paying for USPS fault

[CardTarget]

Of course. Until the goods are delivered to the buyer it is the seller's responsibility to fight with USPS (after giving a refund).

[brookdodger55]

One Word: Insurance

[usernamealreadytaken]

Depends. Did this happen to me as a seller or as a buyer?

[36GoudeyMan]

... this weekend because Paypal/USPS gave me a tracking number that wasn't correct or link-able, and the USPS picked up (and lost) the package.. 9 years of perfect feedback, gone in an instant....

[Leon]

Here is my take on it. IF the buyer and seller didn't talk about insurance at all then it is on the seller to get the package to the buyer, period. Just as it is on the Buyer to get the money to the seller. It doesn't matter if it's WWIII, the seller has the obligation to get the buyer his card. Now, if the buyer was offered insurance and turned it down then that is another story. I voted no on the refund but am not sure I didn't get it twisted around? So, I actually do think the seller should give a refund if the buyer never got the goods, regardless of who's fault it is, UNLESS the buyer turned down insurance. If nothing was said, each party should be obligated to the other party for their part of the deal.

[howard38]

,

[honus94566]

Don't ship expensive cards USPS, period. Send them with FedEx or UPS, insured, delivery signature required. Then nobody has any worries, and the shipper gets a full value refund in the highly unlikely event the card is lost.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by howard38

But the seller also turned down insurance when he was at the post office mailing the package so why put it just on the buyer? Ultimately it is the seller's responsibility to get the card to the customer and therefore his responsibility to insure the package. If insurance is too much of a financial burden he can include it in his original shipping charge.

We are in agreement. That is why I said I think I voted backwards. It is the sellers responsibility, without any other agreement, to get the card to the buyer.. Again, that is what I said.

[smtjoy]

Its the sellers problem, the buyer purchased a card that did not arrive. Seller could have purchased insurance if they wanted to cover any possible shipping issue. Mail does get lost and will sometime show up down the road, its happened to me twice, I once had cards show up that I purchased 8 months prior that were lost, I have sold and refunded only to be contacted by the buyer 5 months later that they showed up and they sent them back to me. I think the USPS does a good job as these are the only 2 times I have had this happen to me from over 2000 transactions.

To me I see it as the risk you take as a seller and its your choice if you want to buy insurance to cover that risk or not.

[Bicem]

maybe they should share the cost of the loss and split it since neither was truly at fault?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Bicem

maybe they should share the cost of the loss and split it since neither was truly at fault?

So if I send you a $5000 card and it gets lost you will eat $2500? Sweet.....

(though I am sure you and I would just meet at Starbucks or you could swing by the house, most folks aren't in close enough range for that though)

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by 36GoudeyMan

... this weekend because Paypal/USPS gave me a tracking number that wasn't correct or link-able, and the USPS picked up (and lost) the package.. 9 years of perfect feedback, gone in an instant....

You may want to try and get the buyer to revise his feedback, if it means a lot to you. You could offer to send him something to compensate him for his loss of time and show him how he can revise the feedback.

[murcerfan]

"Don't ship expensive cards USPS, period. Send them with FedEx or UPS, insured, delivery signature required. Then nobody has any worries, and the shipper gets a full value refund in the highly unlikely event the card is lost."

that is total crap.

There is no more bombproof way to ship cards than USPS registered and with the compoklicated added insurance...and if you get into 5k plus cards it is also the most cost effective.

Of course the instant gratification factor might not suite you or the speedy-internetty flashy cool as big and exclamationy!!!!!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by usernamealreadytaken

Depends. Did this happen to me as a seller or as a buyer?

+1

[jcmtiger]

I require insurance on items over $50.00, otherwise I am responsible as a seller.

Joe

[BlueDevil89]

For any purchases of $40 or more from my website, I automatically include insurance. I've included the cost of shipping, insurance, and Delivery Confirmation into the prices shown on my website. It may make the prices on my website appear slightly higher than those of competitors who do not include such fees (or simply break those out separately), but it keeps the transactions safe and simple. On my HOW TO ORDER page I note that buyers may purchase insurance for the price of $2 for orders under $40. This way, if ever a dispute arises, it should involve a relatively small dollar amount. Closest to an incident I ever had involved a $9 card. I asked the buyer to bare with me as I worked with the USPS to resolve the matter, and informed him during the very first communication on the subject that he would be refunded his money if the card did not arrive. Two weeks later the USPS found the package and made the delivery.

I voted YES, the seller should issue a refund if the card does not arrive. Ultimately, I feel the Seller has the obligation to make delivery. I view insurance as protection for the seller, not the buyer.

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by CardTarget

Of course. Until the goods are delivered to the buyer it is the seller's responsibility to fight with USPS (after giving a refund).

+1. Legally the transaction is not complete until the buyer takes receipt. All that garbage sellers used to toss up in eBay about not being responsible for loss/stolen items, or if insurance not taken wouldn't hold up in any dispute if it ever came to that.

[packs]

Can UPS really ask you to identify what was in an insured package when you file a claim? It seems like if they sell you the insurance they are accepting coverage for any damage to that package, regardless of whats inside.

[Buythatcard]

As a seller, this has happened to me several times where the package just disappeared off the face of the earth.
That is why I insure most cards that I ship. I don't ask the buyer whether they want insurance or not, I just insure it to protect myself.
After settling with a buyer, I always ask them to notify me in the event that the package arrives after they collect the insurance claim. As of today, I have never heard from a buyer stating that.

[Texxxx]

I would NEVER ask a customer of mine to ever pay for something he did not get. It is my responsibility to get him what he paid for. If I feel insurance is justified then I get it and figure the amount in the price. Insurance is for the seller not the buyer. If you don't work that way then customers will start avoiding you as a supplier. JMO

[rp12367]

I just had a problem today. Won a card off e-bay, seller shipped, gave tracking number. USPS said card was out for delivery on Saturday 9/1. Card never was delivered, status was still out for delivery until yesterday, last night status said, rerouted for international delivery, whatever that means, also showed 9/1 as date even thought it was 9/3. Then all of a sudden today USPS said card delivered 9/1 and international thing is just gone. Today 9/4 no card, talked to mail lady this afternoon (who is a temp for past 3 days, regular mailman on vacation) says she hasn't seen it and maybe it will turn up. Im going to post office tomorrow to talk to them, but I'm sure I will get a run around. As far as e-bay and seller are concerned it shows I got it so I guess I'm outta luck. Hopefully if it got delivered to wrong address the people are honest and put back in mailstream. I wouldn't expect seller to make good on it, it was post office screw up, and even if it was insured USPS says it got to me.

[packs]

USPS being able to ask for proof of value AFTER they sold you insurance and lost your package seems strange to me. If they sell you insurance to me that infers that they are agreeing to protect whatever is in that package for that amount, since they are free to consider not insuring the package prior to sale.

Alternatively, what if you insured an item for less than it was worth? Will USPS pony up more money in that situation? Doubt it. Seems unethical to me all around.

[sb1]

Originally Posted by packs

Can UPS really ask you to identify what was in an insured package when you file a claim? It seems like if they sell you the insurance they are accepting coverage for any damage to that package, regardless of whats inside.

There are a laundry list of exclusions and you are expected to know them prior to shipping. I have often had UPS, Fed Ex and the USPS ask me what it was I was shipping/insuring. IF it is on the no no list, most clerks will deny the package.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by packs

Can UPS really ask you to identify what was in an insured package when you file a claim?

Absolutely and they will also ask for proof of value, like a print out of the E-bay auction page or an invoice, etc.

Been through this many times at my job.