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 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,604 |
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
I purchased an 1898-s Morgan off of ebay. The seller was reputable with good feed back and he sent the package first class mail even though it was stated that it would be priority mail on the description. Anyway, I am e-mailed with the tracking number, etc. Three days later I get an empty bubble mailer that was diligently taped around all the edges. However in the opposite corner of the flap in the crease, it was as though someone used a boxcutter just big enough to get the coin out . I was mad. Anyway I notified the seller that I would be contacting paypal/ebay for the buyer protection. I also emailed usps. I clearly stated to the seller that I believe it was postal theft. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What should I expect ? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
This has happened to me but the postal theif got caught like 3 days later with over like 50 collectables and coins.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
I quite often add cardboard in the package to make it more difficult to tell what is in it.
I've never had a problem with Aussie post (Except that they are sooo slow).
I hear that it happens all too often in the US and UK.
The best thing to do if you get a dodgy package is to open it in front of the people at the post office.
That way you have a reliable witness that is empty.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I've heard of this several times. Usually people say to play safe place a piece of cardboard in the envelope so a coin is not apparent. All it takes is one good shake and coins could pop out.
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Sorry you're having to deal with this! What was the seller's response? Hopefully he works with you on this.
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Valued Member
 United States
265 Posts |
This was the first time this has happened to me. Everytime I am on ebay, I keep on seeing that add about ebay buyer protection. I notified payapl first and the advisor worked with me on the phone directing me on ebay's site opening a case etc. I did tell the advisor on the ebay site that the I felt that the seller did nothing wrong and he did his part. However on the site, there are prompts so you can desribe the facts, but there are no choices or options that mention postal theft. The closest option in opening the case was "That the item received was not what was described". There was a box to explain in your own words what happened. When the seller received notice he was told I opened a case because I did not receive what was described. I clearly told him the course of events as well as letting him know that I did not blame and made ebay aware of that. He responded to ebay's query. So now we have to wait. I also filed a claim on the usps website.But I don't think they are going to do much. My main question is: will ebay or paypal refund my money |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Supposedly, ebaY/payenemy should cover you. It was the seller's responsibility to insure or make good out of pocket.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Might be a good idea to ask the sellers if you can purchase insurance. This happened to be before. I had bought 5 wheat rolls and when the mail arrived the padded envelope had a big hole in it and the package was empty. I e-mailed the seller and thankfully he sent me 5 more rolls.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
 I feel your pain dom. This same type of incident happened to me once several years ago with a registered mail package that was cut open with a sharp object and coin stolen. Package was a padded brown bubble wrap envelope 6" x 4" addressed to me. The coin was valued at appr. $400.00 and was not covered by Paypal/Ebay insurance because I signed for the registered mail. I was told by Paypal that I signed for the package and should have inspected it prior to signing for it. Obviously I did not expect this theft and as a result did not inspect the package prior to signing for it. Paypal rep states once a registered letter is accepted by the receiver and signed for, it is assumed and deemed to be whole and in good order. Therefore, Paypal states I have no proof the theft occurred in the mail and that I possibly could have staged this myself. Believe me I was fuming mad at the Paypal rep I spoke to on the phone. The lesson I've learned here is to thoroughly "INSPECT" every registered mail package PRIOR to signing for it. If you suspect anything out of the norm, simply alert the mail delivery person and request a "return to sender"! Good Luck.....................Glenn  Edited by glenzy1
08/15/2011 07:28 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Going slightly in another direction here but this is why I have a problem doing customs forms declaring the contents of the package. I try to be as vague as possible while satisfying the information the form requests.
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Valued Member
United States
247 Posts |
It seems like this is happening more and more since it's obvious that there is an increase in coins/bullion passing through. My g/f had the same thing happen when returning a few items to APMEX, they said the package was slit open. Thankfully they made good and still sent replacement items. The comment above about assuming liability once signing for the package is kinda concerning considering about 75% of the items that I receive that need a signature are just left in my box or at my doorstep. It seems our neighborhood postman has a habit of just scribbling something on our behalf. We've complained several times to no avail. What would happen if you needed to file a claim when you can't really prove who signed for it? While I occasionally appreciate the convenience of not having to make my way to the post office, I definitely don't appreciate the risk. |
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
An update for those that may be interested. I was awarded a full refund from the seller which he was not happy with but I found out several things during this incident. The post office supervisor at my local po inspected that envelope and believes that the bubble mailer was machine sorted, meaning that there are high speed sorters with curved blade-like arms which move letters along. when he looked at the routing strip at the bottom of the envelope, it was that corner where the coin may have been ripped out. He stated that the bubble mailer are not flat and the arm can swing down and rip into the envelope.....i think it is stretching it a bit but that was the explanation. the seller apparently dropped the coin in the mailer and off it went. It is the discretion of the postal workers whether to hand sort it or go through the machine. It is advised that if a bubble mailer is being used that some sort of endorsement on the front of the package such as fragile or do not bend be written so it is hand sorted. Also, the initial ebay description stated taht it would be sent priority mail, which he stated always gets hand sorted, but the seller sent it out first class mail. The seller is now annoyed that he is out the money and the coin. I stated that if I did get something from the post office I would forward it to him, but it has been 3 weeks and nothing fom them and I doubt I will. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
524 Posts |
This happens a lot and most of the time it's the shippers fault. You can't put an item in an envelope lose. The machines at the post office will push it right out the end. Tape the item to the inside of the envelope or to a piece of cardboard so it can't be pushed out. Now the crooks who clean the machines at the post office are another story. Very few items are ever turned over to lost and found. I found it's a total wast of time to have them look for what was lost. |
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Valued Member
United States
304 Posts |
I was going to say if it's someone stealing it out of your mailbox, it might be time for you to get a PO box, but from the Postmasters explanation, it's basically the PO sorting "machine" that is doing the thieving (lol). So, by his explanation, the mailroom sort floor could potential be a treasure trove of "stolen loot"?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1817 Posts |
I cannot reiterate this enough: a PO Box is a really good idea if you don't have a locked mailbox at your residence. The other thing is to ALWAYS request insurance with e-Bay auctions for coins over $50 if it isn't included in the postage fee. Do NOT rely on the e-Bay or PayPal purchase protection, with the complicated and confusing rules. If the package is lost or slit open in transit, the fee will cover the loss. Depending on the cost of item, it adds a few dollars more, but for peace of mind, it's priceless.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
I had a non-collecting seller ship a coin in a plastice flip inside a standard legal-sized envelope. The coin must have popped out in shipping and all I received was an empty envelope. I never needed to contact ebay, the seller simply refunded the money; no questions asked. I even left him positive feedback for the auction. In the future you may want to work with the seller prior to getting the folks at ebay involved. The vast majority of the sellers that I have dealt with on ebay are on the up-and-up. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 5,604 |
Posted 08/14/2011 8:26 pm
