posted on May 4, 2002 11:52:52 AM
I need some help here! I sold a baseball card for $306, got insurance on it for $300. It has been about 40 days since I sent it to NY from OR, I have checked the tracking number twice with the PO, it just has disappeared.
I went to file a claim on Tuesday, and was told they don't accept any eBay Auction printouts for a proof of value. You know how they need some kind of sales receipt to prove the value........so now I am stumped. The PO guy told me I need to go to a baseball card dealer and have it estimated but without the card, I don't think that's possible.
I KNOW they run into a ton of eBay claims, so what would you guys do? Or is that just a bunch of bologna that they don't accept eBay as proof of value?
posted on May 4, 2002 01:31:07 PM
Each post office interprets the guidelines, rules, regualtions etc differently, as well as each individual clerk.
My post office accepts eBay auctions as proof of sale.
Do you have other documents (emails, paypal, bank deposits, photocopy of payment). How about the buyer? Can they provide proof of payment? Or is the buyer being uncooperative?
posted on May 4, 2002 01:33:10 PM
How did the buyer pay? If it was with PayPal, then it's easy. Go to PayPal and print the transaction detail for that payment. It must say "Confirmed" or the USPS won't accept it. Otherwise this is sufficient proof for them.
If the seller paid by check you might ask him to send a copy of the cancelled check to you. With 40 days since the transaction, I'm sure this is easily done.
If by money order, maybe they still have their receipt?
If all is lost (like you took cash?!?!), perhaps you know a collector/dealer that would give you an "appraisal" for a few dollars.
posted on May 4, 2002 01:41:37 PM
Actually, I think that whoever pays for the insurance has to prove the amount paid. Since I am assuming that the bidder paid the insurance the bidder is the one that has to prove the amount paid. You just have to prove you shipped it. If this is the case, you may have to provide the bidder the paperwork for the insurance claim.
posted on May 4, 2002 01:42:16 PM
I can relate my story but don't know how much it will help. Sometimes I truly think it depends on which person you deal with at the post office.
I bought a collectible porcelain doll from someone who was offering it on the specific doll collectors message board for $160.00. It was sent insured. The doll arrived broken, and I took the doll, all shipping materials, the email from the seller listing the price, the printout of the message board offering it for sale at that price, the insurance and shipping receipts I received from the seller and a copy of the manufacturer's original retail price, which was actually more than what I paid. The guy at the PO was great, said I had all the required documentation, and said he would send the claim to the seller to sign. After several weeks, the check arrived from the PO claims center and it was for only $100.00 with some obscure note saying there were "missing receipts". I tried calling the claims center and you are routed through the dreaded various menus until finally you are given the address to send an "appeal" if you feel the incorrect amount was paid. I just gave up. Don't know what would have happened if I had seen it through. I had already spent an inordinate amount of time on this and wasn't willing to spend more.
posted on May 4, 2002 02:57:39 PM
if the post office deems the amount paid by ebay bidder is far too much than what they think the item is worth,they will not honor the claim based on ebay auction result.
i never use the ebay auction end email as receipt,usps if you read the forms,expect a sales receipt with company heading,and ebay auction end message does not fly.
usps is in the red and it could get worse with all these mail box pipe bombs.
next time when we sell something rare and expensive,we may need to have it appraised before we list or before we take out any insurance.
posted on May 4, 2002 03:16:13 PM
I ran into the same problem once!
If you have a collectors book, showing the value that's good enough.
It all has to do also with the postmaster in charge.
Mine was shipped through a neighboring town P.O.
But came back through my P.O.
My P.O. wouldn't accept the Ebay print out.
So I took it where I shipped it from and they gave me a check on the spot, Using the Ebay print out.
Go figure!
posted on May 4, 2002 04:55:38 PM
i dont think it has to do with individual post office,anything over 50 goes to a claims location to be reviewed.
form said a sales receipt on company stationary with the name of the retailer.
posted on May 4, 2002 05:05:13 PM
My buyer was reimbursed for all of the auction plus postage and insurance. I used eBays EOA notice. It took 6 weeks almost to the day. I filed the papers and the USPS sent the money to the buyer.
posted on May 4, 2002 05:05:13 PM
My buyer was reimbursed for all of the auction plus postage and insurance. I used eBays EOA notice. It took 6 weeks almost to the day. I filed the papers and the USPS sent the money to the buyer.
posted on May 4, 2002 06:07:18 PM
I can't imagine why you didn't send a receipt with the shipment to begin with. I send a signed receipt with all of my shipments denoting purchase price and shipping and insurance.
I suppose you could make a receipt after the fact. Just date it the date of the seller, sign it, and present it with yout claim.
posted on May 4, 2002 06:20:18 PM
They do reimburse shipping, at least they do where I live. I include a printout with each package (an invoice) that I give to them. Asking for an appraisal is absurd, how do they know if you shipped that card, or something worthless. I would ask to speak with a supervisor at that post office.
posted on May 4, 2002 06:55:50 PM
Another reason to ship UPS!!! Why in the world don't people start screaming complaints about the the Postal Service????? I've been selling on eBay for three years and gave up on them about 2&1/2 years ago, after dealing with surly, poorly trained clerks, long lines and abysmal service. UPS PAYS CLAIMS, quickly and without any hassle. Simply fill out a very simple form, attach a copy of the eBay EOA notice and mail it (or fax it) in. They even reimburse your shipping charges if an item is damaged. I have never had them deny a claim and it has never taken more than 3 weeks for the claim to be settled. I know they are a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
posted on May 4, 2002 07:11:01 PM
I'd been reading this, and was going to suggest the same thing KatyD said.
I put an invoice into every single package that goes out, that includes the price, shipping, ins. tax and total. Buyers name and address, my name and address.
If a claim would come up, I can generate a copy stored on my auction program.
Receipts and/or invoices, that is what you need.
I would do the same if I shipped UPS, Fed Ex
or any shipping service, its just good business practice.
posted on May 7, 2002 02:21:03 PM
Good news!! I ended up calling the 1-800 number and got a very helpful clerk there, she gave me some ideas on what I could do, but none of them would really work. Finally she said I could write up my own bill of sale with a detailed description of the item (new/used, etc), the date, etc. So I did some surfing and found a sample Bill of Sale and copied the words, making my own in WordPerfect. Alot of gibberish that looks good -- legal sort of talk. =) They took it right away, and the claim is off and in process. YAY!! I hate things like this hanging over my head. Thanks for all your help! Sherah
