Member 38805
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I'm passing this info along, so people are aware of how messed up USPS shipping is, and what a frustrating experience it can be if and when things go sideways.
I've shipped a number of items (many of them antique guns) via USPS in the past. Occasionally had small issues, but overall I was pleased with the way it went. Then on Sept. 1st I sold an antique Ballard rifle to a friend, and took it to USPS to be delivered. Packed it up as usual with the buttstock removed, and sent it off Priority Mail, insured. Supposed to be there in 4 days, but on the 5th day I checked tracking and it said, "Arriving late, still in transit". And that's the same thing it said for 3 weeks!
After trying to find out where the package was, and getting no answers, I filed a claim with USPS. They in turn denied my claim stating they'd send a letter of explanation why it was denied. Guess that letter is somewhere with the gun, because 3 weeks later I still didn't have it! I attempted to file an appeal, but the system wont allow that unless you know why the claim was denied! So I called customer service and the lady there tried to figure out where my package was, but couldn't. She tried to figure out why my claim was denied, but couldn't.
I finally contacted the office of my congressman, and an aide sent me an email the next day asking for the tracking number. He contacted me and said USPS denied the claim because I needed to attach a credit card payment, sales receipt, or both sides of a canceled check. So I filed the appeal, and got copies of the canceled check, and attached them to the appeal. A week or so later I got a letter stating my claim appeal was denied again! I went to the USPS web site, and the site said my claim was approved?
So after almost 2 months it appears they may be paying my claim, but still not positive? And they for whatever reason shorted me on my shipping cost in the payment? They gave me the amount of the rifle, but of course deducted the insurance fee. But for some reason they also didn't pay the $15 oversized package fee too? I understand the insurance, but the shipping and oversized fee should have been refunded.
I of course haven't seen a check yet, and if it's really coming, it may be several weeks, IF they don't lose it in the mail! Only sure thing is it's been a frustrating, and impossible issue dealing with USPS, and I wont ever ship an antique gun through them again. They do whatever they can to deny your claim and frustrate you in hopes you'll give up.
I've shipped a number of items (many of them antique guns) via USPS in the past. Occasionally had small issues, but overall I was pleased with the way it went. Then on Sept. 1st I sold an antique Ballard rifle to a friend, and took it to USPS to be delivered. Packed it up as usual with the buttstock removed, and sent it off Priority Mail, insured. Supposed to be there in 4 days, but on the 5th day I checked tracking and it said, "Arriving late, still in transit". And that's the same thing it said for 3 weeks!
After trying to find out where the package was, and getting no answers, I filed a claim with USPS. They in turn denied my claim stating they'd send a letter of explanation why it was denied. Guess that letter is somewhere with the gun, because 3 weeks later I still didn't have it! I attempted to file an appeal, but the system wont allow that unless you know why the claim was denied! So I called customer service and the lady there tried to figure out where my package was, but couldn't. She tried to figure out why my claim was denied, but couldn't.
I finally contacted the office of my congressman, and an aide sent me an email the next day asking for the tracking number. He contacted me and said USPS denied the claim because I needed to attach a credit card payment, sales receipt, or both sides of a canceled check. So I filed the appeal, and got copies of the canceled check, and attached them to the appeal. A week or so later I got a letter stating my claim appeal was denied again! I went to the USPS web site, and the site said my claim was approved?
So after almost 2 months it appears they may be paying my claim, but still not positive? And they for whatever reason shorted me on my shipping cost in the payment? They gave me the amount of the rifle, but of course deducted the insurance fee. But for some reason they also didn't pay the $15 oversized package fee too? I understand the insurance, but the shipping and oversized fee should have been refunded.
I of course haven't seen a check yet, and if it's really coming, it may be several weeks, IF they don't lose it in the mail! Only sure thing is it's been a frustrating, and impossible issue dealing with USPS, and I wont ever ship an antique gun through them again. They do whatever they can to deny your claim and frustrate you in hopes you'll give up.