A Knife Exchange question. Would like some opinions.

Baker_11

Baker_11

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Hello all. Im fairly new to this forum and have only bought and sold a dozen or so knives on here but ive been buying and selling things online for years. Recently I posted a for sale thread for a knife. The buyer paid promptly via Paypal and I shipped it via Priority Mail the next morning. I did not mention Insurance in the thread, the buyer made no mention of insurance, and I did not insure the package (although I believe there is $50 free insurance included now). The package arrived in the buyers city across the country on schedule two days later. The tracking shows the package out for delivery but later updated that it was "undeliverable as addressed". The buyer says he has spoken to his local Post Office several times and they say the address was incorrect (which I find difficult to believe because I am overboard ocd and always quadruple check these things). That was about two weeks ago, he says he never received the package and the post office tells him it would be returned to me. It has not showed up here as of yet and the most recent tracking still has it at his local post office across the country. Understandibly so, the buyer is frustrated and says he is close to asking for a full refund. I believe the buyer to be an honest guy, and I consider myself one too. My question is, should I the seller take all the risk here? Should I be out the full amount because of a mixup at the Post Office in his city, where according to their own tracking, the knife still is? What would you do? I dont want to be the bad guy. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
 
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If the knife is undelivered, it is the seller's loss. I would not issue a refund if the tracking still shows it at his post office, though. (If it's actually there, he could simply go get it)
I would also not leave it up to the buyer to talk to the post office if it was my knife. Go to your post office, and ask them to contact that facility if they cannot tell you where the knife is.

BTW - regardless of what you see some sellers here trying to pull, insurance benefits the seller...and is not the responsibility of the buyer.
 
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Baker_11,

BF Member Monofletch works within the USPS system, and has proven extraordinarily helpful in aiding BF members with USPS questions and challenges.

Better yet, his offer of help is ongoing:

Monofletch said:
If anyone needs assistance with a USPS delivery issues send me a PM or start a post in GBU and I'll see what I can do.
Click to expand...

I recommend contacting him directly and pointing him to this thread.

Good luck!

~ P.
 
Call the post office or stop by your local post office and ask these questions. Let the person at the counter that you'd like to speak with a supervisor. Explain in detail that you shipped a package to a confirmed address via paypal and that you are being told the address is showing up as undelivered.
 
Unless agreed otherwise, risk of loss passes to a buyer only upon delivery to the address specified by the buyer. Here, it does not seem clear if the item was delivered to the address specified by the buyer or not.
 
I recently had something like this happen. It also said"undeliverable address" it was a PayPal verified address. It said it would return to me. The next day the buyer said it showed up at his doorstep. I hope it's just a mix up. I learned my lesson and will add insurance on all knives over $50.
 
pertinux said:
Baker_11,

BF Member Monofletch works within the USPS system, and has proven extraordinarily helpful in aiding BF members with USPS questions and challenges.

Better yet, his offer of help is ongoing:



I recommend contacting him directly and pointing him to this thread.

Good luck!

~ P.
Click to expand...

Monofletch is truly one of BF's finest.
 
I just recently had this happen with something I sold elsewhere. The post office held it for quite a while before it was eventually returned to me. Even with the correct address carriers often make mistakes, especially if it is a fill in carrier on the regular guys day off. I don't understand why the buyer can't go to the local PO and pick it up. he would need to show ID in order to get it and at that time it would be scanned as "Delivered" relieving you of any further responsibility. Until it is delivered though Paypal will side with him in a dispute as you need to prove delivery for them to protect you.

As him to go to the Post Office, if he refuses then I would not refund until the package is returned to you by the Post Office.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have pmd Monofletch as well. Buyer has been nothing but a gentleman so far and I understand his frustration. The buyer assures me the Post Office says it would be or was sent back. Should have been here long ago if it was already sent and tracking still has it at his post office. I will try and speak with my local postmaster as well and see if that sheds any light.
 
Sometimes strange mishaps happen. I was expecting to receive a knife in the mail one day because the tracking showed it was "Out for Delivery". It didn't show up. Late in the day I happened to see the local mail delivery person driving the truck on my street (for some reason they sometimes come around twice in one day). I ran out and asked her about it. She took my number and said she would investigate. A half hour later I got a call from her saying she found the package - she had accidentally delivered it to the same street number, but wrong street, a few streets over. She remembered it and retrieved it from that mailbox and delivered it to my mailbox. If I had not caught her that afternoon, the knife might have ended up with the other person, and I would never have known what happened to it. So if possible, ask the recipient to check with their local mail delivery person to see if they can help.
 
Undeliverable as addressed tells me something was wrong with the address. That package should have left the P.O. the same day. However, If tracking shows it still at the buyer's P.O. it might still be there. Call and have one of their supervisors look it up on the internal system. It should show the address and what was wrong.

PM returned.
 
Monofletch said:
Undeliverable as addressed tells me something was wrong with the address. That package should have left the P.O. the same day. However, If tracking shows it still at the buyer's P.O. it might still be there. Call and have one of their supervisors look it up on the internal system. It should show the address and what was wrong.

PM returned.
Click to expand...


Thanks alot. I will contact their Post Office. I believe the zip specifically was what they were having issues with. In this case, if the package was being returned to me, the tracking would still be updated correct??
 
I bought a knife not long ago and it was labeled out for delivery and I also didn't receive it with my regular mail but later that day be patient it will come.
 
When I have problems with the USPS, I go to their Website and fill out a complaint form giving the Tracking Number and the details. USPS then bumps it back to my local PO which is where these items enter the system. The Local Postmaster, knowing that "Corporate" is already aware of a problem, usually gets on the case rather quickly. The USPS can handle this stuff internally a lot faster than a Consumer just calling around, in my experience.
 
All wonderful suggestions......but I'm curious why the buyer won't just stop by the PO and pick it up??
 
palonej said:
All wonderful suggestions......but I'm curious why the buyer won't just stop by the PO and pick it up??
Click to expand...

Buyer says post office won't release package and I believe he said they sent it back. I have yet to see it two weeks later and tracking number confirms its still there.
 
As others have said, I would call the specific post office where the tracking says it is and talk to someone there. The longer this goes on, the less likely recovery will be.
 
It makes no sense that they wouldn't release the package to the addressee.
Then again, this is a Federal entity we're discussing - making sense isn't a requirement.
 
They probably misplaced the package for a little while and it might make it there eventually.
Do your own digging though, some calls might help them get motivated to find and deliver that package.
 
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