What is the right thing to do when a knife is missing in the mail?

Azis

Azis

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I wonder what happens with all the knives bought and sold when one gets lost or stolen from the mail.

What are your thoughts on lost knives in the mail?

You sell a knife mail it maybe priority mail or first class but do not insure it.
The buyer says it never got there. Lets say both sides are telling the truth and there is no intended deception.

What is the right thing to do for the seller?
Send another if you have one
Refund the money
Say that you are sorry

What is the right thing to do for the buyer?
Pass it off as part of the perils of knife buying
Demand another
Demand a refund
Throw a tantrum

Is there a Protocol for this type of thing?

If you would answer and if you could point out that your answer is from a seller or a buyer view.
 
From a sellers standpoint, it is their fualt for the loss if they didn't insure the package and use DC or a signature confermation, which should be madatory for selling stuff online. From a buyers standpoint I would be inclined to blame the seller for not properly insuring and buying delivery confirmation, those should be included in the purchasing price, and if it isn't the buyer should consider losing it as a peril, I would say unless physically impossible just pay the buyer a few extra bucks.
 
A KaBar I sent back to the company never got there (years ago), but it was insured and I got a check from the postal service. I would never send something of value out without insuring it, and nobody else should either. My opinion is that if you send something and don't insure it, then it's your loss when it doesn't turn up. A few extra bucks is well worth it.
 
To me, the knife is the seller's responsibility until the buyer has it in his hands.

It happened to me as a buyer, and I was glad the seller refunded me.

I also think that once it happen, you won't do the mistake to send a valuable package uninsured.

Sorry for you Azis, I'm sure it was something very nice :(
 
My rule of thumb is that it's the sellers obligation to get the merchandise to the buyer. Until it gets to the buyer, it's the seller's problem. As said above, if you sent it without tracking and it disappears, you owe the buyer a refund if you can't ship another.

On the other hand, a lot of ebay sellers seem to act the other way in that they want to charge extra for 'insurance'. I personally think this is BS.
 
Some knives from AG Russell went missing (ie. stolen) while in the 'care' of the Postal Service. AG's customer service promptly mailed replacements. From my point of view that was the correct thing to do.

If you charged someone for delivery, particularly if you charged above the actual postage, then you've charged them for a service and accepted responsibility for that service.

If I were shipping a knife, I don't know if I'd always pay extra for insurance. That would depend on the value and "replacability" of the knife. But I'd pay the fifty-cents extra for delivery confirmation or tracking.

-Bob
 
The responce so far is interesting I thought the point of view would sort of split between buyers and sellers

This could be a topic for Blade forum a protocol of buying and selling with the reach of this forum perhaps standards could be established that would spill over even into ebay...well maybe not ebay
 
To quote Bill Cosby's old football coach, "It's the person's fault who had it last."
 
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I always insure for replacement value so if anything were to happen I would be able to refund immediately, and then persue my loss on my time. It's still a bummer any way you look at it :(
 
Unless Specified that the seller is not responcible, in advance, and backed up by written word or email, and preferably having spoken on the phone.

So normally the Seller Assumes all risk, till the buyer says it is all good.

Build insurance into any pricing, along with Signature Required.
Do not leave this up to a buyer, just Cowboy up and gitt'r Done

If the knife gets lost, Refund the Price, or replace the knife depending on which the Buyer prefers.

Knife gets lost the Seller gets to deal with insurance Claim, not the Buyer's problem.

All this being said, When I sell out of the CONUS I tend to buy all insurance and arrange in advance to have delivery in other Countries, not my problem, if there is a problem,it is the Buyer's Problem, this Contradiction makes me CRAZY so I tend to Keep it CONUS or just keep the knife.
 
Years ago I considered buying something by mail order. They wanted me to pay extra for insurance.

I called the state Attorny General's office and asked their advice. I was told that an offer to sell by mail order was a contract. A contract consisted of "Goods and/or services delivered for payment recieved." In other words, by the nature of a contract, the outfit or person offering to sell something assumes the responsibilty for delivering it.
 
I'd be inclined to insure the package and refund the buyer. That's why I don't like fudging values as I'm on the hook if the product goes missing.
 
So it looks like the seller has to make good is on the high end of the views so far.

Though I am not really talking legal or anything more of a understanding amoung knife people... and if the knife is a custom then the issue is more important because its not likley the knife will be replaced.

So insurance should become a standard part of prices?
 
Unless the buyer has requested that the knife be shipped with no insurance, it is up to the seller to charge the appropriate amount to cover the insurance. Once the knife has been paid for it is up to the seller to supply the knife. If the knife is lost or stolen, it is up to the seller to get the buyer another knife, or provide a refund. If the knife is damaged in shipping, it is up to the seller to pay the costs of getting the knife fixed, or provide a refund.

Make sure the knife is packaged very well, because if it isn't, and the knife is lost because of the poor packaging, there is a good chance that the insurance claim will be rejected and the seller will be out the money and knife, even if it was insured.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Unless the buyer has requested that the knife be shipped with no insurance, it is up to the seller to charge the appropriate amount to cover the insurance. Once the knife has been paid for it is up to the seller to supply the knife. If the knife is lost or stolen, it is up to the seller to get the buyer another knife, or provide a refund. If the knife is damaged in shipping, it is up to the seller to pay the costs of getting the knife fixed, or provide a refund.

Make sure the knife is packaged very well, because if it isn't, and the knife is lost because of the poor packaging, there is a good chance that the insurance claim will be rejected and the seller will be out the money and knife, even if it was insured.
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even if the y request no insurance make them pay for it or do not deal with them trust me i know all to well :eek:
 
There are two stickies at the top of this forum that are worth reading:
How Should You Package Knives for Shipping? by Cougar Allen
Suggestions for having a good Buying / Selling / Trading experience by Spark

Besides these stickies, I also agree with everyone who has said that the seller has an absolute responsibility to get the item to the buyer. No quibbling about insurance or delivery confirmation changes that.

The only exception is a clear prior agreement between buyer & seller that shipping by an appropriate service fulfills the deal. This is unfortunately necessary in some international situations. But you can't take it for granted. If the seller hasn't specified it, then he is responsible for delivery, not just shipping.
 
Insure everything or get the buyers consent to be responsible for loss. I have lost two items in the USPS. 1 a knife and the other a USPS money order. Granted the PO took every bit of it's contracted time to pay off for the loss but in the end I got my money back. Insurance is not that expensive!!! If anyone is dealing online, insurance is mandatory IMHO. In cases where I have been asked to send without insurance,I get the buyer to send me an Email stating just that and I state up front that I will not be responsible for loss. I know most parties just want to get their stuff or the money but rational thought must be used when entering the online world and thinking about what could happen beforehand keeps things smooth.
 
Insurance is a dubious proposition. If you read this forum at all you'll see collecting on insurance is problematic, and most of the dealers will tell you if you do manage to collect eventually it will cost you more in hours of hassle than the payoff, which is why most of the dealers don't use insurance.

Whether you choose to go that route or not, if you get paid for a knife you have to deliver the knife.
 
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