How do I put a claim in to USPS for an item that was broken during shipping.

[bubbapeaandme8178]

A buyer of one of my items went to the PO to pick up a package that I sent and the box had an item that was broken, The package was fully insured and the buyer showed the box to the Postal clerk as soon as she found the box to have a rattle. The postal clerk told the buyer to contact me???  What would I do that this bozo could have done when it became apparent that there was indeed a broken item in the box. He had the box, the tracking label, the broken item and both parties name and address and the insurance info. What else could he possibly need besides a kick in the pants for being so stupid. Pushing the claim off to me or anyone else is only going to delay the process and prolong the claim if indeed it's ever paid. The PO wants 25 billion $$$$$ of tax payers money and I paid to have the contents delivered in one piece and that's not enough, now they want to delay or scam me out of the insurance money paid. I forgot to add there is no "Process Claim" in the drop down box under the "Shipping Label" entry on my SELLING page for this item????.   bubba 

[nobody*s_perfect]

You file a claim at usps.com.

The buyer   can ALSO file a claim under eBay's buyer protection policy (which they call the Money Back Guarantee) and get BOTH payments, leaving you with nothing. So it makes more sense for you to be the one to file the USPS claim.

[bubbapeaandme8178]

Why would an employee of the PO that has all the information right at hand not file a claim for the customer?? I think I know why but tossing darts isn't going to get it done, ALSO, why is there not a "Process Claim" for this item on my "LABELS" line for this item when insurance was paid, doesn't ebay have anything to do with an item offered during or after a sale. Telling me it's my responsibility with no link or method dissolves Ebay of all responsibility which sounds normal for this business entity. I'll contact the buyer and ask him/her to process the claim, if they don't want to I'll refund and move on with the loss. bubba

[kensgiftshop]

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@bubbapeaandme8178 wrote:
Why would an employee of the PO that has all the information right at hand not file a claim for the customer??

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Because, that's not their job.

It's the sellers job to file the claim.

[nickelsanddimes2015]

No offense but good luck. At the beginning of the year the post office changed the way they pay out claims. It's like pulling teeth now to get a payout even with insurance that is paid. You have to file it online and provide all pics and info and invoices however in about 10 days you will get  letter stating you or the customer needs to bring it to the post office for inspection. They will keep the item and depending on that post master and how it was packaged such as it had proper padding or if the outside of the box is damaged things like that it will be up to him/her to send the decision and paperwork to the main postal offices to either approve or deny the claim. So in other words you should be super nice to whomever looks at it. It took 4 months and an appeal to try and get my money back that I had to refund the customer and even with the box being heavily damaged and the inside item broken they still denied my claim. That's why I only use Fedex now for anything that can be damaged.

[bubbapeaandme8178]

Oh , I see the postal employees just shows up for the day and no customer service is allowed, come on if it's not there job why are they showing up at the PO every morning??, Oh yes, I forgot as soon as tax payers cough up with another bail out they might consider working during the day. Are you kidding me, I have been using the PO to ship for over 40 years and in the past they were all willing to help anyone with a problem no matter what it was. Money for nothing is the name of the game today, telling me that it's my bag is pure baloney you have been drinking the KOOL-AID, read some of the answers I get and you will see how the PO is not what it use to be, it's '" bail me out" so I don't have to work after I am 55. Ain't life fun PO does nothing and in the same breath they yell HELP! bubba

[bubbapeaandme8178]

Your exactly right, I have had 3 claims in the last 2 years and the PO has never paid me a dime. I refund the buyer to keep my respect and the PO scams every claim to where the shipper just gives up. bubba

[alcoforever]

I think you should refund the buyer now and take the loss.  The only way the post office will honor a breakage claim is if the package has a tire track on it and you can prove the track came from a USPS vehicle.

Your rants about the USPS are falling on deaf ears here.

[bubbapeaandme8178]

I don't think so, you certainly heard me, sounds like you don't use them or else work for them. bubba

[alcoforever]

If you don't refund the buyer, you will soon see the item jammed up your patootie by the ebay MBG process.

[bubbapeaandme8178]

I value all my buyers so this will never happen, 22 years on the site over 10,000 straight positive feedbacks on 2 sites, not everyone thinks like you! bubba

[bubbapeaandme8178]

All is well, I told the buyer I would send them another item to replace the broken one at my expense.
I would rather make my buyer whole as the process is poor at best. Thanks for all comments the ineptness of the claim system is glaring and a 5th grader could do better. bubba

[johnrj1226]

@bubbapeaandme8178 

"Why would an employee of the PO that has all the information right at hand not file a claim for the customer??"

In order  to file a  claim one needs the purchase  value of the item (eBay invoice).  Don't think any USPS employee has that info.  Plus the seller packaged the shipment - many damage issues are caused by poor packaging by the sender (aka seller).

It is the the sellers responsibility to file insurance claims as they have all the information and they arranged for insurance coverage - maybe none at all or just the basic amount of coverage  offered by the carrier e.g. Priority shipments.

[dtexley3]

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@alcoforever wrote:

I think you should refund the buyer now and take the loss.  The only way the post office will honor a breakage claim is if the package has a tire track on it and you can prove the track came from a USPS vehicle.

Your rants about the USPS are falling on deaf ears here.

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Not always, I filed a claim last week with  pictures from the buyer that showed the damage to the box, the bubble wrap in the box and item.  Was paid out within the week, so I think it more depends on the individual at USPS handling the claim.

[corvettestainless]

Unless the box had obvious shipping damage, a 'rattle' inside simply means the seller did not package correctly. Filing a claim would be a waste of effort and time. 

Claims are always filed by the seller, as the insurance (added or given with Priority) is for the seller, not the buyer. The buyer buys, and if it's damaged, you pay them then you worry about filing a claim and getting paid back. The tricky part is the item cannot be 'reshipped' and must be available for inspection, once a claim is made- so the buyer has to 'help you out' if they're willing. 

This is all just how claims for damages works. Basically, except for a 'lost' package that tracking show USPS received and then never delivered, there really is NO insurance for 'damaged'.