VeryModern
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posted on December 16, 2000 12:28:08 PM
This was just left at my front door.
I paid the USPS $8.50 for this and they did not even get it to the BUYER.
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moonmem-07
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posted on December 16, 2000 12:39:14 PM
It looks like they drove over it repeatly! I had a little go around with them on a neon sign they broke into a million pieces. They tried to say it had insufficient packing. They had driven over it. I don't know how to pack for that! They did pay the claim. I'm sorry this happened to you.
"If man were to be crossed with a cat, it would greatly improve the man, but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
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harrison72
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posted on December 16, 2000 12:40:42 PM
WHO DID YOU P*SS OFF???? OMG!!!! At least you have proof for the bidder that the item was damaged. And I hope the USPS is going to pay for that one. That does not look 'accidental'.
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shaani
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posted on December 16, 2000 12:49:31 PM
Just curious here. Was this packed inside another box or was it the box that is shown with just the white plastic wrap over it? The original packaging doesn't look sturdy enough for shipping without an outer box. I can't really tell from your pics.
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labbie1
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posted on December 16, 2000 01:28:03 PM
VM--OUCH OUCH OUCH! Ack! Sorry this happened! Some poor kid is gonna be disappointed! 
*************
Fill hungry tummys this Holiday Season with the NFL and Chunky Soup: http://www.chunky.com/click_cans.cfm
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Powerhouse
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posted on December 16, 2000 02:13:57 PM
I concur with Shaani on this one. DID you just put plastic wrap around the item carton?
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VeryModern
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posted on December 16, 2000 03:40:47 PM
Ship it in a plastic bag? Are you MAD? My husband can pack. We have shipped 11 of these without incident. Five of the 11 of them went around the WORLD and arrived pristine.
It was DOUBLE BOXED and there was NO PACKAGE left!
This came back to us in a plastic bag inside a USPS box, with a few shreds of packaging - as in a 4 or 6 inch square of bubble wrap and a piece of cardboard (mangled) about 12" X 12". This bike, prior to mangling was probably 30" across and that was all that was left.
I was able to identify the buyer ONLY because the "stamp" from stamps.com has the date on it and I could go back through my records and get the buyer's name.
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Powerhouse
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posted on December 16, 2000 03:46:17 PM
Good Grief!
And NO explaination from them at all???
This situation is absurd. HOW do you prove you packed in accordinance with their requirements if they didn't return the packing?!?
Sorry to hear of your troubles, VM. Hope they sort this out without a bunch of hooey.
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shaani
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posted on December 16, 2000 03:49:43 PM
Are you MAD? 
No, I was just wondering as I know that some people wrap their packages in plastic for safety before putting them in a box. I couldn't see an outer box in your picture and you didn't mention it in the beginning so I was curious.
OUCH!! Sorry this happened to you and I hope it isn't happening to others as there will be many disappointed people.
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VeryModern
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posted on December 16, 2000 03:57:19 PM
They include a form letter.
"blah blah, we are very careful but sometimes..."
This was not insured btw.
I am really just reeling. The toy itself was broken to smithereens inside the box that was double boxed. I want to send the buyer another (and kiss $75 goodbye) but how do you put it in USPS hands after this? I am considering just refunding her money.
I just can't function on this level of gross mishandling without taking responsibility.
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VeryModern
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posted on December 16, 2000 05:22:55 PM
Okay.
My husband is going to build a diorama with this. It will depict the scene where the bike crashes into a tree in the movie.
He will title it "Trooper Gone Postal".
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dialin4dollars
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posted on December 16, 2000 06:47:00 PM
This happened to me with a childs rocker and rocking cradle. Looked like someone had chopped them up for firewood. Cost me a whole lottta money to have them prof packed. I sympathize and am angry with you..
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Crystalline_Sliver
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posted on December 16, 2000 09:52:57 PM
*AHEM*
"OMG, they killed the Stormtrooper!!"
"You bastards!!"
And, now, my Star Wars collector side...
BWAHHH!!!! *sobs uncontrollably* WHY?!?! WHY DID THEY HAVE TO KILL HIM?!?!
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
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chasd7
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posted on December 17, 2000 12:43:01 PM
UPS is now hiring retired USPS workers???
They have graduated from AK47's to Abrams tanks.
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VeryModern
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posted on December 17, 2000 12:57:06 PM
Since my cable is back up - here is a "before" picture. This is a large - ultra - deluxe - best toy in 18 states - thing they ruined here.
I have yet to hear back from the buyer. I mailed her pictures and have offered to refund or ship another but not until after Christmas.
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Meya
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posted on December 17, 2000 01:04:11 PM
Sob! Oh the humanity! Snif snif...
Unbelievable!
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junquemama
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posted on December 17, 2000 02:19:33 PM
VeryModern,Get the insurance,No matter what you send out.Dont let them make the decision.
This is out of your pocket,Not the buyer.This time of year,The trucks are jammed packed with packages(USPO)As well as the airport carts.Looks like a bottom package from all the dents,And you are probley right ,about it being run over,Happens quite often at the airport.
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VeryModern
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posted on December 17, 2000 02:25:29 PM
Actually - as far as I am concerned, this is the buyer's problem not mine. I shipped and I surely can prove it. I am taking responsibility because I feel like it, not because I feel obligated.
Thanks junque.
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outoftheblue
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posted on December 17, 2000 02:40:01 PM
You would think with such an obvious case of negligence on the part of the PO, that they would take the responsibility and reimburse for the damage regardless of whether it is insured or not.
“Oh, we’re sorry. We screwed up and totally destroyed your expensive item. Too bad for you…he,he,he…”
It kind of irritates me to have to pay the postal service to insure items against their negligence…
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VeryModern
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posted on December 17, 2000 03:08:56 PM
outoftheblue, I agree. My husband took this to the PO to present it to them, but of course there was a line out the door, and at the back door he was told no supervisor was there (it was Saturday). We will pursue it, but I do not think it is practical or advisable this side of Christmas. He did have fun promenading it by the crowd though.
Believe it or not I think that we have a shot at some consideration. A shot, I am saying, this is not an expectation, but fact is we spend $3-400 a month and have for years now all of the clerks are well aware of this as well as our packing ability. This makes us a very good customer and they really don't want to lose you.
Yes, I know the near monopoly and all, but both UPS and Fed Ex have reported flat growth this season and USPS is no doubt in the same bucket. We were told by our carrier and have also learned firsthand that small business is highly prized (at least around here). Every time we have had a problem it has been made right and pronto. The carriers are instructed to CATER to small business - this came right out of our old carriers mouth. He said this kind of thing was mentioned several times a week in the form of "what are you doing to encourage small business on your route?" They wanted more of UPS's pie. He said they were told to speak to anyone on their route who was sending packages and he said that if I ever had a problem I should call and the carrier would be hog tied.. He said they were upset about email and online bill paying and hell bent on replacing lost revenue.
Of course I wrote on another thread that they just got the new LARGE mail trucks. Could be we are a test area and they will really be wanting to make this pan out. Not so easy when sales are dropping.
I will post to report when there is a result. The honest truth is that opening the box and finding this has had an impact. It was so shocking, it is not forgettable. I literally make me sad that they would leave something so pathetic at my door.
With the rates going up, I will be spending less. For one thing, when I would sell something for $10 and 3.20 I will now sell pairs for $20 and pay $3.95. Other sellers will do same. Truly - with the climate like it is, I don't think they can afford to lose customers. We are at critical mass and when a seller steps down these days, there is NOT another one waiting in line.
They can handle this however they want, but if they don't take care of me, you can bet I will be trying to shave every cent I spend with them every way I can. Simply put, this toy was grossly mishandled and they need to take responsibility.
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yisgood
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posted on December 17, 2000 03:56:52 PM
About two years ago, I shipped an insured item usps within the same city. The item disappeared. I had to wait 30 days, then file a claim, then wait another 6 weeks for them to tell me that their records show it was delivered, then pay about $7 for proof of delivery and finally get a photocopy of a delivery slip with an "x" for the signature as "proof." I switched from USPS to UPS. But about a year ago, UPS started screwing up again and again to the point where I just couldn't use them. So I switched back to USPS and havent had a single problem until just now. An insured priority package going to a US airbase overseas disappeared. I have to wait 75 days before they will even begin to look for it. So in my experience, USPS doesnt screw up often, but when they do, they dont take responsibility. UPS admits responsibility but screws up a lot more often.
I am about to start trying Fedex ground because I saw some good things about them here. Their rates appear to be lower than UPS or USPS priority.
http://www.ygoodman.com
[email protected]
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Eagerbeader
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posted on December 17, 2000 04:10:57 PM
I got an email from one of my customers that said when she got her package, I sent priority mail, it was crushed and opened. I can understand crushed, but opened. I tape these items so securely..the only thing you can see without tape is the name label..even that has clear tape all over it.
So how does an item get opened..unless someone at USPS opens it? It is kind of scary thinking that the dock workers can open your package, go thru your items and take what they want.
Buyer did state that her items were fine...I taped them excessively in bubble wrap. Her items were even in perfect shape and she bought glass beads. That makes me think even more that the package was opened by someone.
I am sure this is not the worse horror story..the bike is pretty bad. But what can be done about it? Any ideas...we have no choice..UPS and FEDEX are too expensive for small items and most folks, me included, barely make anything on our items as it is, so charging more to cover shipping is not the answer.
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mivona
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posted on December 18, 2000 12:44:45 AM
My story is in no way a severe as that of Very Modern - what a humdinger!
I recently had a purchase arrived "damaged". An envelope was delivered to me in a plastic bag, explaining it had been "damaged" in the post. It was complete BS, as the envelope had been carefully opened, and the Pokemon cards it contained (as stated on the customs label) had been removed. The envelope was not torn - it was opened. I didn't even need to open the plastic bag to see that was what had happened.
Insurance? To protect your items against theft? To protect them from being destroyed? Sounds like some sort of racket to me...
mivona
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franko122
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posted on December 18, 2000 01:56:18 AM
Well I would love to see what it looks like but for about the past hour and a half I haven't been able to get it to load.
Hope you aren't storing any of your auction images wherever it is!
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VeryModern
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posted on December 18, 2000 10:44:42 AM
I have heard from the buyer. She opted for the refund over the replacement and wrote that I have betrayed her trust and good faith.
I feel like crying.
I just Paydirect-ed the refund.
What else can I do?
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labbie1
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posted on December 18, 2000 10:55:59 AM
VM--Is your buyer crazy?! Don't they SEE the pic?!
You did your part to try to make them happy. I am so sorry this has happened to you! If I was the customer, I would be disappointed, but I would not blame you!
Also, the customer is the one who opted to forego the insurance I assume, right? And you were even willing to replace under those circumstances.
You can do nothing more than you have. The customer is taking this out on you and that is unfair!
BAD customer! BAD BAD BAD!
*************
Fill hungry tummys this Holiday Season with the NFL and Chunky Soup: http://www.chunky.com/click_cans.cfm
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VeryModern
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posted on December 18, 2000 12:35:29 PM
She has a kid on Christmas...
the whole thing just sux
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abacaxi
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posted on December 18, 2000 12:51:46 PM
VM -
email her the pictures and tell her to blame the USPS, not you. Sh|t happens, even to moms buying presents for theor kids.
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RainyBear
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posted on December 18, 2000 01:25:49 PM
Geez, what a crappy thing for the buyer to say.
This whole Christmas thing is way out of hand. Being nasty to a stranger because now her kid won't get that neat-o toy.
Isn't Christmas supposed to be about goodwill? Oh wait, no, it's about fulfilling expectations of buying good stuff.
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mcjane
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posted on December 18, 2000 01:28:39 PM
verymodern...Now I'm more angry with your buyer than the usps. With a reply like her's
I would have written back & said on second thought I am not refunding until I am reimbursed by the usps. What a nasty witch.
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