USPS not responsible
 

Found out something new.

In regards to anything sent by USPS by regular mail.

If it is damaged, USPS accept no responsibility. ???

I received a poster in a heavy duty box.

It was crushed in the middle ruining the poster.

I talked with postmaster who said,

"Unfortunately, things do get damaged in the mail."

Package started with UPS who then handed it off to the U.S. mail.

No way to prove who damaged it.

If P.O. had cameras, this is what you would see. :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C-e96m4730

insurance for a set amount would have rectified it. Like when a antique clock mailed to me came in destroyed.

That is how they (fedex, ups, usps and others) sell you insurance.

I have never had any damaged packages from any of those services.

Which probably explains who so many do NOT use the USPS. :-)

In Germany it would be like that:
If the goods are not wrapped adequately, than the seller can be held liable.

Furthermore if the sender is a commercial seller then the transfer of perils happens actually when you receive the package from the conveyor.

Wheras if you buy from private, the transfer is already when the seller hands adequately wrapped package to the conveyor.

Here the buyer needs to check the goods and best would be to report and documente a damaged packaging of a parcel instantly to the deliverer on sight.

Although I don't know the detailed procedures, rights and duties. Especially not differing right in the US.

The seller will either send another one or give me a refund.

The package was shipped in a heavy duty cardboard box.

So the damage was caused by either UPS or the U.S. postal service.

My experience with the USPS has been generally quite good (back in 1975 some film sent for developing was lost either to or from--remember "film"?). I say this fully aware that some in our polity are intent on destroying the post office.

A US first-class stamp is a great bargain (I'll not mention what stamps cost when I was a young 'un). These days, too, a lot of mail processing is automated, and machines aren't always gentle, especially when packaging is not strictly to spec (I'm not saying that this applies to your package--that is just a general comment). And, sometimes, stuff just happens.

For items of value, registration, certification, and insurance are offered. Those services come with tracking numbers. Certain outfits that I mail-order from offer the option of insurance; I never take advantage of it.

I had to send some valuable papers to Second Son this week (certified copy of birth certificate, original social security card). Natch, I sent them certified return receipt; I always send income tax returns certified return receipt.

AFAIC, the post office does a great--not perfect, but great--job.

There was a time when the U.S.P.S. was trustworthy, but not anymore.
Maybe it depends on where you live, but around here theft from the mail has become as bad as a third world country. Don't even get me started about Netflix DVDs (before streaming) disappearing on the way to me or on their way back or arriving several days late and had obviously been opened.
:banghead:

If the shipment originated via UPS, unless UPS policy has changed there should to be an automatic up to $100.00 insurance on the parcel. If so, perhaps you could file a claim with UPS.

See the link in my previous post.

Hi all...

I would like see the USPS reintegrated back into the Federal Government as the Post Office Department as it existed prior to 1971. Rates could be reduced with the primary means of funding being taken care of through federal taxes. :twocents:

Regards...

My experience with USPS has been good. Cheaper and more reliable than UPS or FEDEX, IME. I shipped a guitar worth ~$12k via USPS, and had no problems. I did have the guitar insured separately, since USPS doesn't offer that much insurance, but it arrived on time with no problems. Almost everything I buy online comes via USPS, even if shipped via UPS. UPS gives it to the post office for delivery. Things arrive on time, in good condition, almost all the time. Packages can be damaged, of course, but it's the shipper's responsibility to pack the contents adequately. The poster might have been damaged before shipment, and the seller wants to blame the PO instead. Not certain, but certainly not impossible. The principle of the shipper being responsible for adequate packing is ancient, and the USPS has never accepted responsibility for damage, not since Ben Franklin started it up, and not today. If you mail an item, you're responsible for packing it to prevent damage, and insuring it if it's that valuable. The damage is between you and the seller. That's who you need to complain to.

Will have to disagree with that idea.

Govt. is generally inefficient and wasteful.

Supposedly the USPS is independent of the govt.
They have much competition and many things that used to require mail, can be done online.

Yet there have been no layoffs.

You are right.

Most of my experience with USPS has been positive.

Maybe I am picky, but it just irks me that they will not accept responsibility when they damage something.

"Hey, c'mon ..." with any carrier, there's a non-zero probability that your box will be torpedoed by a forklift.

The carrier has an obligation to the consignor to deliver the package as-agreed. If, upon (non-) receipt, you find that the package is damaged, you file a claim with the carrier, before allowing the driver to drive away (if possible) and inform the consignor ... the company that sold the goods to you.

Ultimately, "your contract" is with the company that sold the goods to you. (They are the ones who subsequently contracted with the carrier of their choice.) All that you need to do is to reasonably comply with their instructions for dealing with this unfortunate but unforeseeable outcome.