Dealer said customer made false claim on "stolen" Morgan roll
logger7
Posts: 9,132 ✭✭✭✭✭
I hear this occasionally. A dealer I was talking to this week said an ebay customer told him the package arrived with the contents stolen with the box he shipped slit via cutting tool. Considering how rare usps thefts are these days, I was a little doubtful. So he asks the customer for evidence to present to Hugh Wood insurance with a signed document attesting to the lost/stolen item and doesn't hear from him again.
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Ive had people way they dont want the coin but if I refund them 10% they would just keep it.
I kindly say no problem just return for a full refund and never hear from them again
If it required a sig then he accepted it as is. Never sign for a shipment that has obviously been tampered with. Refuse delivery.
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If I suspect, I indicate getting the postal inspectors involved, and that pretty much ends some as well
I had a couple of gold coins stolen about 8 years ago.
I had to sign for it and the clerk handed me an empty package that was ripped open in the back.
This was back in the day before eBay labels and it had a black insurance label with high postage - which is what the postal thieves looked for.
I filed the insurance claim with the post office (not the seller) and got paid in about 3 weeks.
It happens.
No one cares, especially the Postal Inspector. I had a 4 coin Gold Proof set go "undelivered." eBay/PayPal looks for tracking and signatures. If those are not in place, you lose. Does not matter how much the seller is lying. After about 2 weeks, the buyer of this set, knowing this that the delivery was not signed for or scanned, sent me a note asking why the package had not been delivered yet. I called the PO Office as it was still showing as "out for delivery." I was then directed to call the local post office and was told by the manager the carrier Ms. XXXXXX, remembers handing the package to the customer, but since she was new "forgot" to have him sign for it or scan it. I then tried to ask the buyer for a statement for my insurance saying he did not receive the coins and he immediately stopped talking to me and filed a claim. He got to keep the coins and got his money back. I was insured, but it was no fun going through all that paperwork.
Moral of the story: If you try to outthink every scammer out there, you are only going to drive yourself crazy. Play by the rules (signatures, packaging, insurance), and take comfort that a majority of the people are good folks and the rest of this is just bumps in the road. Don't let yourself get bugged out about other people ethical standards. That is their problem.
I had a "near situation" from a purchase of @$4000 in gold from a new seller on the BST. Because he was new, I insisted on paying through PayPal, which proved to be very fortunate for me. It was a Saturday when the postman arrived, and I was home and out in the front yard. I walked up to grab the mail, when he pulled out the large envelope/package, which was visibly ripped open along its top. I immediately stopped the postman, and asked him if I could examine the package while he watched me. Looking inside, I could see that several of the coins representing over half of the value were missing. I asked the postman to hold the package while I took photos of it. I then refused to sign for it and asked the postman to send the package back to its sender. I then called the seller to advise him of the situation. That's when he told me he didn't insure it. Needless to say, with my photos as evidence, and refusal to accept the package, PayPal refunded my money in whole after I tried to settle with the seller, and he dropped off from comms.
'dude
I have a PO Box, and if I have a package that is damaged or obviously light, I open it in front of them so I can get a statement. A roll of dollars would probably be priority and maybe flat rate. Frequently the lbs / ozs that postage is paid on is on the label. If you are supposed to have something 10 oz, and it is less than 2 with damaged envelope, you have problems.
@AMRC wow the situation you went through is messed up. I hope you divulge the username of the ebay user so that everyone here can put him/her on their block list!!
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
I have recently had a low cost package go missing....first time ever. It was a purchase, no insurance... still working with the Post Office... they really did go house to house in the neighborhood looking for it... no luck.. It was not delivered here though... I was home all day. Will see what happens, but I do not expect much. Cheers, RickO
Very likely could be a scam.
It could also be true.
Here's a real life example of the latter:
I purchased a couple of gold coins from a member here. Value was $3000+
Seller insured and sent overnight USPS.
I was watching the tracking number the entire way and made sure I was working from home.
I heard a car in the driveway, but no doorbell or knocking. Figured it was a solicitor dropping off a flyer (they do that a lot around here) but, when I heard the car drive off, I looked outside. Just a small, normal, car, driving off.
I looked online (just like checking PCGS submissions when they are coming due, I was hitting the refresh button every 5-10 minutes for this package) and it showed "nobody home, notice left". I was like "WTF!"
I drove down to the USPS annex that my mail comes from, immediately, and asked about it. Person didn't know (he was somewhat "new" and not exactly the brightest). I asked him to go get the manager....who knew me from all the times I have gotten packages there.
It took HIM almost 30 minutes to figure out what happened. The first guy had GIVEN MY package to someone else who came in to pick up THEIR package by mistake...."because the addresses were so similar"....they really really weren't similar. Not a neighbor, not the same road or even close...even with dyslexia or anything. He just screwed up majorly by not looking and being careful.
They sent someone out immediately when I told them the insured value and that it would be filed asap if I didn't get the coin. I went home to wait. Within the hour, the package was in my hands.
So, it WAS out for delivery, and WAS sent to me at my correct address. HOWEVER, I never got it when it said "delivered". In this instance, if I hadn't gone down to find out wtf was going on, it sounds like people on this thread would have labeled ME the scammer? No one in the true life scenario I mentioned above was scamming anyone.
Not the seller (a VERY trusted board member and an excellent guy to know)
Not me (I believe I am very trustworthy and always try to stay that way and be aboveboard and honest in all my dealing)
Not the USPS (they were just incompetent....well 1 person there was)
Not the person it was delivered to by accident (who just accepted it for someone else in their household and hadn't opened it since it was waiting for the other person to come home).
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I had a package arrive cut open and the contents removed. I went into the PO to file a claim, nobody cared. I made a fuss and finally talked to the postmaster who finally gave me the form. Which I sent along with the package to the regional postal inspector in Seattle.
That idiot returned the opened envelope to me in their standard "Sorry your mail was damaged in transit" mailer. Completely ignored the complaint.
I had already filed with eBay, long, long, before the post office failed to act.
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