Post Office problem- Packages "Vandalized"

[tnhillbilly]

Sorry, I did not realize that the police could not help. You learn something every day.

 

[magicmato]

Sorry, I did not realize that the police could not help. You learn something every day.

Nah, I learned it by asking a friend who is a cop in Boston.

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

This is why I always get a printed receipt from the P.O. when I send out packages. If you have proof that the package was sent then you are NOT responsible for refunds. This is why people can buy insurance. I have had this happen MANY times. I have even had envelopes slit at the bottom to remove things.

Sorry this happened to you.

Actually, a printed receipt is not enough to technically prove that you mailed that item. It only proves that you bought some sort of stamp or postage for that amount. The only thing that officially "proves" that you mailed something is a Certificate of Mailing that costs $.90. Funny how the post office finds another way to make money off us...

 

[JodyTG]

The mail service where I live is just AWFUL. But, then again, it is a "contract employee" and not a real postal worker. I didn't even know that they did this until I complained about this woman FOUR TIMES.

 

[JodyTG]

Oh...and I forgot...I just read that they're trying to increase the postage costs again.

 

[WaltD4Me]

The guy on the phone said that they were "investigating" the matter. (apparently, it was more than just my 3 things that were found empty.)
I asked him what good that would do me- he said "none, unless you insured the packages."

Are you kidding? You have to insure your self in case a postal worker STEALS your stuff?!! That is ridiculous! I thought insurance was in case of damage during shipping or even lost items, but you need it in case it's stolen by an employee? Wow!

I don't understand why the police can't help? .... If a parking valet at a restaurant steals the car I've entrusted to him, obviously the restaurant isn't going to buy me a new car, but I can file charges with the police. It is theft, why can't you file a report?

 

[buzz5985]

Unfortunately, not many postal employees touch the mail any longer. More and more of our mail is being contracted out. The Air Mail Center at Logan is closing at the end of the year. FedEx carries half of our mail out of boston, and all the other airlines carry the other half. The people that unload the baggage off the planes, also unpack the mail - enough said??? So as of January 2006 there will be no Postal Workers at the airport. Our job now is to make sure the mail gets on the planes. Now there will be nobody to watch them, to penalize them, just contract workers being paid small wages. What do they care??? They know they will be replaced. So I don't know what to tell you, but things are going to be a lot worse.

 

[disneysteve]

Unfortunately, not many postal employees touch the mail any longer. More and more of our mail is being contracted out.

This works in reverse too. I've ordered things form Amazon and paid for UPS shipping and had the item delivered by my regular mailman.

 

[magicmato]

I don't understand why the police can't help? .... If a parking valet at a restaurant steals the car I've entrusted to him, obviously the restaurant isn't going to buy me a new car, but I can file charges with the police. It is theft, why can't you file a report?

Because mail tampering is a federal issue and is handled by to police department within the post office organization. They have postal inspectors and such that investigate crimes involving the mail.

I got this info from a friend who is a Boston PD officer. He said there is nothing your local police can do, since the PO is not within their jurisdiction... it is a federal entity governed by federal, not local, laws.

 

[kilee]

I know w/ paypal they'll refund the buyers w/o a confirmed delivery. So, just having a receipt showing you attempted to send isn't enough.

This is why I always get a printed receipt from the P.O. when I send out packages. If you have proof that the package was sent then you are NOT responsible for refunds. This is why people can buy insurance. I have had this happen MANY times. I have even had envelopes slit at the bottom to remove things.

I would say you've been more so lucky that nobody has persued it. Because in the end paypal would of refunded their money.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I'm sorry this happend to you.

I sent out tickets through DHL. I sent the tracking number to the buyer and explained i'd be out of town. I found out when i returned the tickets did not get there in time for the game and were now worthless to everyone. DHL will only refund the shipping charges. I went ahead and refunded the buyer. It sucked but hopefully the good deed comes back someday. He never left me any feedback either! Oh well.

Its not your fault and it sucks. Sorry.

 

[Tigger113]

I believe you can file a claim with the PO for something like this. Sorry, can't remember what it's called. THEY should have to reimburse you or the buyer for the packages, it's NOT YOUR FAULT!

The sucky thing with Ebay is that if a buyer is unhappy for pretty much anything they can file a claim with Ebay or Paypal (if they paid that way) and they will make YOU pay the buyer, whether or not the buyer WANTED insurance! If the item arrives to them broken or damaged but they didn't want insurance they claim it as "Item Not as Described" and THEY win!

 

[disneysteve]

If the item arrives to them broken or damaged but they didn't want insurance they claim it as "Item Not as Described" and THEY win!

Have you ever noticed that when you buy anything by mail from a regular company, you don't specifically pay insurance? That's because everything is insured. The cost is just rolled into the shipping charge. Ebayers should be doing the same thing. As I said earlier, insurance isn't to protect the buyer, it is to protect the seller in case anything happens to the item before it reaches the customer.

 

[FergieTCat]

I'm a regular Ebayer, and if I bought something without purchasing insurance, it would be my responsibility if something happened to it, or if it got lost. I guess that's just me. If I sold something and the buyer didn't ask for insurance, I would assume it's the buyer's problem if something happened to their item in the US Mail.

However, I got this from the USPS site:

"Immediately report theft, tampering or destruction of mail or mailboxes to your postmaster. You’ll be asked to complete PS Form 1510, Mail Loss and Rifling Report, or PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint. The forms help the Postal Inspection Service determine whether your problem is isolated, or one frequently experienced in your neighborhood."

Good luck!

 

[disneysteve]

I'm a regular Ebayer, and if I bought something without purchasing insurance, it would be my responsibility if something happened to it, or if it got lost.

Would you feel the same way if you had purchased something from a mail order company or catalog? If you bought something from Land's End, for example, and it never arrived, wouldn't you expect a refund? I sure would. Why should ebay be any different?

 

[~Kathie]

Oh wow, I am seething mad right now. I just got a phonecall from the post office saying that the 3 packages I mailed out on Monday were found "vandalized", as they put it. They found my three packages empty. These were Ebay items that were mailed out to buyers. Only one of the buyers paid for the optional insurance, so only that one package was insured. The thing that burns me up is that the guy on the phone sounded like he almost thought the whole thing was funny. So what do I do now? Refund everyone their money and explain what happened? This is crazy. Thanks for listening.

I'm curious how the PO got your phone number?? Do they know you as a regular customer?? My PO knows me as a regular customer and I have talked to them by phone but I have always called them. I would get to the PO and speak to the Postmaster or the claims clerk. Fill out the paperwork and file a report. I would also report the person you spoke to for his non-chalance (sp) in phoning you to report the theft.

It may not get your you money back, but they will do an investigation and send you a report. I did that when I received an empty envelope. It was obviously slit open with a knife and the contents removed. I did get a replacement item from the seller but they had insured it.

Good luck with this and I agree with disneysteve.......I insure EVERYTHING sent in the USA. The cost is built into my shipping charges. For my auctions it's not an option.

 

[FergieTCat]

"Would you feel the same way if you had purchased something from a mail order company or catalog? If you bought something from Land's End, for example, and it never arrived, wouldn't you expect a refund? I sure would. Why should ebay be any different?"

(I can't find the "quote" thingie right now ...)

Steve --

Most on-line companies track their packages, so that if you don't receive your package, they can at least figure out what happened to it. I think they also guarantee that their items arrive in brand new condition. I wonder if there are laws about on-line companies that individual sellers don't have to follow.

As an Ebay seller, I usually pay the extra 35 cents for delivery confirmation, so that way, I can see if it actually got delivered. I'm possibly too nice, because if something to lost in the mail and the buyer never received it, I'd probably refund their money. Then again, I usually don't sell or buy high-priced goods on Ebay.

As a buyer, I've never not received an item. But, as I said, if the seller insisted they shipped it and I didn't buy insurance, I would take the loss.

As far as postal workers are concerned, I'd raise hell.

 

[Rootskate]

I'm curious how the PO got your phone number?? Do they know you as a regular customer?? My PO knows me as a regular customer and I have talked to them by phone but I have always called them. I would get to the PO and speak to the Postmaster or the claims clerk. Fill out the paperwork and file a report. I would also report the person you spoke to for his non-chalance (sp) in phoning you to report the theft.

It may not get your you money back, but they will do an investigation and send you a report. I did that when I received an empty envelope. It was obviously slit open with a knife and the contents removed. I did get a replacement item from the seller but they had insured it.

Good luck with this and I agree with disneysteve.......I insure EVERYTHING sent in the USA. The cost is built into my shipping charges. For my auctions it's not an option.

I assumed they looked my phone number up by my return address?

 

[CathrynRose]

OMG, did someone in the Post Office do this.

Who can you trust now a days?

No one....

My post man in Florida seemed to enjoy when I got packages from my makeupalley.com account. I'd be missing lipglosses, and all sorts of things - LITERALLY slice open so a finger or two could fit in.

Sometimes something would be taken - sometimes not...like the time my mom had her RX med's mailed down when she was visiting...he didnt take anything. Guess he didnt want to be stealing prescriptions along with makeup.

Yes I reported the issue - but there was no "proof" and then this twit started putting this sticker on there, that it had been "delivered damaged" - Jerk

 

[tlbwriter]

As an Ebay seller, I usually pay the extra 35 cents for delivery confirmation, so that way, I can see if it actually got delivered. I'm possibly too nice, because if something to lost in the mail and the buyer never received it, I'd probably refund their money. Then again, I usually don't sell or buy high-priced goods on Ebay.

I don't think you're being too nice. I think that's exactly what a seller should do. I require insurance on anything I wouldn't be willing to reimburse out of pocket. As the seller, it's my job to get the item to the buyer. I don't believe I can shirk that responsibility just because I said "if you don't buy insurance, I'm not responsible" in my auction terms. I laugh at people who use that line, because I know that if they can't prove delivery, I will get my money back.

BTW, if you print your postage online (through Paypal or the USPS website) delivery confirmation is free.