I bought a shift knob from somebody on this forum about a week ago and it came in the mail today by usps in an envelope. I opened my mailbox and find an envelope that was ripped and there was nothing inside. Im pretty sure my mailman would not steal it since he's an asian male in his 40s. What am I suppose to do in a situation like this since this has never happened to me. Is there anyway I can get a refund or my shift knob back?

 

If it wasn't insured i think your out of luck.

 

I would agree, any suspecting neighbors? opening someone else is mail is a fed offense isn't it?

 

i live in an apt building where you need to have a key to open your own mailbox.

 

It could have "popped out" of the mail package during shipment and ended up somewhere in the bottom of a freight car or mail bag. I've had that happen before. The envelope basically got caught on something and ripped open in transit.

Maybe you could file a report with the USPS and see if they can find it. Kind of like a lost and found thing. It has to be floating around somwhere.. right?

I don't suspect theft. Afterall, who steals an item from the mail but leaves the envelope? Really?

But in anycase, if it was shipped un-insured, you're pretty much out of luck.

 

Did you request insurance on the item before paying for it.
If not your SOL.
You could try and file a claim with usps but i wouldn't count on it.
If it was in a plain mailing envelope and not taped up well, it could of easily gotten ripped in the shipping and fell out.

 

See the thing is the envelope is ripped on the side. It seems to be sealed extremely well so somebody must of ripped the side off but why would the mailman or usps still put a ripped empty envelope into my mailbox?

 

Go down to the Post Office tomorrow and tell them what happened.

 

cause its their job. they dont know whats in the envelopes when they put it in the mailbox, he probably just thought it was a letter. its not like he can just throw the envelope out or not deliever it. that would be tampering with the mail, which is a federal offense

 

nvm ...

 

The post office provides $100 of insurance on any domestic envelope, or package shipped. Contact the seller and have them initiate a claim with the post office.

Josh

 

hrm....very odd, why would sombody take thier time to rip it open and not take the whole mail?

 

That is not true. I work for the USPS and there is no automatic insurance on any package other then Express mail service.
to the OP was the envelope stamped with any endorsement like "arrived without contents" or "damaged in shipping"? Usually when a carrier notices a package that is damaged or open or obviously missing the contents they make sure that a clerk stamps it up with an endoresment.
this is my biggest pet peeve when people ship things, why can't they atleast make sure that the item is properly packaged. I have seen so many poorly packaged items over the years it just makes me laugh that some people just don't care when they ship something.

 

My apologies, the local Going Postal store I ship everything through provides the first $100 of insurance for me, not the post office. Even if I ship with through them using USPS services they provide this for me. To the OP I would still contact the shipper/seller and see if they are willing to work with you on a refund.

Josh

 

Yes, it is. I heard a man was executed for it once. Serves him right