Question please about Lost shipment.

[andre1]

Hey guys. Need some help.

I listed a knife on another forum that I hardly use.
Knife was listed at a set price which included shipping and DC #.
The knife was purchased with gift option and I shipped knife with delivery confirmation.
The USPS tracking shows that the knife arrived and was forwarded elsewhere and a notice giving at the location or it says possible wrong zip code.

This is copy:
Label/Receipt Number: 0309 1140 0001 0773 9799
Expected Delivery Date: March 30, 2011
Class: Priority Mail®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation™
Status: Forwarded

Your item was forwarded to a different address at 10:27 am on March 30, 2011 in OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162. This was because of forwarding instructions or because the address or ZIP Code on the label was incorrect. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

Track and Confirm

Enter Label/Receipt Number.


Detailed Results:

Bullet Forwarded, March 30, 2011, 10:27 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Bullet Notice Left, March 30, 2011, 8:26 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162
Bullet Arrival at Post Office, March 30, 2011, 6:26 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162
Bullet Processed through Sort Facility, March 30, 2011, 1:46 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73107
Bullet Processed through Sort Facility, March 28, 2011, 9:59 pm, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37421
Bullet Acceptance, March 28, 2011, 3:45 pm, ALTAMONT, TN 37301

The post office at the location that delivers to that area says that they don't show that it's forwarded and they don't know where package is. They say it will probably show back up at Post Office at some time.
The buyer is wanting his money back.

Anyone ever deal with this?

 

[motts]

If you shipped the knife to the actual address given you by the buyer, it is not your fault. IMO, you fulfilled your end of the transaction by shipping, insuring, and including DC with shipping...if you indeed shipped it to the correct address.

That being said, I would still do anything to help buyer track package and make sure they are satisfied. But, assuming you did correctly ship to his address, this is the fault of the post office. Was insurance also purchased or just DC? I always include insurance in my price. It's worth the few extra bucks, just in case of situations like this.

EDIT: I as the seller would feel obligated to help buyer track package. A number of things could've happened. If he didn't have a forwarding address, it's possible the post office employee where you sent package could've mistyped the zip code or something else. Was it stated in your listing that insurance was included? If not, and package is lost...not much can be done. More than likely, it will end up showing up at post office. Even though, it was not your fault package was lost, and you wouldn't be obligated to give buyer a refund for that, I wouldn't want an unhappy buyer. I'd probably suck it up and refund the money after the knife shows back up to make peace. Unfortunate situation.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Here's the key information:

Your item was forwarded to a different address at 10:27 am on March 30, 2011 in OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162. This was because of forwarding instructions or because the address or ZIP Code on the label was incorrect. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

Bullet Forwarded, March 30, 2011, 10:27 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Bullet Notice Left, March 30, 2011, 8:26 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162
Bullet Arrival at Post Office, March 30, 2011, 6:26 am, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73162

According to the bullet points, it arrived at the delivering post office at 6:26 am. An attempted delivery (Notice Left) was made at the destination address at 8:26 am. At 10:27 am it was forwarded. Why? Still in the middle of the delivery day. Where did the delivering carrier get another address?

So. Do you have copies of the documents you sent with the package, like the DC? We need the address from that copy to match with the address at which the Left Notice was left. If that's the legitimate address you were given for the buyer, that post office has some explaining to do.

Or, if the buyer gave you an old address and when the package arrived, the carrier was told to forward it, who told him, on what authority? Did he call the post office to find a legitimate forwarding address, or just go by some passing resident's word?

 

[powernoodle]

I agree with Brother Motts that if you shipped to the correct address, you fulfilled your moral/legal obligation especially as you have proof of delivery. When I ship, I take a quick pic of the package address label with my Blackberry to prove that I shipped to the correct address and to show the buyer what to look for. I do think you have an obligation to track the package and provide whatever support you can to the buyer, but after USPS gives you proof of delivery, you have pretty much done all you can do.

I think its probable that the package is going to show up or be returned to you in the next few days.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I agree with Brother Motts that if you shipped to the correct address, you fulfilled your moral/legal obligation especially as you have proof of delivery.

I agree. It's pretty clear the post office got it to the correct address at one point in time. It's up to them to explain why they delivered it elsewhere afterwards.

(This is why you need to insure and you need to keep your documents.)

 

[6gunsally]

I would have to disagree. If the item is found, it will be returned to your location. When you ship an item your responsibility ends when the purchaser has the item. The USPS are the most stupid uncaring Fu&*# in the universe. I too learned this the hard way, funny how they never lose anything thats Insured. It cost over $50, insure the damn thing. Good luck dealing with USPS.

 

[andre1]

thanks for input
I'm doing everything I can to help. I have called the post office myself three times and they simply say they don't know what happened.
Thanks again

 

[tekapo]

Hi
Two cents. I would not accetp any gift options. Two other forums are having issues with this from a seller who is scamming people into gift options for knives. He claims he sent the knives but has no record or proof. If you send gift option as the buyer, you are committing fraud against PP and have nothign to stand on. I know first hand accounts are being audited and tied up that have sent/received gift options. If the buyer uses a credit card with PP they have 180 days to file a complaint and rescind the funds. If a buyer is using AMX Corp PP is paying 5.5% and charging you 3.5% so it's a loss for tehm already. Not worth the risk.

The address you used on your package, was it hand-written or computer generated by the USPS/Stamps/PP system? Those are address checked. If you hadn wrote an incorrect zip code it can be forwarded. To France or Nigeria to name two that have gone to USA style zips to facilitate fraud. They often use a card holder or PP verified address and put in the wrong zip for delivery but correct for re-routing. Not to OK City though. If you use the nine digit zip code you should be safe with the address. Places like Tampa have the same street addresses in the burbs but different nine digit zips. Often I will sen an item to one and it ends up at the other. And a buyer may use CR and it means County Road or Country Road, he knows but you don't. And they both can exist in the same town.

Keep watching it. See if you can get a fax number for the OK Post Office and authorize them to return the package to you now. Your local postmaster can get the number for you.

Good luck

Charlie