cosmic brick Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'm looking for some help from you Pickers who have had to file a lost package claim. I've had a shipment drop off of tracking, my local post office isn't much help, and I'll probably be filing a claim in a couple of days. (This is my first time dealing with this.) My buyer has been very patient so far, and I would like to keep them happy so they don't hit me with a neg. At the same time, I'm assuming it could take a while to get the insurance money back for the lost package. I guess what I'm asking is : At what point in this process am I "Safe" to refund the customers money? I don't want to refund the money, the package comes back into the system, gets delivered, and the post office is off the hook for the Insurance, leaving me at the mercy of the buyer. This seems unlikely to happen, but I don't want to take any chances. Any advice? On 7/30/2015 at 3:15 PM, cosmic brick said: *update* I got to digging around in the General Buying and Selling Forum and came up with this bit of info from justafrog: "2. If the package is "lost in space" (no recent scans to tell you where it is), you can get the current tracking at USPS.com and ASK FOR EMAIL UPDATES (there's a box to click). You can ask for updates just to you, or to you and your customer. I don't know if I've just been lucky, but EVERY time I've had a package that the post office just vanishes in a puff of smoke and is stalled on tracking somewhere for days and days and have used this service, the package miraculously re-enters the flow of packages within a few days. Like I said, could be luck, or maybe they have to explain "never arrived" packages in some kind of internal auditing that this track-trace function generates." So I gave this a try yesterday afternoon, and sure enough, I get an e-mail about 8 hours later. It's moved on the tracking page with a delayed status, but on its way to the customer. I never would have thought of this, and it's a great little tip that I want to pass on. Thanks to all who replied, and a big thanks to justafrog. Quoted from @cosmic brick's post below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindbender Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 How expensive was the item and how long has the customer had to wait?If less than $50 I'd err on the side of keeping the buyer happy, refund and file the claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic brick Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 $169.00 fully insured, 15 days in the system on the 31st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labfreak7 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'd call usps now and try to file the claim. They will open an investigation. Typically claime once opened are pretty quick with a resolution in about 7 business days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labfreak7 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Tell the buyer you are opening the claim and see if they are willing to wait a bit longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undercover Boss Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'd call usps now and try to file the claim. They will open an investigation. Typically claime once opened are pretty quick with a resolution in about 7 business daysI would file the claim and refund the buyer. No need to keep a buyer waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbacunn Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I would file the claim and refund the buyer. No need to keep a buyer waiting. Agreed. It's doubtful that the package will turn up after that many days. Refund the seller and deal with the claim. Don't want to get neg feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fcbarcelona101 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Had the same happen to me today, but it was just a minifigure. 1st time ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic brick Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 *update*I got to digging around in the General Buying and Selling Forum and came up with this bit of info from justafrog:"2. If the package is "lost in space" (no recent scans to tell you where it is), you can get the current tracking at USPS.com and ASK FOR EMAIL UPDATES (there's a box to click). You can ask for updates just to you, or to you and your customer. I don't know if I've just been lucky, but EVERY time I've had a package that the post office just vanishes in a puff of smoke and is stalled on tracking somewhere for days and days and have used this service, the package miraculously re-enters the flow of packages within a few days. Like I said, could be luck, or maybe they have to explain "never arrived" packages in some kind of internal auditing that this track-trace function generates."So I gave this a try yesterday afternoon, and sure enough, I get an e-mail about 8 hours later. It's moved on the tracking page with a delayed status, but on its way to the customer. I never would have thought of this, and it's a great little tip that I want to pass on.Thanks to all who replied, and a big thanks to justafrog. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinemaps Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I've had success with that too. It's really a great tip. The one time (knock on wood) it has happened to me, I had similar success. The package just suddenly started moving again after disappearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redghostx Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I have a new lost package question and am hoping that someone has experienced something similar with a resolution. USPS picked up a package, sent me the confirmation that the package was picked up (and it was), but has never scanned it, presumably hasn't delivered it and it has basically vanished. I have contacted USPS but are they any additional steps that I can take or has this happened to someone before? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landphieran Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I recently bought an R2D2 where nearly the same thing happened. The set was marked as shipped. Tracking was never updated for 3 weeks. I contacted the seller, they contacted USPS. The shipping was magically marked as delivered. I checked the delivery proof. The signature and the address were signed via straight lines (not how i sign). I was home the day it was supposed to be delivered (already being 3 weeks late). Pretty sure they sent it to the wrong place, stole it themselves, or its lost... Not much you can do honestly... Create a ticket and wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spelunkin_Paul Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) Has anyone ever used USPS Intercept A Package for a lost package? It has been 11 days since the last scan; package didn't qualify for a claim. Emailed USPS, got "a claim number"...My local post office "is looking into this and has contacted the next destination" to see if they found it. No insurance purchased...just a minifigure, but buyer wants a refund on Friday if not found by USPS. Maybe Intercept A Package might get them moving on it or they find it, send it back to me, and resell it back to the original buyer? UPDATE: Nevermind....they charge $12.55 + postage to do this...not worth it. Edited February 15, 2016 by Spelunkin_Paul Add a comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbacunn Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 21 minutes ago, Spelunkin_Paul said: Has anyone ever used USPS Intercept A Package for a lost package? It has been 11 days since the last scan; package didn't qualify for a claim. Emailed USPS, got "a claim number"...My local post office "is looking into this and has contacted the next destination" to see if they found it. No insurance purchased...just a minifigure, but buyer wants a refund on Friday if not found by USPS. Maybe Intercept A Package might get them moving on it or they find it, send it back to me, and resell it back to the original buyer? UPDATE: Nevermind....they charge $12.55 + postage to do this...not worth it. See post above from Cosmic Brick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarleyMoose Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 8 hours ago, jbacunn said: See post above from Cosmic Brick. Cosmic's post should be a sticky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinemaps Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 3 hours ago, MarleyMoose said: Cosmic's post should be a sticky. Good idea. I edited @cosmic brick's original post to include answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarleyMoose Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 On 2/15/2016 at 11:35 AM, jbacunn said: See post above from Cosmic Brick. Just confirmed! The day after I added email alerts my package updated to delivered! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quacs Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Same just happened to me too - it took a day and a half, but they found it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbacunn Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 36 minutes ago, MarleyMoose said: Just confirmed! The day after I added email alerts my package updated to delivered! Crazy. This is one of the best tips of all time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinner41 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) At first I thought this is crazy. Then I went back to the one package that "was lost" so far for me, and sure enough, shortly after I signed up for email alerts (because I was sick of checking via web all the time), it started traveling again. At that time I thought "what a coincidence". But after reading this thread I have second thoughts on that. Edited February 18, 2016 by dinner41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinemaps Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Yep. I've had it happen to me once a buyer and once as a seller, and both times, the package "magically" started moving again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
California92563 Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) Hey everyone alpine was kind enough to tell me about this thread because I've had a package that's been stuck in limbo for the last week and I tried the method that the OP mentioned and sure enough me opting to have email updates for the tracking fixed it so thank you very much OP! Edited March 8, 2016 by California92563 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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