posted on May 15, 2001 12:12:17 PM
Ok, This is my first one like this, customer insists the item is damaged and she did purchase insurance. Due to the difficulties with collecting on this auction and the falsehoods told to me during the post sale period of 6 weeks before I was paid, I am 99.9% sure I am being scammed. I know how well it was packed and double boxed.
So now what, do I tell her to return the heavy item and refund all monies? Or send the customer the insurance receipt and let them file the claim?
posted on May 15, 2001 12:28:44 PM
She needs to take it to the PO with all of the packing. They'll start her on the paper work. You'll probably get something from the USPS in the mail. Or they'll request that you send her the original receipt. If your packing is as good as you say, there's nothing to worry about. You shouldn't have to refund anything.
posted on May 15, 2001 01:03:00 PM
Send her the insurance receipt. First, make a copy of it and send her the copy. You may want to make up an invoice too(just in case)Once I was asked for an invoice and the other not. (the difference may have been the p.o. lost one of the packages) If the item was $50 or under, she can go to her main post office and they can refund her right over the counter. If over $50, they will process the paperwork and send her a money order. She needs to keep all the packing and items together and take it to the p.o. They will want it all.
posted on May 15, 2001 02:00:31 PM
Have buyer go to PO with item and ALL packing material. Then you go to PO with insurance receipt, evidence of value - I wouldn't give the buyer the original insurance receipt. If they need/want a copy, send them one and keep the original yourself. You may want to mention that the PO will KEEP the item if they pay the claim!
posted on May 16, 2001 01:13:45 AM
My experience with USPS insurance claims (both under and over $50) is that BOTH the seller and buyer must sign the claim form. Since you're going to have to sign the form anyway, have the buyer take the box and packing materials into their P.O. so the box can be retained and the buyer's portion of the form gets filled out. The P.O. should then mail the form to you so you can complete your part of the form and provide the insurance receipt and invoice or copy of the auction.
You can direct that the P.O. send the money to the buyer, or you can have the money order sent to you and refund the buyer yourself once you get the P.O.'s reimbursement. (If it's over $50, it can take 6 to 8 weeks before the claim is paid since it's paid out of a central processing center. Claims under $50 are handled by the local P.O.)
Good luck!
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