What should you do if the post office loses a package?

npd_bigdaddy · Post by **npd_bigdaddy** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:11 pm

Ok, now hypothetically, say you've bought something, he ships it (can prove it) and you never get it. He doesn't get tracking, but has the receipt that shows that it was indeed sent. Only logical explanation is that the post office lost it.

Now I've had this happen with online dealers, and they sent me out another one. I can understand that, as they're a business and have that capability. What about the run of the mill Average Joe citizen? He normally would not, nor could not, send you out another item.

What is proper ettiquette/thing to do? Is the buyer just screwed? Half a refund? Full refund? Nothing?

I got to thinking about this after reading the thread on shipping to Canada and it just got me thinking......

What would you do as the buyer, or the seller, in that case? Let's assume there's no insurance on said item.

Erik

starslayer · Post by **starslayer** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:31 pm

The guy is screwed. He can file a claim(maybe) with the Post office and try to track it, but with no insurance or value , he cant get any money back. Thats why you should purchase insurance. It was the senders responsibility to do so.
I feel bad for the guy, but its not your fault and you shouldnt be out any money for him not paying for insurance.

So NOTHING.

Nalik · Post by **Nalik** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:33 pm

If it were an ebay transaction of mine and you didn't purchase insurance your out of luck. If you requested insurance and could prove you did and I didn't get it applied to your shipment I'd refund in full. Depends on where the fault lies.

npd_bigdaddy · Post by **npd_bigdaddy** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:39 pm

Nalik wrote:If it were an ebay transaction of mine and you didn't purchase insurance your out of luck. If you requested insurance and could prove you did and I didn't get it applied to your shipment I'd refund in full. Depends on where the fault lies.

Well Ebay or not, I wouldn't think it would make a difference. Point being, the PO lost the package. Now it seems like a no win situation to me. Assuming there was no insurance, the buyer is definitely screwed, as the burden of proof can be proven that the seller did in fact send the item.

I guess if I were the buyer, I'd be hot. I guess if I were the seller, I'd feel bad, but in reality, is there any reason for me as a buyer to refund any, part, or all of the buyer's money because of something out of my control?

Just seems like a situation for where there's no good solution.....there's no reason, other than moral, for the seller to compensate I guess, but would you, or should you??

Guess that's the answer I'm after? That would be my dilema if I were the seller.........

Erik

starslayer · Post by **starslayer** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:50 pm

If he paid for tracking/delivery confirmation, you can check on the package. What does it say? Was it delivered? Where was the packages' last location?? Have you, yourself, checked the status?
Maybe this person sent the package, changed his mind, & recalled the package. You never know. Could be a scam.....

BCI · Post by **BCI** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:08 pm

starslayer wrote:If he paid for tracking/delivery confirmation, you can check on the package. What does it say? Was it delivered? Where was the packages' last location?? Have you, yourself, checked the status?
Maybe this person sent the package, changed his mind, & recalled the package. You never know. Could be a scam.....

And what does the receipt say was the destination (usps puts zip codes on the receipts) and the weight? that can be used to approximate contents also.

SteveBerenyi · Post by **SteveBerenyi** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:56 pm

i bleieve this is a hypothetical,

What would you do if...

Luna de hierro · Post by **Luna de hierro** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:03 pm

Hi,

iÂ´m the one trading with npd_bigdaddy.

the problem is that i donÂ´t trust my local mail service, got screwed twice this last 2 years sending some 40K and BL to Argentina, the first package was a TAU codex and the new etereal mini with honour blade... the envelope got there without the mini, second time was books... about 40â‚¬ of them... and they also disappeared in the warp.

I got smarter and started paying for insurance (costs me 1% of the items value) and a warning receipt, every time the package passes a mail central it gets registered by it, if something happens they know exactly were the package disappeared, its expensive but at least i can claim part of the â‚¬â‚¬â‚¬.

So... i asked npd_bigdaddy to place an insurance to, maybe a bit paranoid but who knows, maybe if they see that the package is being monitored they handle it more carefully.

Guys, donÂ´t be alarmed, it has only passed 5 days since i sent the package, iÂ´m sure it will take up to 10 or 12 days to cross the atlantic ocean.

mrrshann618 · Post by **mrrshann618** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:33 pm

I have a friend who lives in Padova, Italy and it takes nearly 2 weeks to get stuff to or from them. (post office warns 6-10 buisness days)

I've never had a problem with them getting the Items I have sent, though I know that customs delayed one of my Christmas gifts to them once. It took a week longer.

kbolster12345 · Post by **kbolster12345** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:45 pm

Seesh. Hypothetically speaking here. couldn't the following situation arrize?

Person A sends the package. Get receipt, possibly a customs form, insurance or what have you. Anything that relatively proves that the item was sent. (anything but actuall tracking because tracking doesn't cross borders.)

Person B gets the package but claims to not have recieved it.

In this situation Person A is relatively assured that proof of sending has happened and is in the clear. If, like starslayer, suggested they recall the item ( I am not even sure if you can) there would be a paper trail if/when mail fraud comes up. So I doubt that happened.

I have to side with the person with the most proof but it's a tough one. Hopefully both sides can come to an agreement to minimize the damage.

jadefalcon · Post by **jadefalcon** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:24 am

There is a form that you fill out when shipping through USPS from the US and to any International destination.

On that form there is a LC number, Custom Form number.

You can track the LC number by calling USPS International at 1-800-222-1811.
They can tell you if it reaches the Destination Country. From then on, it's at the mercy of said Destination Country's Post Office.

I've shipped many packages overseas and have come across this issue a few times. Buyer's telling me they have not received the package. I usually give them the LC number and the USPS International phone number and they can verify that item arrived at their Country at least. If they did not ask for Insurance or Confirmation (which gets pricey for Overseas packages) all they get is the LC Form number and the USPS International number.

The International form is good for packages under $200 I believe. Not sure on this. You can ask the PO and find out what the limit is on these packages.

Hope this helps.
J

npd_bigdaddy · Post by **npd_bigdaddy** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:04 am

Luna de hierro wrote:Hi,

iÂ´m the one trading with npd_bigdaddy.

the problem is that i donÂ´t trust my local mail service, got screwed twice this last 2 years sending some 40K and BL to Argentina, the first package was a TAU codex and the new etereal mini with honour blade... the envelope got there without the mini, second time was books... about 40â‚¬ of them... and they also disappeared in the warp.

I got smarter and started paying for insurance (costs me 1% of the items value) and a warning receipt, every time the package passes a mail central it gets registered by it, if something happens they know exactly were the package disappeared, its expensive but at least i can claim part of the â‚¬â‚¬â‚¬.

So... i asked npd_bigdaddy to place an insurance to, maybe a bit paranoid but who knows, maybe if they see that the package is being monitored they handle it more carefully.

Guys, donÂ´t be alarmed, it has only passed 5 days since i sent the package, iÂ´m sure it will take up to 10 or 12 days to cross the atlantic ocean.

Luna, you're not the one I'm worried about! LOL! Yes we are trading, however, as Steve has correctly observed, this is all just a "hypothetical" what-if scenerio.

That's all, nothing more. Anybody that I may be trading with, please do not be alarmed......LMAO!! This is all just in good fun, and I wanted opinions.

Erik

npd_bigdaddy · Post by **npd_bigdaddy** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:06 am

SteveBerenyi wrote:i bleieve this is a hypothetical,

What would you do if...

Exactly! Just a hypothetical, nothing more.......

Erik

npd_bigdaddy · Post by **npd_bigdaddy** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:11 am

starslayer wrote:If he paid for tracking/delivery confirmation, you can check on the package. What does it say? Was it delivered? Where was the packages' last location?? Have you, yourself, checked the status?
Maybe this person sent the package, changed his mind, & recalled the package. You never know. Could be a scam.....

OK, again, just hypothetical stuff here.......LOL. Let's make this easy.

I buy something from person A. I pay via PayPal. He gets the money, ships out the item. No insurance, no delivery confirmation. Let's just keep it simple. He keeps the receipt that pretty much proves that he sent my item out to me (my zip code at least, but let's just give the benefit of the doubt here).

I never get the package. It's lost in the warp. So what, if any, responsibility does the seller/receiver of the money bear here? That's the question........

What would you do as a seller? What would you expect as the buyer?

Just one of those "what if" scenerios, nothing more

Erik

specs.esd · Post by **specs.esd** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:19 am

my $0.02:

As a Seller, it would depend on the customer - a frequent buyer I'd probably negotiate with on the refund with, others I'd give them all the information I had and basically a "good luck, your on your own, will re-Paste it if you file a dispute"; it would also depend on the $ involved as well as some headaches are just not worth a $10 hassle.

As a Buyer, you should ask if delcon# is part of the deal and insist that it be if it is cost effective. Plus you need to know the rep/feedback of the person you are buying from. Otherwise, it is a buyer-beware scenario.