My Usps Package was tampered with?

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Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
I sold a 16gb Zune HD on ebay. Got my money from paypal, all was good. I sent out the zune via priority mail (flat rate small box). The flat rate box uses a already sticky adhesive flap to keep the box closed up. The package included the usb cable, zune and packaging peanuts. I used the automated machine at my local usps, dropped it off after attaching the label.

3 days later the buyer messaged me claiming that I had only sent the usb cable and nothing else. At first I figured the buyer was trying to stiff me in this sale but then I saw he had 100% feedback (600+) and there should be no reason as to why he would make such a claim.

I told him upfront, if you wanted a free zune, you got it! Otherwise if you really do not have the zune, I think the box was tampered with before getting to you. He said his mailbox is locked, so it must have been tampered with before getting to his house. Fair Enough.

As him and I are conversing, I soon find out that the box was packaging tape holding the box closed. Weird? As I never used packaging tape on the box, only the supplied adhesive on the inside flap. What is also weird is that the buyer claimed that there was no packaging peanuts.

Now I'm thinking the adhesive failed on the box, everything fell out. Someone put the box back together, put the usb cable in and then taped it with some packaging tape.

He is sending back the box with the usb cable today. Paypal already did a reversal on the transaction. I currently have a negative balance in Paypal since I already took out the money.

Now I do not have any proof that the zune was in there other than my word. I did package the zune at the post office (cameras?).

I did not have insurance on the item, my mistake :/

Anything I can do?

Cliffs:
Sold zune, shipped via priority
Buyer (100% feedback) claims that there is no zune in package
The box is also being held closed by packaging tape(I did not use in the first place) I only used the supplied adhesive on the inside flap.
The box was obviously tampered with

Please keep the comments about how shitty paypal and ebay are. Yes they are a terrible organization, I know this already.
 
H

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
Unfortunately it was not : /

Usually I do insure my items but the zune sold for a mere $100 and I figured the package was small.

Yes, yes my mistake, probably should document a little more next time. I've gotten lazy since the past 10 transaction have been flawless
 
N

Numenorean

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 2008
4,442
1
0
Pro Tip:

Always use packing tape, and don't rely on some stupid adhesive crap that happens to be on some box.
 
H

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
LucJoe said:
You're screwed.
Click to expand...

I figured, worth a shot to ask

O well, whoever has my Zune...I'm sure karma will come around eventually

From now on ill be insuring and documenting the whole process of my handling and shipping
 
Last edited:
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,804
14,218
146
Some postal employee is now enjoying your Zune...or the $$$ they made by selling it.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Not that it could help get your Zune or $ back, but if you still have the receipt or the packing sticker is still on the box it should have the weight on there you sent it at. Now that the guy sent it back he has the info for the weight as he received it, and you have the weight of what you sent it, so you can at least prove to the guy you weren't lying and avoid any bad rep.
 
H

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
gorcorps said:
Not that it could help get your Zune or $ back, but if you still have the receipt or the packing sticker is still on the box it should have the weight on there you sent it at. Now that the guy sent it back he has the info for the weight as he received it, and you have the weight of what you sent it, so you can at least prove to the guy you weren't lying and avoid any bad rep.
Click to expand...



Oh the guys knows I wasn't trying to screw him over. We both talked, we both have 100% feedback. I told him that it would not make sense to me to send a box with just a usb cable and not expect you [buyer] to file a claim and then jeopardize my ebay account.

This made sense to him.
 
Z

zip1385

Golden Member
Dec 30, 2004
1,398
0
76
I highly doubt your package was open by anyone at the post office. Either the adhesive on the box failed and everything fell out or the buyer just scammed you (most likely). Remember that as a seller on eBay you can no longer leave negative feedback and he can easily be taking advantage of this.
 
H

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
zip1385 said:
I highly doubt your package was open by anyone at the post office. Either the adhesive on the box failed and everything fell out or the buyer just scammed you (most likely). Remember that as a seller on eBay you can no longer leave negative feedback and he can easily be taking advantage of this.
Click to expand...

Yeah the fact that the buyer could be the culprit, thats still an active thought of mine.

Nothing I can do at this point, already accepted that I lost $100 and im glad that it wasn't more!

The buyer has 100% feedback of 600+ transactions. Maybe he did take the zune for himself, who knows.
 
eplebnista

eplebnista

Lifer
Dec 3, 2001
24,123
36
91
Numenorean said:
Pro Tip:

Always use packing tape, and don't rely on some stupid adhesive crap that happens to be on some box.
Click to expand...

Was told that by a USPS employee at the counter years and years ago when I was picking up a few free PM boxes, although even then I always tended to overprotect packages, even non-fragile ones.
 
N

NetGuySC

Golden Member
Nov 19, 1999
1,643
4
81
I'm bettng that a USPS employee took it. I have heard too many stories from the inside employees about what happens at the Post Office / mail processing centers.
 
B

blinblue

Senior member
Jul 7, 2006
889
0
76
Its possible the flap opened at some point during the shipping. And some employee noticed it had opened and taped it shut. Or someone stole it. But how would the person who stole it know there is anything of value inside? The majority of those boxes probably have little to no resale value and not worth losing your job over open a bunch to find something to steal and use/resell

But insurance really is worth it, my personal rule is over $30 I get insurance for it
 
O

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
When I worked at UPS we had to go through security/metal detector on the way out every night.
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
zip1385 said:
I highly doubt your package was open by anyone at the post office. Either the adhesive on the box failed and everything fell out or the buyer just scammed you (most likely). Remember that as a seller on eBay you can no longer leave negative feedback and he can easily be taking advantage of this.
Click to expand...

unlikely given 600+ perfect feedback
 
GoofyGoofT

GoofyGoofT

Senior member
Dec 21, 2009
326
0
71
Q2Unw.gif
 
G

Gigantopithecus

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2004
7,664
0
71
The adhesive on those boxes doesn't work very well, and it especially does not work well when it gets cold. You live up north and/or ship it up north?

I don't think USPS has too many employees who tamper with packages to steal their contents. But I'm certain a lot of poorly packaged items just happen to not make it back into their boxes, both because of less than honest postal workers and the sheer volume of shit that falls out of line on the conveyor belts, processing machines, etc.
 
Squisher

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
I once sent a Bell radar detector back to the factory for service, When it came back the box was empty. I called them and they sent another out to me. The UPS guy knew about the whole thing when he showed up with the box and I insisted he stick around a couple of seconds while I opened the box in front of him. We both kinda looked at each other with stupid looks on our faces when I opened the box and it was empty again. He asked if he could use my phone and I said sure. I got a call a few days later from a supervisor telling me they were going to be doing multiple sting operations over the next couple of weeks to catch the guy so it would be a couple of weeks before I got my radar detector.
 
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