seeking opinions-guys says he didn't get it

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tmickley

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Apr 4, 2001
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I shipped a knife USPS Priority mail, with delivery confirmation, insured. The client says he didn't get it but the Post Office shows it was delivered.

I shipped it to the address provided but did not get a signature confirm so it just ended up at the address. Now I'm thinking he gave me the wrong address. His personal check went through fine and I don't think he's scamming me.

Who's problem is this? Mine or his? What if it doesn't turn up? It was delivered so insurance isn't going to help...
 
I would be careful that this guy is not trying to get a free knife. He could have gotten the knife and may request his money back.
 
tracy i would check into it a little i shipped a knife usps priority insured and it showed delivered the client swore up and down he didn't get it. It turned out that i had but the wrong box # by one number and that was the hold up.
 
I cut and paste the ship to address from the USPS confirmation to the client to verify and research. Still waiting to hear back from him on that.
 
I would put the burden on the USPS, Tracy; file a loss claim and make them investigate.
 
isnt that what the insurance is for? I have been lucky not be have been in this boat yet but fear I will have to make a free knife for this very reason.
 
I once had a similar situation. USPS.com showed the item was delivered to me.
But I didn't receive it. So I went to my local post office, they were very helpful -
looked all around, but didn't see it.

Then, the big cheese there (at the post office) said that if I did not receive it the next day I should call him.

Seems that sometimes the item scans in at the post office, but then the driver does not offload it from the truck (to the recipient). That's what I understood, anyway.

Well, it arrrived the next day so I didn't have to pursue it.
 
If it was insured for $100 or more a signature is required when delivered. Delivery confirmation just means it was delivered someplace, who knows where.

I have had buyers want me to send with no insurance as they did not want to be bothered going to the post office to pick up the package. I tell them I will but want an email stating they know it is not insured and is at there risk. I make sure I have something from the post office proving I sent them a package.

File the postal claim form. A copy gets sent to the buyer for him to sign saying he never got the item. You must wait 30 days before the claim can be filed, you know how fast postal deliveries can take. Worse case is you make another knife and get paid by the insurance and have now sold 2 knives and been paid for both.

Steve Busch
www.buschcustomknives.blademakers.com
 
I tend to give customers the benefit of the doubt. Delivery confirmation is really useless (Though we use it anyway because it makes everyone feel more secure). It seems a tad more likely that the package was misplaced. Incidentally, I have had this problem more than once with USPS, but never UPS. At least not yet ...
 
I've always assumed (perhaps mistakenly) that the mailman has to sign off that he delivered the item. If that's the case, the post office should be able to check with the carrier and see if he actually delivered the knife.
 
Some mailmen scan all the packages with delivery confirmation as "delivered" at the start of a daily run...
Delivery Confirmation is no guarantee it got delivered to the right address, only that it was seen by the mailman...
They leave packages on the porch at my house, and never ring the door-bell.
UPS rings the bell, then drops the package and runs back to the truck. Well, maybe they drop it first, ring, and then run.
I was ten feet from the door, and by the time I got to the door and opened it, the driver was getting into his truck...
 
It turns out I used the address that was on his personal check. (I couldn't recall exactly - but he just sent a check, nothing else so I used the address on his check) This was a house they used to live in but now his relative does. This relative is a bit "shadey" but the client took responsibility for the shipping address and has implied it's his fault. Still. I had avoided getting a signature confirmation but now I think I will require it unless they say no and take ownership at when shipped.
 
tmickley said:
It turns out I used the address that was on his personal check. (I couldn't recall exactly - but he just sent a check, nothing else so I used the address on his check) This was a house they used to live in but now his relative does. This relative is a bit "shadey" but the client took responsibility for the shipping address and has implied it's his fault. Still. I had avoided getting a signature confirmation but now I think I will require it unless they say no and take ownership at when shipped.
Click to expand...

cool :thumbup: +
Tracy
remember also anyone can stop payment on a check
so make sure checks clear the bank also .. I always, just before shipping confirm their address, and insure the Knife , I've seen the USPS screw up more than a customer ever has..you have to protect yourself from USPS and UPS personnel too,, that's sad....they've cost me more money than any customer has,
but it's not that some customers haven't tried though:(

I'll post this too for the nubies
http://www.knivesby.com/credit-card-fraud.html
 
Things like this are a good reminder of why it is important to have business policies and procedures. Usually it takes something like this before you even knew you NEEDED a procedure/policy, but at least in this case the end result worked out well and now you can put something in place. If I was back to selling knives, I would have the following policy, and stick to it:

1) Every knife gets sent insured and requires a signature upon delivery. Customer pays insurance and all shipping fees, or it is "free" and gets rolled into the cost of the knife.
2) If the customer decides they don't want the knife shipped that way, have an "opt out" option, but you need a form that explicitly explains that the customer is taking full responsibility for lost or mishandled items, including filing loss claims with the postal service, etc etc. They need to sign it and return it, or initial it as in an "electronic" signature and you need to keep it on file. If the knife gets lost, well, sorry, but I told you so.
 
Get a statement from the guy denying receipt and file a claim with the PO. That's all you can do. Next time get a signed receipt not just proof of delivery.
 
I once went through a rough couple of days looking for a knife. Del Conf showed it as delivered but the guy said it wasn't there. I had the USPS trace the signature down on the insurance(ALWAYS INSURE!!!!!) and his neighbor had been allowed to sign for the package :( Only took three days and ME telling the guy who'd signed for it before we found the package at the neighbor's place safe and sound. Well as safe as it could be having been delivered to someone other than the addressee!!!! I was ticked and made a written complaint but never heard back about it. Was sure glad it turned out well in the end though. Very stressful time.
 
I can tell you from experience delivery confirmation and insurance from the USPS is worthless. Delivery confirmation only means they delivered it somewhere..possibly and in many cases to the incorrect address. Trying to collect on the insurance is just about impossible.

I had a package delivered to me with delivery confirmation about six months ago. I never got it. I called the USPS and it was confirmed as delivered. I explained to them that I didnt have it. They were at a loss as to what to do. It turned out that the package was delivered to my neighbors mailbox( along with a bunch of my other mail) who was out of town. It was not until they returned about two weeks later I resolved the whereabouts of the package.

Moral of the story?? If you really want to know it got there send it Fedex or UPS and get a signature.
 
I can tell you from experience delivery confirmation and insurance from the USPS is worthless
Click to expand...
not if you do it right and by the book
I don't deal with things that break a lot but my sister does on ebay with Hummels and has collected a lot from their miss-handling ,
she's over 1500 items shipped to date...
they will pay in time, if done right..
 
some one shipped the Hope Diamond via the US Post office Registered Mail. I think I will look into that a little more but I'm sure I will start telling clients to arrange for a signature delivery in the future.
 
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