posted on December 30, 2000 12:00:39 PM new
No, it's not ridiculous. When they pay out an insurance claim they have in effect purchased the item and are free then to do with it as they see fit. It no longer is the property of the sender or the receiver, it is the property of the USPS. It's remarkable to me that there are people dense enough to not be able to realize that seemingly simple concept.
If you are in a car wreck, your insurance pays you and then owns your car, eh? If you later find out that they sell your car to a jobber do you have any valid complaint? Of course not. You've been paid for the car.
and Shosh, they don't have any outside insurance carrier to pick up the bill.
posted on December 30, 2000 12:21:02 PM new
The USPS doesn't have thousands of items listed. What crap. You probably haven't even looked at their listings??
posted on December 30, 2000 12:38:26 PM new
The USPS is using 5 user ID's for the respective categories of Music, Books, Movies, Collectibles, and Everythingelse. There are nearly 500 items listed under Everythingelse. I didn't count all the listings under each category, but it is fairly safe to they are listing TONS of stuff. Is that better?
posted on December 30, 2000 12:39:19 PM new
Shosh..deducting an expense on the income tax form only effects the amount of tax that must be paid...it in no way reduces the expense itself. The business still had to pay dollars for that expense, ie..they had a debit that they paid. If the business is in the 25% tax bracket and the deductable expense was $1000 then the business saved $250 in taxes BUT they still paid out the $1000 expense.
The post office has been auctioning off undeliverable mail for a long time...no reason why they shouldn't do it on the internet.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:07:32 PM new
Concerning the Music Auctions:
Notice how many are "grouped" together in homogenous lots of 50+ CD's?? Guess many could be fingered as stuff that were "lost" in the mail. (I personally had two Pink Floyd "Shine On" Box Sets go "missing" in USPS proper; glad I insured them).
The postage cost on the 215 CD auction is up for debate, as they could include such CD's as Singles (which either come in the Jewel Cases, Cardboard Sleeves/Plastic Holder, or a simple "Flimsie" Sleeve, like an old LP) and Box Sets (Some have weird shapes and dimensions; go to any Music Shop and ask to be directed to the Box Sets).
Personally, 215 "regular" CD's shipped Via First Class Mail would cost roughly $35.74. Granted they package well, as the Jewel Cases can break easily in Transit (Most parts of the Jewel Case are prone to crack or be broken, even thru normal wear and Tear).
To put it to comparision, UPS ships them lower (500 regular CD's shipped via UPS cost $60.00) and at least the CD's arrive Intact!!
I doubt the Music Auctions are real steals. I had one friend buy a 1000 CD Lot at one of those PO Auctions, and all he got was crappy Easy Listening Stuff like Kathie Lee Gifford and Barbra Streisand (He doesn't mind Frank Sinatra and all the other Male Singers, but the rest was the Female Singers and such, which comprised 80% of the lot).
Only my opinion, take at your own discretion...
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:13:00 PM newAh, so apparently you figure that all the packages being auctioned were insured
I didn't see anyone say "all" so now are we trying to grasp at straws to make a point?
If it is not delivered because the buyer moved, passed away or buyer just didn't pick up could be the reason and what we don't know is that maybe these items are shipped without an option to return them. Or possibly as someone mentioned earlier, the seller doesn't want them returned.
I also wonder how many of those bidders are other ebay sellers hoping to get a bargin to resell on eBay?
Ain't Life Grand...
[ edited by twelvepole on Dec 30, 2000 01:18 PM ]
[ edited by twelvepole on Dec 30, 2000 01:25 PM ]
posted on December 30, 2000 01:30:30 PM new
No grasping at straws I see an Excellent Point by Twinsoft!!
Once I had 2 1940's figurines shipped by my Mother who lives a short 1.5 hours from me in Southern CALIFORNIA, and they were insured for up $100.00 and sent Priority Mail--------Making a nitemare story short--Package arrived TWELVE DAYS later! Yep, one of the figurines was broken in three places-could hear the awful rattling prior to opening-I proceeded to file claim as well as did my Mother on her end, now these were very special 1940's pieces that I have NEVER seen again other then my mom's, and she knew how much I loved them--was trying to surprise me with them for my Birthday last year.... OK, so the day I showed up to the Post Office it they apparently were under staffed and my claim was being handled by the Manager who informed me that I had to give him my items to be able to receive the $100.00 claim-----No WAY Jose I said--I want the insurance money to have this figurine professionally restored as I see it you insured my item--now I intend to collect and have what was lost & mishandled by the USPS--professionally restored as back to original as possible---He did not much like my refusing to give up my figurines, however then he said-ok fine-- bring me back an estimate of what the cost would be to restore. So I did exactly that!! Today my figurines that I still love very much to this day are in my china hutch, and the broken one did get professionally restored--not Perfect as it once was--but something I will live with!!
So perhaps in that one instance I should consider myself fortunate that now I won't see my beloved figurines that I grew up with on the USPS Ebay site, but I also believe rules are bent everyday--everywhere--and YES sometimes the Squeaky Wheel does get the grease.
OH yea--when my car was involved in a wreck--my insurance company fixed that to.
It's ONLY when a car is totaled that they pay you off.
[ edited by getkicksonrte66 on Dec 30, 2000 01:33 PM ]
posted on December 30, 2000 01:35:48 PM new
I don't feel that competition is really the issue here. I buy as much, if not more, than I sell. To me, the more stuff listed, the better. The issue is USPS selling on Ebay--selling other people's property. If USPS has paid an insurance claim, I agree that they now own the property and it should be theirs to do with what they will. As for undeliverable, poorly packaged and missing in action packages.....many of us see this as a conflict of interest. There are literally thousands and thousands of items listed. (Many are single auctions with large lots of 300 plus books or CD's, large lots of T-shirts, jackets, etc.) That sure amounts to an awful lot of undeliverable stuff that USPS has laid claim to, to their own benefit. When you KNOW that you have put your return address on the package under clear adhesive tape and that you have packed well, it's hard to understand why your package could end up on a USPS auction rather than be returned to you. Geez, I've read earlier posts about children being disappointed at Christmas over not receiving the Pokeman trading cards they had been waiting for. Now check the USPS site and see how many sets of trading cards you will find. It just bothers me. There is too much potential for things to not be on the up and up.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:36:30 PM new
But if you hadn't wanted to get those items repaired, you would of turned them over to the USPS wouldn't you.
AND that is what most people would do, turn the item in for the insurance claim.
I am still wondering how many bids they have gotten just from people reading this thread.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on December 30, 2000 01:38:55 PM new
There is no basis for the earlier statement that "many" of the lost packages were insured. And adding an insult about "dense" people doesn't make that remark any truer. If we're going to engage in baseless, sweeping generalities, then I should be allowed to do the same.
No doubt some of the packages are undeliverable, and can't be returned to the sender. As I posted earlier, my return address is plainly visible and well protected but less than one in ten lost packages ever finds its way back to me.
Without making specific accusations about honesty or dishonesty, I have a problem with a company that loses packages and then sells the "lost" packages for a profit. To put it simply, there's more profit in losing the package than in delivering it. That, in itself, is cause for concern.
I think CS makes a good point. Many expensive items are lost, but only the cheap ones are ever found. (My words, not hers.)
posted on December 30, 2000 01:43:17 PM newThere are literally thousands and thousands of items listed
Only if you're nit picking the multiple one auctions with several items.
Looked to be about 655 auctions to me.
But how about bidding? They look to be selling most of those items and what is more they state right up front that items may not work... so it is a gamble on some of the stuff. But some good looking deals.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on December 30, 2000 01:44:49 PM new
Does the average ebay seller insure the package, either for their own protection or at the bequest of the intended recipient? Yes?
TaDa! MANY insured packages.
As to the unsupported claim that expensive items are not found while cheap ones are found: pure and (very) simple nonsense.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:45:48 PM new
Hey if the shirt fits wear it------------
and stop with the PERSONAL ATTACKS--I don't know you from Adam-and if I don't agree with all opinions stated here--this is my perogative-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Moderator I look forward to this thread being locked.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:49:51 PM new
Twelvepole,
Nitpicking? The way I see it, each ONE of those items lumped together in a large lot for an auction was somebody's property. It's doubtful that the undeliverable package contained the 360 books that USPS has listed on a single auction. Maybe they have 560 auctions going, but how many lost packages are lumped together in one auction? My point is that we are talking about a THOUSANDS of items that USPS has laid claim to and are auctioning.
posted on December 30, 2000 01:57:46 PM newLadygambler I guess as an eBay seller, you would of been perfectly happy to hear that the USPS is destroying, what maybe, perfectly good items? I wouldn't and am glad to see they are auctioning these items. In that note though I need to thank you because I would probably of never found out about this seller.
Out of the "Billion" or so pieces of mail they handle each year to have a thousand or so items up for auction is not a bad thing. But does anyone know how long these items has been sitting around taking up space? That costs money as well as the record keeping to keep these items...
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on December 30, 2000 01:59:50 PM new
Small numbers when compared with the numbers handled.
Last I knew, the USPS operated at a 94% successful delivery rate (yep, they keep VERY careful track of it).
Labels come off, people move without forwarding addresses, pisspoor packaging is common, machines eat some, a host of other reasons can interfere with a delivery.
I'm sure that in some cases of a purchaser having received some very unsatisfactory or non working item, such as software, it's easier for them, and cheaper for them to simply claim to have never received the item than have to deal with an intractable seller and an unreliable refund.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:04:07 PM new
USPS has only been selling for a few months and have listed thousands of AUCTIONS during this short time. I can only imagine how many items (NOT auctions) they will have sold in a years time. I don't know the actual number of packages they deliver each year, but it appears there is a significant number they do not deliver. No, I would never want to see them destroy perfectly good merchandise. I just don't think they should get to keep it and profit from it. It was never theirs.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:07:14 PM new
KRS, are you debating, or offering me a swiss cheese sandwich? What does the "average eBayer" have to do with lost USPS packages? Are you suggesting that the packages being auctioned were originally sent by eBay sellers? Oy, that is even worse than I suspected.
Regarding your comment above, no doubt you are familiar with the scenario and have dealt with many customer complaints.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:11:24 PM new
There are only three places in the country where they hold large live auctions. This allows even the smallest management sectional center to excess undeliverables while generating revenue and avoiding the cost of transporting the stuff to one of the sites.
Want to see a LOT of stuff? Go to one of the auctions if you can.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:14:34 PM new
Yes, some cameras, each sent insured past sale price, and if broken, paid for at market value (not ebay wholesale value). Generally neither I nor the buyer could care what USPS does with them after we've been paid off.
Oh, you didn't know? ebay items have revitalized the USPS big time. It's keeping them in the black, making scads of dollars, much of which is due to the lazy practices of sellers who drop tiny little nearly weightless thingies into priority boxes at exhorbitant rates for delivery. The guy that came up with priority mail was a genius. Probably under contract.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:27:42 PM new
KRS, every comment you've made is based upon unsupported facts. Many eBayers do this, many packages are that. There's no evidence at all of what you say.
My point is that I believe there is a conflict when the post office sells the same packages that it loses.
You see, we're not even on the same wavelength.
Since it only took you a couple of paragraphs to result to your usual style of illogic followed by insults, I'm going to bow out now and leave you to your own machinations.
posted on December 30, 2000 02:34:59 PM newMy point is that I believe there is a conflict when the post office sells the same packages that it loses.
I bet that if they had offered some "ebay" seller to sell their items this wouldn't be an issue.
I don't see a conflict here, no individual Post Office is selling and lost items are just that; lost. If you found $50 in the street, would you keep it forever hoping the rightful owner comes along?
It is a good way to generate some lost revenue due to holding and record keeping on these items. They do not start them out at unreasonable prices... the bidders there are determining the price.
posted on December 30, 2000 05:30:49 PM new
Some serious flaw in thinking results in the idea that it would be possible to sell an item that is lost.
That isn't what happens at all. The items are undeliverable, or unclaimed, or compensated, but not lost.
The postal service in fact would rather that they WERE lost, for then they would not have to count them, be accounted for them, warehouse them, and dispose of them.
It takes a huge amount of workhours away from the delivery of the mails to do these things.
posted on December 31, 2000 01:06:53 AM new
Only if you've worked for the post office can you appreciate the meaning of "going postal". Yes, I have and do no more.
Remember each office is an entity unto itself so you will find good ones and bad ones, as well as good employees and bad ones. Some of this is caused by poor management. The postal shipping centers are pure chaos especially around holidays.
Yep, one of the figurines was broken in three places-could hear the awful rattling prior to opening-I proceeded to file claim as well as did my Mother on her end, now these were very special 1940's pieces that I have NEVER seen again other then my mom's, and she knew how much I loved them--was trying to surprise me with them for my Birthday last year.... OK, so the day I showed up to the Post Office it they apparently were under staffed and my claim was being handled by the Manager who informed me that I had to give him my items to be able to receive the $100.00 claim-----No WAY Jose I said--I want the insurance money to have this figurine professionally restored as I see it you insured my item--now I intend to collect and have what was lost & mishandled by the USPS--professionally restored as back to original as possible---He did not much like my refusing to give up my figurines, however then he said-ok fine-- bring me back an estimate of what the cost would be to restore. So I did exactly that!! Today my figurines that I still love very much to this day are in my china hutch, and the broken one did get professionally restored--not Perfect as it once was--but something I will live with!!
