Ebay Auction

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Posted By: Mike

This concerns a recent ebay auction of mine. A collector or dealer won two cards totaling $1100. I sent insured priority mail with delivery confirmation. Insured slip and delivery confirmation says delivery was made. Collector says he did not receive cards. Post office could not furnish signed receipt. I filed claim for lost package. Collector says I should pay him now and for me to wait for claim intstead of him. I disagree. Any thoughts?

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Posted By: barrysloate

I am in the similar dilemma, where a package was clearly lost (as opposed to your situation), and I paid the buyer and have yet to collect from the post office. But mine was insured for $60. Yours is of much greater value, and since there is some proof that he signed for it, I would tell him you have to investigate the matter first.

And you must send a package of that value registered. At that level it is likely cheaper and 100% guaranteed.

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Posted By: Brian E.

Without knowing more about the situation like who signed for the package, I would wait until USPS investigates further. If you insured it for over $50, someone signed for it.

One possible problem is that if the buyer paid via paypal, paypal requires that all packages sent via USPS and valued over $250 requires signature confirmation, certified mail or registered mail.

Brian E.

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Posted By: Sean

I had a similar problem a few months ago (delivery confirmation and fully insured for $955); the post office claimed the package was delivered and both the insurance and DC forms said they were delivered, but the buyer never received the package.

After 2 weeks of contacting the post office and finally contacting the BBB the package magically showed up the next week and they could finally show the signature proof. I knew the buyer (and knew he didn't receive the package, but the PO thought otherwise) and I kept in contact with what was going on.

With any package insured for over $200 the Post Office requires a signature for delivery...I'm not sure if that fills the PayPal requirement.

I would have to say hold on to the money (and take it out of your PayPal account) until the Post Office decides what going on, they will try to find the package first before paying out anything.

Sean bh

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Posted By: Mark T

I had a similar problem when i shipped a T206 Lajoie. The package would not fit in his box at the apartment complex so the mail person left it in the hallway!!!!

Of course it was taken.

Well the delivery confirmation stated it had been delivered but the buyer said he did not get it. He also did not buy insurance.

He did a Paypal claim and paypal decided in my favor since the delivery # said it was delivered. I felt bad for the guy but i had no control over the situation.

Paypal will find in your favor but it takes a long time, i hope the usps pays you the money for their screw up.

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Posted By: T206Collector

You will never see that money or your cards again. Pay only if USPS reimburses you. Since it was signed for and you have proof of that, show to buyer. It is on him now moreso than it is on you.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Is it me, or do people who ship regularly notice a drop off in post office service lately? In the last couple of months, I had one package lost, one that took nearly two weeks to reach its destination, and another that is currently almost two weeks in transit and don't know the outcome yet.

I went years without a glitch but lately it hasn't been so good.

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Posted By: Joann

Is there a generic answer or process to follow in these cases? In general, who is responsible for pursuing an insured loss through USPS - the buyer or the seller? Does USPS have a policy on this matter - such as the person who purchased the insurance (the seller/sender) has to be the one to submit and pursue a claim? Or do they say the recipient who is claiming failed or damaged delivery has to pursue it?

I had this happen years ago - maybe even pre-2000. I bought a Jennings T3 insured and it arrived damaged - and pretty clearly damaged by USPS transit. The seller basically forwarded the insurance info to me and said 'here ya go'. He said I had to pursue it.

I just didn't have time right then and let it go. I was so disgusted that I didn't even look at the card for more than 5 years - it sat in the bottom of a cupboard in the dining room buried by bowls and platters. I felt like I'd been had but didn't understand the system and didn't have time to figure it out.

Is there a policy or even a general practice that governs who pursues insurance losses (USPS only) and who gets the reimbursement check?

Joann

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Posted By: Steve Murray

In your situation I believe it is you who should make the claim. You have the info and you have the damaged item. You can show the PO exactly what is being claimed.

For claimed non-delivery I think the seller should make the claim and I agree that the buyer should not be refunded until the PO has done its investigation and has in fact paid on the claim.

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Posted By: David Goff

This is why I never ship my high end items via USPS. Something always happens and one person ends up getting screwed. I ship just about all my items UPS ground. You get insurance, far better tracking system, and a piece of mind that your package will at least make it to the door on time. I have had several buyers question why it is taking several weeks to get their package when I shipped UPS 3 days after payment. They state if they do not get their package a negative will be placed. I just copy and paste the shipping invoice on ups.com where it showed delivered a couple of days after shipped and I never hear from them. Of course they leave a +. I have only had one item break and I received a check from UPS a couple of days later. I never had to file a claim. EASY!! That and I work for UPS also..

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Posted By: barrysloate

Joann- when you make a claim the shipper has to handle it. Generally you need to bring a letter from the buyer or a copy of the invoice to the post office along with some paperwork that they give you.

And I send all high end items USPS, via registered mail, and have never had one lost in 25 years. And I'm talking a few thousand packages.

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Posted By: JK

A few months ago I purchased a low priced e93 (under 200). It was shipped insured but I never received it. The post office stated that the item was delivered (I cant recall any longer if they claim someone signed for it, but if so, have not produced a signature). As a result, they denied the claim (which has been appealed and continues to be handled by the seller). I have yet to receive any of my money back. As a buyer, I would obviously like to get my money back, however, if I were the seller, I would do exactly the same and not refund the money until after the claims process has been resolved.

As for UPS, it lost one package of mine en route to sgc. It contained an e98 young and a few other cards. Ive also had a ups package that was being shipped to me (containing an e93 psa 4 young and an e93 psa 6 delahanty) lost en route. In both instances, UPS paid on the subsequent insurance claim promptly.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I wonder about all these lost packages. Are they being stolen by employees?

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Posted By: Jim VB

Barry,

With my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, I'd like to mention that Tom Boblitt has a wonderful collection.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Tom is not going to be very happy when he sees that!

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Posted By: Jim VB

I reported myself, to him, on the non-sports board. (I have a package going out to him this week.) I think he will know I'm kidding. I've never dealt with a nicer guy.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

They're not going to the North Pole with Santa's mail...yes, they are being stolen. UPS's "easy" insurance encourages the thieves in their branches to loot expensively insured packages. For anything you actually care about USPS registered mail is the best alternative.
If you want to have the "fun" of watching a USPS clerk's entire body clench, take an expensive package in for shipping via registered mail. They know they are responsible for it no matter what and they get very, very tight and uncharacteristically efficient when one comes in. I've seen clerks make all sorts of inappropriate comments about items being shipped via other forms of shipping but when that registered mail comes into play, they cut the chatter and pay attention.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

Registered Mail it is.

In the past couple of months I've sent several high valued items out Priority, Insured, Signature Required. I guess I've been lucky. In 10 years on ebay I've not had one item lost.

Now, if someone will tell me where I can get that funky Registered Mail tape I'll be all set for next time.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Adam- I send registered packages on a regular basis and the clerks do sometimes get surprised when they see the amount of insurance I take out, but they know me pretty well so they are kind of used to it.

Edited to add: Steve- I buy my rolls of reg tape at the local stationery store. It's like 5.99 and it's about a mile long. It lasts me about a year and I send out quite a few packages.

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Posted By: leon

I am with you. Where do they get that da** registered mail tape? None of the chain office supply stores have it, that I have seen....

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Posted By: barrysloate

My commercial office supply company which is just down the street sells huge rolls, both with and without the string reinforcements in it. Anybody need some tape, I'm your man. I can gladly pick up some rolls and ship them out, although they are heavy.

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Posted By: Denny Walsh

For those who need Tape, This is the Place! The Price went Up....Hmmmmm But I never had to pay for shipping & for the most part got it the next day after ordering on line...

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?&langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&productId=15488&cmArea=SEARCH

Life's Grand,
Denny Walsh