posted on October 18, 2000 08:13:25 AM
This time, I was the buyer. I received a set of vintage stemware that was very well packed, but two of the glasses arrived broken. The package was insured, and the seller is sending me the insurance thingie plus a printout of the EOA (I somehow deleted mine) to prove the value. I also stopped unwrapping the two broken pieces immediately and saved them in their bubble wrap, along with the box and the remaining packing material at the bottom.
I presume that I take the insurance green slip, the box and broken glasses, and the EOA notice to the post office...and then what? Will they haggle with me over the value of the two broken glasses? I'd like to get a full reimbursement--or at least do better than the per-glass value (total cost divided by number of glasses in the set) because as a set they are worth more than they are separately.
How long should this process take? I've never had to collect on insurance before, and I'm a total newbie at the process.
posted on October 18, 2000 08:31:12 AM
sonsie ~ I've had two things, sent to me, arrive broken. Both times, they were less than $50 and the PO paid out immediately. However, once they paid, the items then became property of the USPO. If you want full reimbursement, for the cost of the entire set, the same may apply and the USPO would end up keeping everything. If the item is over 50, I'm not sure what the process is. You may wish to contact your local PO and find out directly from them though.
posted on October 18, 2000 08:34:06 AM
Don't bother with a printout of the EOA. The USPS doesn't want it. According to them, it is not proof of value. What they want is a cancelled check, money order receipt, Paypal transaction printout, etc.
posted on October 18, 2000 09:37:05 AM
The last time something of mine arrived to the buyer broken, it was a $9 dish. The buyer had to file the form, the PO sent me papers to sign, I had to mail those back, and after 10 weeks, the buyer got a check for $9. It was an amazing amount of paper pushing for such a piddly amount.
In early 1999, when I first started selling, I shipped 3 peices of Silisia, 1 saucer, and two cups. One of the cups arrived broken, and I sent the buyer the green insurance slip, and an invoice with a break down of the value, at $5 per piece. The PO paid him on the spot for the one piece, which they kept.
posted on October 18, 2000 10:21:33 AM
The PO is supposed to pay claims under $50.00 on demand with proper proof of value and insurance... But giving money back to the public runs counter to the USPS Dogma, and the clerks will generally deny that they are allowed to do that, and will try to give you the run around.
DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO SEND YOUR CLAIM OUT FOR PROCESSING. It will be either returned (or more likely lost). You have to insist that they check the proceedure in the Domestic Mail Manual, or get the station manager.
posted on October 18, 2000 10:32:00 AM
I've been told by the post office I go to that only the main post offices should/have to pay over the counter. I always suggest to my customer the go to their main p.o. to alleviate these stalling tactics.
One customer didn't want to wait for the money (the item was under $50 and the p.o gave her a hard time) so I got the forms, filled them out with the refund going to me; sent it to her and she filed it. I mailed her a check and in about three weeks I got a check from the p.o. Unfortunately it arrived in a plain envelope with nothing inside but the money order. I spent quite a bit of time trying to find out which person sent it to me until I finally realized what it was. aarrgh.
Oh yes, my postal guy said not to send the original receipt but a copy. However, I usually send the original and one day it will bite me in the backside.
Make sure she takes everything back to the p.o.; box, packing, all items etc. They will not give her any money without it.
[ edited by llama_lady on Oct 18, 2000 10:32 AM ]
posted on October 18, 2000 02:31:41 PM
Unfortunately, I have had to file a number of insurance claims. I think you should be able to get a full refund by turning in the whole shipment. I have one pending and anticipate no trouble. I felt that the unbroken piece was worthless without the one which had broken, so I turned the entire shipment in. On other occaions I wanted to keep the unbroken pieces, and they refunded only the amount for the broken one.
Be sure it is in the original box with the original packing. You don't have to get the insurance form from the seller first, but some sellers send it. My main post office does not pay immediately on amounts under $50 even if I have the form. I guess they send even those ones to St. Louis. About 2-5 weeks later I recieve a postal money order as settlement of the claim. They won't refund the postage, though. A photocopy of your payment is usually requested (of check, m.o. or credit card statement). However, on some of my claims I paid by PayPal and my printer is non-functioning at the present, so they accepted a written statement or receipt from the seller as proof of payment. They also will accept a photocopy of the pages in a book giving book value, if it's a collectible; or an appraisal from an antique dealer (preferably on the dealer's letterhead).
My post office has said they need the original insurance receipt -- but I have not attempted to file using a photocopy... so I don't know if that would be accepted or not. In the cases where the seller had sent me the receipt, the postmaster photocopied it and gave me the photocopy.
Good luck -- it's really not too hard as long as you remember to save the original box and packing and take it with you to file the claim, and take the seller's address and whatever you used to pay with along with you. (The rest can be filled out and supplied by the seller.) If you have a book which gives value for the item, take it along, too.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on October 18, 2000 06:54:03 PM
as a buyer I received a LOT of china that had several pieces broken: the creamer, a pitcher, and the oil cruet that came with a matching vinegar and a stand...i have seen these items for sale on ebay as single items, and they would probably cost more to purchase than I paid for the lot...how will the post office determine the value of the broken items? will it be based on the seller's breakdown in her invoice? ALSO the post office told me they would not accept a printout of the paypal receipt as proof of payment, as they "don't accept anything from the internet"...i took my package as it had arrived to the post office, filled out my portion of the form, they kept the broken pieces, now i just need the seller to do her part---we are both newbies---she admitted she would need help with her part of the form...hopefully all will turn out well...
posted on October 19, 2000 03:30:01 AM
junqueen3 - If your seller can write a receipt or an invoice itemizing the cost for each piece I'm pretty sure they will accept that as proof of value. (It should look official -- either handwritten on one of those forms you can buy, or she can use a template (I believe that the invoice I use is a Microsoft Word template) and print it from the computer. Or if you have books that show values for all of the items you purchased, you can take them in to substantiate your claim.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on October 19, 2000 04:53:53 AM
I made an invoice using MS Publisher for my buyer last year. It looks very official, and the PO took it without complaint.
