Any luck with USPS claim? (received damaged product)

All - wondering if anyone has had success in the past with obtaining a refund by filing a claim through USPS? Received a damaged set of tail lights from a vendor member here on the forums. It was shipped through priority mail so my understanding is that there is some level of standard insurance attached to it. It appears that it was damaged during shipping as the seller provided photos prior.

I believe the lights belonged to someone in the forums from Hawaii as it was shipped in the same box and seller did not remove original address label.

 

If it was shipped priority mail flat rate box, those have a $50 dollar (i believe) insurance that comes standard, shipper can pay for more coverage if they choose. As for making a claim, last time I tried you It was a fucking pain in the ass. Like you need receipts from USPS and the item you purchased, pictures of the item before shipping, pictures of the box upon arrival, pictures of the damaged item. problem here is that if the item was modded by a TW member and the member does not have an actual business or the ability to write you a receipt that the USPS will recognize, you may have problems. Also, if the sender didn't insure the item, USPS may not be held liable for any damage.

Here is a link that can help you get started https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

GL and let us know how it goes.

 

It was basically re-shipped in the same box to which someone from Hawaii shipped to this member previously. It's not a flat rate box, but the labeling is for a priority mail type. I am already a little irritated because I got up-charged on shipping (rather than paying actual shipping - as the actual shipping costs was known by seller before shipping this out given it was shipped from Hawaii to that location previously).

I have evidence of the damage, box upon arrival, and documentation to evidence payment made. The others might be hard to come by as I would need to rely upon the seller to provide. I have filed a claim so we will see how this goes. I'm not overly confident, but hoping for the best.

 

GL man, all you can do is try!

 

Did you pay with PayPal? Sometimes they cover shipping damages.

 

Problem is I paid friends and family as a courtesy to the seller.

 

I never do that. Heard too many horro stories about it. Does your credit card cover?

 

Problem is, most people ask to pay via friends and family to save on the paypal fees. I have done it but thats because most of the time, I am selling stuff cheap and trying to pass on the savings to the buyer. I guess you could pay the seller an additional amount to cover the fees and pay as a regular purchase to protect you if you are worried, but most of the folks I have dealt with here on TW have been stand up guys and gals and I havnt had any problems with a sale or purchase I have done. It just unfortunate that the item probably wasnt packed very well that caused the damage. But that should be on the seller. Now if they packaged it up where you know damage shouldnt have happened and it was definitely caused by the carrier (damaged packaging), then the carrier should be at fault. I always insure that the packing I use will hold up to the abuse that the carriers can "throw" at it when I sell items on TW or ebay for that matter.

 

When I do paypal, I often just have it take from my account rather than a cc. I think when you do friends and family, there's a fee associated with using the cc. I would not have normally done friends and family, but the seller is reputable on the forums.

The packing on the inside looked decent to me. The box was a little worn but it's hard to determine whether that occurred between origination and destination of the shipping or if it was shipped in that manner. I still have not heard back yet from USPS though.

 

Hard call then. If the packing was good, then the seller did their best to protect the item they shipped and it was probably rough handled by the USPS. I guess thats why alot of sellers dont want to ship fragile or large items. GL with USPS. I hope they take some responsibility for the damage, but its going to be an uphill battle.

Also from what I recall, if you are paying for an item via PayPal as a purchase instead of F&F, the seller gets charged the fee regardless if the buyer uses a CC or pulls from a bank account. Using F&F the buyer gets charged the fee if using a CC and not if pulling from their bank account and the seller doesnt get charged anything. I guess thats how PP makes their money.

 

PayPal fees are less than 3%........that is a measly $3.00 on a $100 item!! Less than $15 on a $500 item.

I just sold my Fox bump stops for $550 shipped and it cost me around $16.00 to do it as a purchase......protected both me and the buyer in case there was an issue.

NOW, the USPS is having problems everywhere.....just mailed a rear bumper cap yesterday and there was a shipping delay at the post office where I mailed it and a second delay (ALERT) at the next stop today. I asked the postmaster about all the delays yesterday and she said "No one is allowed to talk about it".

I think the sender actually needs to file a claim, too???

 

Good idea on the small cost to protect the seller and buyer. I may have to consider it in the future on larger ticket items. Could be that only certain areas of the country where USPS is having issues. I ordered a MESO mod on Saturday, shipped on Monday and it is out for delivery today, and I am in Hawaii! I hope I am not jinxing myself now...

 

Had stuff shipped from California, Houston, and a few other places.......all having delays. As I said, even my local PO has had the delays. Had a package "lost" in the Philly PO for 2 weeks before it was finally found and completed its route to me. All this after the recent increase in postage rates!!!!

Warrendale Pa., where my bumper end cap is held up (north of Pittsburgh) supposedly had a mercury spill 10 days ago. The article said minimal delays expected.....still ongoing??

Cracks me up....the guys selling small, inexpensive parts and want to do friends & family on Paypal......what is 3% of $10??? 30 CENTS!!!

 

I'm not sure if the seller also needs to file a claim, but I will hopefully find out in the next week or so. I heard it takes a bit for them to process a claim, whether they accept/deny it. Hindsight is always 20/20 - this is actually the first time I received a product damaged so it was probably just my time to join the club.

 

I had bought a Matco ratchet on ebay a while back......mail lady gave me an empty cardboard tube. Only one end was actually taped shut. She told me to contact the seller to file a claim and I did too. I think the seller reimbursed me and got his insurance money from USPS. Likely someone from USPS opened it along the way and swiped it. Was painless from my end as the seller was very cooperative.

 

Thanks for the tip.

I will reach out to the seller and also that he file a claim too.

 

I would also ask the seller if he insured it and for how much.

I insured the bump stops for $550 - just in case - they got to the buyer fine. No extra insurance on the bumper cap - standard $50 included in shipping - as the sale price was less.

I think the extra $500 insurance was around $10-$11 only.

 

Being in Hawaii I almost always shop online. PayPal when possible, but always a credit card. PayPal and credit card, you're "double" covered. If the seller asks for the fee or f&f I always pay it, just piece of mind.

I had recently ordered a bunch of stickers and got an empty envelope, with a note from the post office saying, "oops we're sorry". Seller filed a claim and got money back. Good luck!
Aloha

 

I am very interested in the outcome of the USPS claim. I ship frequently to HI and had a package destroyed and then delivered. The buyer filed a claim but no luck yet. I replaced the products at no charge but am curious how long the claim process actually takes. Personally I don't do the friends and family thing. I don't mind the small fees because it enables me to buy postage and print shipping labels 24/7 from home. Now this thread shows that there are other reasons to avoid F&F.

 

To file an insurance claim you need the actual receipt for the item to show the value and good photo's of the damage. It takes about 2mo for a claim to be resolved. If they deny it file an appeal!
If you are filing a CC claim? Do NOT tell them it was damaged in shipping!! Your CC will not cover shipping damage!
However they will cover if you say you dropped it. or it go stolen. (I know WTF??) But I tried to file a CC claim and that's what they told me.
USPS Claims are slow! Just keep up and make sure you have all the correct documents. They will cover it!

Good Luck!