Need advice on transaction Please!

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The cashiers check can "Bounce" weeks after you've "cashed" it. The only positive way to cash something like that is to go to a Check Cashing store- they'll verify the funds before paying you.

USPS Money Orders Only.

It really sounds like he's scamming you.

Before doing anything you need to- Verify the Cashiers Check has successfully Cleared. Call your bank and talk to them.

The Buyers urgency and threats about the "Law" are bullshit- what's he gonna do?
 
Insurance is for the seller, buy it always. Always use a fully taped box. I've Recieved very expensive knives in untaped boxes that I've been able to "shake" open. The ignorance of some sellers blows my mind.
 
I sincerely hope the two of you can get to the bottom of this. Like other I feel a secure box is the best shipping method .. BUT like some I have received some pretty expensive hand made knives from Europe and from some of our favorite makers up in Canada . The thing about a envelope as posted above it doesn't keep people honest because they can hold and make assumptions of what is in it and good guy can have a week moment and turn into a thief .

If it was me who got a certified or cashiers check I would not have shipped until it cleared but at this point it doesn't matter. If the buyer is not lying and really didn't receive anything it would be a crying shame he was out anything and the same goes for you too. Very difficult situation indeed.

Wait until the bank clears the check at that point a decision has to be made. Nobody is going to be happy because both of you are affected and I would not be happy with what I think should happen at this point. I think you guys have to split this one. 50 / 50 and call it a wash and chalk it up as a learning experience .

I am a avid collector and I have knives moving through my hands often .. I make knives and ship them and I buy knives and have them shipped to me and I sometimes I may even trade all of this puts us at risk of loss. Its part of the todays internet commerce and based on the past few months around here sometimes my confidence is shaken with the stories I read on here almost on a weekly basis .. In the future be wise . I know this is almost impossible but in time you will build a relationship with other with whom you trade with and this can reduce the risks we all take in this .

Of coarse wait until funds are clear and if they are not then we have a whole other can of crap to open.
 
Gastonknife said:
Not true at all. Although it may not be as much of an issue from a damage protection side. It makes a big deal to some one is going to steal. More likely to be able to feel and guess what is inside and much harder to open a box in front of other employees. Envelopes can easily be concealed. Whether they are taken home or just to another location in the building out of prying eyes.

That said curious to see where this one goes. I'll refrain from judgment until there is a bit more facts. I hope the OP and Buyer comment more.
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Think like a thief:
Expensive items get boxed and carefully packed - steal boxes, not envelopes, especially boxes that have names like Sharper Image, Tiffany, Hammacher Schlemmer, Crutchfield. (As opposed to a simple Priority Mail envelope that could have anyhting in it).

Not everyone is a knife aficionado like some of us are.
I'd bet the percentage of people who handled that envelope and know that it is a high-end knife (much less a knife at ALL) is so small, it would be considered a non-percentage.
If someone stole the knives from the envelope, they did it because they opened the envelope and liked what they saw.
The KISS principle almost always applies to common thievery.

Side note: I ordered a new 12" ceramic rod from a seller who had 48,000+ positive feedbacks in the past 12 months. This seller handles CRKT, Spyderco, Buck, Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, and a bunch of other brands. The items range in price from $4 to $775.
The ceramic rod arrived in a manila padded envelope.
 
robgmn said:
think like a thief:
Expensive items get boxed and carefully packed - steal boxes, not envelopes, especially boxes that have names like sharper image, tiffany, hammacher schlemmer, crutchfield. (as opposed to a simple priority mail envelope that could have anyhting in it).

Not everyone is a knife aficionado like some of us are.
I'd bet the percentage of people who handled that envelope and know that it is a high-end knife (much less a knife at all) is so small, it would be considered a non-percentage.
If someone stole the knives from the envelope, they did it because they opened the envelope and liked what they saw.
The kiss principle almost always applies to common thievery.

Side note: I ordered a new 12" ceramic rod from a seller who had 48,000+ positive feedbacks in the past 12 months. This seller handles crkt, spyderco, buck, cold steel, ka-bar, sog, and a bunch of other brands. The items range in price from $4 to $775.
The ceramic rod arrived in a manila padded envelope.
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x1000
 
"Side note: I ordered a new 12" ceramic rod from a seller who had 48,000+ positive feedbacks in the past 12 months. This seller handles CRKT, Spyderco, Buck, Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, and a bunch of other brands. The items range in price from $4 to $775.
The ceramic rod arrived in a manila padded envelope. "

Dealers often ship cheaply. They use envelopes and they don't insure. They will come out ahead in the end even if they loose a few items(they also have the advantage of buying wholesale, making profits and writing off losses). Small time exchange sellers need to take extra precautions. One loss is devastating. On hind site I wish I had never insured packages. It could have saved me a lot of money, but I never knew where that one loss might come.
 
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Peter Hartwig said:
"Side note: I ordered a new 12" ceramic rod from a seller who had 48,000+ positive feedbacks in the past 12 months. This seller handles CRKT, Spyderco, Buck, Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, and a bunch of other brands. The items range in price from $4 to $775.
The ceramic rod arrived in a manila padded envelope. "

Dealers often ship cheaply. They use envelopes and they don't insure. They will come out ahead in the end even if they loose a few items(they also have the advantage of buying wholesale, making profits and writing off losses). Small time exchange sellers need to take extra precautions. One loss is devastating. On hind site I wish I had never insured packages. It could have saved me a lot of money, but I never knew where that one loss might come.
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Selling is one thing, but try to collect insurance on a trade deal. The Post Office will not pay if there is not a sales receipt, period. People who insure knives when they trade are wasting their money.
 
There is clearly a percentage of people that adore shipping envelopes for cost, convenience, etc. Then there are people like me, who think that they are an absurd way to ship anything of value, and should be used primarily for documents. For those of us that prefer to use boxes, we should double check with sellers, to be sure that our valuable purchases are also shipped that way. For the envelope aficianados, I guess that it wouldn't matter either way, how they receive their items of value.
 
Even if your bank credits your account, it doesn't necessarily mean the check is good. I would DO ABSOLUTELY nothing regarding refunding money until it is absolutely, finally credited to your account and your banker has told you the money can not be removed from your account.

I'm not going to take sides as to what to do to whom, but I'd call the issuing bank about the CC if you have a copy, it might help clarify the situation sooner.

Finally, unless the rules have changed, the SENDER is the only one who can collect insurance from the Post Office, which I've heard is quite difficult to do without physical evidence (broken item, etc. How does the PO know the receiver didn't just pocket the knives? The sender pays the insurance premium and is the insured party. BTW nowadays any priority mail package has $50 of free insurance.

If you absolutely, positively MUST have the item arrive safely, USE ONLY REGISTERED MAIL. More expensive and slower, but nearly foolproof, everyone who handles it must sign for it. Also, if the item is really expensive, insuring registered mail is MUCH cheaper than the same for priority. The loss rate is nearly zero.

I hope this works out, but like most sled dog's view, it ain't looking good.
 
In the case of an insurance claim the post office may require the receiver to sign an affidavit. When he says items not received and no sign of tampering the post office is not going to pay on the claim. Loss or damage, means package never delivered or properly packed items damaged. This will not end well for either party
 
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robgmn said:
Think like a thief:
Expensive items get boxed and carefully packed - steal boxes, not envelopes, especially boxes that have names like Sharper Image, Tiffany, Hammacher Schlemmer, Crutchfield. (As opposed to a simple Priority Mail envelope that could have anyhting in it).

Not everyone is a knife aficionado like some of us are.
I'd bet the percentage of people who handled that envelope and know that it is a high-end knife (much less a knife at ALL) is so small, it would be considered a non-percentage.
If someone stole the knives from the envelope, they did it because they opened the envelope and liked what they saw.
The KISS principle almost always applies to common thievery.

Side note: I ordered a new 12" ceramic rod from a seller who had 48,000+ positive feedbacks in the past 12 months. This seller handles CRKT, Spyderco, Buck, Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, and a bunch of other brands. The items range in price from $4 to $775.
The ceramic rod arrived in a manila padded envelope.
Click to expand...


I have been in the transportation business for 25 years. I have seen plenty of security investigations over the years. Thieves will steal anything and some get quite good at it. It is harder to stop organized experienced ones. But do not make it easy for them and wantabes. Most companies with expensive items DO NOT put their name on the box. They use something low profile or an abbreviation. You can ship anything you want in an envelope - your decision. Mostly everyone here would a agree a box is better; certainly for expensive knives.. An envelope simply does not provide the protection a box does and is easier to feel what is inside, pilfer or shove down your pants and walk out. We are not talking about high volume thieves in most cases in these situations; just someone scoring a small ripoff when it is an easy mark.
Something they can maybe get while still around others. You go ahead and continue thinking an envelope is the nest way to ship a $600 knife............logic alludes some.
 
Gastonknife said:
I have been in the transportation business for 25 years. I have seen plenty of security investigations over the years. Thieves will steal anything and some get quite good at it. It is harder to stop organized experienced ones. But do not make it easy for them and wantabes. Most companies with expensive items DO NOT put their name on the box. They use something low profile or an abbreviation. You can ship anything you want in an envelope - your decision. Mostly everyone here would a agree a box is better; certainly for expensive knives.. An envelope simply does not provide the protection a box does and is easier to feel what is inside, pilfer or shove down your pants and walk out. We are not talking about high volume thieves in most cases in these situations; just someone scoring a small ripoff when it is an easy mark.
Something they can maybe get while still around others. You go ahead and continue thinking an envelope is the nest way to ship a $600 knife............logic alludes some.
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^^^
I completely agree with this, Gaston.

This situation (as unfortunate as it is for the two parties involved), has been a valuable learning tool, & has provided some very keen insight, to the way certain member's act/think...& FWIW: I sincerely appreciate the candidness of these people.

I hope that this thread, will teach many of the member's here; that you need to think smart, if you're going to participate in this hobby (especially when you're dealing with expensive custom knives).

Here is one of thee most valuable pieces of information (something that has been preached to us by one of our own long time Moderator's (Esav)- whom just so happened to work for/retire from, the USPS); registered mail- the safest way to ship a package:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/993398-Registered-Insured-Mail

Registered Mail- it may not be the cheapest, but it is definitely one of the safest method's to ship- period! I for one always use this when I ship anything over $600...& of course I also use a box with this method of shipping?

People here that skimp & cut corners, just to save a couple of bucks, when shipping an expensive knife, shouldn't be in this hobby, unless they're willing to accept accountability for their own poor decisions.

And finally, & most importantly: thank you very much, Parker, for your service to our Country. My offer still stands. Good luck on your impending surgery, subsequent therapy...& if there is anything you need, please let me know.
 
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On the packaging subject-When using the box don't skimp on the tape. Tape the ends. A crushed box will open at the ends. Some of the best packaged knives I have received are taped to the inside of the box. The box had to be destroyed to get those knives out. IMO mailing has always been the weak point of the transaction, not the buyer and seller.
Hope you guys can figure out what went down here & work it out
 
Peter Hartwig said:
On the packaging subject-When using the box don't skimp on the tape. Tape the ends. A crushed box will open at the ends. Some of the best packaged knives I have received are taped to the inside of the box. The box had to be destroyed to get those knives out. IMO mailing has always been the weak point of the transaction, not the buyer and seller.
Hope you guys can figure out what went down here & work it out
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Yep.
 
stonesell said:
This is the one that I easily reopened, it's about 10X12
P1020254_zpslg3vricf.jpg
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So it looks like he used the regular envelope, not the padded one. Regardless, after freezing for 18 hrs and attempting to open, the envelope ripped. Not to say that if it wasn't forcefully applied, or was older, that it couldn't be immediately opened, but freezing didn't damage the adhesive in any way. Regardless, a box would have been a better choice.
76eab07e17f59e56c7dce05a6a9276d6.jpg
 
parkertelmo said:
Anything is possible but i dont think it was resealed(see pics sent from buyer) plus i put the address over the seal to double up. Here are the pics cmac12 sent me when i asked for them
I think what it comes down to is his word against mine whether i put the knives in the envelope or i put in just one sheath. If the check clears what should i do from here?
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What is the second sticker/label next to the USPS shipping label?
 
I'm sure like many, I use the flat rate priority boxes and tape every single seem on the box not trusting the sticky flap alone or the sides staying shut. If I deal with very inexpensive items, I have used a padded envelope and still tape every seem and flap to reinforce the entire thing. Beating a dead horse, I too will only deal with PayPal goods, or a postal money order. The Cashier's check scam is just too prevalent.

Don't ever want to star in one of these threads!
 
JungleJim65 said:
So it looks like he used the regular envelope, not the padded one. Regardless, after freezing for 18 hrs and attempting to open, the envelope ripped. Not to say that if it wasn't forcefully applied, or was older, that it couldn't be immediately opened, but freezing didn't damage the adhesive in any way. Regardless, a box would have been a better choice.
76eab07e17f59e56c7dce05a6a9276d6.jpg
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Now I wonder about the ease of opening those paper envelopes. I read that one sign of mail tampering is excessive glue, which the thief would use to effectively reseal the envelope. If both the seller and buyer are honest in this case, it had to have been opened somehow. We will know more when the check clears, and if the OP was dishonest, he would not have started this thread.
 
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