Another USPS horror story
- Thread starter gregnice37
- Start date
This is what a recently sent package looked like upon arrival. There will be a pvc tube inside the box whenever I send out another cue or shaft.
At least the shaft came out of the box unblemished.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
To be fair, I wouldn't carry my cues to the pool hall unprotected in a cardboard box. Why would you ship them unprotected in a cardboard box. Yeah, you need a heavy cardboard tube of some sort inside, at least.
yikes!
That would cause a serious pucker factor for me! I see why y'all were burning up the phone lines.
Hu
I had this happen to me with round tubes. The package rolled off a belt somewhere in east bumfrig - then ends up tossed into a bin marked, "undeliverable." Tracking wasn't working either. Apparently the tube was on the belt rolling back and forth from side to side of the belt. The laser readers couldn't read it. So at 2 weeks of sweating - both my buddy and I started calling about once an hour demanding to speak to each person's supervisor. Went up the chain as far as we could. Apparently they have a specialist that is used in these situations. (They won't tell you that) We broke them down over a 3 day period. That's who they said was going to handle it. No tracking still. It ended up at my house 2 days later! The part where it went into an undeliverable tote was explained to both of us. Now I ship a tube inside a triangle, or square box. Lesson learned. I hope this helps someone else not have to go through what I did. BTW - it was a 3 thousand dollar cue!
That would cause a serious pucker factor for me! I see why y'all were burning up the phone lines.
Hu
With few exceptions, Insurance of almost any form only pays the value of what is insured.
This is what a recently sent package looked like upon arrival. There will be a pvc tube inside the box whenever I send out another cue or shaft.
At least the shaft came out of the box unblemished.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Properly packed, damage or loss of the contents of that package would be difficult if not next to impossible.
I have had only one issue with USPS during my time selling stuff online. I sold a fairly expensive router on eBay for $50 and insured it for the same amount. The item was lost during delivery. The tracking information showed that it was received and in transit but after going to the post office from where the item was shipped and speaking to the postmaster, I received a letter from USPS a few weeks later stating that the item could not be located and that USPS would only reimburse me for $35 instead of the full $50 claim, due to USPS believing the item was not worth the full claim value. The eBay buyer was very understanding of the situation and he got a refund and left positive feedback for me. However, I was screwed out of some money and the whole incident left a bad taste in my mouth. I still use USPS but I make sure I keep all shipping receipts and supporting documentation.
Huh? Market value is market value, and that is what the cue sold for on ebay (by definition - it was the price a willing seller sold to a willing buyer for). Why should the USPS pay more than that? This is insurance - you can only insure something for its value. It is not a $500 bet on whether or not they get it there.
I agree with your point about USPS not paying more than market value. However, USPS does not always pay market value for claims. See my previous post. In my case, USPS only paid me $35 for an item they lost, even though it sold for $50. It was still only a $15 hit but I feel for the people who take a much bigger hit on insurance claims or worse, those who are unable to get USPS to pay a valid claim at all.
I thought for simplification purposes on low ticket items for which THEY CHARGED YOU based on the declared value, they would just pay up. Who the hell wants to jump through hoops to prove an item is worth $400-not $350 as the EXPERTS in the PO say. Not to mention they should AT LEAST refund you the difference in the cost of insurance for the $400 coverage you bought and the $350* they paid you.
*numbers are just for example purposes.
I recently sold a cue on Ebay. My wife was going to send it USPS but I said no way in hell. Wrapped up good in a triangular box and sent FedEx. We use USPS for everything else we sell on Ebay but I'll never send a cue with them. No cue maker I've ever done business with used the post office.
I understand, but the guy I was commenting on seemed to think he should get the full $500 he insured it for (which, IAC, is a limit not a declared value) for something he only paid $250 for.
I suppose if you are sending something COD thats all they would cover it for. What if you are sending a cue for repairs, who are they to tell you what the value of your cue is, its subjective at best. I can only tell you what my firsthand experience was when UPS damaged our products and reimbursed us. We actually collected "retail price" on the goods which was quite a bit more than what the item would have sold for. This happened about a half a dozen times, within 2 or 3 years of when UPS increased their weight limit to over 100LBS. They even sent reps down to our shop to make sure the products were properly crated.
Many answers to questions about USPS insurance can be found here:
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/503.htm#1063624
Specific to proving value:
3.2 Proof of Value
Either the mailer or the addressee must submit acceptable proof to establish the cost or value of the article at the time it was mailed. Proof of value should be submitted electronically or attached to the claim form under 1.5; otherwise, the claim cannot be processed. Other proof may be requested to help determine an accurate value. Examples are:
a. A sales receipt, paid invoice or bill of sale, or statement of value from a reputable dealer.
b. Paid repair bills; if the claim is for partial damage, estimates of repair costs or appraisals from a reputable dealer. Repair costs may not exceed the original purchase price.
c. Receipt or invoice for the costs incurred to buy a surety bond required to reissue a lost item.
d. Receipt or invoice of costs incurred for the reconstruction of nonnegotiable documents.
e. A copy of a credit card statement or other documentation indicating the amount paid.
f. For Internet transactions conducted through a Web-based payment network that offers payment services through a stored value account, provide a computer printout of the online transaction identifying the purchaser and seller, price paid, date of transaction, description of item purchased, and assurance that the transaction status is completed. The printout must clearly identify the Web-based payment network provider through which the Internet transaction was conducted.
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/503.htm#1063624
Specific to proving value:
3.2 Proof of Value
Either the mailer or the addressee must submit acceptable proof to establish the cost or value of the article at the time it was mailed. Proof of value should be submitted electronically or attached to the claim form under 1.5; otherwise, the claim cannot be processed. Other proof may be requested to help determine an accurate value. Examples are:
a. A sales receipt, paid invoice or bill of sale, or statement of value from a reputable dealer.
b. Paid repair bills; if the claim is for partial damage, estimates of repair costs or appraisals from a reputable dealer. Repair costs may not exceed the original purchase price.
c. Receipt or invoice for the costs incurred to buy a surety bond required to reissue a lost item.
d. Receipt or invoice of costs incurred for the reconstruction of nonnegotiable documents.
e. A copy of a credit card statement or other documentation indicating the amount paid.
f. For Internet transactions conducted through a Web-based payment network that offers payment services through a stored value account, provide a computer printout of the online transaction identifying the purchaser and seller, price paid, date of transaction, description of item purchased, and assurance that the transaction status is completed. The printout must clearly identify the Web-based payment network provider through which the Internet transaction was conducted.
How's that?
UPS paid a $2700 claim on a Cue they left at the wrong door of my friends mansion and it was rained on. Less than 10 business days.
They refuse every claim then pay.
Nick
UPS paid a $2700 claim on a Cue they left at the wrong door of my friends mansion and it was rained on. Less than 10 business days.
They refuse every claim then pay.
Nick
Update
They found the cue & i got it today, package & cue with no damage.
They found the cue & i got it today, package & cue with no damage.
Glad everything worked out for you. Count your lucky stars it was returned to you in perfect condition.
How would it work if you bought a secondhand custom cue from someone who bought the cue directly from the cuemaker and while sending the cue to the cuemaker for repairs, it was lost or damaged in transit to the cuemaker or back to the original shipper? I'm assuming you would have to get something in writing from the cue's original owner or the cuemaker as to the value of the cue before and after the repairs. The reason I ask is because as soon as funds allow, I am wanting to send a custom cue, which I purchased for less than full value from a local pool player and friend, back to the cuemaker, who is out of state, for repairs and possibly a new wrap. I do not know if the cue's original owner has an invoice or receipt from the purchase.
Not a fan of USPS myself either, had used them for quite some time without any real issues. I shipped a shaft from CA to PA for a friend to try out. When it was received in Philly it was stamped as "package damaged - contents missing." This was a tub that had both ends taped very well. Someone cut one end of the tube open and pulled out the shaft. The funniest part was, USPS went on to deliver the damaged and EMPTY tube!?!? I had not insured it as I did not see this happening and I wasn't in the shaft for very much to begin with but the conversation was quite hilarious, I pay you for a service, someone inside cuts open the tube, removes the product and then continues with the process and delivers the tube? How is that not a USPS problem? Guy really had no answer other than something happened. Good luck, hopefully it shows up.
Good to hear!