How NOT to mail a roll of bullion.

[SoFa]

I thought I got an absolute steal on a roll of 20 bullion rounds. It was on ebay, the seller had feedback of only 2 (both as purchaser).

I go to the mailbox this afternoon and here's what I found:

envelope.jpg (81.56 KiB) Viewed 1026 times

The other side has something illegible stamped on it by the PO, presumably something to the effect of 'hey man, tough luck'.

It's incredibly stupid to put a 20 oz roll in an envelope.
He didn't buy and print the postage at home.
It's possible he used a self service kiosk, but if he went to the counter to purchase postage, I'm surprised they wouldn't suggest a small flat rate box.

[slickeast]

What an idiot!! Why didn't he use a small flat rate BOX?

[creshka46]

Wow, what a disaster.

What do you do?

[creshka46]

I thought I got an absolute steal...

BTW, apparently someone did... literally

[neilgin1]

oh man!...i'm sorry that happened to you....definitely the genesis of a bad day. But you know what to do.

plus a good night of sleep, tomorrow, have some strong black coffee, a short stack of pancakes, start the Ebay "wheels" in motion, and all will be made right.

praying that your heart be comforted. neil

[blackrabbit]

All priority mail now has automatic insurance which should cover something like that. I don't know the details though.

[68Cougar]

Includes up to $50 in insurance coverage for mailpieces with barcodes**

https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm

[johnbrickner]

Ouch, I see bad feedback on the guy's horizon.

[SoFa]

Ouch, I see bad feedback on the guy's horizon.

Maybe not. Depending on how he handles it.
So far, he apologized and said he would do everything he could to fix it.
There's not much he can do besides refund my payment.
He said he would be going to talk to the PO first thing Monday.

[Grimster]

If I were you I would start the claim with paypal right away. Once the seller fixes it then you can cancel the claim.

[JobIII]

Wow this story reminds me of the first 15 items my partner and I mailed when we were just starting out on ebay. Total ameteur hour. Just sucks that the seller is going to have to learn the hard way on a 20 oz sale. Our mistakes only cost about $30... Anyways Sofa here are 2 things your story makes me think about:

1. Open a case now with ebay. It's good that you have already started a dialogue with the seller, but open a case regardless. Ebay/paypal will freeze the sellers asset's. A case does not necessarily end poorly for seller's so don't be reluctant to file one. IF you haven't filed it yet, please stop reading this post and open a case through Ebay now.

2. A little less important, but did the seller pay for signature confirmation? This is required by Ebay on all sales above $250 (ie the total cost = cost + S&H + taxes). I'm not exactly sure how this would help. But if the seller didn't do this step it will be another red flag that ebay will see when assessing whether or not to refund you for the shipping disaster.


Good Luck
~JobIII

[SoFa]

I just talked with the seller on the phone. He says the lady at the post office counter gave him the envelope when he showed her what he had to mail. That's why he didn't use a flat rate box.

I am going to take the advice and open a case right now. This will be my second open case as I had a registered package from Spain go missing after it entered the US.

[xippi]

Wow this story reminds me of the first 15 items my partner and I mailed when we were just starting out on ebay. Total ameteur hour. Just sucks that the seller is going to have to learn the hard way on a 20 oz sale. Our mistakes only cost about $30... Anyways Sofa here are 2 things your story makes me think about:

1. Open a case now with ebay. It's good that you have already started a dialogue with the seller, but open a case regardless. Ebay/paypal will freeze the sellers asset's. A case does not necessarily end poorly for seller's so don't be reluctant to file one. IF you haven't filed it yet, please stop reading this post and open a case through Ebay now.

2. A little less important, but did the seller pay for signature confirmation? This is required by Ebay on all sales above $250 (ie the total cost = cost + S&H + taxes). I'm not exactly sure how this would help. But if the seller didn't do this step it will be another red flag that ebay will see when assessing whether or not to refund you for the shipping disaster.


Good Luck
~JobIII

+1

Just let the seller know that your opening the ebay case if you haven't already. Sorry the Postel clerk handed me a envelope is a poor excuse. I guessing it was not Signature confirmation or you would have refused delivery, I would have.

[NDFarmer]

This one is definitely on the seller. If he would have packaged the roll of silver rounds in a flat rate box stuffed with newspaper or packing peanuts and then covered the box with packing tape there is no question about it you WOULD HAVE received your coins!! He didn't even reenforce the envelope he did send. I don't see a piece of tape on it. If he would have covered the envelope with tape you probably would have got the roll of silver you purchased.

Maybe he is new a seller and doesn't have much experience shipping sliver but that is not your fault. It will be an expensive lesson for him to learn but from here on out I bet he will ship silver in a well sealed flat rate box.

[IdahoCopper]

You are not allowed to tape all over priority mail envelopes.

[JobIII]

You are not allowed to tape all over priority mail envelopes.

This unfortunately depends on the PO you use as well as the type of tape. If it's clear they usually won't mind. If it's the priority USPS tape they may have a problem with the tape covering everything.

~ JobIII

[NDFarmer]

You are not allowed to tape all over priority mail envelopes.

I have done it several times at my post office. I guess each post office has there own rules.

[Double3]

I've actually received a tube of eagles in one of those.

[SoFa]

The seller gave me a very quick refund. I'm very impressed. This was his first sale on ebay, and some people in his shoes would have walked and left it up to ebay to make it good for the buyer.

Like I said earlier, I have a second case on ebay. This one for a missing registered package. The USPS just called me and said they don't know what happened to it and they are closing their investigation. I would have thought they kept track of Registered Mail a little better.

[natsb88]

You are not allowed to tape all over priority mail envelopes.

Yes you are. As long as the self-adhesive flap is the primary means of enclosure and you do not alter the shape of the package, tape can be used to reinforce the envelope. If your post office tries to tell you otherwise, ask them to show you where in the DMM (domestic mail manual) it says you cannot put tape on a Priority envelope. Because it doesn't (unless they just recently added it).

[JobIII]

I'm happy you were able to get the refund and part ways well enough. I would give serious though to a positive feedback for that seller. The package failed but the seller made good on the problem.

~JobIII