Is my post office lying to me?

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

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Dec 10, 1998
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It will be a year ago this april that I mailed a knife to a customer which he claims was lost in the mail? Apparently all he received was an empty box. I immediately went to my postoffice and filed a claim. I asked my customer to do the same and the matter should get resolved quickly. The first knife was paid for.

So I said well you paid for a knife and I think that you should get a knife. So I made another knife, more elaborate, fluting on the bolsters and pearls scales and charged the customer $100 for the upgrade. I fugured that since I had insured the first knife for $350 that the refund would cover the difference on the second knife.

My postoffice sent him paperwork ect. for him to sign and I would get a check.-Didn't happen. My post office is telling me that he never filed a claim, or signed any paperwork!! I have emailed him a few times and he claims that he went down and talked to his postmaster, and he filed a statement the same time that I did when this happened! It's been 10 months and this has got to get resolved!! So is my post office lying to me or did the postoffice on the other end lose the paperwork? Or apparently did I get screwed?
What action can I take, a certified letter to the customer and post master? Any ideas would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Chuck
 
Whether they're lying or lost it, or if he never went, wouldnt him going there now and filling out paperwork solve the problem?
 
Lifter,
Yes that would solve the problem, he says that he is going but according to the postoffice he didn't go at all. They say he never filed anything!
 
Giving the buyer the benefit of doubt:

Hopefully the buyer still has the box/container and packaging that the knife was shipped in. The Postal folks will definitely want to see it (they generally won't take someones word that there was a hole or rip in it).

If the buyer gave the orginal box to the Postal folks, they should have provided him with a receipt indicating that the package was damaged and that the contents were missing.

If the buyer is going to file the claim he'll need show proof that insurance was purchased, which can be done with the original box that it was shipped in. If not, you'll need to send the buyer the "original" purchase/mailing receipt.

Also, if he doesn't have a copy of a sales receipt or a detailed invoice from you. . .you'll need to provide that to him. A cancelled check, credit card receipt, money order receipt or other paperwork indicating the amount paid will do (the first 3 are the best).

He's really pushing the max filing limit considering that he has 12 months to file the claim. . .and you're at 10 months now ! :(


On the other hand. . .

If this were me (as the buyer). . .the day that the package arrived and the item wasn't in the box. . .you'd find me in the Post Office with damaged box in hand. The Postal folks treat a "contents missing" claim a little different than a "parcel lost" claim.

And if still told that I couldn't file a claim until 30-days. . .you'd find me in the Post Office on the 30th day with all of the necessary documentation in hand !



I take it that he has in his possession the "replacement" knife that you made him ?

If so. . .maybe he thinks that his end is complete, has no further obligation to you and your position is of no concern to him. Hell, he has his knife. :(

About the only thing that you can do is communicate with him (nicely) and explain to him that you will be out $XXX if he doesn't "assist" you with this matter. . .PDQ.

If he's not responding to your e-mails or telephone calls. . .you might seriously consider sending him a letter that requires his signature. It doesn't mean that he has to do anything with the claim. . .but at least you'll know that he accepted or refused to accept the letter.


Good luck ! I hope that it works out and you get your frog skins !

Keep us posted. . .especially if the buyer refuses to help you with this matter !
 
I agree with Danbo. The only reason I can see for him not filling out the paperwork is that mail fraud is serious business. He might be willing to risk pulling one over on you, but might think twice about the USPS. I would also think that the USPS would have wanted to see some evidence. Good luck.
 
Hi Chuck,
It may be to much time has gone by.I think he has both knive's.When I ship a package and the customer say's he didn't get it or it's damaged etc..I tell them I will check with the postmaster and that gets them thinking straight.Funny how that a mere mention of postmaster and packages get found real quick.Like someone in a previous post said fraud is serious when dealing with the USPS.
Pete
 
I don't know. Thats kind of a hard one. I'ts happened to me twicw since I've been a member here. The first time I ordered a Microtech LCC from one of the old posting dealers here. I signed for the box the postal employee gave me an opened empty box w/ insurance sticker on it. Lucky for me the dealer replaced it(God knows he wasn't obligated too). The p.o. basically told me to screw myself,but the dealer was able to get it straightened out.

The second time was when I sent my original satin commander back to Emerson. Mary recieved an empty box. I screwed myself, I didn,t insure it.

Makes me sick! God I sure hope this turns out allright for you. I could,t imagine loosing a custom as sick as I felt overloosing a couple production knives.:(
 
An insurance system that requires the recipient to do paperwork is unworkable and the USPS knows it. We are 0 for 6 on insurance claims. We stopped buying postal insurance 4 years ago. We ship by mail only when we are forced to and consider it the riskiest, most expensive way to ship anything. When they lose something, we refund the customer and move on.

Sorry, I think you were taken by someone who knows how the system works. Too bad you went back to the well a second time. I feel your pain. I have people try to steal from me every day and they are successful about once or twice per month. Good luck.
 
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