Lost/Misdelivered USPS Package...What Would You Do?

RichR

Long story short...I bought a coin on eBay...and it was misdelivered. It was a beautiful MS65 slabbed Walker that I got for a decent price.

I know this because I tracked the package all the way...and a few minutes after I got the text message that it was delivered to my mailbox, I went to get it and the package wasn't there.

I live in a large apartment building and we all have key locked mailboxes...so nobody took it out.

I can only assume that the mailman either delivered it to the wrong building or to the wrong box in my building...but this was last Saturday and it hasn't turned up yet.

So anyhow, I've contacted the eBay seller with these details and he hasn't responded to me...and I've opened a case with the USPS...and they've opened a case, but that's all so far.

What are my options? I would have hoped the seller sent it insured...but he isn't talking yet.

Thoughts?

GRANDAM

If the scan shows delivered the seller has completed his end of the transaction. Your best option is to talk to eBay and they may reimburse you out of their own pocket.

The seller did his part. Also if the scan shows delivered you will have a very hard time collecting from the USPS.

jdimmick

As a seller have had this happen several times now in the past few months. The USPS in all three instances had placed the package in the wrong box, or placed the key to the retrieval box in the wrong box. Its those locations where mulitple boxes are together in large postal box areas. The first instance, thought the lady was pulling a fast one, so I was a bit cautious at first, but contacted the post office and had them post out a notice to the other tennants what happened, and luckily an honest person turned it back into po and it was delivered correctly. second one, guy said he never got it, even though showing delivered. I again contacted the PO, and found out that the recievee did in fact open a claim or missing mail report. This package however, has never turned up. I told the guy, even though I did not have to give a refund and ebay would side with me most likely as its showing delivered, I just refunded him as the right thing to do. But In both these instances, I have blocked both buyers, not becuase I have a problem with them, but becuase I cant afford to have packages not be placed correctly in thier correct units and keep losing funds. If the post office is not delivering properly in those locations, they can buy from somebody else. If not for the covid rule, I could use signature required, but currently in covid protocol that may or may not work. last case is still pending, USPS showing delivered, guy said he hadnt gotten it??

MFeld

I think your best bet is to contact your local post office and get them to try to check with the carrier who delivered the package.

JimW

I am sure @GRANDAM knows more about this that I do, but what were the ebay terms? If the listing said 'insured shipping' and then it was sent uninsured....
I can see the sellers side (although he/she should respond to you) - in that if it showed as delivered, I'd be thinking maybe you were trying to pull a fast one.

winesteven

While I live in a neighborhood of single family houses, this has happened twice to me. If the mailman has left my neighborhood when I discover this, I immediately call my local post office. Apparently they use cameras/videos for packages with tracking numbers. Both times, they saw it was misdelivered, and they called the carrier to go retrieve it.

So far I’ve been VERY lucky, with no lost coins. I hope I’m not giving myself “the whammy”, as a box from PCGS is coming tomorrow, and I’m shipping coins to CAC Monday morning (NEVER ship coins on a Friday, as I believe risk of theft might increase if coin packages “sit” over a weekend).

Steve

jdimmick

"(NEVER ship coins on a Friday, as I believe risk of theft might increase if coin packages “sit” over a weekend)."

STEVE : you are correct, good rules to go by for sure, I use same

Grandam: to answer your question below, they can tell if the delivery was scanned at a normal residential area from a house next door, or down the street, etc, but where they are standing in a place with multiple boxes they have no way of knowing. to close to determine

GRANDAM

That reminds me,,,,,, when the package is scanned the Post Office can track the scan to within a few feet of where it was scanned so they can figure out almost the exact location of where it was delivered,,,,,, being in an apartment with boxes I doubt that the scan would help in this instance.

MasonG

@RichR said:
Thoughts?

It sounds like you've done most everything you can. Insurance won't matter if the package shows as delivered and there's not anything the seller or eBay can do to recover the package that you can't. Have you talked to the mail carrier? If not, you might give that a shot.

Unknown

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pointfivezero

Sorry this happened to you, Rich. I do agree with @GRANDAM when he/she said the seller did his job. While I don't know what the correct course of action is, I can tell you what didn't work for me. My 2021 Reverse Proof Silver Eagle set was returned to Mint fulfillment center but never made it. It got as far as the Memphis Distribution Center but was promptly "lost:.

I opened a missing mail search almost three months ago. One can see how effective this was from the screen shot below:

Good luck retrieving the package.

Tim

edgar

I have become familiar with my regular USPS/UPS/FedEx deliverer person. Nobody at any office in DC answers the phone. I am very careful not to threaten, interfere with, or hinder them, but I ask them about it the next day. Usually a "substitute" carrier, then it shows up the following day. Short answer, Ask your regular carrier, they didn't get your signature.

vulcanize

Have had that happen to me a few times in 2020 and 2021, but the post office always came through, doing their part to rectify the mess up and retrieve my packages. S
So now I wait patiently instead of getting worked up, as I used to do before, because the supervisor at the post office has become a good friend of mine and gets things sorted quickly if there is a screw up.
The only time it was out of their jurisdiction was when the package got torn by the franking machine at the sorting center and two slabs fell out of the total of 9 slabs, but the supervisor arranged for a speedy refund.
Hope things get sorted out and the packages are received by you soon.
Cheers.

Fishpro

I always have all my packages sent with signature required. I use a PO Box for my coins too.

Onastone

My neighbor had two boxes delivered. They were dropped at the base of his mailbox outside, as is usual practice these days. One package was so light, it was blowing out into the road. We can only hope packages get delivered 100%, but these days with covid and attitudes, nothing is certain. Hope for someone's honesty....your package is out there somewhere.

Onastone

Ugh...just saw this news brief:

Massachusetts postal worker charged with mail theft

By Michael Silvia
newbedfordguide.com
21 hours ago
“A former U.S. Postal Service employee has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with stealing packages in Gardner. Roberta Feliz, 32, of Fitchburg, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal...
www.newbedfordguide.com

ricko

I live in a residential neighborhood of a small town. I have had neighbors packages dropped on my porch and vice versa. We just bring them to the correct house. Cheers, RickO

pcgscacgold

Requiring signature does nothing at this time. They are not getting signatures when they deliver packages. Good luck to all. I had 9 coins stolen by a UPS employee in December. Still working on that theft.

fastfreddie

I had an incoming gold shipment with signature required just left in my mailbox.

DrBuster

Just yesterday we got notice that a postal master key for our couple local zip codes was stolen. We don't have a lock box at our house but the folks across the street do. Hope nothing goes missing.

PerryHall

@DrBuster said:
Just yesterday we got notice that a postal master key for our couple local zip codes was stolen. We don't have a lock box at our house but the folks across the street do. Hope nothing goes missing.

Hopefully the master locks will be re-keyed and new keys will be issued to the letter carriers.

RichR

Thanks for all the advice/tea and sympathy...I contacted the seller...and it was not insured.

But in addition to me opening a USPS case at my PO...he's going to go to his PO and do the same on his end.

So we'll see...not holding out hopes for a miracle though.

MetroD

@pcgscacgold said:
Requiring signature does nothing at this time. They are not getting signatures when they deliver packages. [...]

@fastfreddie said:
I had an incoming gold shipment with signature required just left in my mailbox.

The USPS carriers are supposed to interact with you for items that require a signature.

USPS References:
~ USPS Coronavirus Updates for Residential Customers (last topic at the bottom of the page);
~ Video

pointfivezero

Agree with @MetroD on this topic. Our local USPS employee will not leave a Sig Required carton on our porch. He/she will wait to confirm someone on the premises. This practice could vary by region however.

Tim

robec

This happened to me a few months ago. I contacted the local PO. They have GPS on all their vehicles and we’re able to track down the address where it was delivered based on the time of delivery. The PO contacted the carrier, who went to the address it was delivered to and brought it to my address. It had been delivered to a house 4 or 5 houses down the street.

RichR

[It had been delivered to a house 4 or 5 houses down the street.]

Unfortunately, this genus delivered it to a high-rise lobby with 200 mailboxes!