posted on October 26, 2005 05:21:42 PM
I sold a clock to a bidder in Malta. He had emailed me first asking for a shipping estimate. I gave him a high one - $100, figuring he would never bid. But of course he was the winning bidder for $202. He actually got a good deal even w/ shipping, as it's a $500-$600 clock.
Malta does not offer Paypal, he sends a bank draft. I box up the clock - package is large but clock is well packed. Cost to ship and insure was $78.
Clock does not arrive. Buyer and I go back and forth about tracking, which you cannot do with air parcel post. We both check with post offices to see if they can trace the problem or package. No dice.
I offer to file the insurance claim on my end since I still have the paperwork and he is in Europe.
Today he filed a complaint w/ Ebay saying item not received. Not sure why he would do this when we've been in communication for the past 2 weeks about it. Do you think he is trying for some type of buyer protection with Ebay?
If I file the insurance claim, do you know if they reimburse the shipping cost also?
The guy has low, but good, feedback - he either collects or deals in high end clocks, so I don't think he's trying to scam. Do you think I should just send the insurance receipt, etc. to him and say here, file it yourself, or should I do it for him?
posted on October 26, 2005 06:29:23 PM
How long ago did you ship the clock??
You should contact post office,i think you fill out your part on the form and forward to him and he will fill his out and take it to his post office.
There is some arrangement where his post office will pay him.
Unless you insure it thru U-PIC or some service like that.
posted on October 26, 2005 07:08:49 PM
Caroline...They sure can trace that package, in spite of what the clerk at the window told you. If you insured it, there is a number on the insurance slip. The Post Office can trace that package as far as the port of entry of Malta. IOW, they can tell you if it is lost in the U.S. Postal system or if the Malta postal system has it. I went through this recently with a package to England. Go back to the Post Office and ask to speak to a supervisor and have him trace it for you. I seem to recall a thread a while back in which a comment was made about how slow and inefficient the Maltese postal system was. If the USPS trace showed it reached malta, then it's either bogged down in their system or Maltese customs.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on October 26, 2005 07:11:37 PM
Every Malta transaction I've had has been slower than molasses. Both ways -- plain airmail letters can take up to a month. Eventually, both payments and shipments seem to show up.
If you haven't already done so, check his feedback, both left and received, and see how long it really takes for an item to reach him from time of auction end, and time of feedback.
Otherwise, I'd start the insurance process since it's been over 30 days. I don't believe shipping is reimbursable/covered but PO can tell you.
posted on October 27, 2005 06:00:32 AM
you dont have to go to the post office,just call them and ask them to key in the USPS blue insurance slip number,they should tell you the status.
While you are on the phone,may as well ask them how intl insurance works.
It is not that easy to lose a big package like that,your bidder can call his own post office and ask if there is a package lying around in the backroom
[ edited by hwahwa on Oct 27, 2005 06:01 AM ]
posted on October 27, 2005 06:09:52 AM
Hello,
Every case like this one that I have had, item was at customs. Customs is not the PO and is in no rush to do anything. You check USPS then buyer checks at his PO with data and they will refer him to customs. It is a pain but that is the way the world is in such places as Malta, Portugal, Spain etc.
I have had packages held up in the receiving country's customs for 2 months. The buyer is unaware where their package is, then eventually they get a notice to pay a customs duty. Not saying this is your situation, but it's a possibility.
posted on October 27, 2005 08:11:06 AM
I would file the claim myself if I were you. That way you know what the end result is w/o waiting to hear from the winner etc.
As for the insurance, unless it is different with international, you should get reimbursed when the package is lost but not if it is damaged. At least that's the way it has always worked for me. I am so luck that I have informed postal clerk that I always go to when there is a problem. He always takes care of it.
posted on October 27, 2005 07:48:47 PM
I've been dealing with the Postmaster on this - it's a small Post Office in a fairly small town. He said they are supposed to scan the insurance slip at the next arrival point, which is customs. He said they usually don't do the scan though.
I have a feeling it's in customs in Malta. The buyer has dealt with his 'postmaster' who says there's no record of it - but I think it's setting there just waiting to be cleared. Perhaps broken by now.
I'll start the claim tomorrow - thanks for the feedback!
Caroline 