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Received package from P.O...nightmare...anybody have this happen before??
asphaltman76
Posts: 765
Here is the jist of it. I made a trade with someone for a card of mine and on the receiving end was some cash, plus two cards. The two cards are worth about $600 total. Yesterday the package arrives at the house, he had put a delivery confirmation on it, but no insurance. The cards were sent in a priority mailing box, when I opened it...nothing inside. What is puzzling is there was no "priority mailing tape" around the box...which I thought the P.O. always put around those when mailed. There was no skinned areas were tape would have been removed....and the P.O. had stamped the box "received with no content". How would they have known there was no content? Wouldn't they have had to open it? Also...if they knew at that point they stamped it that nothing was inside...then why didn't they send it back to the shipper instead of just sending it to me? I know with no insurance purchased chances are i'm out of luck...but wondering if anyone has had this happen before....get a plain priority mail box, no tape, that has obviously been opened and noticed by the P.O., but still sent to me???
Is there any use in even trying to call someone with the P.O. to try and find out any information? The fact that the box just had a D.C., would they even have any information??
Is there any use in even trying to call someone with the P.O. to try and find out any information? The fact that the box just had a D.C., would they even have any information??
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Is there a chance they sent an empty box with delivery confirmation?
While, that is the least of your worries, but I figured I'd add that in.
You said you opened the box, so I am assuming it was taped in some fashion. Is that correct?
I've never sent a boxed package, Priority or otherwise, with which I didn't seal the box, taped and closed. Have you contacted the person with which you completed the transaction? Any response?
edited to add: You've answered my questions. Maybe he handed the PO Clerk the Priority Mail box, with the items loosely inside, expected the mail person to tape the box up. Maybe it never happened.
Sounds to me like the sender attempted to scam you, I say attempted because it was tagged recieved with no contents. Right now the person has DC proving you recieved the package. With that stamp you should easily be able to file a complaint against the sender as it was marked as empty by the USPS.
The insurance would be void anyway on the item due to it being empty with that mark, but the fact the USPS was used as the instrument of delivery and they picked the scam up is possibly even better. Take it to the PO and talk to your Postmaster about the situation.
About 3 years ago, I sent some coins in a priority mail box, that somehow managed to get opened along the way and then arrive to the address empty, but the package had been clearly opened, either through the PO damaging the packing somehow or intentionally. I had to file insurance (bogus charge) to get the dough back, although it took 3 months they reimbursed me as I think they knew something had happened to it.
I have since learned as a seller to put insurance on any thing with any real value, as insurance really covers the seller not the buyer. It's great when the buyer pays for it but its worth the cost even if they don't.
If something arrives at my office empty we stamp it received without contents. Same happens at most offices, some newer stamps have a space for zip code where it arrived empty, some don't. It goes to you because the seller paid postage to send the box to you.
There is a place at USPS for unpackaged items to go, some do and unfortunately some go in pockets. I'll see if my wife can get a number for you to call, the odds are real bad that anything will be there for you.
Your seller/trader is at least a little bit responsible. If I ship you something worth $600 it's coming insured and registered mail so this doesn't happen.
The weight would be on the receipt. A "slabbed" card weights about 1.5 oz. An "unslabbed" card weights about .4 oz in a cardsaver. So, there would be a significant weight "drop" on your end. Your trading partner hopefully kept the receipt (or maybe the sending PO has a record) and if so, you might be able to figure out where the package was "manipulated".
Seeking primarily PSA graded pre-war "type" cards
My PSA Registry Sets
34 Goudey, 75 Topps Mini, Hall of Fame Complete Set, 1985 Topps Tiffany, Hall of Fame Players Complete Set
As far as the weight, one was a slabbed SGC card, and the other was raw, which I'm assuming he would have had a couple peices of cardboard or foamboard around it...
<< <i><<<Does anyone know if the P.O. where the package was shipped from would have any sort of record as to what the package weighed when they scanned it in??>>
The weight would be on the receipt. A "slabbed" card weights about 1.5 oz. An "unslabbed" card weights about .4 oz in a cardsaver. So, there would be a significant weight "drop" on your end. Your trading partner hopefully kept the receipt (or maybe the sending PO has a record) and if so, you might be able to figure out where the package was "manipulated". >>
Good idea. It will be difficult, but you've got definitive proof that someone within the system tampered, if the original package was equal to the weight of a box and one graded card. Might be something to press...I'm curious if you received the original shipment box or if it was replaced. Where was the shipping label printed from? Is it in the correct Zip Code or at least localized to it?
I think it is funny the sender sent it with DC but no insurance. Smells like a scam to me from the start.
something smells fishy.
My mind is going a hundred directions....but I wonder also would it would take for someone to have removed the tape without skinning the box? Would a blowdryer heat it up and allow that? Stupid I know...like a postal employee is going to have a blow dryer at the shipping/receiving zones.
Did you already send your card to the individual?
Did you insure your card?
Did either of you establish specific instructions as to how items would be shipped to each other for the purpose of protection?
I've used a priority box from time to time and they're relatively tamper evident - once you seal it, it's hard to unseal unless one carefully took a very sharp knife to it - and glued it back together?
IMO - I'm pretty confident the PO didn't mess with your package - first off - they don't have a clue what's inside.
I sure hope this works out - you're trade partner let you down IMO by not insuring the package.
mike
No instructions went either way on how we were shipping...but as you may know on Net54 I guess folks just expect their stuff to arrive ok. Personally, I send insurance on anything over $300...and I would make good if the P.O. screwed up...but you never know what others will say or do.
This box didn't take anything to open....flipped a finger under the lid and it popped open...
As far as the two cards go, I'll wait to hear back from the other person involved..but after that I will probably make it known what they both are...so anyone who would be kind enough to ever see either pop up on ebay could let me know...both are fairly scarce and I'd recognize both. I imagine though if a P.O. employee took them that he is probably hawking them off to some antique shop or something and not going to stick them on ebay.
<< <i>This wasn't a self seal box...this was just the box that you fold into its little flap underneath....I just cant imagine that even if he didn't put tape on it that the P.O. would be that careless....
My mind is going a hundred directions....but I wonder also would it would take for someone to have removed the tape without skinning the box? Would a blowdryer heat it up and allow that? Stupid I know...like a postal employee is going to have a blow dryer at the shipping/receiving zones. >>
This kind of box?
If it was a box like that and it was untaped then your seller should take responsibility. That would be just careless and stupid.
Sadly, those ends are easily pulled open unless additional tape applied to the ends.
Hope you get retribution here.
Don't rule out the possibility the sender shpped you an empty box "by mistake". This is probably not as uncommon as you might think.
Seems like you need to find out the weight on the original receipt and that would at least give you the information you need to hopefully solve this problem. The weight difference should be at least 2 to 3 OZ which is not insignificant.
Seeking primarily PSA graded pre-war "type" cards
My PSA Registry Sets
34 Goudey, 75 Topps Mini, Hall of Fame Complete Set, 1985 Topps Tiffany, Hall of Fame Players Complete Set
<< <i>My wife just sent pics...here is the pic of the opened end....as you can see wouldn't take much to pull it open without tape there...
Oh ok, I understand now. See, not everywhere in this country to they use the same boxes, I couldn't imagine what you were talking about because I didn't understnad what type of box you were talking about. Anyway, now I see the box and we don't have any here in Staten Island New York, but I definetly see what happened here.
Ok, one of two things happened here, in my opinion, but most likely is what happened. I don't know the guy who sent you this card, but this is what could have happened. 1. The guy who shipped you the card was careless, not putting tape, and the P.O people took advantage of the situation and stole the cards.
2. The guy that shipped the card had this planned the whole time, to not put tape on the package to make it look like somebody from the P.O stole the card, and instead took it himself. Again, I don't know the seller/shipper, but thats the only two things I can think of that most likely happened here.
I think both the shipper and the post office clear were both at fault by not putting tape on it, of course it would be the shippers responsibility first, but the P.O cleark should have put it anyway. Either a post office worker took the card, or the guy who shipped this card had it planned the whole time(my opinion).
I would go to the post office and tell them axcatly what happened, and tell them you suspect fraud by either a P.o. worker or the shipper and try to see what can be done about it, reguarless of not having insurance. Doing something deliberetly is still a crime even with no isurance, you know what I mean?
What ever you deciede to do, hope all works out for you. In the future, I would ask the shipper to make sure to put pleanty of tape, and also put some kind of tracking, and if you want to be 100% protected when you receive a package, you know what you do? Well, I would get some kind of camera(webcam or something) and tape the sealed package you just received and open it live, and share the results with the rest of us
<< <i>the PO stamped the box "received with no contents". how would they know nothing was in it unless they weighed it and found the weight matched the weight of the box (which they would know) or they noted a discrepancy in weights between the source PO and the destination PO? If the weight at the sending end was higher than the receiving end, it seems like the PO is liable. How much you could get I don't know since it wasn't insured. If the weight at the sending end was the same as the receiving end, and it reflects the weight of an empty box, it would seem like the seller sent you nothing.
Don't rule out the possibility the sender shpped you an empty box "by mistake". This is probably not as uncommon as you might think.
Seems like you need to find out the weight on the original receipt and that would at least give you the information you need to hopefully solve this problem. The weight difference should be at least 2 to 3 OZ which is not insignificant. >>
The PO that received the box with no contents is probably the destination office, not the shipping office. When we unload parcels from the cage if we see any damaged (at my office anyway) we shake them to see if there is broken glass etc inside and look for liquid leaking. If we get an empty we look thru the cage for possible contents. If nothing we stamp them as received damaged or received empty.
The reason for stamping them is mostly to indemnify the carrier from accusations of damage/theft.
If the carrier would have stripped this box he would have stolen the whole box, not emptied it and delivered it.
This happened at one of the processing plants.
Unfortunately the weight might not matter and might not be recorded. 2 cards and cardboard would be under the minimum weight and so the postage would be minimum priority.
The shipper has to bear some responsibility for not taping and insuring a valuable package but if it arrived like the photo shows then someone has some 'splainin to do.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
Valuable? Send it Registered mail, insured. It won't get lost or damaged.
Photos That Were Used On Baseball Cards
<< <i>Well the update to this point is I was called a "thief" and he believes I've conjured this up just to get some more stuff out of him I guess....all over $600. He did prove the package was sent with the cards in it, his receipt the box weighed 8 oz, so it did obviously get lost within the USPS system somewhere....my beef at this point is he should have insured the package, or made good on the money himself since the cards didn't arrive....i insured the package I had going to him for this very reason....but I guess everyone thinks different...$600 worth of cards, uninsured and not taped up at all....to me spells no no....to him spells I'm a thief.....geez.
SOME PEOPLE!!!
PAVEL BURE "THE RUSSIAN ROCKET"
I am looking for ANY Pavel Bure cards you might be willing to sell off. Please just send me a PM if you do. Thanks!!
Successful Transactions with: bigfische, BobaFett72, Karb
<< <i>Well the update to this point is I was called a "thief" and he believes I've conjured this up just to get some more stuff out of him I guess....all over $600. He did prove the package was sent with the cards in it, his receipt the box weighed 8 oz, so it did obviously get lost within the USPS system somewhere....my beef at this point is he should have insured the package, or made good on the money himself since the cards didn't arrive....i insured the package I had going to him for this very reason....but I guess everyone thinks different...$600 worth of cards, uninsured and not taped up at all....to me spells no no....to him spells I'm a thief.....geez.
You can show him the stamp and prove the box arrived empty. He's a tool for not securing the shipment.
Dave
<< <i>By the way...if anybody happens to see either of these pop up on eBay or something please let me know....both are scarce enough I'd know if it is them or not....this just really stinks, had a sick feeling in my stomach all day
WOW, really nice cards! I always love to see these kinda of vintage rare cards. Sorry that you missed out of these two.
John
<< <i>By the way...if anybody happens to see either of these pop up on eBay or something please let me know....both are scarce enough I'd know if it is them or not....this just really stinks, had a sick feeling in my stomach all day
Will do!!
PAVEL BURE "THE RUSSIAN ROCKET"
I am looking for ANY Pavel Bure cards you might be willing to sell off. Please just send me a PM if you do. Thanks!!
Successful Transactions with: bigfische, BobaFett72, Karb
If you've got a post office slip saying that there was nothing in the box, you've got a case. The seller's neglegence puts him at fault.
I'm looking forward to you posting pics of this guy's neatly polished skull when this is all over.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
1. He shipped it full, post the scan of his receipt.
2. You received it empty. post the pics.
3. You received it stamped that it was EMPTY when your PO got it. (post pics)
4. He admits he sent it without taping it.
Bottom line, he is clearly at fault and owes you 600.00. I'd look into other means of being made whole if he ultimately doesn't see that he screwed up royally and reimburses you.
I'm not wanting to start a thread on Net54, yet. I have the moderator there I'm talking with and seeing what comes out of the discussions...so not wanting to throw fuel on the fire there just yet....
What bothers me the most is being called a "thief"...i've dealt with enough people on both these boards that know i'm above that...not taking dives here for $600
Dave
I believe this guy knew excatly what he was doing. I would demand money back or file in small claims court. As with anything he is responsible to get the item to you in the condition you ordered it in.
As far as small claims court, thats something I know nothing about. I would think I'd have to file it in his home state of Connecticut, which wouldn't be easy with myself in Atlanta, and then not sure if it would even be feasible over $600.....the whole thing may not even stand up in a court for all I know.
Dave