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Trade gone bad, need advice
erwindoc
Posts: 5,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
Myself and another party came to terms about a trade recently. Unfortunately, the USPS damaged the package causing some of the contents to spill out when it arrived and are now claimed to be lost. Fortunately, the package was insured for an amount I had in the coins. The other party contacted me and is obviously frustrated feeling that the coins cannot be replaced at that level. Im not sure if they felt the coins should be worth more or what(I submitted several of them myself and had very little in them including grading fees). The other individual has presented me with several options, but all of them will end up costing me money. Its really no fault of either of ours and just bad luck that the package got damaged. What should I do???
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Comments
<< <i>What should I do? >>
Package them better. Seriously, things like this don't usually matter if the coins were well protected.
I put the coin in a plastic sleeve. Then in a cardboard folder. Then in a bubble mailer. Or into a box taped inside another box.
A slit in the mailing box/envelope should not be a disaster.
Lance.
My Ebay Store
1) Undo the deal.
2) Negotiate so that the insurance proceeds are applied toward making the deal whole and that any additional money needed is split 50/50.
3) Decide what the coins you received in your end of the deal are worth to you and pay that much for them, offset by how much insurance is paid out.
I don't see that what you paid for the coins you shipped is relevant to fixing the deal now. What is relevant is the value of the lost coins TODAY.
http://www.shieldnickels.net
<< <i>What should I do??? >>
Agree on how to prorate the loss based on what was received and what the buyer paid, file a claim with the post office and reimburse the buyer for the lost items.
I guess that can make it more difficult. I dunno.
<< <i>Fortunately, the package was insured for an amount I had in the coins. >>
The most likely scenario regarding the post office's determination of value would be the amount you sold the coins for. If you insured for less, you are responsible for the difference.
<< <i>How exactly did you package said coins? >>
Packaged in a bubble mailer that was sealed not only with tape but also staples. The slabs were grouped together in 3 rows of 3 and wrapped to secure them together. They shouldnt have fallen out. He sent me photos of the package and it was beat to pieces!
Again assuming that the transaction was lets say $300 dollars and the guide you both used to come to the values places each of the three slabs at $100 each. If 1 slab was lost I would say you owe him $200. What the insurance covers and the rest out of pocket. You should always insure for the sale price at least.
<< <i>
<< <i>How exactly did you package said coins? >>
Packaged in a bubble mailer that was sealed not only with tape but also staples. The slabs were grouped together in 3 rows of 3 and wrapped to secure them together. They shouldnt have fallen out. He sent me photos of the package and it was beat to pieces! >>
Why use a bubble mailer for 9 coins? That many coins, you should use the USPS small flat rate box. Use bubble wrap and lots of tape. Also, you should always insure coins for fair market value.
Member, Society of Silver Dollar Collectors.
Looking for PCGS AU58+ 1901-P, 1896-O, & 1894-O
<< <i>I am going to assume that the trade was for items which were equivalent in value unless there were some funds to boot.
Again assuming that the transaction was lets say $300 dollars and the guide you both used to come to the values places each of the three slabs at $100 each. If 1 slab was lost I would say you owe him $200. What the insurance covers and the rest out of pocket. You should always insure for the sale price at least. >>
Welcome to the forum Coppertoning!
You and I exchanged messages over on the other side yesterday.
from the insurance claim is your total due. Underinsured items is not the buyers fault. Damage
to packaging in transit is not the buyer's fault. It's your obligation to get the items paid for to
the buyer's door, intact as sold.
bob
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>Why use a bubble mailer for 9 coins? That many coins, you should use the USPS small flat rate box. >>
The OP said the package was "beat to pieces". How can you be sure a box would have fared any better?
edited to add... no matter how carefully you package something, you could always package it better.
<< <i>
<< <i>I am going to assume that the trade was for items which were equivalent in value unless there were some funds to boot.
Again assuming that the transaction was lets say $300 dollars and the guide you both used to come to the values places each of the three slabs at $100 each. If 1 slab was lost I would say you owe him $200. What the insurance covers and the rest out of pocket. You should always insure for the sale price at least. >>
Welcome to the forum Coppertoning!
You and I exchanged messages over on the other side yesterday. >>
Thanks for the welcome. I have been viewing the threads for a little while just started posting tonight.
<< <i>You went the cheap route in both packaging and insurance. The loss will be yours. Sorry. >>
I would agree here...for that number of slabs you should have used a priority mail box or at least a regular-sized
box as a bubble mailer with that kind of bulging created by 9 bubblewrapped slabs inside is just asking to get get
mangled in a sorting machine.
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.
Bottom line you need to make it good period. File a claim and get what you can based on your insurance but without delay make your trading partner whole he is not at fault in any respect nor is he responsible here the OP is responsible to make sure the item gets to the trading partner and even with mishandling by the post office still needs to make the deal whole. It may cost you money to resolve this but you are the responsible party here your trading partner sure is not.
I have received 3 broken slabs in the last 12 years sent in bubble mailers I myself always use a small box and assume the box will get handled in the worst possible manner. Good packaging often prevents these types of issues.
Good luck on resolving this issue.
<< <i>
<< <i>You went the cheap route in both packaging and insurance. The loss will be yours. Sorry. >>
I would agree here...for that number of slabs you should have used a priority mail box or at least a regular-sized
box as a bubble mailer with that kind of bulging created by 9 bubblewrapped slabs inside is just asking to get get
mangled in a sorting machine. >>
I really appreciate everyones help and suggestions. I know its my responsiblity to get it to the other party, just trying to figure out how to fix the deal and salvage what I can. I will keep in touch with the other party and it should turn out ok, just not exactly how I want.
-TEJ
Coin Rarities Online
<< <i>Tom your avatar is quite frightening over here!! >>
It's a web-cam picture of me as I type on the boards!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
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.
A box won't be 100% safe but it's much safer than without a box.
Something in between for a single or couple slabs can work like folding a piece of cardboard over the slabs and taping it then put it in a bubble mailer but still it's probably simpler to use a flat rate box. Even a used flat rate box would do it.
Now I'd try to work out a deal that both can live with. As the seller you need to make up anything beyond insurance. Sounds like it will work out for both.
<< <i>Unwind the deal and, if you cannot come to a meeting of the minds on a replacement quickly, send his coins back. >>
Agree 100%.