USPS SHIPPING

[justforfun6]

A first time experience in over 20 years. I sold a set of 4 bowls. Packaged them as a set securely for shipping.  The box arrived 14 days later. Buyer opened box . Only 1 bowl in the box.  She was upset thinking I had poorly shipped her 1 bowl.  I explained to her I had shipped the set of 4. I had her send me pictures of the box as arrived.  The box was fine, part of my packing materials was in the box with 1 bowl. Box had been sealed back up with clear tape which I do not even have  in my wrap room. took 14 days to go from Ca to WV. I plan to file a claim with P.O. but think in the future I may start taking pictures of my wrapped items before sealing the box so if this becomes a norm I will have some form of evidence. I have found the postal system is not quite as reliable as in the past in regards to handling packages. But this is a first. 

[wastingtime101]

There are tons of videos out there. Did you do a search?

Here are just a couple, but these videos mostly show the "small package sorting machines" dropping packages into wide bins. There are other package sorting machines that drop packages from higher heights into taller metal cages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNY312f5LSU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIm_CmMXoM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zh1UuKV4Mc

[sassykzt]

USPS can check the weight of a package along the entire route. This info is not part of tracking but can be obtained if you file a claim.  My cousin is a postmaster is a large metro area and gave me this info when I had a similar situation  Package weighed 2 lbs 6 oz at time of acceptance at my local PO and only weighed 1 lb 8 oz upon arrival.  Also the box did not look damaged and was taped in both directions but based on the info. an item was "removed" from the box  along the route.  USPS refunded.   Sometimes boxes burst open or fall off of equipment at the sorting/ distro centers.  USPS has specific people who check for this daily and will re tape if possible.  But it seems that in my case and yours that the box was not re taped and original tape was intact: someone was careful and helped themselves to some nice items. 

[a_c_green]

---

@justforfun6 wrote:

A first time experience in over 20 years. I sold a set of 4 bowls. Packaged them as a set securely for shipping.  The box arrived 14 days later. Buyer opened box . Only 1 bowl in the box.  She was upset thinking I had poorly shipped her 1 bowl. 

---

I'm finding it waaay more likely that your buyer is simply hoping to get 4 bowls for the price of 1 (via a 75% partial refund from you). 

The USPS is up to their eyeballs in packages. The odds of someone having enough spare time and motivation to pick out your box, go through it, extract just 3 of the 4 bowls inside, then reseal it and send it on its way are... astronomically not in your favor.

Occam's Razor suggests that the far more likely cause of this is a buyer who's fibbing, and hoping that you'll throw in the towel with a refund as opposed to first asking for that fourth bowl to be returned.