Post office Delivered Damaged Items with "We're Sorry" Note

[audra13]

I was contacted by the buyer today the package she received had 4 of the 7 items damaged by the post office with a note from the post office that admitted the damage on their part.  She also sent me the photos.  I asked her to initiate the issue thru Ebay because that is what Ebay told me to do when I called first. 

Buyer initiated the return, however, I don't want the items back because obviously they are worthless to me.

In her request for refund she included that the items arrived damaged and it was USPS fault. 

"Items arrived Damaged. USPS is responsible for the damage."

So my question is:

AM I supposed to just "Give a Refund" ?  (You fully refund the buyer to close this request. The buyer keeps the item.)  Which means my funds are deducted but how do I get my money back for the damage? 

The item went Priority Mail and was insured???? 

[mtgraves7984]

Yes, just 'Give a Refund' to make your buyer whole. To make you  whole, I think the buyer will have to take the package back to the PO for inspection, while you open a USPS claim. Good luck to you.

[kensgiftshop]

@audra13 

You refund the buyer without returning, then you file a claim with USPS.

Have the buyer hang on to the items and package so they can be inspected, if needed.

[north40sales]

If you paid for the insurance, then you would initiate the damage claim process with USPS for reimbursement to you for the value of the damaged articles.  

You would be responsible for refunding the buyer for the value of the damaged items.  

As mentioned, you will want to ask your buyer to retain the items and packaging should USPS want to examine or recover them at the destination address.  

[dbfolks166mt]

    As others have advised fully refund the buyer to clear the eBay case and issues. With regards to the claim either the sender or the recipient can file a claim with USPS but it is generally the sender that does so. You may need to ask the buyer for their contact information outside of eBay since you will need this information when you file the claim with USPS. I have had to work a couple of claims with USPS and always did so outside the eBay communications channels for simplicity reasons. 

     You will need cooperation from your buyer as there is a 99% probability that USPS will want the recipient to take the items and the packing into USPS to validate/verify the claim. USPS will keep the damaged items and the original packing so when you file the claim do so for the value of only the damaged/broken items. 

[iart]

Sellers really need to ask themselves how THEY would want to be treated in this case.

A buyer pays and waits for their item to arrive. It's damaged, no fault of their own. Would you expect to return?

You might work with the buyer on an insurance claim, if the mailing was eligible.

[m60driver]

You have sold nothing in the past month worth spending any amount of time dealing with such an issue.  Just refund and move on unless you do not value your time.