Has anyone ever filed a claim with USPS over an insured package ruining a box? Please tell your stories here. Currently starting a process and wondered if theres any luck or I'm just straight up screwed?
Has anyone filed an inssurance claim with USPS?
- Thread starter petey awol
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What box was it?
mellymelsr
Member (SA)
..that sucks...don't know how I would react if my package arrived damaged. All I can say is that driver better be able to run quickly back to his truck!!... :annoyed: :annoyed:
If it was properly packaged, they pay. Be prepared to forfeit your boombox, if your claim is accepted. Be prepared to bring it into the Post Office (when they ask you to) for clerks to verify. They are less stringent than UPS or Fedex inspectors. They will send you a postal money order if your claim is approved. Taking lots of pictures beforehand and submitting it along with your claim might make it go easier and faster and could save you the hassle of bringing it in for inspection. The claims process is initiated online now.
vladi123456
Member (SA)
I think they also require the packing material, that was used in shipping - if you don't have it anymore - they might not accept the claim. Also, if they do accept the claim - when they determine how much they are going to pay you - they don't go by ebay prices. So they might offer you $5 or so.
I think your better option is to file a claim with ebay/Paypal - that boombox arrived not as advertised - this way you can get more money back. If you didn't get it off ebay - then hope you can get it sorted out with USPS!
I think your better option is to file a claim with ebay/Paypal - that boombox arrived not as advertised - this way you can get more money back. If you didn't get it off ebay - then hope you can get it sorted out with USPS!
MasterBlaster84
Boomus Fidelis
Wow man that sucks, never a good day when the package arrived damaged.
Both Superduper and Vladi make good points and are correct. Make sure you don't wait to long to file a claim with Paypal, you can always cancel it if USPS makes good.
Both Superduper and Vladi make good points and are correct. Make sure you don't wait to long to file a claim with Paypal, you can always cancel it if USPS makes good.
vladi123456 said:
Not true, if it's an ebay transaction that was shipped using ebay's USPS shipping feature, USPS actually knows what the value of the item is. They are tied into the system more than you know. Also, if it's not ebay, they'll pay the actual but you'll have to show the receipt or other proof of value. You can't just say an old pair of shoes were lost and they are worth $200.
It wasn't an Ebay transaction. So even if I submit the claim they are going to keep the radio and give me the money? Well if thats the case, I might as well keep it then and see about repairing it myself. Or even selling it off for parts and making a future box complete Here's a picture of the box it came in. I didnt think anything at first because everything looked good at first glance. But when I plugged the bastard in, and tried with batteries. PLLLLLT. zilcho.
Looks like it was used as a practice punching bag for a quick one shot. Or a field goal attempt.
Looks like it was used as a practice punching bag for a quick one shot. Or a field goal attempt.
If there is no outside evidence of damage to the boombox itself (cosmetic damage), it's a little hard to attribute the packaging to shipping. Maybe it's something simple. Maybe it was like that.
If you file a claim and it's approved, then yes, they will take the boombox (since you are going to be reimbursed for it) and they will sell the boombox at auction in Atlanta to subsidize the claims.
If you file a claim and it's approved, then yes, they will take the boombox (since you are going to be reimbursed for it) and they will sell the boombox at auction in Atlanta to subsidize the claims.
vladi123456
Member (SA)
Superduper said:
Well, I don't have much experience - and I've only dealt once with UPS. And basically they said that for a 25 year old item I would get maybe a few bucks - regardless of ebay price.
And I don't think they are so stupid as to pay ebay prices. It would be so easy to cheat the system - sell your friend a one dollar boombox for a thousand bucks, pre-smash it and send it his way - then your friend receives the smashed boombox and files a claim - and gets a thousand bucks? That doesn't sound smart (on USPS part)
Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Ebay price is market price -- willing buyer and willing seller establishes market value. While it's true that crooks exists in all nooks and crannies of our society, just because they exist doesn't mean everybody is one.
The USPS thing -- I am sure. When you initiate a claim online, and it was done through ebay, the value of the sold item is already in their system -- they know. Some of you might remember that empty box that I received. USPS paid, the full purchase price (it was in their system) and the postage paid too. I didn't get the entire purchase price+shipping back because the seller charged me more than the actual shipping cost but I got back most of my money. I sent photos to the seller and those are what he used to intiate the claim. USPS never asked to see the original box so it went fairly painlessly.
As for UPS paying $25 for a 25 year old item, I'd say I probably won't fight them if it was a magnavox boombox. However, if my RX-5350 gets damaged and they offer me $25 -- I'd say I'll take them to small claims court and I fully expect to win every penny of the value. When they willingly charge and accept an insurance premium and fail to pay when they've damaged something -- they don't have a case unless they have a written policy against paying full value.
However, if UPS has a policy against indeminfying full insured value based on their own formula for the value of an item, I'd say I would have to rethink giving UPS any business.
The USPS thing -- I am sure. When you initiate a claim online, and it was done through ebay, the value of the sold item is already in their system -- they know. Some of you might remember that empty box that I received. USPS paid, the full purchase price (it was in their system) and the postage paid too. I didn't get the entire purchase price+shipping back because the seller charged me more than the actual shipping cost but I got back most of my money. I sent photos to the seller and those are what he used to intiate the claim. USPS never asked to see the original box so it went fairly painlessly.
As for UPS paying $25 for a 25 year old item, I'd say I probably won't fight them if it was a magnavox boombox. However, if my RX-5350 gets damaged and they offer me $25 -- I'd say I'll take them to small claims court and I fully expect to win every penny of the value. When they willingly charge and accept an insurance premium and fail to pay when they've damaged something -- they don't have a case unless they have a written policy against paying full value.
However, if UPS has a policy against indeminfying full insured value based on their own formula for the value of an item, I'd say I would have to rethink giving UPS any business.
Norm is exactly right. It is far too easy to prove the value based on market prices. This happened to me wih a reciever. I went to file my claim and at first they saw it as an old stereo only untl I provided information regarding the age and current value of the "antique". I also had Other eBay sales listings, message board info, and a letter from a electronics shop stating how rare and vintage it was. 
They also retuned the original package back to me rather than go through the hassle of either sending it to the pile or recycle it. Plus I live in a very small town so knowing me, they said I could have it as it would just get trashed anyway.
They also retuned the original package back to me rather than go through the hassle of either sending it to the pile or recycle it. Plus I live in a very small town so knowing me, they said I could have it as it would just get trashed anyway.
vladi123456
Member (SA)
Superduper said:
When carriers loose something completely - they pay full price. But with damaged items - they can do whatever they want. For example, they might decide that smashed corner is going to cost 27 cents to repair, and the rest of the boombox is fine. Remember that we're dealing not with UPS/USPS/Fedex here - I'm almost sure they use a third party insurer to provide coverage.
They very well might have a policy against paying a full price - I've never actually read what they cover as far as loss or damage. But Skippy was in this situation not a long ago - his 5350 was crashed by Fedex, I think. I don't know if he got any money from the insurance for that though
Also, remember that when you buy insurance - you can get a thousand dollars coverage - even if the item you ship only costs 10 bucks. Since UPS/USPS/Fedex don't do an on-site appraisal - they can't verify your claim as far as value, so I am not surprised they refuse to pay the full amount we're asking for. It might be a good idea to have a boombox appraised and insured somewhere else, and then should anything happen during shipping - file the claim with the insurance company that did the appraisal - not with USPS. I'm just sayin'
Vlad. Are you talking about the 5350 you sold to me? It's incumbent upon the person filing the claim to be judicious and fight for stuff. If fedex says 27 cents to fix, I would say show me. There is always going to be a diminishment of value when an item that is collectible is damaged.
But the thing is this -- you need to do your homework and provide proof. USPS pays their own claims. The payment is via postal money order. It is sent from the post office. As for whether or not a claim is processed by a 3rd party is irrelevant. If there is no question as to the cause of damage and the only issue is conclusion of value, all I'm saying is that you should have something to back up your claim and not just expect them to trust you on a used item.
For me, I buy insurance not to protect against damage but rather to protect against loss. It does happen. I once purchased a set of 4 original rims for a Z/28. 3 came. 1 was nowhere to be seen. UPS came and collected them all since I purchased a full set and losing 1 was the same as losing all.
So, protection from damage comes from proper packaging. If you pack it like they require, it doesn't get damaged except for very special circumstances such as falling off a 6 foot high conveyor, things like that. Otherwise in normal handling, packing it well is your safeguard against damage. The insurance is for loss and pilferage.
One final thing: I have learned through experience that the pack/ship companies charge an exhorbitant amount of money for their packaging which often is worst than your own packaging. The plus is that for a 50% to 100% shipping premium, you now have insurance that pays without a lengthy dispute. However, most damage is not catastrophic and is minor cosmetic damage and you don't do your buyers any favors by doing that. Firstly, the extra shipping is passed onto the buyers but the extra shipping fee primarily protects the sellers, not the buyers. For the extra cost that shipping/packing companies charge, I would rather invest that in good quality packaging materials and a good quality double (or triple) walled box. Packaged in that manner, stuff almost never gets damaged.
But the thing is this -- you need to do your homework and provide proof. USPS pays their own claims. The payment is via postal money order. It is sent from the post office. As for whether or not a claim is processed by a 3rd party is irrelevant. If there is no question as to the cause of damage and the only issue is conclusion of value, all I'm saying is that you should have something to back up your claim and not just expect them to trust you on a used item.
For me, I buy insurance not to protect against damage but rather to protect against loss. It does happen. I once purchased a set of 4 original rims for a Z/28. 3 came. 1 was nowhere to be seen. UPS came and collected them all since I purchased a full set and losing 1 was the same as losing all.
So, protection from damage comes from proper packaging. If you pack it like they require, it doesn't get damaged except for very special circumstances such as falling off a 6 foot high conveyor, things like that. Otherwise in normal handling, packing it well is your safeguard against damage. The insurance is for loss and pilferage.
One final thing: I have learned through experience that the pack/ship companies charge an exhorbitant amount of money for their packaging which often is worst than your own packaging. The plus is that for a 50% to 100% shipping premium, you now have insurance that pays without a lengthy dispute. However, most damage is not catastrophic and is minor cosmetic damage and you don't do your buyers any favors by doing that. Firstly, the extra shipping is passed onto the buyers but the extra shipping fee primarily protects the sellers, not the buyers. For the extra cost that shipping/packing companies charge, I would rather invest that in good quality packaging materials and a good quality double (or triple) walled box. Packaged in that manner, stuff almost never gets damaged.
vladi123456
Member (SA)
Superduper said:
Ya, it traveled a lot - and it got cracked by our favorite Fedex, if I'm not mistaken. I think it was Fedex...
alvinm
Member (SA)
UPS and FEDEX will almost always argue an item was not properly packaged. They are hopeful the letter they send you denying the claim will suffice and you have to live with it....but don't. They will then try to negotiate the amount if you decide to fight the claim. Its a back and forth process with someone that obviously doesn't know the value of the item.
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