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Post by indiehouse on Jul 28, 2016 9:28:39 GMT -6
So, I'm actually going through this EXACT situation right now with USPS. I am the seller and sold a comp to a guy in NY. I packed the sh** out of this, but USPS dropped it and the faceplate got bent. I purchased shipping insurance through USPS. The buyer immediately opened a PayPal dispute, which ended up being a pain in the ass, and really complicated things. USPS doesn't give a shit about PayPal and their policies. They pretty much told me that exact thing. Their timeframes operate completely different, as you can imagine dealing with the government. I might only have a certain timeframe under PayPal's policies, but USPS doesn't move that fast. Long story short, my insurance claim has been denied twice. Not because they are disputing that the damage occurred during shipping, but they're saying that my "evidence of value is not sufficient". Basically, they are not recognizing PayPal as a method of payment. You have to prove to USPS what your item is worth, and providing information on what the item costs new is not going to cut it. They want to know how much you bought or sold it for. So basically, if you did not buy or sell what you are shipping, then insurance from USPS is useless. I have called into USPS customer service probably a dozen times, and NO ONE, and I mean NOT ONE SINGLE MOTHER F****NG SOUL can give me an explanation about why they are denying my claim. I've explained my situation to each rep, and everyone says they don't know why it's being denied, but can't put me in touch with anyone who has answers. It's the single most frustrating experience I've ever had with a business, both private and government. I will NEVER use USPS to ship packages again. I am on my final appeal and have written a 13 page document and have screenshotted the crap out of my Paypal and Reverb account, trying to inform these dinosaurs that PayPal is a method of payment. I don't know what they want and they won't tell me what they want. So in a nutshell, I'm asking you to be thoughtful toward the seller. Talk with him first. Ask him for a refund if that's what you want. Find out if he insured, because in the end, he'll have to deal with that. If communications break down, then use PayPal to mediate. You have 90 days. Don't jump the gun and escalate this without at least straight up asking the seller for what you want to make this right. Be a human being and communicate before you mediate. If he ends up being dishonest or trying to stick you with something, then dispute. Just give him a chance to make it right. In my situation, PayPal awarded the buyer a refund. Of course, he was entitled and I would have given it to him if he would have just asked me before opening a dispute. But once the dispute is opened, PayPal holds the funds, so you can no longer refund. Once PayPal judges that you won your case and are entitled to a refund, the buyer must ship the package back in order to receive the refund. Here's the rub. If he had the package insured, the package can't be shipped until the insurance claim is closed, or the insurance claim will be voided. The buyer will need to take the package into their Post Office for inspection, and they may keep it. In fact, my $1K comp has been sitting in a Post Office somewhere in NY for over a month. So, you can see where this gets tricky. The buyer just wants refunded, but he must ship the package first, but if he ships it, the seller gets screwed out of the insurance that he bought to protect the shipment in the first place. PayPal just complicates the shit out of this. He over-reacted and made the situation much more complicated than it had to be, especially trying to deal with USPS. Protect yourself, but have a little faith in humanity first. I know how you feel but I get buyers jumping the gun, Paypal acts like they cover everything and are the buyers best friend and the time frame is limited so they jump the gun and file the claim. Go talk to the postmaster or assistant postmaster at your local Postoffice. Proving falue can be a pain, but I have never had a problem with using PayPal selling price as value, but I insure for the selling price nothing more. Pm me if I can be of any help. Well, the only thing anyone can tell me to do everytime I call into USPS Accounting Services is to file my 2nd and final appeal, which goes to some consumer affairs department all the way in Washington, D.C. This is bonkers, man. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 28, 2016 10:17:54 GMT -6
I know how you feel but I get buyers jumping the gun, Paypal acts like they cover everything and are the buyers best friend and the time frame is limited so they jump the gun and file the claim. Go talk to the postmaster or assistant postmaster at your local Postoffice. Proving falue can be a pain, but I have never had a problem with using PayPal selling price as value, but I insure for the selling price nothing more. Pm me if I can be of any help. Well, the only thing anyone can tell me to do everytime I call into USPS Accounting Services is to file my 2nd and final appeal, which goes to some consumer affairs department all the way in Washington, D.C. This is bonkers, man. It's the government ! Always make friends local first! |
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Post by kilroyrock on Jul 28, 2016 10:20:26 GMT -6
That whole run is terrible. For that reason alone, I pretty well only sell on craigslist unless nobody wants a "made in japan" guitar vs the Mexican equivalent for an extra 300 (just an example). I also limit what I sell to lower amounts because nobody should be carrying a couple grand cash on a craigslist deal unless you've got a clear plan! I will buy though from ebay/reverb in a heartbeat, I've been lucky.
I hope it works out for you.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 28, 2016 10:48:53 GMT -6
That whole run is terrible. For that reason alone, I pretty well only sell on craigslist unless nobody wants a "made in japan" guitar vs the Mexican equivalent for an extra 300 (just an example). I also limit what I sell to lower amounts because nobody should be carrying a couple grand cash on a craigslist deal unless you've got a clear plan! I will buy though from ebay/reverb in a heartbeat, I've been lucky. I hope it works out for you. I learned I will never flipp another keyboard! They are a Bitch to find a box for pack ship and of the 3 times I have done it everytime a key gets screwed up ! |
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Post by kilroyrock on Jul 28, 2016 11:03:22 GMT -6
That whole run is terrible. For that reason alone, I pretty well only sell on craigslist unless nobody wants a "made in japan" guitar vs the Mexican equivalent for an extra 300 (just an example). I also limit what I sell to lower amounts because nobody should be carrying a couple grand cash on a craigslist deal unless you've got a clear plan! I will buy though from ebay/reverb in a heartbeat, I've been lucky. I hope it works out for you. I learned I will never flipp another keyboard! They are a Bitch to find a box for pack ship and of the 3 times I have done it everytime a key gets screwed up ! I bought a keyboard from an ebay dealer, and the key bed was messed up. Returned and got another, also messed up. They then realized they'd been duped and gave everyone back the money and said they're sorry. I can't fault them for that, as they just send out the box that comes back.
With that said, I stay out of DJ gear, as when I've received something on partial trade, it'll be smelling like smoke and weed for days. One controller I had to take apart and physically wash the brown stains as best as I could from the rubber. People do buy them quick though for good money! It's so tempting..
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 28, 2016 11:12:18 GMT -6
I learned I will never flipp another keyboard! They are a Bitch to find a box for pack ship and of the 3 times I have done it everytime a key gets screwed up ! I bought a keyboard from an ebay dealer, and the key bed was messed up. Returned and got another, also messed up. They then realized they'd been duped and gave everyone back the money and said they're sorry. I can't fault them for that, as they just send out the box that comes back.
With that said, I stay out of DJ gear, as when I've received something on partial trade, it'll be smelling like smoke and weed for days. One controller I had to take apart and physically wash the brown stains as best as I could from the rubber. People do buy them quick though for good money! It's so tempting..
Oh the world of DJ's ! When I was running Full Compass Retail one of the mail order guys Started a local DJ dealership, he got fired but I was so happy to have somebody else dealing with the DJ's In fact I would quote higher prices to make up for the time sink that most DJs were and discourage them ! If it was DJ lighting I would give the client to someone else unless they were willing to go Martin or Claypaky ! You new it would break they would bitch it would be a problem ! |
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Post by EmRR on Jul 29, 2016 7:04:50 GMT -6
Jeeesuusss.....Paypal gives you 6 months to make a claim. WTF.
USPS not recognizing Paypal as a payment method may be their revenge for Ebay not recognizing postal money orders as a payment method.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 29, 2016 7:22:21 GMT -6
you should be good to go then - if you purchased from a reputable dealer / manufacturer. Good Lord, Bill...this is a FORUM. People are allowed to ask questions without being condescended. |
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Post by ericn on Jul 29, 2016 8:13:25 GMT -6
I'm working with Adam to solve his claim problems.
BUT I need to make a big point on this one An insurance company of any type including shipping can at anytime require proof of what the insurer in this case the shipper payed for the item!
On any cash sale get some kind of recipt !!! The alternative is they may except an appraisal from "an approved expert" . For the most part recording equipment falls in a small little gray area, they may have their own idea of who is an expert in this area so you can end up with an consumer audiophile or a guy who plays in a band as the ultimate authority on your claim.
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Post by drbill on Jul 29, 2016 9:50:39 GMT -6
you should be good to go then - if you purchased from a reputable dealer / manufacturer. Good Lord, Bill...this is a FORUM. People are allowed to ask questions without being condescended. Didn't know he bought it used off eBay / paypal. A little more information (which he provided later) sure helped a lot didn't it? A pet peeve - people who go on the internet asking about broken gear when they don't even bother to contact the manufacturer. Happens all the time, and you just have to wonder why. Shines an ugly light on manufacturers where they would be happy to help solve the problem if only contacted. I hope the guy gets resolution. Honestly, I've only once had serious problems with shipping damage, but I know some seem plagued with it. I say best of luck to him. Since he payed with paypal he's covered. |
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Post by terryrocks on Jul 29, 2016 10:08:52 GMT -6
I actually bought it off a member of this site via gearslutz classifieds.
I started the thread because I knew some of the guys here have dealt with similar circumstances and was curious as to how they would approach it.
The matter has been resolved.
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Post by drbill on Jul 29, 2016 10:10:21 GMT -6
The matter has been resolved. Excellent!!! Problem solved. Good luck with it. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 29, 2016 10:15:54 GMT -6
Good Lord, Bill...this is a FORUM. People are allowed to ask questions without being condescended. Didn't know he bought it used off eBay / paypal. A little more information (which he provided later) sure helped a lot didn't it? A pet peeve - people who go on the internet asking about broken gear when they don't even bother to contact the manufacturer. Happens all the time, and you just have to wonder why. Shines an ugly light on manufacturers where they would be happy to help solve the problem if only contacted. I hope the guy gets resolution. Honestly, I've only once had serious problems with shipping damage, but I know some seem plagued with it. I say best of luck to him. Since he payed with paypal he's covered. [bra Read Bill he's the seller , buyer paid with PayPal and is covered , Adam's USPS claim as The shipper not the buyer is all tied up because Adam bought it used paid cash and USPS wants proof that it's worth what Adam the seller claims, his selling price and the value the buyer paid do not seam to be enough for the folks at USPS, on fair kind of but on any insurance policy they can demand proof of purchase, and An approved appraiser ! All their call he's far from OK! |
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Post by drbill on Jul 29, 2016 10:25:00 GMT -6
"Looking for advice.
i just received an item that was, at the very least, cosmetically damaged in trasit via usps.
what should I do?"
Well, he may be the seller, but it sure didn't sound like it to me - or others. Another example of "better information = better answers" on the internet syndrome....
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Post by terryrocks on Jul 29, 2016 10:26:08 GMT -6
No, I was the buyer.
But i do appreciate the replys to the thread. You guys helped me forge a resolution.
if I hadn't asked here first, I may have just opened up a paypal dispute and both myself and the seller would be worse off.
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Post by drbill on Jul 29, 2016 10:32:04 GMT -6
So Eric is out of touch with reality? Again? LOL heh heh Drama and confusion at it's finest!
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 29, 2016 10:53:26 GMT -6
So Eric is out of touch with reality? Again? LOL heh heh Drama and confusion at it's finest! No we have 2 going on here ! I forgot Terry started it and have been working with indehouse ! These claims are a pain in the ass and why Ill never officially start a company selling gear! I see why the most neurotic people were t paid bonuses based on the dollar value they collect! |
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Post by drbill on Jul 29, 2016 11:11:38 GMT -6
LOL
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 29, 2016 11:43:46 GMT -6
Ha! Yeah, it's Terry's thread, I just shared what I'm going through at the moment for some perspective. Eric has been super awesome with helping me out with this!
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