I'm having an issue with a well known dealer and need some advice and/or opinions.
I made a large purchase from this dealer. The package was suppose to be sent Express Post with Insurance. Thats the
key part "with Insurance". It was clearly stated that it would be sent insured. My Post Office received the package
and lost it. The Postmaster at my local post office admits that they lost the package and would attest to that fact
on the insurance claim. The tracking number shows the package being scanned and picked up at the post office. This is where
the main problem starts. First of all I was out of the country and clearly couldn't have picked up the package. Second the
tracking information shows that the package was picked up two times 6 hours apart. Clearly there is a problem which the
Post Office admits.
Now I agree that the Post Office is clearly at fault and the Dealer has no responsibility for the Post Office losing packages.
The problem is the package was not insured as it should have been. No Insurance... No Claim... No Refund.
Now I'm just assuming that this package was not insured because I've made 4 attempts to contact the dealer and get a claim
started. Either I need the original documents or this person has to file the claim on my behalf. I could not get a response
from this person until that is after the 4th email I filed a Paypal claim. Oddly enough I get a response very quickly and this person is now unhappy with the fact that I filed a claim.
My question is should I just lose $1300+ because the package wasn't insured or do I cancel my claim and trust that the
dealer will work with me to resolve the problem. Keep in mind I've bought $1000s of dollars worth of cards over the last few years from this dealer and would be more than happy to work something out. After ignored emails and no offer of a compromise I'm not sure what to do at this point.
It's been about a month and a half. I would have waited in the hopes that the package would show up but unfortunately Paypal does have time limits in which to file claims.
The dealer would have been completely left out of this assuming the package was insured like it was suppose to be.
I agree with Paul. I believe that over $1000, you have to show signature confirmation in order for the seller to be protected. Since you did not receive the package, and there is no signature confirmation, Paypal should find in your favor.
"just curious ...."The tracking number shows the package being scanned and picked up at the post office" ??
picked up??"
The tracking number shows the package being picked up two different times the same day 6 hours apart. They have no delivery ticket and no signature. Quoting the supervisor at the post office "this is very unusual". She is/was very willing to get the claim processed even giving me her direct line which is nearly impossible to get. Unfortunately as mentioned there was no insurance on the package as far as I can tell. Still no answer on that.
"How does a John Doe pick up someone else's package ?????"
I have no idea. They know me very well at this particular post office. I'm in there at least twice a week picking up packages. They know me by name. I generally don't have to show ID at this point unless it's a new teller.
"From my experiences i've always had to show identification,and sign my signature on the dotted line, before before the P.O. would release the package."
I always have to sign for these packages. That's why this entire situation is just irritating.
"Are we talkin about a theft vs lost package ??"
I have no idea. Either way that's what insurance for. Damage, Loss, Theft.
Sorry about your problem, but if the seller said he will insure it then he should insure it without question. It's not his fault that the package was "lost", but that's what insurance is for and that's what you paid for. I think that you should "out" this dealer because it's not someone I would buy from if this is how he does business. $1,300 is a huge amount of money to lose especialy when it's not your fault. The post office definitely messed up big time but the insurance would have covered it. Just my opinion. Good luck and keep us posted on the situation.
Just a word of caution.... Canada Post will NOT give ANY refund or insurance money back for ANY type of sports cards or collectable. Read the fine print! Insurance is a scam with Canada Post. You can insure no problem and they will take you money but when it comes down to pay they will not give a refund.
I was also told that directly by a Canada Post worker. When I was insuring my pacakge he asked me what was in it. When I told him that is was sports cards he stopped everything and said insurance is not available for sports cards or collectables.
I don't know how the USPS works but FedEx and UPS WILL give refunds on insured items as long as the insurance premium is paid.
Paul
This message has been edited by shiftintermedia on Jan 4, 2008 8:18 PM
I would continue with the PayPal claim. The dealer can still file a claim if insurance was filed. If everything goes as planned, the dealer will be reimbursed by the Post Office.
Regardless of the situation, $1300 is a lot of money! You haven't done anything wrong, so you should not be out that kind of money! It's a shame that this has to happen, but this will probably ruin your relationship with this dealer. On the other hand, if I was in your situation, I would have a hard time trusting any dealer who cost me that kind of money by not inwuring a package when he said that he would.
Good Luck! (I really hope that the cards show up and the package is OK.)
I agree with what everyone else is saying. Keep the paypal claim and worse comes to worse, the package shows up and you give the seller back his money. You paid for an item and didn't get it, hes breaking his end of the legal binding contract (but keep the lawyers out of this, its just more money into their pockets, haha).
I also agree with the comment about insurance, why do we pay $20-30 to insure a card when Canada Post does cleary state sthat insurance is only offer on documents and nothing more! It is a joke and it is where Canada Post really makes its money.
I find it odd that the post office is so open to admitting their fault, maybe you just have a great office but mine isn't really into customer service and I don't know many companies that are that easy to admit fault when its a loss of $1300. If the package was scanned at their office someone there knows where it is, have you tried contacting Canada post? Its VERY easy, I sent Express Post to the US that takes 3-5 days I believe, 2 weeks later the seller says he still doesn't have my money, I filed a complaint online on a Friday and Monday morning guess what showed up 2 weeks late, very funny how that worked!!
Follow up with the PayPal claim. The dealer should refund your money, no ifs ands or buts. He was supposed to send the package insured, you paid for insurance. Just because he did not purchase the postal insurance (an assumption from the way you described he was acting) does not mean that there was not insurance on the item (perhaps with his blanket insurance policy) or perhaps he has decided to self-insure all of his items rather than paying the fees to the P.O. In any event, no matter whether he purchased insurance, was covered under another policy, self-insured or had no insurance he owes you a refund.
Rob .... hope everything works out in the end for you ...
insurance issue aside / it also looks like another classic case of Post Office incompetence here!! I can see why the Supervisor is bending over backwards to help you out ......
Go to any Post Office especially on the weekends and you'll generally encounter a part time employee who knowledge of the system is lacking, so consequently policies aren't being followed to the letter!!
IMO. the Supervisor needs to find employment elsewhere and the employee who's handing out packages like haloween candy needs to follow ........
I don't know how things work in Canada, but in the U.S., jobs at the post office are civil service (government) jobs. You take a test to get hired and the pay/benefits are decent. What's even better is that it's VERY tough to lose your job! When I was a kid I used to hear people talk about civil service jobs and how once you got hired you had it made because you practically had to assault your boss to ever get fired!
I agree that if a postal employee gave this package out to the wrong person, without checking ID, then he/she should be fired! In addition, regardless of insurance, if the post office doesn't follow their own procedures, then they should pay for the value of the package. They can't be immune to the rules and procedures!
Let us know how this whole thing works out. You should be able to get your money back from PayPal, but I'm curious about the insurance claim and the response of the dealer!
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I agree with Paul and have been told the same. Canada Post does not compensate for lost sportcards. yes. they should not take your money but they do. This error lies on the postal worker at the desk. I also agree you should keep your Paypal claim open based on the failure to insure a package by the seller and see how Paypal decides. This may compromise your future dealings with this seller but can you really trust him anyways now?
Another fine example of the inequidies of our postal service!
The post office has admitted that they gave the package to someone else (twice). Have you considered the possibility of legal action (or threats related thereto) against them ? As a last resort I guess. I mean, they have admitted that they are at fault. I think you need to pursue that angle, who cares whether it was insured or not.
"The post office has admitted that they gave the package to someone else (twice). Have you considered the possibility of legal action (or threats related thereto) against them ? As a last resort I guess. I mean, they have admitted that they are at fault. I think you need to pursue that angle, who cares whether it was insured or not."
I have a feeling legal action or threats against the Post Office(AKA the Federal Government) might cost me more time and money than I want to invest at this point. Bottom line is if the package was insured and I was supplied with original documentation my Post Office would have initiated the claim and stated what happened. They won't just take my word for it.
What a scam! I can't believe that Canada Post will not honour insurance on sports cards or collectibles even though they will gladly take your money. Canada Post even links into ebay's "Shipping Centre". With collectibles representing the lion's share of ebay transactions, it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth to learn that they will not honour lost or damaged mail (even if due to employee negligence or incompetence).
And how's this for irony? Canada Post sells collectible postage stamps, but it does not honour insurance on "uncancelled postage stamps".
I've received packages from Canada Post that were insured and it clearly stated in the insurance portion "Hockey Cards". If they are selling a service and the Postal Worker is aware of what's in the package and is writing the words "Hockey Cards" on the receipt something is not right. Maybe it has to do with Domestic versus International.
The US Postal Service will insure anything as long as proof of value can be established. In this case I just would need to show them the Ebay Invoice, Express Post receipt and the Insurance Receipt that shows how much the package was insured for.
I once (many years ago) had a direct conversation with a supervisor at Canada Post and they said that they would honor original value of sportscards if lost, documented and insured. I asked them to expand on that meant by "original value" as it was vague. Here is the supervisors reply.
"original value is the marked value of the product or originally purchased price. ie. 5 cents for that 58/59 Parkie pack you bought or the same for the Gordie Howe rookie card that was purchased for what again was 5 cents I beleive?" I was told they do not follow any collector's magazine and thus appreciated value. LOL!
I argued the point but to no avail? They may have changed there position on this lately but I am not sure.
This may still prove true as I have read some other comments in this thread stating that a few post office employees have refused insuring cards. This is why the one's in the know ask I guess?
Has anyone actually submitted a claim for sportscards and gotten refunded for their purchase value?
*Has anyone actually submitted a claim for sportscards and gotten refunded for their purchase value?*
Not cards and not from a Canadian seller, but I did buy a Lou Gehrig statue on ebay from a US seller. The statue arrived in 3 pieces. Seller was good about it ... I emailed him pictures of how it arrived and he filed a claim through the US post office. He refunded my money and he was able to get reimbursed by the US post office.
I live in the US and have often sold cards to folks in Canada. I haven't had a good experience when trying to send items insured using the post office. A few years ago I sold a card that I paid about $25 to ship to Canada. Most of that amount was "insurance". About a month later I got a note from the post office to come pick up the package that I assumed was already delivered to my buyer. I was not given a reason it was returned, but my package was opened at customs and was rejected there. The buyer was very understanding and we were eventually able to get the deal done.
This is the impression I took away from it regarding insurance: If the insurance is purchased in the US, and the item is lost or damaged in Canada why would the US post office be accountable? Or vise versa. So, I guess fedex or ups is the way to go.
btw, I'm new here, and I think this network is great!
This is a long standing problem with Canada Post with no clear answer. Having said that, I had two hockey sets go missing ( around 3 or 4 hundred dollars each) and after filing a claim on each one and telling the Canada Post rep. exactly what they were, I was given a full refund.
Please note that this was about five years ago and was within Canada so who knows what today's policy is but I would say that it is worth contacting Canada Post if your item gets lost.
Now, if your item gets lost from Canada to the U.S. then that is a whole new story involving mucho hassle but I have made a successful claim there as well.
As for the damaged statue Canada Post clearly states that things damaged in transit are not insured as they cannot control how things are packaged.
