posted on July 3, 2001 10:51:32 AM
Zazzie ...... Exactly. The USPS is no different than Canada Post in that regards.
No damage to the box itself, no refund.
And if someone thinks insurance is tossed in for free on Surface items over 1 KG, I'd be most appreciative to know where you got that silly idea from.
posted on July 3, 2001 10:55:44 AM
I am not quite sure what you want me to run by you again?
Insurance IS included in airmail shipping for an item over 1 kg.
Insurance for your piece would have been one whole Canadian dollar for surface shipping.
The item DID weigh over 1 kg and WAS breakable.
I don't know why you even allowed the buyer to get the piece without either insurance, even if you underwrote the insurance claims yourself...
If it was packed as well as you say it was then it is highly unlikely that it could have been broken without damage to the outer box.
Why you didn't insure it is beyond me...if you are the consumate professional you imply you are, and the "nice guy" you attest to be then why are you here looking for advice from strangers when the buyer has proven the piece was yours with photos of the box and the broken piece. You seem to believe him that the box wasn't damaged...
You may be a nice guy, and want to return the money, but it was still stupid to send a fragile object without insurance, poorly packaged via surface mail... sorry - them's the facts...
posted on July 3, 2001 11:04:12 AM
I don't know where anyone gets that the box has to be damaged.
I ship a lot of stuff, I pack very well, and sometimes stuff gets broken, it's part of life when it comes to shipping. I've never had one problem in filing a claim with the USPS or UPS, UPS will sometimes pick up the package and inspect it so they may take longer but they have always paid the claim.
I don't ever remember the post office even asking to see the merchandise on the other end before they would pay the claim. Just take your paperwork to the window, fill out the claim form and that's it, or it always has been for me. Maybe they trust me, now over 95% of the stuff I ship I insure with U-Pic and you have to jump threw more hoops but same thing always have paid the claim.
I have never had a problem with an insurance claim and I doubt that I ever will.
posted on July 3, 2001 11:04:52 AM
fonthill---maybe you should read the facts.
The buyer said the packing was wonderful--I believe the word he used was 'Impecable"
or in his own words
""Oddly enough I received the box intact without any noticable dings or dents. The only thing I can think of is if something very heavy was placed on top of it crushing that one delicate arm because your packing
was impecable."
where in the word did you get "Poorly packaged" from that statement????
You are indeed one of the best eBay sellers to offer refund where no insurance was purchased. You even go further than Canada Post and are willing to cover damage they would not even consider.
Since the question seems to be whether or not the broken piece comes from the original glass. May I suggest to ask to have the broken piece (only) shipped backed to you. Shipping back would be less expensive and you could verify yourself that it could be from the item you shipped.
From my gut feeling on this, I would believe the buyer. Every point so far that had been doubtful was proven to be accurate, shipping time, box label, good positive feedback, reference from the other seller you emailed.
I don't think you are being scammed, but he's got a lousy scanner. But still, if you want to be more comfortable, ask to have the broken piece shipped. Don't pay for shipping the whole piece.
posted on July 3, 2001 11:18:05 AM
I've never had problems with claims either, however, I have only ever had one item arrive broken. Canada Post had me fill out a form and supply some pics. It took a while, but the claim came through. Although in all fairness, there was damage to the outer box... Perhaps the buyer dropped the piece after unwrapping? I don't know... but it sounds like the packing was done well... how else do you explain it?
Its still not a good idea to send a breakable expensive piece without insurance....
Oh, excuse me. The buyer chose Surface Mail due to the cost of Air, so insurance being included for AIR, is a moot point. Yes?
As far as why I didn't spring for the extra buck, because in over 1500 items shipped world wide, this is my FIRST item to arrive damaged. [those extra bucks add up]
I stated earlier in this thread that I usually don't bother insuring items under $100. Most US buyers don't want to pay the extra $, and due to the fact that I'm competing with US sellers [lower shipping rates from the get go] I try & keep the shipping rates in my auctions as low as possible.
On the higher priced items I usually pay for the insurance out of my own pocket.
Will I now become a nervous nellie & INSIST that ALL high bidders pay for insurance, or pay for ALL insurance out of my own pocket.
Not likely.
The reason I came here asking for advice from "strangers", was pointed out earlier in this thread.
FYI - I've known some of these "strangers" for over 2 years, and seeing as some of these "strangers" are in the same biz as myself, I thought it would be worth a shot.
This was/is the ONLY thread on AW that I have ever asked for help/advice on a customer of mine. I hope you'll excuse my momentary loss of good judgment.
Airguy
Please keep in mind I would be dealing with Canada Post if a claim was initiated. On this particular item, no damage to the box, no claim.
posted on July 3, 2001 11:34:21 AM
AC, thanks for the suggestion, I never thought of that. I'll have the complete pic later this week, if indeed it's my item [and it seems it may very well be] the buyer will receive a full refund.
I do appreciate everyones advice, and will hopefully have the final outcome posted later in the week.
posted on July 3, 2001 11:38:08 AM
I must be having a short dumb girl brunette moment...... but I don't get the button hole analogy. Would a kind soul enlighten me?
posted on July 3, 2001 11:38:12 AM
Glass is Glass, if it is the piece that if broken was scanned laying on it's side it would show you a little more. Which is also to say how did the guy get the scan he did? this is a curved piece of glass and the only way I can see that it could be "scanned" is with the curved piece pointing away from you do to the curve, this looks as if there is a curve to the glass at all it is taken form above, more like a picture. lay the piece on it's side and scan it if you really want to show that it is the same piece.
posted on July 3, 2001 11:51:57 AM
reddeer:
This was/is the ONLY thread on AW that I have ever asked for help/advice on a customer of mine. I hope you'll excuse my momentary loss of good judgment.
Shame on you!
With all of the help you have given, it is both an honor and a privilege to reciprocate with any input that may be deemed useful.
posted on July 3, 2001 12:08:27 PM
So, you do charge insurance for items over $100.00, but you said that Canada Post doesn't accept claims.... so why do you charge for insurance for those items?
I think Airguy nailed it. The piece does not look curved in his picture because it's laying on the scanner pointing up and away. The middle is focused because it touches the scanner glass, both end tips are out of focus because they are a few inches away from the scanner glass window. If the buyer would have tipped it on the side you could see the curve clearly.
posted on July 3, 2001 12:22:19 PMtradingcards For bold, do this before & after the word you want to bold. Just be sure to leave out the stars.
[*b] [*/b]
Italics, do this [*i] [*/i] leave out the stars....
posted on July 3, 2001 12:28:15 PM
Just for you Fonthill, I'll hold a questions & answers seminar later tonight.
Off the Canada Post website......................
Insurance
Insurance is available from Canada Post to provide compensation for the loss or damage of mailable items if the requirements are met.
In Canada, mailable items can be insured except for the following:
a.Publications mail items;
b.Bank notes and coins;
c.Stocks, bonds, coupons, and other securities negotiable by bearer;
d.Lottery tickets;
e.Jewellery;
f.Precious stones and manufactured precious metals;
g.Canceled or uncanceled postage stamps.
It should be noted that insurance can be purchased in conjunction with other products or services (e.g. COD, Priority Courier, Xpresspost, Expedited Parcel Service, Regular Parcel Service, Registered, Delivery Confirmation).
Fragile and perishable items can be insured for loss but not against damage.
To U.S.A. destinations, insurance:
Can be purchased for all surface and air parcels up to a maximum of $1,000.00;
Cannot be purchased for Lettermail items (Letters,Postcards, Letter Packages, Printed
Papers, Small Packets and Literature for the Blind), except for Registered Mail;
Cannot be purchased for items b) to g) shown in the list of items that cannot be insured in Canada.
To other international destinations, insurance:
Can be purchased for parcel post items up to the maximum identified for the individual
country in the Postal Guide;
Cannot be purchased for Lettermail items (Letters, Postcards, Letter Packages, Printed
Papers, Small Packets and Literature for the Blind) Cannot be purchased for items b) to g) shown in the list of items that cannot be insured in Canada.
Notice they say "Loss or Damage"? Also, with regards to *Fragile* items.
Off their insurance claim forms...............
Fragile or perishable articles are not insured against damage but are insured against loss
"A fragile article is any item which by its nature or construction will not withstand normal postal handling however carefully packed"
"A pershable article is any matter subject to deteriation due to lenghty transmission time or exposure to extremes of heat and cold"
I've been through this with the head honchos at Canada Post many times & they are always more than happy to pay out claims if indeed the item was damaged because of excessive rough handling. ie "NON normal postal handling". I used to work for Canada Post, and have a brother who is still working for them, for going on 25 years.
Hope this info helps clear things up as to why I ship "some" items with insurance.
posted on July 3, 2001 12:32:00 PM
reddeer,
You and cdnbooks (Bill) have always responded to questions I have had about Canadian post offices and money orders promptly and accurately.
Please remember when a thread gets to be this long posters forget who said what and what was stated as fact, and what others assumed was fact.
As often happens, the question you asked "Do we think the piece came from your object you sent " has been turned into a how to ship, how to pack, how to insure thread.
I find that you have been handling this matter with this buyer in a professional manner, and maybe some posters just want to see you moaning and throwing your hands up in the air in confusion.
I have to admit though, after 3 pages, I have to ask
What is this blue thing? "
posted on July 3, 2001 12:33:16 PM
In defense of EG & the buttonhole I have to say I still think she was scammed.
A perfectly good buttonhole can look bad on an extreme closeup. A few minuscule threads can look huge when they are not, specially when the item is a nappy material as this suit was.
posted on July 3, 2001 12:36:36 PM
Thanks Barrelracer.
FYI - this glass piece was made by a company that brought Italian glassblowers over to Canada back in the 1960's. It's simply a whimsical bowl, or center piece. These Canadian made pieces are starting to become highly collectible by many US collectors.
Some of them are starting to fetch $100+ on eBay.
posted on July 3, 2001 12:55:15 PM
Well, I want to say that it always looked like it matched to me... :|
If you take into considation the ratio of the scan and the white balance differences, then really look at the tip of the item, you see a resemblance.
Also if you look along the neck of the long part you can see that there is (at least in the posted image) some mixture of unpigmented and pigmented glass (sorry for my terminology...I only know beads)
Anyhow...I am sorry to see how defensive every one gets. Assuming scam right out of the gate. I know, I know...not everyone is angelic and there are scammers.
I suppose if it was me, I'd ask them to slap a little more info on the scanner, maybe a side view, etc.
Anyhow...in the buttonhole of life, I'd rather be a button than a hole.
sorry to read of the situation you are having with this item. my two cents is that the customer provided pic does look way different than your item ... but that it is a scan compared to a photo ...well, i hope that when the customer is able to provide you with a photo, things will become clearer.
as for the speed of surface mail from Canada to the US ... i have to add my experiences - i have had surface mail small packets reach US destinations (from US east to west coast) in as little as 5-7 days on a number of occassions. i don't do all that many parcels, so i can't speak for them.
just what is "surface" mail anyways? my gut feeling is that it all goes the same way - goes air, but that surface small packets and parcels just don't have the priority for getting on that plane. can you, or any Canada Post experts enlighten me?
and, on the other hand ... the one item that i have had lost in transit was a first class letter envelope to a customer in Ontario. it was very strange to me that a first class item would get lost (i did not doubt the customer). i did some checking, and found out that at the time my letter would have been on its way there was a Canada Post truck accident (i verified this with the 800 #) and the resulting fire destroyed a large number of first class mail items. my question is - why was first class mail going by truck to Ontario?? (the accident was out on hwy #1 .. not in a town).
anyways ... best of luck in getting this situation resolved. i know that you are handling it professionally
As far as why I didn't spring for the extra buck, because in over 1500 items shipped world wide, this is my FIRST item to arrive damaged. [those extra bucks add up]
However, when looking at your "me" page on ebay, your itemized list - #6 states this:
6. We've never had a parcel go missing, & over the years have only had one item arrive damaged. We reimbursed the customer for both the auction price & the shipping cost with no questions asked.
posted on July 3, 2001 03:06:04 PM
To me, what gets tiresome, is watching certain posters act as if they are all high and mighty and act like they never make mistakes.
But as soon as someone else posts something, they rake them over the coals, they contact their high bidders, they name call, they crack jokes at other's expenses (note the title of this thread), they start all kinds of problems. They thrive on causing havock in other people's lives. I've seen it happen a number of times.
So I guess it's true - what goes around, comes around.
posted on July 3, 2001 03:06:30 PM
I agree with toke. This person came here asking suggestions about a glass item and the thread turns into a picky insurance debate. One item broke in years of shipping or maybe it was two. What has that got to do with reddeer's original request? Geez!
posted on July 3, 2001 03:09:24 PM
Shaani: I could list a NUMBER of posters here who simply asked for advice on something, and their threads got turned into wise-cracking, name-calling debates.
Red-Deer is usually one of the first ones to chime in. So in this case, I have NO sympathy.
