Non-delivery/severe delay on a BST transaction

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Brian, certified mail costs $3.55, and it is my understanding that this doesn't protect the shipper from loss or damage by the USPS while in transit. For the same $3.55 you can purchase $200 of USPS insurance to cover such loss or damage. BTW, if one purchases over $500 of USPS insurance, the USPS carrier is required to obtain a signature upon delivery, and this is reflected in the cost of insurance - $500 of USPS insurance costs $7.10, and $501 of insurance costs $9.55. FYI, I never purchase certified mail, but I almost always purchase insurance when I ship cards worth more than $100.

I will sometimes purchase insurance for less than the value of what I am sending and "self insure" for the balance. If it's a bigger deal - will always take at least as much insurance as will require a signature.

[oldjudge]

Brian-If you are shipping certified but guaranteeing to the buyer that the card/cards will arrive or you will refund their purchase price why would the buyer ever pay additional for insurance? I suggest that in the future you quote a base price plus “shipping” for each card. If the buyer wants insurance he has to pay for it. If he turns insurance down then he is assuming risk of loss. All you need is delivery confirmation, you are wasting money on certified mail.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Brian-If you are shipping certified but guaranteeing to the buyer that the card/cards will arrive or you will refund their purchase price why would the buyer ever pay additional for insurance? I suggest that in the future you quote a base price plus “shipping” for each card. If the buyer wants insurance he has to pay for it. If he turns insurance down then he is assuming risk of loss. All you need is delivery confirmation, you are wasting money on certified mail.

Insurance protects the seller not the buyer. Refusing to buy insurance doesn't put the buyer on the hook for damage or loss. That's nonsense. It's the job of the seller to get the item to the buyer safely. Period. The buyer doesn't have to pay extra to make that happen. If insurance is purchased, who is still responsible for properly packaging the item since a claim will be rejected for improper packaging? The seller. If there's a problem, who makes the claim? The seller. Who collects if the claim is paid out? The seller. That's why the seller pays for insurance and the buyer has nothing to do with it.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Insurance protects the seller not the buyer. Refusing to buy insurance doesn't put the buyer on the hook for damage or loss. That's nonsense. It's the job of the seller to get the item to the buyer safely. Period. The buyer doesn't have to pay extra to make that happen. If insurance is purchased, who is still responsible for properly packaging the item since a claim will be rejected for improper packaging? The seller. If there's a problem, who makes the claim? The seller. Who collects if the claim is paid out? The seller. That's why the seller pays for insurance and the buyer has nothing to do with it.

Chris for the win! Common sense prevails.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Insurance protects the seller not the buyer. Refusing to buy insurance doesn't put the buyer on the hook for damage or loss. That's nonsense. It's the job of the seller to get the item to the buyer safely. Period. The buyer doesn't have to pay extra to make that happen. If insurance is purchased, who is still responsible for properly packaging the item since a claim will be rejected for improper packaging? The seller. If there's a problem, who makes the claim? The seller. Who collects if the claim is paid out? The seller. That's why the seller pays for insurance and the buyer has nothing to do with it.

also its the seller that sets the terms...if the seller doesnt say 'delivery confirmation means no refunds' or whatever he really wants..he needs to be specifics....any vagueness the benefit goes to the buyer.....just like writing a contract...whoever writes the contract sets the terms but is also on the hook for any vagueness

[facingthelake1188]

First, I would like to thank the veteran member who sent me this old thread, you know who you are. This old thread lays out the same circumstances that I outlined in my recent post. It appears that my seller has been involved in similar situations with other members of this forum. He outs himself so I no longer have to debate myself on whether or not I should do so. I would like to point out that what he says about sending things out certified was not in my case for whatever reason. It certainly seems like the overwhelming majority of members agree that the seller should be held responsible for refunding a buyer for a non-delivered package. I, as an eBay seller for over ten years, have issued refunds on the only two occasions when this occurred. Yes, it sucks to have to lose money but that’s life. And doing what’s right should always take priority over money.
SO BRIAN, COULD YOU PLEASE NOW RESPOND TO MY REPEATED REQUESTS AND ISSUE ME A REFUND, and go file a claim with the post office. Maybe that will jar this package loose once some pressure is put on and if I ever receive it I would happily pay you for it as agreed.

[Leon]

I hope you aren't under the misconception your full name doesn't need to be out here. Circumventing the rule, in bold letters at the top of each page, by bumping this thread doesn't negate the need to have it here. Thanks

Originally Posted by facingthelake1188

First, I would like to thank the veteran member who sent me this old thread, you know who you are. This old thread lays out the same circumstances that I outlined in my recent post. It appears that my seller has been involved in similar situations with other members of this forum. He outs himself so I no longer have to debate myself on whether or not I should do so. I would like to point out that what he says about sending things out certified was not in my case for whatever reason. It certainly seems like the overwhelming majority of members agree that the seller should be held responsible for refunding a buyer for a non-delivered package. I, as an eBay seller for over ten years, have issued refunds on the only two occasions when this occurred. Yes, it sucks to have to lose money but that’s life. And doing what’s right should always take priority over money.
SO BRIAN, COULD YOU PLEASE NOW RESPOND TO MY REPEATED REQUESTS AND ISSUE ME A REFUND, and go file a claim with the post office. Maybe that will jar this package loose once some pressure is put on and if I ever receive it I would happily pay you for it as agreed.

[Chris-Counts]

I have kicked myself for buying insurance so many times without an incident. But the one time I needed it, I had to file a claim against UPS for destroying a $2,500 item, which they refused to pay because they said I packaged it poorly. I took them to small claims court, and when the UPS rep made the same claim there, I produced a receipt for about $30 worth of packing materials, which I had purchased from UPS the day the package was sent. The judge ordered UPS to pay me, which they did.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by facingthelake1188

First, I would like to thank the veteran member who sent me this old thread, you know who you are. This old thread lays out the same circumstances that I outlined in my recent post. It appears that my seller has been involved in similar situations with other members of this forum. He outs himself so I no longer have to debate myself on whether or not I should do so. I would like to point out that what he says about sending things out certified was not in my case for whatever reason. It certainly seems like the overwhelming majority of members agree that the seller should be held responsible for refunding a buyer for a non-delivered package. I, as an eBay seller for over ten years, have issued refunds on the only two occasions when this occurred. Yes, it sucks to have to lose money but that’s life. And doing what’s right should always take priority over money.
SO BRIAN, COULD YOU PLEASE NOW RESPOND TO MY REPEATED REQUESTS AND ISSUE ME A REFUND, and go file a claim with the post office. Maybe that will jar this package loose once some pressure is put on and if I ever receive it I would happily pay you for it as agreed.

I hope all members read this and learn a valuable lesson to always use PayPal Goods and Services no matter who the seller is.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Jim65

I hope all members read this and learn a valuable lesson to always use PayPal Goods and Services no matter who the seller is.

What would Paypal G&S do in this situation? I assume they would reimburse the buyer. Would they charge back the seller?

I had this conversation with another member recently. Neither of us is sure whether PayPal provides some insurance benefit or is merely guaranteeing seller's performance.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Brian Van Horn]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Brian-If you are shipping certified but guaranteeing to the buyer that the card/cards will arrive or you will refund their purchase price why would the buyer ever pay additional for insurance? I suggest that in the future you quote a base price plus “shipping” for each card. If the buyer wants insurance he has to pay for it. If he turns insurance down then he is assuming risk of loss. All you need is delivery confirmation, you are wasting money on certified mail.

Jay,

I appreciate it. I hate the idea of giving up on a system that has worked all but two times in over 4,000 transactions, but I have to consider that signature confirmation is 40 cents cheaper. In both cases in which this failed, the buyer has been refunded.