Next steps--wait for INR to be filed or contact buyer first?

[purrcubed]

Hi all, 

I am a seller. Questions towards the end of this post. I sent out a package 4/26 via Priority Mail to Cleveland, Ohio. Sale was $160. Item cost me $100. 

It looped around various distribution centers in my state before getting to the Priority Mail plant in Nashua, NH. I am in MA. It went to Cleveland on 4/27, came back to Nashua NH on the same day and went back to Cleveland on Wed, 4/28. Since then, no scans. We’re coming up almost 2 weeks now since the last scan. 

What I did so far:

1. Filed a missing package search - buyer’s local post office closed the case (see below)
2. Filed a missing mail piece (routing the package to be sent to buyer if they recover it)
3. Spoke with local post office manager who said the package was “looping” so she went into a “special program” and “redirected the package” manually. “It should update in 48-72 hours and start updating again. This was last Thurs, May 6. 
4. Spoke with local ‘District of Consumer Affairs’ - one step up from local post office in Cleveland. “I sent out an email to the plant inquiring about your package along with several other ones that have stopped scanning.” 

Usually when all these steps have been taken, something resurfaces. The date the buyer saw when checking out was May 10th. That was yesterday. Not a peep from her yet. 

Questions: 

1. If the buyer does not write to me, would YOU contact her out of courtesy and let her know all the steps taken? If so, how long would you wait? She is able to open the INR as of TODAY. I basically want to ask her to be patient and wait a little while before opening up a case. 
2. If the buyer writes to me and opens an INR. Would you issue a refund and do a package intercept right away? 
3. If the package is really lost, how long does it take to file a claim with the USPS for Priority Mail packages (process from start to finish)? And do you receive the full amount of $100? 

Thanks. Hope this made sense. 

[Anonymous]

First off, multiple threads are not necessary...

1.Doubtful if you haven't heard from her, that she would file an INR on the 1st day of availability.

I would apologize for the delay and let her know the steps you have taken and that you will keep her posted.

2.You can try an intercept, though if the package is lost, the likelihood of success is low. At least you don't get charged unless it is successful. 

3.The last claim took me 60 days (international). The one before it, a domestic claim, took 45. You will receive $160 + shipping cost if you insured it for the full amount (not sure why you think you will only get $100? The value will be based on the amount you sold it for) . If you did not insure it, you will get $50.

[purrcubed]

Hi @Anonymous . I actually asked a moderator to please delete my other thread prior to posting this one, so I am well aware that there should not be multiple threads and I apologize for that. 

Thanks for your thoughts. 

Re: #3: I did not insure for the full amount. I am talking about the priority mail insurance that covers up to $100. Am I incorrect in thinking I can at least claim up to the $100 (the default insurance that came with using Priority mail--NO additional insurance was purchased). I did not know the amount was $50--they advertise it as $100...

[Anonymous]

USPS automatically provides $100 of insurance coverage for Priority Mail paid at the Commercial Plus rate, and $50 of coverage for Commercial Base and retail.  Commercial Base is the regular online rate.

eBay's TRS and some other high-volume sellers pay the Commercial Plus rates so they automatically get the $100 of coverage. I assumed, based on your FB, that you are neither a TRS, nor pay the Commercial Plus rates.

I now see that this is probably a posting account so you could very well be entitled to the $100. Also, this is an example of why putting in unnecessary information into your post (the cost being $100 which has no bearing on anything) only served to confuse it.

[purrcubed]

P.S. I flagged my own post to tell the moderator to delete it. It was originally posted in shipping and returns yesterday and now it has been deleted. I posted this new thread in "Selling" and now it has been moved to shipping and returns again. Thanks for your understanding!

[purrcubed]

@Anonymous I am a TRS but I do not take advantage of any of the TRS perks (this is a forum account only). I don't know if I pay the Commercial Plus rate. But, am pretty sure upon paying for shipping labels that I do see the $100 coverage. Is there a way to check? I haven't made a sale recently so...

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

If you save copies of your labels prior to printing, which I do, you can see whether it is commercial plus or commercial right on the label next to the QR code.

[purrcubed]

@Anonymous Yes, I do! Just checked. I print out an extra label each transaction and it says: "Pitney Bowes ComPlsPrice"

I assume ComPlsPrice means...commercial PLUS price, and thus, I am covered for $100 if I submit a claim? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Correct. 

[monster-deals]

---

@purrcubed wrote:

Questions: 

1. If the buyer does not write to me, 

---

Stop there.

Come back when they do.

[purrcubed]

@monster-deals @Haha! I did write to them. Silly me. You didn't stop me in time. Sigh. 

I should have known. This is the first time I contacted the buyer first. I gave her a whole update and then lo and behold the package started moving at 3:20 p.m. Eastern about 2 hours ago. After speaking to her local post office, as well as the District of Consumer Affairs, it looks like they manually retrieved it from the bin and are sending it along and it should arrive at her local post office by tomorrow.

Big sigh of relief.

But yeah, I always feel morally conflicted when it comes to contacting the buyer or not. She has been really good and hasn't even responded to my message yet nor the update I just gave her regarding the package movement.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

---

@purrcubed wrote:

But yeah, I always feel morally conflicted when it comes to contacting the buyer or not. She has been really good and hasn't even responded to my message yet nor the update I just gave her regarding the package movement.

---

When packages take a long time I always reach out to the buyers. Never had an issue doing so.

Don't feel ashamed for doing so.

[monster-deals]

---

@purrcubed wrote:

But yeah, I always feel morally conflicted when it comes to contacting the buyer or not.

---

It is different for everyone. I ship 10-30 things a day, every day across accounts, so I can't even remotely keep an eye on delivery status of several hundred packages.

My best advice is to keep your head down...and when a problem comes along, you must whip it.