Bartertown.com

Feb 3rd, I sold a user two 'like new' softcover warmachine books for $44 total, estimating that I could ship them flat rate for $5. I promptly receive payment.
Feb 6th, I go to mail them using the address the user provided with their paypal. I was in a rush before work and mailed them out only later to see that USPS charged me $14 for shipping them. No problem. I'll take my mistake in stride.
Fast forward to Feb 11th, I find a package has been JAMMED in my tiny apartment mailbox (doubled over), it takes be about 5min to tease it out of the box. It turns out to be the books I sold, the address is indicated as not complete. I double check what was list on paypal and sure enough it is 100% match to what is on the package. The user provided me the wrong address. Now I have two damaged books, partly because I'm sure return to sender mail isn't treated gingerly.

I attempt to contact the user Feb 11th to discuss the issue and I have yet to receive a response after several attempts.

My problems are the following:
I cannot seem to contact the user to discuss
If the deal falls apart and the user wants a refund, I'm not sure what is fair. I overpaid on shipping and can prove it with pictures of the package so at minimum I'd like to recoup my $14 since that is 100% the other users fault for providing invalid information.


Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions?

What type of package did you have them in, a box or envelope?

Books should always have something inside to keep them from being bent, unless they're packed in a box. Like heavy/thick cardboard. The book sellers, like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, only pack them in cardboard. So do alot of the independant printers and online game merchants.

Did you insure them?
If not, why? I guess the books aren't worth the $2.50 for the insurance fee.

If so, then file a claim, showing the books were damaged during delivery.

Always write, on front & back, Please Do Not Bend. Some of the Letter Carriers actually can read and abide by the request.

All mail is treated the same, no matter who it goes to.

You can also file a complaint with the delivery supervisor of your letter carrier. Call the delivery office of the post office of your zip code. Some times they're in the phone book. If not, they can be looked up online at usps.com by calling the toll free number.

He gave you the wrong address. Paypal says to make sure you address is incorrect. If he wants the books again, he must pay for shipping again, since he was at fault.
True they're not in the same condition, but if you insured them and get a partial reimbursement, you can sell them for the new lower price. If you get a full reimbursement. Then USPS gives you your money back, and then you refund the buyer, the amount minus the shipping you charged him.

Thanks for the info. I did not insure them mostly because it was ~$40 of books and had had good experience with USPS until now. I shipped them in a padded envelope with extra protection for the corners, but all of your tips are well noted, this was my first time shipping books.

I will be sure to file a complaint. I'm mostly peeved because there are large mail boxes for packages that he could have used and given me the key like he has done before.

Thanks again.

The large boxes might have all been full, in use. So he thought he was doing you a favor by cramming them into your box; rather than making you come to the post office to pick it up.
Also sometimes the boxes are broken, or the keys are missing.

I insure everything worth more than $10. I work for USPS. I just started my 25th year.
I operated most every sorting machine. I'm now a mechanic and maintain/repair them. You wouldn't believe what I've seen; between what the machinces can/will do, to what happens when the airlines get a hold of things.

As always, kt has done a bang-up job sharing the USPS information.

My opinion is this: keep trying to contact the seller. Don't send ANY money or packages to him until you do. Also, don't SPEND any of the money he sent.

Give him the options:
Complete the trade
Refund the purchase amount, minus the shipping costs (it's one thing for you to eat the fees on a sale, but not on a no-sale), since the address problem was his fault.

He may wish to complete the sale at a lower price. That is for you two to negotiate between yourselves.



I'd definitely follow through with the complaint, though.


Eric