first time getting corals with usps

[grabbitt]

Unfortunately, a lot of things in this hobby are live and learn. Next time you order $650 worth of livestock, you may as well shell out the extra 25 bucks and go with UPS, Fedex, or DHL.
I'm sorry for your loss. We have all had our share of bad shipping experiences. I hope you get your money back from USPS or the seller. Either way, someone owes you money.

 

[grabbitt]

Originally Posted by corallover23
http:///forum/post/2616667
all i am going to say is it was a hobbiest
If it was a person belonging to this board, please let us know who it was. You could be helping many people save their time and money should something go south as your situation did.

 

[namas05]

I agree, before some one else looses $650 dollars on a sale.
Also I would not drop the issue with the seller, and work with your method of payment to try to get your money bck.

 

[candycane]

Did you go to the site and read this "bible" because it is on the site I believe? That amount of money even makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[mscarpena]

I do not think the shipper or the seller should refund the money. Everyone knows that people who sell and ship corals are not responsible for the way that the shipping company handles things. I have had boxes smashed to bits. As long as the shipper did their part and packed it properly it is on the post office. Unfortunately the post office nor any other shipping company does not garuntee any livestock. You will get your shipping refunded maybe, but thats it. Imagine if you shipped some one $650.00 worth of corals double ot triple bagged everything, styrofoam cooler, and shipped it garunteed overnight. Then some 16 year old punk drops the box and something punctures the box and it leaks. Do you feel that it it your responsibility? I thik you need to call the postmaster and get pictures of the package and ask him how it was packaged. I would also ask the shipper how it was packed and they should be able to provide you with pictures as well. Then at that point you should be able to figure out who is to blame. In my opion if the shipper did their part and packed everything well you can not hold them responsible for some one else's neglect. I have had boxes come shipped to me in horrible condition and no amount of packing would have enable that package to get to me in one peice. I blamed who was to blame the shipping company and not the shipper. Also did you get any sort of garuntee from the shipper? What is their policy most people even say they are not responsible once the package has left their hands for reasons such as this like box damage or shipping delays.

 

[jrthomas40]

650 bux should seller and buy should have required next day air dhl, fedex, ups...i ship all the time through usps and have only had a problem once but it was my first time shipping and I thought i did a good job but i did not...so now everything i ship is triple bagged if not 4 times then wrapped with either bubble wrap those big bubble bags

 

[jrthomas40]

Originally Posted by mscarpena
http:///forum/post/2616778
I do not think the shipper or the seller should refund the money. Everyone knows that people who sell and ship corals are not responsible for the way that the shipping company handles things. I have had boxes smashed to bits. As long as the shipper did their part and packed it properly it is on the post office. Unfortunately the post office nor any other shipping company does not garuntee any livestock. You will get your shipping refunded maybe, but thats it. Imagine if you shipped some one $650.00 worth of corals double ot triple bagged everything, styrofoam cooler, and shipped it garunteed overnight. Then some 16 year old punk drops the box and something punctures the box and it leaks. Do you feel that it it your responsibility? I thik you need to call the postmaster and get pictures of the package and ask him how it was packaged. I would also ask the shipper how it was packed and they should be able to provide you with pictures as well. Then at that point you should be able to figure out who is to blame. In my opion if the shipper did their part and packed everything well you can not hold them responsible for some one else's neglect. I have had boxes come shipped to me in horrible condition and no amount of packing would have enable that package to get to me in one peice. I blamed who was to blame the shipping company and not the shipper. Also did you get any sort of garuntee from the shipper? What is their policy most people even say they are not responsible once the package has left their hands for reasons such as this like box damage or shipping delays.

very good point...i may have to make this something i take into consideration

 

[corallover23]

the thing is the place the package was dropped off is where it started leaking it never left the place it was dropped off.
thats why the seller said there is no refund cause the postoffice accepted the package. the postoffice said its not thier fault that the package was leaking 2 minuts because it was not packed the way the ELM book said it should be packaged.

 

[bronco300]

Originally Posted by corallover23
http:///forum/post/2616819
the thing is the place the package was dropped off is where it started leaking it never left the place it was dropped off.
doesn't mean the post office didnt toss it around...you should see the way UPS handles some of their packages...the trucks look like they barrel rolled 10 times sometimes when i see them--see if theyll take pictures of it and the inside to see how it was bagged, thatll tell ya most likely

 

[prime311]

Originally Posted by mscarpena
http:///forum/post/2616778
I do not think the shipper or the seller should refund the money. Everyone knows that people who sell and ship corals are not responsible for the way that the shipping company handles things. I have had boxes smashed to bits. As long as the shipper did their part and packed it properly it is on the post office. Unfortunately the post office nor any other shipping company does not garuntee any livestock. You will get your shipping refunded maybe, but thats it. Imagine if you shipped some one $650.00 worth of corals double ot triple bagged everything, styrofoam cooler, and shipped it garunteed overnight. Then some 16 year old punk drops the box and something punctures the box and it leaks. Do you feel that it it your responsibility? I thik you need to call the postmaster and get pictures of the package and ask him how it was packaged. I would also ask the shipper how it was packed and they should be able to provide you with pictures as well. Then at that point you should be able to figure out who is to blame. In my opion if the shipper did their part and packed everything well you can not hold them responsible for some one else's neglect. I have had boxes come shipped to me in horrible condition and no amount of packing would have enable that package to get to me in one peice. I blamed who was to blame the shipping company and not the shipper. Also did you get any sort of garuntee from the shipper? What is their policy most people even say they are not responsible once the package has left their hands for reasons such as this like box damage or shipping delays.

This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
If the item does not even arrive to the buyer then it is the shippers responsibility.
If the item arrives DOA then it is most likely the shippers responsibility.
It is USPS responsibility to pay for the livestock if it was insured properly(again, responsibility of the shipper).
It is the shippers responsibility to collect payment from USPS.
The buyer is ONLY responsible for items arriving DOA that they agreed to be responsible for or for items mishandled by the buyer.
Either way its a raw deal, but in the end the shipper is responsible for any problems with the shipment.
The only way for a buyer to be s-crewed in this manner is if they cannot provide proof of payment and the shipper decides to s-crew them and deny ever agreeing to anything or make the buyer take them to small claims court which is probably more trouble than its worth.
This is the law(I watch a lot of court tv).

 

[shipwrecked]

Im sorry to hear about the package,I have had this happen a few times.My scenario was with an online shipper and the box came in wet,UPS documented it and I received a credit.I think by now everyone knows how live deliveries are a "risk" lets face it I really believe that when the box says "live items" the delivery people actually read: shake well and throw hard...sad but seems true.Now with this said,someone shipping corals should make a BIG attempt to try to avoid such catastrophies such as triple bagging,styrofoam inserts,attaching corals to styrofoam upside down with rubber bands..basically package them to be able to make it thru a train wreck. I hope it works out for you next time around....good luck

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by corallover23
http:///forum/post/2616819
the thing is the place the package was dropped off is where it started leaking it never left the place it was dropped off.
thats why the seller said there is no refund cause the postoffice accepted the package. the postoffice said its not thier fault that the package was leaking 2 minuts because it was not packed the way the ELM book said it should be packaged.
Hell! If its sitting where it was dropped off, why doesn't your seller go down and pick it up? Granted your seller may have done his job with packaging (although if it was leaking that fast I have to say that I doubt it), if s/he is a decent fellow that least they would do is go down, pick it up, put it back in their tank, and reship (preferably with a new company). You should offer to repay shipping and maybe even a little extra for fuel, but at least you wouldn't be out the full $650 dollars. I'd also make USPS send pictures of the package (showing the shipping label and damage). For all you know, if the seller told it was a package of live corals, someone in the post office may have decided it was a cheap way to get some coral (not likely, but it could be). I've shipped several times through USPS, and their service has never been what I would call great, but saying they won't ship liquids and livestock is a bunch of B.S. I had a postmaster call me, to find out what was in a package that was leaking at a hub. I told him live corals and its just saltwater ~ he said no problem and they shipped it on. Sounds to me like you got caught by a green postmaster who lives by the book. Hope you can figure out some way to salvage the situation at least somewhat.

 

[mscarpena]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2616843
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
If the item does not even arrive to the buyer then it is the shippers responsibility.
If the item arrives DOA then it is most likely the shippers responsibility.
It is USPS responsibility to pay for the livestock if it was insured properly(again, responsibility of the shipper).
It is the shippers responsibility to collect payment from USPS.
The buyer is ONLY responsible for items arriving DOA that they agreed to be responsible for or for items mishandled by the buyer.
Either way its a raw deal, but in the end the shipper is responsible for any problems with the shipment.
The only way for a buyer to be s-crewed in this manner is if they cannot provide proof of payment and the shipper decides to s-crew them and deny ever agreeing to anything or make the buyer take them to small claims court which is probably more trouble than its worth.
This is the law(I watch a lot of court tv).
First off laws very greatly from state to state. Also every situation is different. You can not apply court TV to this situation. He needs to figure out who is at fault by packaging it wrong or by mishandling of the shipping company. If what you say is true I could ship you a package USPS could run it over with their truck and say its undeliverable. If you take their word for it and dont push the issue you think I would be responsible. If you sue some one in court you as the plantiff have to prove with in reason that the person you are sueing is negligent in some way. If you don't know how the package was shipped or handled by USPS how do you know who is negligant. It's all about whos fault it was. If the box is smashed to bits then it's the shipping companies fault. If the box is prestine and just wet the corals were not packaged properly. You need to demand pictures or to still have the package delivered to you. Also have them take a bunch of pictures and count the bags. Also pay attention to the size of the rocks. The one that was leaking needs to have special attention to it. Size and shape of rocks, how many bags, how many rubber bands, and anything else that will help you prove anythng. Good luck and sorry to hear about it. Also if the shipper made no garuntee then there is no garuntee.

 

[bird dog]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2616843
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
If the item does not even arrive to the buyer then it is the shippers responsibility.
If the item arrives DOA then it is most likely the shippers responsibility.
It is USPS responsibility to pay for the livestock if it was insured properly(again, responsibility of the shipper).
It is the shippers responsibility to collect payment from USPS.
The buyer is ONLY responsible for items arriving DOA that they agreed to be responsible for or for items mishandled by the buyer.
Either way its a raw deal, but in the end the shipper is responsible for any problems with the shipment.
The only way for a buyer to be s-crewed in this manner is if they cannot provide proof of payment and the shipper decides to s-crew them and deny ever agreeing to anything or make the buyer take them to small claims court which is probably more trouble than its worth.
This is the law(I watch a lot of court tv).
Correct shipper responsible. No item no pay. Damaged still shipper ,lost still shipper, stolen still shipper. Call bank ,call credit card company. Incomplete transaction period.

 

[mscarpena]

Originally Posted by corallover23
http:///forum/post/2616819
the thing is the place the package was dropped off is where it started leaking it never left the place it was dropped off.
thats why the seller said there is no refund cause the postoffice accepted the package. the postoffice said its not thier fault that the package was leaking 2 minuts because it was not packed the way the ELM book said it should be packaged.
I just caught this. That seems a little fishy to me, no pun intended. If it was leaking that quickly it would seem to me that it is on the shipper. I had a boxe get crushed once and the bag did not leak. The anemone is 100% fine. Again try to get pics and I would try to get the shipper down there, but get pics from the post office first if you can. See what the shipper will do for you and if it never left the post office you can get an afidavid from them stating that and I would say it was neglect on the shipper then.

 

[bronco300]

agree with msc...its a buyer beware when you deal with other hobbyist, most local hobbyist are not going to guarantee the shipping company will get it to you without any flaws, its its a packaging error then ok the shipper is responsible...but if there is no agreement saying that the shipper will take responsibility if USPS screws up then there isn't much they have to do..unless that package was poorly done in the first place like mentioned...and I am pretty sure that USPS wont ship livestock, from what i've been told is that some hubs will but most do not..technically you have to call their ESO to clear live animal packages...and they will tell you where to drop it off...if possible...guess maybe you could claim he didnt do that, i dont know...it sucks, but not many places will refund on account of the shipping companies fault...but like mentioned, tell the post office to take pictures, it'll help a ton

 

[flricordia]

USPS is not responsible for delivering a package that has leaked. For a coral package that cost $650 you should have had it shipped priority Fedex. Anyone would have known to do that.
I am sorry, but my flags are up about this because you have been asked several times who it was that shipped it so others could take precautions, and yet all you have said is it is a fellow hobbyist. If I was shipping a package of corals valued at $650 I would package them so it did not leak, simple enough and I would not ship it USPS. Doesn't make sense. Why would you post something like this, get people all in a tissy about a large order that has been destroyed, and yet not let people know who to look out for, especially since the shipper is not willing to make-up any of it? That is someone I would not want to deal with and I would want others to know about. What gives? Did the package really cost $650 and if so don't you think that everyone here should know about who the shipper is that doesn't want to take any responsibility for it?
There is a forum for this called Trader feedback.

 

[namas05]

If indeed the shipper was correct and it was packaged correctly. A toss of the box, or a drop of the box would not cause itto leak.
if there was something that sharp in one of the bags, a .50 ziploc plastic container will slide inside the bag and keep it from geting holes poked in it.
For a $650.00 sale of corals, (sounds like a lot for a hobbiest) i would personally spend and extra $20.00 out of pocket to be sure that it arrived in good shape for the plain simple fact that i wouldn't want to be responsible for giving all that money back and having nothing.
that being said, I have shipped a ton of stuff and yes have had things damaged in shipping causing bags to leak and a couple DOA, and I either replaced the coral or refunded the money.
Get that box even if it takes a month. Then the seller is responsible for refund or replace DOA corals.
He needs to file the claim, if it was insured properly and the USPS was told what was in there then they would cover it. If he lied to them and didn't tell them what was in the box,then he is responsible for the refund.
The two thing you need to do are:
Cancel the payment through PP or CC
And let us all know who is the poor seller here on the site so we don't get taken for a ride by someone that is a poor shipper/seller.
If you aren't going to do this, then I guess your just screwed and you will probably continue to get screwed.

 

[ajilon]

this all does seem a little fishy to me. I can't understand why the seller isn't being revealed. We're not looking to pick on someone. We just don't want to get taken across like this buyer.
Revealing who it was that sold this item will more than likely entice the seller to refund the money or replace the corals. If I were out $650, I'd do everything in my power to recoup something for what I'd been put through.

 

[namas05]

I would Drive/fly to his house and personally request it from him face to face before I would just call it gone.