Busse 'lost' in the mail... Vent thread. :(

When you ship a LOT, particularly international, you'll notice that somehow the packages which are insured seem to disappear less. ;)

The thing about international shipping in USPS is that everything has pretty strict value limits. People usually fudge this, and fudge things on customs declarations, but if it vanishes then you're REALLY SOL. Nothing can help you now unfortunately, but I say it again and again: if you can't afford to lose it, you've got to insure it. As a seller, particularly when using paypal, you MUST protect yourself because there are disgraceful individuals who will insist on the cheapest shipping option because they know if it doesn't show up PP will screw you out of the $$$. Heck I've seen people think their package was un-tracked and try to get the seller even though the package was confirmed not only shipped but delivered and signed for. ;)

Long story short, I'm really sorry for your loss man, but hopefully your lesson learned will help someone else. And who knows, maybe if you come up with a clever way to make some side cash you can pick one up anyway. :)
 
I once shipped first class to Australia, it take 6 months to get there.
Express Mail only take one to two weeks to Australia.
From that day, I started shipping Express Mail oversea only.
 
Wilkes said:
So, does this mean I should file a paypal dispute against the seller? I don't believe the seller did anything wrong as he clearly did send the item. Would paypal pay for it? I guess I don't like the idea of taking back his money when he needed it.

Also, for everyone recommending express mail through USPS I appreciate it, but regardless of the mailing method there are still crooks in the system. My example above was an express national post issue, so things can go wrong completely outside our control above and beyond what we spend.

Thanks for all your concern and care guys, you/we have a tight community here!!!
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I don't know the details of your deal...who sold the knife, what details you both agreed to. But the general rule here on BladeForums is like any basic deal...The Buyer is responsible for paying the Seller by any method the Seller accepts and that the Seller is responsible for delivery of the goods. Getting shipping insurance isn't mandatory, BUT... insurance is for the Seller so that the Seller will break even after reimbursing the Buyer. If they don't want to to take shipping insurance, that doesn't release them from reimbursing the Buyer if the item never arrives. If PayPal was the chosen method for transferring funds then PayPal requires the Seller to send a trackable package with signature confirmation for any value of $250.00 USD and over. If the item is $250 USD or higher and can't be tracked to the destination verified by a signature of the receiver, the Seller will lose in a dispute, and PayPal will take the funds from the Seller to reimburse the Buyer.
https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?c...protection_faq ---> See Proof Of Delivery)

ETA: In your shoes and without knowing the details of the deal, I would start reading up on PayPal's policies on refund disputes, the time limits and what hoops you will have to prepare to jump through. Then you can decide if you want to continue to wait for the package, but not lose your rights under PP's protection policies because you waited too long to open a dispute.
 
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USPS first class is between two and ten weeks +/- in my experience, once three months. Do you have the customs declaration number ? It will allow you some very limited tracking. This is not a done deal by any means mate. Had you said it was EI or even Priority I would say you were in strife. I am willing to bet you will have a Busse no later than Jan 2013.

USPS Priority is the best compromise of all when it comes to shipping here.

Andy
 
Wilkes....sorry to hear the story. Andy and others are right. If a seller ships it Express and insured it WILL get Down Under. Usually in about a week......
 
Sorry to hear your busse hasn't turned up yet,

Having bought a few things from this forum every time Its been the usps express with tracking and insurance and a tracking number that shows its rough progress across the world and it's been two weeks as an average time to arrive

Keep your fingers crossed it will show up soon mate,

Then your wife will wish it was lost as you won't be able to leave it alone :)
 
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Jaxx said:
I don't know the details of your deal...who sold the knife, what details you both agreed to. But the general rule here on BladeForums is like any basic deal...The Buyer is responsible for paying the Seller by any method the Seller accepts and that the Seller is responsible for delivery of the goods. Getting shipping insurance isn't mandatory, BUT... insurance is for the Seller so that the Seller will break even after reimbursing the Buyer. If they don't want to to take shipping insurance, that doesn't release them from reimbursing the Buyer if the item never arrives. If PayPal was the chosen method for transferring funds then PayPal requires the Seller to send a trackable package with signature confirmation for any value of $250.00 USD and over. If the item is $250 USD or higher and can't be tracked to the destination verified by a signature of the receiver, the Seller will lose in a dispute, and PayPal will take the funds from the Seller to reimburse the Buyer.
https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?c...protection_faq ---> See Proof Of Delivery)

ETA: In your shoes and without knowing the details of the deal, I would start reading up on PayPal's policies on refund disputes, the time limits and what hoops you will have to prepare to jump through. Then you can decide if you want to continue to wait for the package, but not lose your rights under PP's protection policies because you waited too long to open a dispute.
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^ This.

Ask for the tracking number, and see how far it got. It should have at least gotten to your country by now.

Get your money back via PP before the time expires. You can wait a little longer, but check and see how much longer you have. Don' let it go past that date.
The seller will get his money back through insurance. If they didn't insure it, then they will have learned a valuable lesson. BF rules states it is up to the seller, so insurance is his protection, not yours. Good luck.
 
One issue with the scenario above, yes the seller is responsible, but only in the case if the seller deliberately omitted adding insurance after being asked to do so.

I have been shipping all over the world for over ten years, I always offer the option of insurance and/or signature confirmation. If the buyer opts out of either he immediately agrees to be responsible for the package once it leaves my hands.

The main question here is did the seller offer insurance? Did the buyer ask for insurance? If neither applies then the responsibility lies with both and both should divide the compensation.

As a buyer is your responsibility to pay for the insurance if you want it, and its the sellers responsibility to purchase enough to cover the replacement cost of said item if it should arrive damaged or missing, and always to offer that option.

More info is needed here.

Edit to add: If after all the dust settles and compensation has been made and the item arrives it becomes vital that communications begin and refund of the refund made immediately. Honesty and integrity are very important here.
 
Use any tracking/label/receipt number to find out where it was last recorded (yes, a label/receipt number will unofficially track the package at least with the USPS even if it doesn't have a tracking number), then start hounding the postal agency that last updated the record.

Emails, phone calls, etc. are all fair game. Don't be afraid to email the postmaster general of the USPS, etc.

I've had constant issues with the mail being super delayed or supposedly "lost" just to have it show up fairly quickly after I started making the rounds.

One international package sent from the US to Europe was apparently lost for a month and a half, the moment I started inquiring the involved parties about it it showed up after a couple of days at its destination.

So don't give up, but keep being the squeaky wheel.
 
Major bummer! I hope it will still turn up, but you should consider everything suggested so far to investigate and protect yourself (and the seller).

Hopefully, it just took a wrong turn to South America or something and will end up in your hands by Christmas!
 
I live in South Africa and only use Express Mail from the USA , never had a problem with over 120 parcels , touch wood.
 
I just had a scare of my own. I sold an item on the forums and shipped it out USPS Priority Insured. I emailed the tracking # to the customer and a couple days later he emails and asks why it's in Hawaii. I'm like WTH, it should be going East, not West. We wait a couple days and no movement on the tracking. I stopped by the local PO and they were able to find an additional scan in Hawaii and a day later it showed up where it was supposed to. It freaked me out because I've never had anything like that happen before. The guy at the PO was great, but he was worried that someone had slapped a new label on to deliver it to Hawaii, but it turned out it just got into the wrong bin and took a vacation.
 
leatherman said:
One issue with the scenario above, yes the seller is responsible, but only in the case if the seller deliberately omitted adding insurance after being asked to do so.

I have been shipping all over the world for over ten years, I always offer the option of insurance and/or signature confirmation. If the buyer opts out of either he immediately agrees to be responsible for the package once it leaves my hands.
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The Uniform Commercial Code, as enacted in all fifty states, provides that the seller bears the risk of loss of goods in transit unless the buyer expressly agrees otherwise.

As noted, insurance protects the seller against the risk placed on him by law. Who pays for the insurance is a term of the contract of sale, as can be a shifting of the risk of loss to the buyer.
 
A question comes to mind. Did the seller stipulate that he would not be responsible for delivery to a foreign country? Did the buyer agree to this?

The customs forum number is probably the only tracking number available and it is unreliable at best. It might be worth trying it on the USPS
web-site.

RE: Paypal Protection for Buyers. There is a 45 day window to file a claim. The clock starts when payment is sent. After 45 days, you are SOL.
 
I don't think Paypal protects the buyer if the "Gift" option was used. I am not sure if that was the case or has been discussed yet, but I am pretty sure gifting does not protect you.

Also, USPS's tracking system can suck really bad. I have had packages delivered that required a signature and I wasn't there to sign. Even though the package was left on my doorstep, the tracking info said it was at the post office. That has happened on more than one occasion, plus I have gotten packages long before they even show they arrived in my city, several days prior to the delivery date.

I wouldn't lose hope just yet!! Also, you need to get a credit card that the wife doesn't know about, register it for paperless statements and use an email address she doesn't have access to.
 
I have no faith in the USPS after they "lost" my package that had delivery confirmation. It was NEVER delivered since I was home all day and to this day I believe the fill in guy (the usual postman was on vacation), stole my package with three Busse knives in it. What really ticked me off the most was how I was treated at the post office and just told too bad. Very unprofessional people who don't give a crap about their customers. Oh their insurance is nothing less than a scam and fraud since they hardly ever pay for lost insured packages and they tell you that you have to prove what was in there and it's value. I hope every thieving postal worker gets swine flu for Christmas.
 
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