Who's responsible?

[Oceans64]

Wow M - That is a bummer!  Is there any way to salvage it?

[mariok54]

Hi Oceans...  Almost the word that sprang to my lips when I opened the package 

It could be, but it would have to be done by someone with a lot more skill than I possess. I'm handy at BIG constructions about the house and garden, but not too hot on intricate work   

The seller seems a really nice person, so we're going to try to get the Royal Mail to cough up ... could be a long campaign!

What makes it such a shame is that it apparently belonged to the seller's mother, now passed on, so they're upset .. and I'm sure my wife would have loved it (it's now hiding in the shed a it would really upset her, more than it has me!)

[waywardangler]

That is a real bummer, mario! Royal Mail must be as rough as USPS and airline baggage handlers.

[Oceans64]

I'm handy at BIG constructions about the house and garden, but not too hot on intricate work   

I hear you!  Small projects are more a lesson of restraint in vocalizing 4 letter words than one in fine craftsmanship - For me anyway.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Oh NOOOO!!!    Although with all the successful Eastlake repairs, maybe there is something that could be done?

[hosman321]

What a shame Mario!
The post office has been giving us the run around for days. They said they would talk to the carrier but they haven't yet. I'm the impatient type and I'm not going to wait around for weeks. So, I politely wrote the seller and told them it's not their fault or mine. But that I do need to open a dispute to get the money back so I can purchase the sheets again. (Other sellers have the same ones) This was the response I got. Are they correct? Our new bed comes tomorrow and I wanted these exact sheets. 

Since the Delivery Confirmation shows that the package was delivered to your address, I am required to complete a Lost Mail Form with the USPS.The Postal Form that I will submit on monday includes your Name, Address, and Telephone Number. You may be contacted by a Postal Inspector within the next few days. If you should find the package, please contact me immediately, and I will notify the Post Office that the package has been located.
Should the package not turn up, the Post Office may consider it to be stolen mail, and will investigate accordingly.
Please be prepared to speak with the Postal Inspector if they call, so that we can resolve this matter quickly.
If the package is not located, you can always file a Paypal dispute to get your money back.
Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

[mariok54]

I sympathise with your position, Hosman, I've only ever opened a dispute once, as a buyer, before the new ebay rules, and ended up being fleeced by ebay as well as the seller.

I feel for the seller in my case, not only for the reasons already mentioned, but can you imagine just how Royal Mail must have abused that package to actually break off all four legs from what was (I imagine) a very sturdy oak box   

[Oceans64]

Hosman read this: http://reviews.ebay.com/Filing-a-Dispute-Claim-with-PayPal-for-an-eBay-auction_W0QQugidZ10000000004225897

If you open a dispute today, there is still a 20 day communications window.  You are in a rock and hard spot here.  If you file today, you wait. If you work with the seller, you may get $ returned sooner as they probably DO NOT want a dispute not the negative feedback you will leave.

Either way it's tough - I'd probably work with the seller on this one.  Hitting the PO from both sides may help but Wayward probably has more thoughts on that... 

[waywardangler]

Since the Delivery Confirmation shows that the package was delivered to your address, I am required to complete a Lost Mail Form with the USPS.

Del. Con. shows the item was delivered but it does not show the item was delivered to your address.  The lost mail form the seller is talking about does not do much. It does go to the inspection dept. but that is about it. They keep track if there is an abnormal amount of packages constantly being "lost" to one address or some other anomaly. The rest of the stuff they tell you is to pacify you and make you feel good as you walk out the door. The lost mail form is basically a joke and they know it.  I filled out hundreds of those for customers.

I would be a constant pest with the Delivery Supervisor at your PO and even talk to the Postmaster if the Del. Supervisor is of no help. They hate to see the same people come back again and again so they will find out what happened to your parcel.

Get a phone number for the USPS Consumer Affairs for your area and file a complaint with them. Your post office will get a phone call immediately asking about your claim.

There was no insurance so the seller does have to produce what you bought or give you your money back. PayPal will refund your money. I am not sure of the timeframes here.

[hosman321]

I'll call eBay and Paypal on Monday. I can't do anything online because it says, "Your item has already been delivered" and won't let me choose any other options. This is just plain frustrating. If all else fails, I will contact my bank and tell them I paid for and item and never received it. They should give me my money back. On the resolution page, it says that a seller will probablywin their claim if the tracking info says, "Delivered." Guess I'll just have to talk to them. Helping my mom move tomorrow and picking up the new bed so will be very busy until night time. 
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buyer-protection.html#exclusions

[hosman321]

After promising and promising to talk to the carrier for days, the post office finally called us back. She said that the carrier swears up and down that they left the package at our front door. She says the carrier also left a paper in the crack of our door yesterday with her name and number. Again, yesterday I was here all day and there was no paper in the crack of the door. I looked all over outside and inside the house and it didn't fall off. She is clearly going to the wrong address. 

[mart]

Catch her at your door and ask her what house she left it at !!  That should tell you that she can`t tell what the house numbers are and left it at the wrong house !!

[waywardangler]

Yeah, I would wait for her and ask her what house she left it at. Clearly she is going to the wrong house or lying. Inexcusable in my opinion.

[hosman321]

Ohh I'm so irritated. I just happened to open the door to let the cat in and saw her at the end of the street. So, I throw on my jacket, walk out in the pouring rain and crazy wild wind to walk up to her car and she drove around me and left! I was clearly walking up to her and we even smiled at each other when I got to the car (next to my mailbox by then). I couldn't believe it when she just drove off. Either this new girl is scared because she lost a package or she is an outright liar and took it. Or, she had no clue who I was and thought I was just checking my mail. Who knows. Ugh. When my husband called the lady said the carrier described the house where she left the package as "kind of a cream-ish color." Well, it's bright white. I don't know. I give up with them.

[Oceans64]

I would tell them she needs to come to your door and knock...  Tie a balloon to it or something so she knows she is at the right house.  We have issues with ours chronically putting mail in the wrong boxes but those are all in a row...  This is ridiculous!