USPS Shipping Insurance Uncollectable?

[stylemuse]

From experience it appears that USPS Priority Mail insurance is a farce.  The item is delivered obviously damaged as the box is smashed in 3 inches.  USPS will not pay out for the item under their insurance unless the box and items are brought in for inspection (pictures were provided).  The Buyer will not do this because they have their money refunded. (If the Seller does not refund it, Ebay will) So now as a Seller I am out the item cost, the cost of the shipping, and the extra insurance purchased (if extra is needed).  Which makes for another question, if USPS obviously destroys a package in shipping why do they refuse to refund the shipping cost?  Are other methods of shipping better for situations such as this?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[albertabrightalberta · Accepted solution]

It's understandable that they need more evidence than just a picture. How do they know that the picture is the same as the item received? 

It's too bad the buyer isn't willing to cooperate, even if going to the local p.o. and having them email pictures to confirm that the damage is real. 

But unless the buyer cooperates, you're SOL. 

[santamonicajeweler]

Pictures are no good, a physical inspection by Post Master is required, Buyer has 30 days to comply

If Buyer says package was damaged at delivery, they must take the package to Post Office 

You should have delayed refund for Buyer to do that

You should have better relationship with your Buyers to use the insurance system

[d-k_treasures]

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@albertabrightalberta wrote:

It's understandable that they need more evidence than just a picture. How do they know that the picture is the same as the item received? 

It's too bad the buyer isn't willing to cooperate, even if going to the local p.o. and having them email pictures to confirm that the damage is real. 

But unless the buyer cooperates, you're SOL. 

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It's too bad that ebay doesn't require the buyer isn't willing to cooperate

[mopi_31]

Upon taking broken item to post office after having paid for return shipping, no one at post office knows what to do. Referred to a supervisor who still doesn’t know what to do. 

[mopi_31]

If the post office has pictures of the item from your listing, and pictures of the item from the receiver when it was received, that should be proof enough. They have the receivers name as well,  they can confirm that the item arrived damaged. This is not rocket science. They request copies of the sale and the refund. Now if the post office would provide the label and have the item shipped right to the postmaster at their expense, maybe better. 

[slpentico]

This is the cost of doing business. Ideally eBay would give you enough time before forcing a refund so the buyer has incentive to cooperate with the insurance claim process but that isn’t the way it is. eBay rarely if ever has the seller in mind when that make policies and decisions. eBay is all about the customer and frequently goes as far as helping a scammer scan a seller. I continue selling because at the moment I very very very rarely have an unhappy buyer or run across a scammer.