Does this sound right to you?
Boopotts
Posts: 6,784 ✭✭
I am currently embroiled in no fewer than four Ebay disputes with sellers (lucky me), all of which are for transactions between $150-$620, and all of which look like they will conclude with me getting screwed in one way or another (long stories, and I won't bore you with all the ugly details). But one of them stands out as unusually strange, and I wanted to see what you guys thought of this.
I purchased about $400 worth of cards from a seller with a feedback rating of about 4000 and 100%. Payment was made on 1/6, and to date the cards have no arrived. The package was, presumably, fully insured- or at least that's what the seller has said. Anyway, she's been very cooperative and responsive through all of this, and I've been willing so far to chalk this up as a SNAFU on the PO's behalf while I patiently await the arrival of the cards. But so far nothing. I've already filed a paypal dispute, although I haven't yet escalated it to a claim (although I will shortly if the matter isn't resolved soon).
Anyway, I just got off the phone with her and she told me that she's been in touch with my PO, and that they're trying to find out if my mail carrier remembers this package coming through, and blah blah blah. The package weighed about 16 lbs, so somebody should remember it. It seems like a cut and dried case-- the PO lost the package, and she should file with the PO to get reimbursed-- but she told me that the PO is not obligated to get a signature for packages insured over $100, and that it's very possible that my mail carrier-- who, incidentally, is the absolute picture of diligence-- just left it on my front porch, after which time the package was stolen. If this is the case, she said, the PO has no intentions of honoring the insurance and reimbursing her the $400.
Does this sound right? I was under the impression that the PO HAD to get a signature on packages over $100, and if they didn't-- and the package was lost-- they were on the hook for the insured amount. Am I wrong?
I purchased about $400 worth of cards from a seller with a feedback rating of about 4000 and 100%. Payment was made on 1/6, and to date the cards have no arrived. The package was, presumably, fully insured- or at least that's what the seller has said. Anyway, she's been very cooperative and responsive through all of this, and I've been willing so far to chalk this up as a SNAFU on the PO's behalf while I patiently await the arrival of the cards. But so far nothing. I've already filed a paypal dispute, although I haven't yet escalated it to a claim (although I will shortly if the matter isn't resolved soon).
Anyway, I just got off the phone with her and she told me that she's been in touch with my PO, and that they're trying to find out if my mail carrier remembers this package coming through, and blah blah blah. The package weighed about 16 lbs, so somebody should remember it. It seems like a cut and dried case-- the PO lost the package, and she should file with the PO to get reimbursed-- but she told me that the PO is not obligated to get a signature for packages insured over $100, and that it's very possible that my mail carrier-- who, incidentally, is the absolute picture of diligence-- just left it on my front porch, after which time the package was stolen. If this is the case, she said, the PO has no intentions of honoring the insurance and reimbursing her the $400.
Does this sound right? I was under the impression that the PO HAD to get a signature on packages over $100, and if they didn't-- and the package was lost-- they were on the hook for the insured amount. Am I wrong?
0
Comments
"Paid on 1/6"
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I would escalate to a claim immediately.
It is unlikely that the carrier abandoned the package; possible,
but not likely. The USPS would investigate such a claim; absent
evidence of fraud, the claim would likely be paid to the seller.
PayPal seller protection requires the seller to get signature-confirmation
over $250.00. (This is, as you know, a different process than signing
for the insured item.)
I often get items in the mailbox that are insured for $100+ that I do not
sign for.
Escalate to a claim now. If the item shows up, just cancel the claim.
First of all, ask a postmaster, and you'll find out the postal service technically doesn't consider a package 'lost' until 30 days have gone by.
With UPS, their first step is ask the driver, who has 10 business days to respond if he/she even remembers the package. Then they will begin an 'investigation', which takes weeks at a minimum.
Do you see where this is going?
I do ecommerce for a living (not cards), and trust me, you can't leave a customer 'hanging' with a high dollar purchase for weeks or a month - they won't stand for it, and they shouldn't have to, anyway.
I've eaten product/money many times to get the customer a replacement order (which isn't possible with 1 of a kind cards), but the point is that the seller may NOT be lying to you.
The postal service ALWAYS gave refunds once everything was said and done, never a hassle regardless of the insurance amount, other than the time it takes them to research and draw a conclusion.
UPS, on the other hand, is absolutely useless, and will repeatedly lie to get out of paying any claims - their goal is to make you give up before they give in. I would NEVER, EVER, EVER ship valuable collectables through UPS for this reason.
My company self-insures because it's easier than dealing with all the hoops UPS used to make us jump through. They actually had the nerve before to ask for invoices showing our wholesale amounts for items. (None of their business, obviously.)
For what it's worth, I've shipped 10,000+ packages a year for the last decade...
UPS signatures are sometimes not legible, so a crook can still dispute THEY signed for a package. If the driver doesn't take the time to do his job (ask for your name, punch in your name, etc.)
USPS has those pretty green cards that get signed, ripped off the package, and mailed back to you so you have proof.
.....I've actually gotten them back UNSIGNED.
The customer is also supposed to provide I.D. to pick up one of packages. Very seldom does the PO do that.
(Except once - I sold something to a STATE SENATOR who was out of town when the packaged arrived, and their Post Office REFUSED to let his wife sign for it. They ended up sending the package back to me, and I had to re-ship the package.)
This stuff is a crapshoot at best...
That is 100% false if they insured the package through the PO. Any package insured for over $50 bears a blue insurance sticker and the carrier is required to get a signature upon delivery. However, may large volume sellers "self insure" their packages or purchase insurance on line through a third party, and I don't think the PO is aware of that when they deliver so they may not request a signature in that case. Ask her if she insured the package directly through the PO. If so, she is BSing you, and I'd agree that you should file a claim IMMEDIATELY as the window is 45 days with Paypal, I believe and if you paid on 1/6, today is the 45th day.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Doug
Good luck
Lenny
<< <i> but she told me that the PO is not obligated to get a signature for packages insured over $100
That is 100% false if they insured the package through the PO. Any package insured for over $50 bears a blue insurance sticker and the carrier is required to get a signature upon delivery. However, may large volume sellers "self insure" their packages or purchase insurance on line through a third party, and I don't think the PO is aware of that when they deliver so they may not request a signature in that case. Ask her if she insured the package directly through the PO. If so, she is BSing you, and I'd agree that you should file a claim IMMEDIATELY as the window is 45 days with Paypal, I believe and if you paid on 1/6, today is the 45th day. >>
My understanding is that you have 45 days to file a claim, and then another 20 days after that to file a dispute? Hopefully I'm right, because the 45th day just expired.
Also, before I forget, I want to thank everyone who has participated thus far in this thread and offered their insights. Oh, and if any of you see or hear from Lawnmowerman tell him I'm going to screw him on the Emmitt Phone Card PSA 9 he just bought from me. Hell, I've got to get back at someone.
1. File the dispute via the PayPal Online Dispute Resolution process within 45 days of the date of the payment, and then escalate the dispute into a claim. If you would like to file a claim, you have to escalate your dispute into a claim no later than 20 days from the date your dispute was filed. The terms applicable to filing a dispute and claim are set out in the Buyer Complaint Policy. Please note that buyers registered on the German PayPal website are not required to file a dispute prior to filing a claim and they must file a claim within 45 days of the date of the payment.
Best to do it NOW. Simply cancel the claim when/if the package shows-up.
Do what Storm888 stated ASAP.
Agree with everyone above. 100% correct!
Email seller and ask her for the USPS blue insurance number, and see if she used the USPS blue insurance form. Once you get it, call or go into your post office and see if it was scanned in, if yes, see who signed for it.
We have had an insurance item which needed a signature, delivered to the next street over from us. They had the same street number as us, but different street name. I think our mail man was sleeping that day. Once I checked on it at the post office, we got it back.
With 4000 feedback, I bet they don't use the USPS postage, but a 3rd party insurance or self insured, just a quess.
She can't be this dumb... but she told me that the PO is not obligated to get a signature for packages insured over $100!
Collecting Jordan graded cards,
Jordan #d cards,
Wanted: Bill Quackenbush cards
<< <i>if any of you see or hear from Lawnmowerman tell him I'm going to screw him on the Emmitt Phone Card PSA 9 he just bought from me. Hell, I've got to get back at someone. >>
How did you pay the for cards?
mike