Beware of USPS (or maybe just bad packaging)

NetsNJ · **on:** June 21, 2019, 04:41:58 AM

Bought a Supertool 300 and Charge+ AL on eBay for $86 shipped.

Package delivered to my company mailroom was empty:

image hosting

The universe would not let me get such a good deal!!

gregozedobe · **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2019, 04:52:05 AM

Weak packaging or employee theft ?

I've learnt to always pay extra for tracking, signature & insurance - this seems to greatly increase the chances of me receiving what I paid for.

NetsNJ · **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2019, 04:59:13 AM

This is priority mail, so by default has insurance and tracking. I trust my company's mailroom, and the package label has a shipping weight, so this is almost certainly USPS messing up or thieving. There is a tear that is scotch-taped closed, so someone either during transit opened this and the tools came out.

As the buyer, I just want a refund, and the seller can deal with the USPS insurance claim. He did use a flimsy envelope for shipping two heavy tools, so I don't feel bad about foisting this back on him. Luckily eBay has good buyer protection.

Blackbeard · **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:15:52 AM

Hopefully the seller wasn’t the scammer, you may find out tho, when he makes insurance claim he has to send you the forms to fill out a section, if you don’t get them then you will know

Blackbeard · **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:21:53 AM

Not sure why a legitimate seller would put 2 heavy tools in an envelope, to me, that's very strange. What was his feedback rating?

ReamerPunch · **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:45:00 AM

I hope you at least get your money back. It is a disgrace.

SteveC · **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:57:04 AM

Quote from: NetsNJ on June 21, 2019, 04:59:13 AM

This is priority mail, so by default has insurance and tracking. I trust my company's mailroom, and the package label has a shipping weight, so this is almost certainly USPS messing up or thieving. There is a tear that is scotch-taped closed, so someone either during transit opened this and the tools came out.

As the buyer, I just want a refund, and the seller can deal with the USPS insurance claim. He did use a flimsy envelope for shipping two heavy tools, so I don't feel bad about foisting this back on him. Luckily eBay has good buyer protection.

Why are you blaming USPS when obviously it was packed in too weak of an envelope ? Looks to me like it's on the sender and not USPS.

NetsNJ · **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:58:47 AM

That's fair. I find the taping of the envelope back up suspicious though.

SteveC · **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2019, 06:03:54 AM

They may have taped it up so it wouldn't get snagged in the sorting machine.

I mean if your going to steal something why bother to tape up the envelope

pomsbz · **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2019, 06:42:28 AM

Quote from: SteveC on June 21, 2019, 06:03:54 AM

They may have taped it up so it wouldn't get snagged in the sorting machine.

I mean if your going to steal something why bother to tape up the envelope

So that people will doubt it's been stolen? It's worked here at least.

Sam Lim · **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2019, 07:15:56 AM

Sometime ago I had encountered a ebay scammer that did the same thing also. I doubt it's your courier..

The $86 for both tools sounds like a dream...

Blackbeard · **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2019, 07:55:39 AM

maybe post the listing so others can avoid this seller

Poncho65 · **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2019, 11:59:35 AM

Sorry to hear that you didn't get the tools $:-\$ Hope you don't have trouble getting your money back

Aloha · **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2019, 03:50:23 PM

I duct tape the smurf out of any envelope/package I send. I had rolls of pink and orange duct tape that were my favorite. I never send any items without making sure the package is secure best I can. Thievery is thievery

. Not sure who's at fault?

I do hope you can get resolve tho.

powernoodle · **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2019, 04:10:03 PM

The only legit way to ship something like that is to box it up, and then wrap the box like a friggin' mummy with packing tape. Wrap it so well that you could throw the box against the side of a building without damaging the box.

I once had a seller ship me a Kershaw auto-opening knife, loose in a regular envelope. The knife blade popped open inside the envelope and cut our mailman. Not groovy.

People need to exercise some common sense. Oh, if everyone could just be as smart - and humble - as Powernoodle.

SteveC · **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2019, 04:24:15 PM

AlephZero · **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2019, 04:40:28 PM

This is how my package from Grant looked like when it was delivered.

Everything was still there, except the ST300 had slipped off the package to my floor.

You gonna blame Grant for bad packaking?

I don't.

NetsNJ · **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:26:30 PM

You received it, scotch taped on the bottom like that, but with the tools inside? Was there any explanation from the PO?

SteveC · **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2019, 05:37:09 PM

Quote from: AlephZero on June 21, 2019, 04:40:28 PM

This is how my package from Grant looked like when it was delivered.
(Image removed from quote.)

Everything was still there, except the ST300 had slipped off the package to my floor.

(Image removed from quote.)

You gonna blame Grant for bad packaking?

I don't.

Customs check perhaps

Don Pablo · **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2019, 06:29:49 PM

I think customs too.
I once received a flashlight from China, and the package was ripped open on one end (light still inside)
Definitely customs.

NetsNJ · **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2019, 11:29:27 PM

Seller was a stand up guy, gave me a full refund.

Aloha · **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:10:15 AM

Sea Monster · **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:26:51 AM

Quote

People need to exercise some common sense. Oh, if everyone could just be as smart - and humble - as Powernoodle.

If it makes you feel any better, I can't get trained professionals, with fully equipped packing stations, complete with tape, labels, a variety of packaging mediums, and "filler" material to pack things remotely sensibly*.

I'm not sure why you think the average online trader/home salesperson would be any more likely to meet, or exceed, any given standard.

*These are the sorts of people that will happily buy things online then complain about the packaging - so it's not a lack of understanding or what is nice packaging, it's a basic human feature of being a lazy arsehole.

cody6268 · **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2019, 01:01:02 AM

Probably a mixture of both. A lot of people don't use bubble mailers because they tear (and they have, especially if slightly overpacked). I had a seller once try to ship some items (thankfully not that fragile) in a definitely old and banged up Ziploc bag box, which was very thin card-stock type material. It was squashed flat when I got it.

Blackbeard · **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2019, 01:21:45 AM

amazon is particularly bad, throw something in a box with a few air pillows that dont even secure the item in 1 spot

It's either laziness, stupidity or shipper doesn't want to purchase correct packaging or they don't have what is needed on hand..I ship stuff all over the planet, but I'm prepared, bubble mailers, bubble wrap, bubble sleeves, smaller boxes to hold item before putting it in mailer or box etc, newspaper, tape, and boxes, I don't wan't to deal with damaged items so I make sure they get to destination safely.

chrono · **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2019, 05:30:49 PM

Quote from: gregozedobe on June 21, 2019, 04:52:05 AM

Weak packaging or employee theft ?

I've learnt to always pay extra for tracking, signature & insurance - this seems to greatly increase the chances of me receiving what I paid for.

Out of every 10 usps packages with signature confirmation, I likely sign 1 or 2. I would rather pay for better packaging than the sig.

I once bought a lot of fixed blades, which the seller just put in an envelope. I got the package with a knife tip sticking out

Someone was nice enough to note about pointed objects inside. Must be by a USPS employee.

AlephZero · **Reply #26 on:** June 24, 2019, 11:33:22 AM

Quote from: NetsNJ on June 21, 2019, 05:26:30 PM

You received it, scotch taped on the bottom like that, but with the tools inside? Was there any explanation from the PO?

There was a note saying it arrived open. I supposed they taped it at the post office (badly)

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Beware of USPS (or maybe just bad packaging)

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