Ok, so a while back (June) I purchased a knife from a member. The "knife" arrived "without contents", in a baggie, with a sticker describing it as such. Inspection of the package told me, that the knife was stolen, seemingly in the mail stream. The knife (a CF Rat D2, 6.1 OZ shipping weight) was gone. The Box and plastic baggie were in the envelope. The sealing flap, was torn off. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO PACKAGE. I contacted the seller, who apologized, and offered a refund. I declined, because I didn't feel he should take a loss, when obviously this was foul play on the post office. I paid $55 for the knife, I could only claim $50 from the priority insurance. So I submitted the claim. Provided PayPal reciept as proof of payment.
A while later I received a letter from the USPS (6/17) instructing me to bring the package to the P.O. for inspection. I brought the package and the letter to my local P.O.. The clerk there had no clue what to do with it stating everything is handled online now. She wrote on the letter that she confirms item not in package and gave me the number for the Albany area customer service people (3 different people). I called and left a message. The woman returned my call, apologized and lied to me saying the clerk was new and didn't know any better. The clerk has been at that post office as long as I remember and I am 38. She then asked me to bring the package to another post office 9 miles away. Not a long distance, but an inconvenience. So I go to this P.O.. The clerk there has no clue what to do with it either. Says he has to go speak to his supervisor. Then comes back up smiling and says I have to come back Monday (this was on a Friday). I was not too happy. So I leave and call the rep from the parking lot. Of course she doesn't answer phone, but calls me back a little while later. Apologizes again, and states that yes the employee was correct that no one was there, and returning Monday would be my best bet, as only one supervisor can do the forms. Then says she wished they had come got her, as she was in the same building.
I return Monday and the clerk doesn't have a clue what to do with the package. I tell him the supervisors name he has to speak to, he disagrees and says it has to go to some other department. Then the clerks all talk amongst themselves to see who has access to that department. So he walks away, and the other clerk starts lecturing me on needing to prove value etc. I simply replied, "I have already done all of that, thank you". He returns back with the customer service woman in tow. She is saying she knows nothing about it then says "oh wait he was here Friday, he needs to see "Michelle"", whom I told him I needed to see when I first walked up..... He returns and tells me she'll be right out. I move away from his window so he may wait on other customers. I am still standing where I can see him, and him me. He looks over after 10 minutes or so and says "She hasn't been out yet?" he then disappears and comes back holding the forms, hands them to me and says, "Here fill these out." I complete the form stating I beloved the item was stolen etc. I then notice that it says "For Official Use Only" at the top. I said "I think you were supposed to fill this out, not me", He responds "yeah, well you helped me out" signs the forms takes the package and gives me a receipt telling me it will take a while.
So I hadn't heard anything, I checked online. I see the claim was denied, and that a letter had been sent. I waited for the letter and finally called the service rep I had been dealing with. She told me it was due to improper packaging and said the letter had been sent to the shipper.
I filed an appeal, priving photos of the package showing no damage but a missing seal flap. I get a letter a few days later that they are denying my appeal .
I filed my last appeal and also contacted the Consumer Advocate.
I received a letter from them today:
"Dear Mike, (full name removed)
August 12, 2016
This responds to an appeal on mailing receipt number (removed), which was filed with the Consumer Advocate.
I regret any misunderstanding you may have regarding the coverage offered for Insured Mail. Based on our review of the claim file, we must uphold the decision issued by postal officials at the St. Louis Accounting Services.
The Postal Service assumes liability for damage to an insured article when it is established that the damage occurred in the mailstream. Indemnity is not paid for Insured Mail when the item is packaged in such a manner that it could not have reached its destination undamaged in the normal course of the mail (Domestic Mail manual, Section 609.4.3s).
According to postal officials at the Albany Post Office, this item was not packaged sufficiently to withstand the normal handling in the mailstream. The item was too heavy for a bubble mailer. The packaging was inadequate.
Under the above circumstances, your claim cannot be approved for payment. This office is the final level of postal authority concerning claim appeals.
This office is the final level of postal authority concerning claim appeals
Sincerely,
J. W-F (full name removed)
Consumer Relations Specialist."
So be careful what you sellers are shipping in. This has definitely damaged my view of the USPS. I have received plenty of knives that have been shipped in this manner and have never had an issue. This knife was stolen, bottom line.
This is in no way a reflection on the seller. He was perfect and I have left him + feedback for the transaction. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Sorry for the huge read (if you read the whole thing).
-Mike
A while later I received a letter from the USPS (6/17) instructing me to bring the package to the P.O. for inspection. I brought the package and the letter to my local P.O.. The clerk there had no clue what to do with it stating everything is handled online now. She wrote on the letter that she confirms item not in package and gave me the number for the Albany area customer service people (3 different people). I called and left a message. The woman returned my call, apologized and lied to me saying the clerk was new and didn't know any better. The clerk has been at that post office as long as I remember and I am 38. She then asked me to bring the package to another post office 9 miles away. Not a long distance, but an inconvenience. So I go to this P.O.. The clerk there has no clue what to do with it either. Says he has to go speak to his supervisor. Then comes back up smiling and says I have to come back Monday (this was on a Friday). I was not too happy. So I leave and call the rep from the parking lot. Of course she doesn't answer phone, but calls me back a little while later. Apologizes again, and states that yes the employee was correct that no one was there, and returning Monday would be my best bet, as only one supervisor can do the forms. Then says she wished they had come got her, as she was in the same building.
I return Monday and the clerk doesn't have a clue what to do with the package. I tell him the supervisors name he has to speak to, he disagrees and says it has to go to some other department. Then the clerks all talk amongst themselves to see who has access to that department. So he walks away, and the other clerk starts lecturing me on needing to prove value etc. I simply replied, "I have already done all of that, thank you". He returns back with the customer service woman in tow. She is saying she knows nothing about it then says "oh wait he was here Friday, he needs to see "Michelle"", whom I told him I needed to see when I first walked up..... He returns and tells me she'll be right out. I move away from his window so he may wait on other customers. I am still standing where I can see him, and him me. He looks over after 10 minutes or so and says "She hasn't been out yet?" he then disappears and comes back holding the forms, hands them to me and says, "Here fill these out." I complete the form stating I beloved the item was stolen etc. I then notice that it says "For Official Use Only" at the top. I said "I think you were supposed to fill this out, not me", He responds "yeah, well you helped me out" signs the forms takes the package and gives me a receipt telling me it will take a while.
So I hadn't heard anything, I checked online. I see the claim was denied, and that a letter had been sent. I waited for the letter and finally called the service rep I had been dealing with. She told me it was due to improper packaging and said the letter had been sent to the shipper.
I filed an appeal, priving photos of the package showing no damage but a missing seal flap. I get a letter a few days later that they are denying my appeal .
I filed my last appeal and also contacted the Consumer Advocate.
I received a letter from them today:
"Dear Mike, (full name removed)
August 12, 2016
This responds to an appeal on mailing receipt number (removed), which was filed with the Consumer Advocate.
I regret any misunderstanding you may have regarding the coverage offered for Insured Mail. Based on our review of the claim file, we must uphold the decision issued by postal officials at the St. Louis Accounting Services.
The Postal Service assumes liability for damage to an insured article when it is established that the damage occurred in the mailstream. Indemnity is not paid for Insured Mail when the item is packaged in such a manner that it could not have reached its destination undamaged in the normal course of the mail (Domestic Mail manual, Section 609.4.3s).
According to postal officials at the Albany Post Office, this item was not packaged sufficiently to withstand the normal handling in the mailstream. The item was too heavy for a bubble mailer. The packaging was inadequate.
Under the above circumstances, your claim cannot be approved for payment. This office is the final level of postal authority concerning claim appeals.
This office is the final level of postal authority concerning claim appeals
Sincerely,
J. W-F (full name removed)
Consumer Relations Specialist."
So be careful what you sellers are shipping in. This has definitely damaged my view of the USPS. I have received plenty of knives that have been shipped in this manner and have never had an issue. This knife was stolen, bottom line.
This is in no way a reflection on the seller. He was perfect and I have left him + feedback for the transaction. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Sorry for the huge read (if you read the whole thing).
-Mike
