time in a much stronger box (that i had to pay for).  The heavier box also meant i paid even more postage than the last time. Those Priority Mail shoe boxes are really light (and flimsy)!

I would never ask the buyer to go through the hassle of filing a claim.

I'll look in to filing a claim on my end and if it's too time consuming, i'll just chalk it off as a loss. 

Thanks for all your input and have a great weekend!

[couldabeenworse]

I'll look in to filing a claim on my end and if it's too time consuming, i'll just chalk it off as a loss. 

If the buyer has provided a picture of the damage, it's easy and reasonably quick to file online.  WAY easier than it used to be filing at the post office.

[lightlily_arts]

I would file a claim. You used Priority mail and insurance is included. Clearly the box was damaged. Did they buyer send you a picture of the item in the box to make sure the item was also damaged? Either the buyer or the seller can iniate a claim with the postal service. As a seller I would file the clam ad refund my buyer. The postal service tracks the claim via the tracking number so there wot be a duplication I’d claims service.