eBay sale: Delivered package but buyer claiming no card (empty toploader)

[eastbayak]

Since my last update, there's been 2 more buyers (both PWEs) that had tampering issues.

Of the batch of packages (2 bubble mailers + 9 PWEs) that I shipped out on 11/15 from El Cerrito, 5 have been tampered with so far (2 bubble mailers + 3 PWEs).

I anticipate the remaining PWEs to have the same issues. Crazy to know an employee would tamper with such volume of mail, from 1 seller, and think they can get away with it. I won't let up until that POS is caught, and I'm filing unique reports (both police and USPS OIG) for each one, hoping that higher volume of reports results in quicker action/investigation.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Since my last update, there's been 2 more buyers (both PWEs) that had tampering issues.

Of the batch of packages (2 bubble mailers + 9 PWEs) that I shipped out on 11/15 from El Cerrito, 5 have been tampered with so far (2 bubble mailers + 3 PWEs).

I anticipate the remaining PWEs to have the same issues. Crazy to know an employee would tamper with such volume of mail, from 1 seller, and think they can get away with it. I won't let up until that POS is caught, and I'm filing unique reports (both police and USPS OIG) for each one, hoping that higher volume of reports results in quicker action/investigation.

No one ever said scammers/thieves were smart

Here’s to hoping they’re able to identify this person and you’re made whole.

[prospectorgems]

I had one this past weekend that said they only got one card in their ESE and the other two cards were missing. This was an international shipment and the buyer said that the ESE was not tampered with (so they say).

Per my little bit of understanding, I thought for all orders sent to the international hub were in fact opened and the contents were put in another package and the international label created.

IF what the buyer is saying is true that the envelope was never opened...how would it be possible for the cards to be missing?

Something was clearly not right in all of this and potentially just a scammy buyer which is crazy that the best card out of the 3 cards remained.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

No one ever said scammers/thieves were smart

Here’s to hoping they’re able to identify this person and you’re made whole.

Haha true that.

Honestly, I'd be completely OK without being made whole (so far, ~$300) if such efforts lead to the USPS employee(s) being captured and convicted.

Originally Posted by prospectorgems

I had one this past weekend that said they only got one card in their ESE and the other two cards were missing. This was an international shipment and the buyer said that the ESE was not tampered with (so they say).

Per my little bit of understanding, I thought for all orders sent to the international hub were in fact opened and the contents were put in another package and the international label created.

IF what the buyer is saying is true that the envelope was never opened...how would it be possible for the cards to be missing?

Something was clearly not right in all of this and potentially just a scammy buyer which is crazy that the best card out of the 3 cards remained.

I can't speak on international mails but I'll mention one thing. When I asked the buyer of my most-recent incident if he noticed any slits to the PWE, he initially said no. Then I asked him a few follow-up questions (about the package) and he eventually uncovered a slit (it was re-taped and covered in a way that wasn't visible to him when looking from outside but noticeable when looking from within the PWE).

Whoever tampered with the PWE made a real effort to keep it concealed.

[Breesus85]

Originally Posted by prospectorgems

I had one this past weekend that said they only got one card in their ESE and the other two cards were missing. This was an international shipment and the buyer said that the ESE was not tampered with (so they say).

Per my little bit of understanding, I thought for all orders sent to the international hub were in fact opened and the contents were put in another package and the international label created.

IF what the buyer is saying is true that the envelope was never opened...how would it be possible for the cards to be missing?

Something was clearly not right in all of this and potentially just a scammy buyer which is crazy that the best card out of the 3 cards remained.

Were these by chance 2 different order from the buyer that you combined in one envelope?

I have had instances where I packed orders together from the same buyer, that had 2 different order numbers, and they split into two packages at the international hub.

[f2tornado]

It wouldn't be the first time an El Cerrito employee was stealing stuff. I ran a google search on mail theft in that town and no shortage of news.

[Onyx Dragon]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Haha true that.

Honestly, I'd be completely OK without being made whole (so far, ~$300) if such efforts lead to the USPS employee(s) being captured and convicted.

I can't speak on international mails but I'll mention one thing. When I asked the buyer of my most-recent incident if he noticed any slits to the PWE, he initially said no. Then I asked him a few follow-up questions (about the package) and he eventually uncovered a slit (it was re-taped and covered in a way that wasn't visible to him when looking from outside but noticeable when looking from within the PWE).

Whoever tampered with the PWE made a real effort to keep it concealed.

eastbayak - hopefully there will be resolutions to your issue and the others. Holiday season seems to bring about the bad folks, especially the porch pirates and vandals into this season.

That being said, I'm hoping buyers will have much more understanding and patience when it comes to these issues. It's fully NOT the seller's fault if there are issues with the shipping company that's involved. It's unfortunately sad that buyers would be emotionally upset and pointing blame to sellers when they need to fully understand the current situation.

[eastbayak]

Just a quick follow-up to the whole situation.

So far, 2 bubble mailers and 6 PWEs have been tampered with.

I submitted multiple reports for each of them (police, USPIS and USPS OIG) as well as their respective claims.

Regarding claims, I was paid out on the PWEs via PIP. As for the bubble mailer packages, I received two $100 checks (standard insurance) for them. IIRC, I sold the cards in the $165-$175 range so I lost around $100, but I'm grateful that it wasn't a complete loss. Definitely a lot of time/energy squandered but I'm glad to have recouped most of the funds and be able to put it behind me.

Still hope they catch the USPS employee(s) responsible at the El Cerrito post office.

[fungi2510]

I have seen in this thread a talk about security tape. What are you guys talking about for this? I have not really had any big issues lately, but I am interested in protecting myself as best I can. Thanks.

[inaka]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Just a quick follow-up to the whole situation.

So far, 2 bubble mailers and 6 PWEs have been tampered with.

I submitted multiple reports for each of them (police, USPIS and USPS OIG) as well as their respective claims.

Regarding claims, I was paid out on the PWEs via PIP. As for the bubble mailer packages, I received two $100 checks (standard insurance) for them. IIRC, I sold the cards in the $165-$175 range so I lost around $100, but I'm grateful that it wasn't a complete loss. Definitely a lot of time/energy squandered but I'm glad to have recouped most of the funds and be able to put it behind me.

Still hope they catch the USPS employee(s) responsible at the El Cerrito post office.

I'm really sorry to hear that you had stolen packages. I'm from the same area as well, and that sucks.

I know you've probably done this already, but just in case, I would highly recommend not putting any card related business name as the return address on your packages. In other words, on all of your eBay shipping labels, don't put "Eastbayak Sports Cards" and instead put "East Bay Office Supplies" or something boring that wouldn't tip-off a thief within the delivery chain, etc.

When I buy cards, I can't believe all of the people that use eBay shipping mailers and "Bobs Baseball Cards" or whatever on the outside that are a dream of opportunistic thieves.

[Blake050]

I have a buyer claiming the same thing happened. The bubble mailer had 2 psa slabs sandwiched with cardboard and secured with painters tape. The buyer sent a picture of the empty bubble mailer and the cardboard with painters tape still on it. Seems pretty scammy, but I remembered seeing this thread so would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. The two slabs were $125 total.

[tdbaseballcards]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Just a quick follow-up to the whole situation.

So far, 2 bubble mailers and 6 PWEs have been tampered with.

I submitted multiple reports for each of them (police, USPIS and USPS OIG) as well as their respective claims.

Regarding claims, I was paid out on the PWEs via PIP. As for the bubble mailer packages, I received two $100 checks (standard insurance) for them. IIRC, I sold the cards in the $165-$175 range so I lost around $100, but I'm grateful that it wasn't a complete loss. Definitely a lot of time/energy squandered but I'm glad to have recouped most of the funds and be able to put it behind me.

Still hope they catch the USPS employee(s) responsible at the El Cerrito post office.

What time of claim did you submit with PIP to get them to refund you, loss or damaged?