Unfulfilled Deal Without Compensation - Please Advise

[jdben92883]

It's up to the shipper to insure the delivery. The only exception to this rule (in my mind), is when the seller explicitly states that the cost of insurance is extra and the buyer declines to pay it.

The guy needs to be outed 100%. I would want to know who isn't going to back his sale. Doesn't really matter what the final outcome is...someone who INITIALLY said that it wasn't his problem isn't someone I would want to deal with.

On a positive note, USPS does have a way of delivering packages WAY late. So it may show up several weeks late. In my history of shipping literally thousands of parcels with the post office, I can think of one maybe two times something was lost forever. At the insane rates they're now charging for insurance it makes little sense to buy it. Sometimes the cost of insurance is close to 5% of the value and there is no way they lose 1-in-20 parcels. So they are treating insurance as a profit center which I very much resent. With that said, it's hard to trust them with something that costs $1k, so I generally pay the extortion.

[BKinzey]

No one sends a $1,000 scope uninsured or at a minimum delivery confirmation...sounds too fishy to me.

Well, he does have confirmation from USPS the item has been lost and it was not insured.

[jdben92883]

Actually B&H...probably the largest camera seller in the country...sends everything uninsured. UPS has left $5k camera lenses at my door step, no insurance, no signature.

At the rates the carriers are now charging for insurance, it's a sucker's bet. All the carriers profit from insurance. It's just little guys like you and me that can't stomach the idea of ponying up a grand for a loss that pay the 10 bucks to insure the shipment. So we pay 1%-5% of the value and the carriers lose/damage probably <.001% of packages.

No one sends a $1,000 scope uninsured or at a minimum delivery confirmation...sounds too fishy to me.

[kielbasavw]

First contact usps again, and ask if they can do a fraud investigation. You have all the emails and pms as records of what was suppose to happen. Hope you still have those tracking numbers saved as reference as well.. if this is something usps won't consider fraudulent..

Then you have his address give the guy a visit, or out him here. And I'm sure a few calgunners wouldn't mind visiting for you to see what the deal is face to face...

But I believe usps should be able to do something since we are dealing with a high dollar transaction.

[kielbasavw]

Also I should add, if he sent a mo with the package, I'm sure you can see if usps could pull up some record of that, a mo issued to your name.. also I'm sure they would know if he claimed his money back... I would hope usps would make this a serious matter. Please investigate further.


I'm also wondering if calguns would actually do anything about this? Can any mod or member with experience give us any info. Stuff like this would be good to know for future scams.

[ktanaka90]

I've spoke with a postal rep and they said that there is nothing they can do insurance wise because the package was never insured. I don't believe that this is a case of fraud, the rep has a picture of the package and said that the box was mislabeled (it doesn't even have a return address). I insured my package, he received my end of the deal, and I'm sitting on a $1000 loss. He says it's not his fault but I call BS cause he did not insure the package, nor has he compensated me for the loss. For all intensive purposes, the deal should be void and my property should be returned.

[dg29]

Doesn't matter what he claims. His part of the transaction was never completed because the package he sent was mislabeled, not insured, and never made it to you. Therefore the mutually agreed upon transaction is null and void. He can send your item back to you, insured, and deal on his own for the lost package he sent to you. It was his responsibility to confirm that the package label was properly filled out and that the package was insured. Doesn't really matter if you don't feel it's a case of fraud because at this point you're out $1,000.00. You are in this position because of his lack of attention to very important details.

[BKinzey]

If you can get a letter from the USPS rep and a copy of the pic with no return address you will easily win in Small Claims.

Hopefully it won't come to that.

[kielbasavw]

Didn't even think of small claims.. you'll win forsure aslong as you bring every single piece of reference including a statement of the postmaster

[bkk6869]

i feel for the OP, but i never understand why someone wouldnt out the person screwing them IMMEDIATELY to prevent someone else getting screwed too. if they fix the situation, update the post right away to clear the sellers name,

[amd64]

OP - You'd be doing everyone on CG a favor if you out him. I wouldn't want to deal with someone who doesn't take steps (correct destination and return addressing, insurance) to ensure his part of the deal is delivered. His lack of response and accountability also says a lot about character. Document your experience on itrader feedback too, it is what it is, and people can read it and make their own judgement.

[tonyxcom]

Actually B&H...probably the largest camera seller in the country...sends everything uninsured. UPS has left $5k camera lenses at my door step, no insurance, no signature.

Actually, when you are a large retailer and have some pretty big shipping contracts with UPS, FedEx etc, you usually get insurance included in your rates. So you aren't going to see it itemized or even noted on any of the shipping labels.

[GMG]

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't get involved in an internet "trade". Other than FTF.

Too much room for error or whatever.

[lwbyo1]

I'd be going out of my way to get it resolved, especially if it was my mistake that caused it. It just shows what a lack of character this guy has. To basically say, "I mailed it. Oh well, not my problem", when it was clearly his mistake. I'd be livid.

It just seems suspicious that he wouldn't put a return address on the package, especially since you already have his name and address from the package you sent him. There would be no reason for it. Just makes you think that maybe he put something worthless in the package and mislabeled it without a return address so it would get lost on purpose.

As someone mentioned before, go to the post office and check the status of the money order. That way you see if it's been cashed, or if one was even issued. You have to have the MO number, so call and get it from him. If he says he already filed a claim, ask him for the both the claim and MO numbers.

If he won't give you the MO or claim numbers, says he can't find it, or says he'll send you another one, then he's definitely scamming you. At that point I'd file a fraud complaint with the Post Office and a small claims suit against him.

Good luck.

[its mcgavin son]

Two sides to every story. Two months ago, I sold a very expensive folding knife to an online buyer located in Australia. I asked him what information he would like transplanted on the "customs form"; he told me specifically, I obliged verbatim.

I sent the USPS priority parcel. He later informs me that the item is being held at Australians Customs pending rejection (folding knives are banned from importation). I immediately tell the buyer to contact Customs and ask to modify the return-to-sender address to ensure I would receive the item during normal business hours. He scans a legitimate-looking Aus. Customs letters indicating some legal ****, addressing the formal item rejection, and confirming the official return-to-send notion.

A month later, I still have not received the item.

USPS blows nuts, end of story.