posted on December 5, 2000 04:20:07 PM new
I notice my items are getting to my customers fast this week. My customers are leaving me nice feedbacks due to the fact that they are getting their items so fast.
The problem is that 3 of my customers this week alone have notified me that part, or all of their items are damaged. 3 in a week !!! That is more than I had all year !!!
Anyway, I went to my Post office and asked them what the problem was. They told me they have hired alot of part-time help to cover the holiday mailing season (this explains the fast delivery), but they are hiring anybody who wants to work for them part-time (no experience needed).
Well I do not think you need that much experience to pick up and move a box !!!
Who are they hiring ? Gorillas ?
All 3 of my customers were covered by insurance, but my items are unique and one of a kind items which are not replaceable. Sure they get double sometimes triple or more their money back, but it still will not replace the item damaged.
What I am thinking is the USPS is doing good as far as deliveries this season, but it is costing them more money to hire the part-timers. The insurance claims they will have due to the part-timers neglect might cost them even more in insurance claims than what they are paying the help.
posted on December 5, 2000 04:26:17 PM newSure they get double sometimes triple or more their money back, but it still will not replace the item damaged
Wouldn't this be fraud? And if the buyers know the items are overinsured, perhaps this is their motivation in claiming the items are damaged?
posted on December 5, 2000 04:38:26 PM new
If you have sent anything via USPS take a look at the back of the paper you got. It clearly states :
"COVERAGE - Postal insurance covers (1) the value of the article(s) at time of mailing"
It does not say the cost or price. It states "value". I sell items very cheap and just because the buyer can get them from me cheap, doesn't mean they will be able to replace the item for what they paid me for it.
So no, it is not fraud.
Like I said earlier, I had one item break on me in 2000 up until this week. Now I have 4. If this was "motivation", I think there would be alot more than 4 buyers doing it.
posted on December 5, 2000 04:50:09 PM new
There was a thread here not too long ago about how the USPS decides "value". I'll have to look for it and re-read it, I can't remember what conclusions were arrived at.
I'm a tad confused though...you say here that you sell cheap items, but in the "completion rate" thread you mention having a 500-1000% markup.
You also mention that the items broken are unique and not replacable. This will make it more difficult to prove value I would think. That is one reason why UPS (not USPS) won't insure antiques etc anymore since they cannot easily be replaced. If push came to shove, the USPS would probably want to see proof of sale price to decide the insurance pay out. I've had three damaged items in 2 years, and PO all three times used the auction print out to "prove" the insured amount was the correct amount.
posted on December 5, 2000 07:35:38 PM new
It seems the USPS in Texas does not like to hire people who score over 50 on a standard IQ test.
ie some auction buys recently recieved:
1. RigiBag 8x10 Cardboard mailer marked "PHOTOS DO NOT BEND" folded AND creased in half to fit in locked mailbox.
2. Large Priority Mail Box costing $8.10 to mail left in 4 inches of standing water at postoffice overnight. Marked: Contents Photos.
Entire lower half of box swelled 3X with cardboard layers completely seperated. Fortunately the seller had plastic wrapped the contents.
What was it that Mom used to say about coming in out of the rain??
