fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 8, 2003 06:44:22 PM new
I am now certain that the purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.
In addition to jewelry, I sell scrap metal in a standard-sized lot. This customer, who I'll call Bill (because that's his name), was high bidder on six of these auctions over a six-week period.
He's never ever paid for insurance on these shipments, but I pay for insurance anyway. Now he's coming back to me, two months after the fact, and claiming one of the packages never arrived.
OK, sez I. Which lot didn't you get?
Well, I don't know, sez he. I didn't keep the outer wrapping (with the insured sticker) or the inner wrapping (with the auction number barcoded on it). I just know that I only got five and I paid for six.
Bill, sez I (patiently), how can I file an insurance claim when you don't even know which lot didn't arrive?
That's your problem, sez he.
Uh no, Bill, fluffy retorts. Better take another look around your place to see if you have anything to help YOU come up with an item number.
I figure he's gonna keep emailing me (doesn't cost him anything) until I cave in and either provide free product or a refund in some amount. Ideas?
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tomyou
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posted on January 8, 2003 06:47:24 PM new
out of curiosity I would track them all and see if indeed one did or did not arrive. Ypu'll probably find out the all arrived and then you can inform "bill" of the situtation and perhaps he can miraculously find it
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wgm
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posted on January 8, 2003 06:58:20 PM new
It sounds like there is a good possibility that good ole buddy Bill may very well have received all of the orders - as unorganized as he sounds, if he can't remember which shipment he didn't receive, how can he be sure he didn't receive one?
I would send him a columnar pad, a sharp pencil (at least sharper than him), and an eraser 
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 8, 2003 07:19:39 PM new
tomyou: I didn't think there was tracking on insured items.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 8, 2003 07:20:47 PM new
as unorganized as he sounds, if he can't remember which shipment he didn't receive, how can he be sure he didn't receive one?
Great minds think alike, wgm!
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bear1949
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posted on January 8, 2003 07:35:16 PM new
Send him the insurance receipt for the least expensive lot & USPS claim form. Tell him it is a Federal offense to file a false claim & let him take it from there.
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tomford
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posted on January 8, 2003 07:37:43 PM new
if the item was shipped via USPS and insured for more than $50 (the blue insurance tag)...then your local postmaster should be able to us the # on the tag and check package to see if delivered...that tag is scanned when package is delivered.
[ edited by tomford on Jan 8, 2003 07:38 PM ]
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tomyou
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posted on January 8, 2003 07:38:21 PM new
I am pretty sure you can take them to the PO and tell them the situation and they can track them. I think I rememeber doing that at one time but I may be mistaken. I know you cant track them online but the PO does have a record of them and they should be able to help.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 8, 2003 08:21:36 PM new
Oh, the latest wrinkle is that he wants me to send him all the insurance numbers with the corresponding auction numbers.
Gotta pick that highest-dollar-value auction to claim, ya know. 
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Libra63
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posted on January 8, 2003 09:04:48 PM new
I would tell him that it is his responsibility to remember the package that didn't arrive and if he can't do that he is SOL. Check your feedback and see if he left you one for each auction. I will make a bet that he has received everyone of them and is trying to scam you.
I want to thank you Fluffy to come up with these unusual topics so that we need to be reminded to keep every auction and every piece of correspondance from every buyer because buyers are stupid....
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Libra63
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posted on January 8, 2003 09:07:54 PM new
Forgot one more thing.
Tell him that you have closed your books for the year and it would be impossible to go back and track those....
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irked
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posted on January 9, 2003 01:37:31 AM new
Hi, I think the one about the filing a false claim is a good one but no one has mentioned that he DID NOT pay for insurance and that you did it to protect yorself and tell him the post office tracked the packages and all was delivered. you might as well get in on the little fibbing part yourself- just kidding. OR you could tell him when you didn't hear from him immediately that you lost the insurance reciepts that he did not pay for anyway....
LOL another little fib another little kidding. Point is I think he is jerking your chain if he lost all his knowledge of what you sent him then how can he expect you to to know what he sent. Send him the auction item #s and tell him to figure it out, which one he supposedly didn't get. If he has left you feedback don't worry and if it has been over 90 days he won't be able to do so anyway I don't think.
Even if you decide to let him file a claim send him only one reciept and tell him it is his baby to deal with... make yourself a copy first. Oh you might tell him if he wants the insurance reciept or all of them then he can buy them for their cost to you.... another kidding but half serious. LOL
Good luck.
I had a guy tell me just before Christmas that he did n't get a camera I sold him wanted me to refund money and I tracked the package and insurance at post office it was confirmed delivered and I wrote him back and told him he would have to follow up on his end since post office said it was delivered confirmed with 2 receipts and if his delivery confirmation attempt card was stolen he would have to file a police report to follow it up and I never heard back from him. I think he thought he could scam me. Well I hope I don't hear anything else from him. ugh!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 9, 2003 09:15:53 AM new
I want to thank you Fluffy to come up with these unusual topics
I wish I could say I dreamed them up but this is my work life.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 9, 2003 09:18:46 AM new
irked: Your Christmas package story is a prime example why I panicked yesterday when I couldn't get USPS Shipping Assistant to generate eDC labels for me. In the six short weeks I've been using it, I've come to depend on it totally. The 13 cents per First Class package is cheap compared to the satisfaction I get telling some twit that I know her package was delivered.
(You gotta wonder...what do they think "Delivery Confirmation" MEANS, anyway? )
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Libra63
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posted on January 9, 2003 11:52:37 AM new
I'm with you Fluffy. The best thing that happened to eBay sellers is the USPS 1st class eDC also the free eDC on Priority Mail. I will never send a package out without it and if the USPS site is down then I will spring for the 55 cents. Sometimes the USPS does something right. I really haven't had any problems with delivery but there is always a first time and I am going to be ready.
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zoomin
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posted on January 9, 2003 12:19:03 PM new
He's never ever paid for insurance on these shipments, but I pay for insurance anyway. Now he's coming back to me, two months after the fact, and claiming one of the packages never arrived
umm...
is it really YOU out there typing, Fluffy?
I would've figured a fluffy response to be closer to:
It really sucks when you don't buy insurance, eh Bill?
My opinion?
bummer for you
for the headache he is giving you
bummer for him
if he really is missing a package
but basically,
tough nuts Bill.
c'mon Fluffy.
You're getting soft.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 9, 2003 12:52:24 PM new
zoomin: Thanks for the dash of cold water. I needed that.
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ahc3
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posted on January 9, 2003 01:37:40 PM new
I wouldn't spend my time trying to figure out what he did not receive. I would tell him that I would be glad to start the paperwork but the post office requires that an invoice is required, and he needs to provide that to you...
I also have come to depend on electronic DC as well, I don't send anything out (domestically) without it. It is well worth the 13¢ - As an added bonus, since I use real stamps for postage, I can just drop these off at the post office, no longer need to stand in line and wait for them to put on the meter labels for me, so it does save me time.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on January 9, 2003 05:09:25 PM new
I use postage stamps too. I was just at the post office and forgot to buy some. Ouch.
So that isn't so great, but at least I'm not paying a monthly fee for a postage meter.
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zathras11
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posted on January 10, 2003 07:48:50 PM new
"That's your problem, sez he."
No, through your own inaction you have
just made it yours, says I.
End of story!
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
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