eBay

craigsfinds · ‎11-15-2022

The item I shipped arrived broken. I filed a claim online. I provide all the information, including a photo of the broken item in the box, proof of value, and proof that I refunded the buyer. I've done this just a few times in the last 10 years and I've always gotten a check within a few weeks. Now, I just get a letter telling me (the shipper) to take the item to the post office within 20 days for visual verification. What? I don't have the item. lol! I called USPS and FINALLY got a live person on the phone who told me to ask my customer to take it to the post office. LOL! How is seeing the item in person better than a photo? Why did they ask for a photo in the first place?

I told the USPS agent that it was unreasonable to ask my customer to take time out of their day to stand in a line a USPS. That's just crazy! Am I missing something? The USPS agent told me to wait till the claim was declined and file an appeal. Oh boy! That sounds like fun! 😡

mtgraves7984 · ‎11-15-2022

In short, USPS now wants to see the packaging method; touch and feel the materials used... before they deny the claim, citing it was improperly packed. Translation: it's not so easy to get a payout on a claim anymore. 😣

buyselljack2016 · ‎11-15-2022

USPS finally got a little smarter after likely being hit with $$$$$ in scams over the years with their rather lax refund policy, so those of us with honest claims must bear the burden. You may be honest. Your buyer may be honest. Some are not. USPS had to change the way that they operate for a "claim".

They had to separate from the "OK we believe anything" (think Kramer mailing the broken TV) process to one where things must be verified.

It is a pain to have to take the item in, but it is what it is.

At least, as far as I know, other carriers require inspection of the item when a claim is submitted. Of course the difference there is, as far as I know, they go look rather than "bring it in".

lakefor94 · ‎11-15-2022

There is another thread going from this morning where the seller was able to obtain reimbursement on a claim with photos they took into their post office. YMMV

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bauble-babes · ‎11-15-2022

I pay for insurance only to protect me if the item gets lost. On broken items, USPS used to always require the Buyer to take it in to their local post for inspection and then usually denied the claim. I quit filing these kind of claims years ago.

It's not worth making buyers angry by asking them to do this and if they live in a city, it's a gargantuan hassle. I simply ask buyer to send photo for my tax records, refund buyer, and then write it off. At tax time I always have to pay the feds, so the loss is taken off of what I would have to pay the powers that be anyway.

tools* · ‎11-15-2022

@buyselljack2016 wrote:
USPS finally got a little smarter after likely being hit with $$$$$ in scams over the years with their rather lax refund policy, so those of us with honest claims must bear the burden. You may be honest. Your buyer may be honest. Some are not. USPS had to change the way that they operate for a "claim".
They had to separate from the "OK we believe anything" (think Kramer mailing the broken TV) process to one where things must be verified.
It is a pain to have to take the item in, but it is what it is.
At least, as far as I know, other carriers require inspection of the item when a claim is submitted. Of course the difference there is, as far as I know, they go look rather than "bring it in".

The USPS charges three times what private insurers charge. Surely they can actually pay a few claims.

ms.rodriguez* · ‎11-15-2022

Can you go to your local post office with the documents that the post office sent you and the photos and perhaps a nice supervisor there can verify/ accept the claim ? Try it. If you win, bring him/her a box of cookies. You might never know if you will need their help again.

craigsfinds · ‎11-15-2022

Thanks! I'll give it a try. The whole thing is crazy. I understand they need to fight fraud, but all USPS needs to do is look at my history. I've only filed 4 claims in 10 years, and I ship hundreds of items a year. If I'm a scammer I'm really bad at it. 😆

yuzuha · ‎11-15-2022

@tools* wrote:
The USPS charges three times what private insurers charge. Surely they can actually pay a few claims.

Conversely, why SHOULD they pay a claim if the package wasn't packed adequately?

house*of*paws · ‎11-15-2022

Hi @craigsfinds

I'm very sorry this happened ... but shipping companies are entitled to take possession of the item before issuing a payment. I've been surprised this hasn't been required more often. [I'm thinking that the pandemic may have caused them to skip this step.]