USPS Has failed me (buyer) word of caution to all sellers! LONG (sorry).

^^
If you don't get the item you bought it is the seller that is on the hook for the loss, and as you said he did offer this refund. You of course can refuse it or work something out as you did. Seems like you both came to a pretty fair resolution. This IMO is how good members resolve problems.
 
Thank you for sharing your story. I'm surprised some folks have supported the USPS decision that the knife was too heavy for the envelope. According to USPS policy, you can ship up to 70lbs in the envelope!!

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/flat-rate-reference.htm
Weight restrictions for domestic Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes are 70 pounds.
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I have actually shipped Olympic weight plates with a total weight close to that limit in a large priority box! Multiple times. With lots of tape and some reinforced cardboard in the bottom for extra support.

I've often received knives from dealers shipped in padded envelopes. I usually ship in flat rate boxes and the post office clerks sometimes advise that I would save money by using just a regular padded envelope and first class mail.

I don't think the decision on your case is reasonable.
 
Its embarrasing that usps sells those envelopes and weighs the package for postage and then claims inadequate and denies the claim.

The use a box sounds great, but ive gotten many of those priority boxes partially opened delivered at my main house.

Im no fan of usps the folks here have let me down too many times to count. Your experience with the we dont know go here go there mimics mine everytime i decide to try to get something done. In the end those of you who have a great post office and great mail route carriers......... be very thankful. Cause mine are awful and cant be fired for their incompetence.
 
We had a substitute Carrier for awhile who would not drive up to the house for signature - left a pink slip so I had to go 26 miles RT to get items. I got an unsolicited call from USPS asking about him. Next thing, he was gone. Other than that, no complaints about USPS service to or from our house.
 
I have used a bubble mailer and taped the heck out of it with packaging tape and had no problems.
 
I always make it a point to double package my expensive knives I will put them in an envelope inside a package sealed with my phone number and advertisement of a reward if found. Most people don't realize what a Strider is or microtech is so in hopes that they will possibly call me before they get on the Internet or that there an honest person I do so.

For what it's worth I've had one knife come out of the package and received one phone call
 
Thomas Linton said:
We had a substitute Carrier for awhile who would not drive up to the house for signature - left a pink slip so I had to go 26 miles RT to get items. I got an unsolicited call from USPS asking about him. Next thing, he was gone. Other than that, no complaints about USPS service to or from our house.
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I have a great Carrier that I happened to go to High School with. Hope they canned the one you speak of, and I'm thinking they did.

And like you I've had no problems with USPS. I've shipped a lot in my life and have never had them lose a thing(knock on wood).
I haven't used UPS or Fed Ex in ten years. USPS is far better, and feel they are the best choice we have.

FedEx is terrible, in this area anyway, and UPS is almost as bad.
UPS lost a $500 knife coming my way about 12 years ago, and about five years before that lost some of my wedding photos. Not fun telling someone 1/3 of their wedding pictures were lost.

Have only used USPS since. I always use a box, and tape the heck out of it with the strong clear packaging tape like they use at the Post Office.
 
braillediver said:
Don't be rediculous- It wasn't stolen. Thousands of valuable things are shipped everyday and they stole your $55 knife? Come on.
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You have been on here since 07? Let's hope this is the dumbest thing you have ever posted on here, because this was really, really dumb.....
Russ
 
Thanks for posting the picture. Someone definitely opened that on purpose. Not like it got caught on something or material handling equipment. Obviously it was stolen by someone working at the usps during transit.
I can not see how they could deny that claim. I am not a big fan of shipping knives in an envelope; but it was adequate for the contents.
That is just BS that they refused the claim - especially when they knew the issue was caused while in their possession. They put the note on it. unreal.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
At my agency, the postal inspectors came to provide a seminar for our mail room. I did not work in the mail room but I wanted to sit in on their seminar. It was very informative. These men and women are the real deal.

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
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I am trying to understand how this relates to how the OP basically got ripped off by the USPS twice. Once when someone there stole his knife and then again when they would not even pay a lousy $50 for insurance that was part of the deal when shipped?
Perhaps the postal inspectors should be investigating their own organization for theft.
 
Ken44 said:
And like you I've had no problems with USPS. I've shipped a lot in my life and have never had them lose a thing(knock on wood).
I haven't used UPS or Fed Ex in ten years. USPS is far better, and feel they are the best choice we have.
. .
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My thoughts as well.
 
Gastonknife said:
I am trying to understand how this relates to how the OP basically got ripped off by the USPS twice. Once when someone there stole his knife and then again when they would not even pay a lousy $50 for insurance that was part of the deal when shipped?
Perhaps the postal inspectors should be investigating their own organization for theft.
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Consider the scale and scope of the Postal Service. There is no one "they" overall. The same function in different parts of the country may be handled very differently. Different levels of staffing and education and supervision.

The Postal Inspection Service does investigate its employees for theft. Just as Bladeforums moderators watch out for rules violations but can't catch them all.
 
I get that. I understand that. But (regardless if it was the shipper or the recipient that filed the claim), how in the world would they deny a claim for a measly $50, that insurance was part of the shipping cost, when the packaging was sufficient for the item, that was clearly opened and item taken by a USPS employee? That envelope did not fail due to any normal handling or automation. It was purposely opened by someone. And that happened in the USPS system. I have been in the logistics world for almost 30 years. You obviously have some experience as well. I would think that you also know from the presented facts that it is painfully obvious that someone at USPS opened and took the item. I know that can happen. It happens everyday at the USPS, fedex, and ups. None of those operations want people to steal. They all spend a lot of money and personnel to try and prevent/minimize it.
In this case though (assuming we have all the facts) this is a straight up epic fail to make it right. Actually it is insulting and defies facts or common sense. I am done here.
 
Monofletch said:
I see it every day. Items packed terribly, yet people blame the USPS for a broken or lost item.
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One problem you almost have to see to understand is the effect of high-speed machinery on many thin packages.

When I worked on ZMT years ago, it was a real problem sanitizing the mail stream.
 
Monofletch said:
I see it every day. Items packed terribly, yet people blame the USPS for a broken or lost item.
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If the item was packaged terribly, I would agree. However it wasn't.
There have been a few good points made here. I thank everyone for their input as well.
To address your latest post though. I would think/hope the USPS would mention to the shipper or refuse a package that was "packed terribly". I know UPS does.
I am also not denying that accidents do happen. I have received damaged mail/packages before due to machines or mishandling, BUT when a package arrives that has NO damage on it, yet the mail flap is ripped cleanly off, the box inside opened, and the contents removed from a plastic baggie in the package....?

To answer you silenthunterstudios, I agree... which is why I contacted their consumer advocate who declined my appeal. At this point, the knife is gone sadly... but I do have a picture of it, and have noted the "number" ( lol be funny to see it turn up for sale somewhere.). I am not happy about any of it, but I am glad that the incompetence has seemed to be addressed.

It also appears to me that the package was inspected at the post office where the manager didn't want to do their job, so it is not shocking that it was "insufficient packaging".

As I said earlier, hopefully this posting will prevent someone from having to deal with this B.S. in the future.
 
I'm sorry. I wasn't referring to the OP's package. I was commenting on some of the other posts about packing.

Please understand...with 24 hr kiosks and "Click and Ship" it is impossible to catch it all.
 
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