Postage overcharging? - Page 7

Lapa · 03-12-2007, 11:36 AM

Guys,

Overcharging on postage is unfortunately not a prerogative of the East.

I once bought on E-thing 5 aluminum badges for the grand total of $3.50. The seller, an American, then contacted me and told me that postage to France was $12. After haggling and fussing, he agreed to review his charges: $3 for postage (which was about right) AND $9 for handling. Creativity knows no boundaries...

Marc

EricFG · 07-24-2010, 09:14 AM

I sent a large package 4 weeks ago to Argentina. The buyer hasn't received it yet. After this long I feel the percentage for trouble is starting to go up rapidly.
I've let him know that after 6 weeks and no package he'll be refunded, I gotta do the right thing.
But after that what do I do? I have the receipts from USPS and US Customs. What would be the next step?

Tretov · 07-24-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricFG

I sent a large package 4 weeks ago to Argentina. The buyer hasn't received it yet. After this long I feel the percentage for trouble is starting to go up rapidly.
I've let him know that after 6 weeks and no package he'll be refunded, I gotta do the right thing.
But after that what do I do? I have the receipts from USPS and US Customs. What would be the next step?

I assume you have some kind of tracking number and that you have tried to track the parcel on the USPS website. Next step would be to contact USPS and ask them to research the whereabouts of the shipment. If you're lucky, they will find it, otherwise you should file a complaint. Was it sent insured?

Another possibility would be that the package has been halted by Argentina customs awaiting action (invoice, declaration etc.) from the buyer.

deValcourt · 07-24-2010, 11:10 AM

I think Patrick's latter idea is the most likely - unfortunately. If I had to wait 6 weeks once for a package to clear US Customs coming from Canada, I can only imagine what Argentina is doing with packages from here.

I wouldn't rush to refund if you can at least track it to Argentina and then make whatever inquiries you can through the USPS as pointed out above. Hang in there.

Phillip

Esteban_cool · 07-24-2010, 02:52 PM

Eric, I´ve had a similar problem with a package coming from Bulgaria. What the seller did was, after letting him know, filling a claim to search for the lost package; they actually found it, returned it to Bulgaria and then sent again to Chile. He also said that in case the package became absolutely lost, he would give me a refund. He was a true gentleman.

Hope everything gets solved with no need of a refund and the package can appear.

P.D: South american public services are known for taking innecesarily way too long to do their job, so a little bit of patience may also help.

medals73 · 07-24-2010, 03:46 PM

For anything of any value, it may be better to use something fast, safe, and really trackable like FedEx rather than any postal service where tracking is a myth (at least it is in the US).

Norm Braddock · 07-25-2010, 08:43 AM

Ed, you are 100% correct, however, no one wants to pay for Fed Ex.

medals73 · 07-25-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapusta Norm

Ed, you are 100% correct, however, no one wants to pay for Fed Ex.

True, people always want things cheap. Maybe you just get what you pay for? As we used to say when I worked in editing/publishing: You can have it fast, or you can have it cheap, or you can have it good, choose two. But I'd much rather pay for safe shipping and get the things than be a cheapskate and go with the US Postal "Service" and get nothing. A postal shipment from the other side of the same state just went astray and, while I got my money back, I'd rather have had the medals.

RichieC · 07-25-2010, 09:02 AM

Eric,

I send parcels to South America quite often via USPS International Priority Mail, and at times it takes as long as EIGHT weeks to reach it's recipient.

Full value is always declared on the customs forms and of course, insurance is mandatory...

***CtahhR*** · 07-25-2010, 09:22 AM

I think everyone would always rather have the items they've paid for (or think they have) than to get their money back. Here in England using Fedex (or many other international parcel services) is a big mistake. I once ordered a package from Japan (Guaranteed 3 day) which I tracked online (although the updating of that was slow). The first time the package came from Japan to Hawaii through mainland US to Iceland to England where it was left without being signed for (though it should have been) at an incorrect address Birmingham (120 miles away) after an honest person returned the package to Fedex the package returned to Japan from where once again it set off to England via mainland US. This time the package was left at an address in Nottingham (once again a signature was not asked for) 70 miles away, where once again it was returned to the Fedex depot and it was flown back to Japan via Iceland and mainland US. At this point I received (via Royal Mail) 2 customs invoices for 2 packages which I didn't receive. I contacted Fedex about this but they didn't want to cooperate in the subject. Finally after 6 plus weeks the package arrived in England for the final time and was successfully navigated to my address after a half an hour long phone conversation with the driver giving very explicit directions. The package arrived in a bit of a state but the contents were in perfect condition even though they had had a 32 thousand mile plus journey. The day after I got 3 more letters from a debt collector (delivered by Royal Mail) demanding over £240 in costs plus the £16 customs duties immediately or I would be summoned to court. After I got one of my people on the case and had them explain to Fedex the situation after a 2-3 hour long conversation Fedex not only called off the debt collection but they also paid the customs duties for me (even though that was only charged as they charged me on the cost of postage not the cost of the items!). Not a good example of delivery. I once at another time ordered a $22,500 item from Japan which was to be delivered by UPS. Even though the package was coated in "FRAGILE" and "THIS WAY UP ONLY" etc when the delivery men came to deliver it (I watched the vehicle drive up my driveway) they didn't ring my doorbell or knock on the door they just opened my door and threw it in and left. The contents were destroyed and I had to have lots of conversations with lots of people not only to get the destroyed item picked up (which I had to do from an alternate address) but to get it returned and replaced. Which it finally was. These are the two major delivery cock ups I've had in the last decade but there are also over 10,000 good deliveries I have received in that time so who can complain? The only serious problems I have with Royal Mail is when they try to fit 10 or 12 inch records in a 7 inch postbox or one time they fed a £120 item to my dog. Usually a good dealer will know to best way to get his items to you and will also be sending you just what you asked for. The Bulgarian mail service seems to be very reliable!

07-24-2010, 09:14 AM	#62
EricFG Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naples, Florida, USA Age: 59 Posts: 1,496	Shipping troubles I sent a large package 4 weeks ago to Argentina. The buyer hasn't received it yet. After this long I feel the percentage for trouble is starting to go up rapidly. I've let him know that after 6 weeks and no package he'll be refunded, I gotta do the right thing. But after that what do I do? I have the receipts from USPS and US Customs. What would be the next step? __________________ "patina imparts character" - PJS A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'

07-24-2010, 11:10 AM	#64
deValcourt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cajun Country Age: 56 Posts: 1,565	Re: Shipping troubles I think Patrick's latter idea is the most likely - unfortunately. If I had to wait 6 weeks once for a package to clear US Customs coming from Canada, I can only imagine what Argentina is doing with packages from here. I wouldn't rush to refund if you can at least track it to Argentina and then make whatever inquiries you can through the USPS as pointed out above. Hang in there. Phillip __________________ Phillip

07-24-2010, 02:52 PM	#65
Esteban_cool Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Santiago, Chile Age: 36 Posts: 1,103	Re: Shipping troubles Eric, I´ve had a similar problem with a package coming from Bulgaria. What the seller did was, after letting him know, filling a claim to search for the lost package; they actually found it, returned it to Bulgaria and then sent again to Chile. He also said that in case the package became absolutely lost, he would give me a refund. He was a true gentleman. Hope everything gets solved with no need of a refund and the package can appear. P.D: South american public services are known for taking innecesarily way too long to do their job, so a little bit of patience may also help. __________________ There's nothing in the streets Looks any different to me And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye And the parting on the left Are now parting on the right And the beards have all grown longer overnight The Who, Won't get fooled again

07-24-2010, 03:46 PM	#66
medals73 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Earth, most of the time Posts: 2,016	Re: Shipping troubles For anything of any value, it may be better to use something fast, safe, and really trackable like FedEx rather than any postal service where tracking is a myth (at least it is in the US).

07-25-2010, 08:43 AM	#67
Norm Braddock Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Age: 61 Posts: 209	Re: Shipping troubles Ed, you are 100% correct, however, no one wants to pay for Fed Ex.

03-12-2007, 11:36 AM	#61
Lapa Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Petersburg, Russia Age: 63 Posts: 2,397	Guys, Overcharging on postage is unfortunately not a prerogative of the East. I once bought on E-thing 5 aluminum badges for the grand total of $3.50. The seller, an American, then contacted me and told me that postage to France was $12. After haggling and fussing, he agreed to review his charges: $3 for postage (which was about right) AND $9 for handling. Creativity knows no boundaries... Marc

07-25-2010, 09:02 AM	#69
RichieC Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: United States Of America Age: 58 Posts: 223	Re: Shipping troubles Eric, I send parcels to South America quite often via USPS International Priority Mail, and at times it takes as long as EIGHT weeks to reach it's recipient. Full value is always declared on the customs forms and of course, insurance is mandatory...

07-25-2010, 09:22 AM	#70
*CtahhR* Forum Administrator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Deep In The Archives. Age: 17 Posts: 12,074	Re: Shipping troubles I think everyone would always rather have the items they've paid for (or think they have) than to get their money back. Here in England using Fedex (or many other international parcel services) is a big mistake. I once ordered a package from Japan (Guaranteed 3 day) which I tracked online (although the updating of that was slow). The first time the package came from Japan to Hawaii through mainland US to Iceland to England where it was left without being signed for (though it should have been) at an incorrect address Birmingham (120 miles away) after an honest person returned the package to Fedex the package returned to Japan from where once again it set off to England via mainland US. This time the package was left at an address in Nottingham (once again a signature was not asked for) 70 miles away, where once again it was returned to the Fedex depot and it was flown back to Japan via Iceland and mainland US. At this point I received (via Royal Mail) 2 customs invoices for 2 packages which I didn't receive. I contacted Fedex about this but they didn't want to cooperate in the subject. Finally after 6 plus weeks the package arrived in England for the final time and was successfully navigated to my address after a half an hour long phone conversation with the driver giving very explicit directions. The package arrived in a bit of a state but the contents were in perfect condition even though they had had a 32 thousand mile plus journey. The day after I got 3 more letters from a debt collector (delivered by Royal Mail) demanding over £240 in costs plus the £16 customs duties immediately or I would be summoned to court. After I got one of my people on the case and had them explain to Fedex the situation after a 2-3 hour long conversation Fedex not only called off the debt collection but they also paid the customs duties for me (even though that was only charged as they charged me on the cost of postage not the cost of the items!). Not a good example of delivery. I once at another time ordered a $22,500 item from Japan which was to be delivered by UPS. Even though the package was coated in "FRAGILE" and "THIS WAY UP ONLY" etc when the delivery men came to deliver it (I watched the vehicle drive up my driveway) they didn't ring my doorbell or knock on the door they just opened my door and threw it in and left. The contents were destroyed and I had to have lots of conversations with lots of people not only to get the destroyed item picked up (which I had to do from an alternate address) but to get it returned and replaced. Which it finally was. These are the two major delivery cock ups I've had in the last decade but there are also over 10,000 good deliveries I have received in that time so who can complain? The only serious problems I have with Royal Mail is when they try to fit 10 or 12 inch records in a 7 inch postbox or one time they fed a £120 item to my dog. Usually a good dealer will know to best way to get his items to you and will also be sending you just what you asked for. The Bulgarian mail service seems to be very reliable!

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