VERY SAD SITUATION - be aware!

[block36]

Have sold the book to buyer from CT, USA and shipped it on November 2-nd as "small packet (no tracking)" that was checked thru ZONOS and the code was assigned.

On December 4-th the buyer asked to provide the evidence of shipment and was very satisfied with my documents from the postal outlet.  Advised he does not mind to wait longer.

But today he sent me photos with empty box that he received and the "apology" sticker USPS.

I am attaching photo of the same quality as was sent to me.  

Of course, I am fully refunding buyer and I appreciate his patience.

Have read somewhere that USPS does not have enough people with skills to deal with tariffs and many parcels were just thrawn to garbage.

Hope with the reference to "apology letter"  the buyer will be able to get some reimbursement - he deserves it for his patience!   And inconvenience!

Decided to share it with other sellers since no high confedence now about postal service.

[mrdutch1001]

Since I stopped selling/shipping to the USA mid-August, I have 0 worries on that front!...I utilize lettermail for a portion of my within Canada shipments and have had 0 issues with that untracked service.

[recped]

Your situation has nothing to do with tariffs or customs. If USPS had possession of the package that would mean that it has been cleared through US Customs. At some point along the way the package was damaged and the contents lost. In this situation USPS will continue to deliver with the notification that the contents were lost at some point.

You need to refund the buyer and given that there is no included insurance for Small Packets there is no way for you or the buyer to get reimbursement other than you giving them a refund.

[transtraders]

There has been some incidents of customers using AI to "Fake" a photo of damage to the item in order to get a refund from the seller/ebay. I am not saying that photo you posted is fake, but just something to be aware of. 

[mrdutch1001]

There is no trust whatsoever in this world today...AI is being abused to the point of destroying everything in its path...

[block36]

Do you know by which methods custom taxes are collected by USPS?  Or it is collected by customs prior to transfer to USPS?  

Is it by some kind of email notice with payment link issued prior to delivery? 

Where packages are kept waiting for paid duties?

Or it is a box that postman has in Canada with options to pay by Visa, etc. ? And if the recipient not at home to make such a payment?

I list these possible options trying to analyse the flaw and possible "problems" - just to be fair in my judgements.

Please share your knowledge 

[reallynicestamps]

With GSP the customs brokerage was done in the USA before being sent on to Canada.

This is very common with shippers of any size, like LLBean or ShopZuri.com. 

And is also how UPS reportedly handles brokerage. 

When you drive to the US border, those oranges are siezed before you are allowed over the line.

[mrdutch1001]

To the best of my knowledge ALL applicable Tariffs,etc MUST be prepaid BEFORE acceptance by USPS as USPS does NOT collect Tariffs...

[flipistics]

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@block36 wrote:

Do you know by which methods custom taxes are collected by USPS?  Or it is collected by customs prior to transfer to USPS?  

Is it by some kind of email notice with payment link issued prior to delivery? 

Where packages are kept waiting for paid duties?

Or it is a box that postman has in Canada with options to pay by Visa, etc. ? And if the recipient not at home to make such a payment?

I list these possible options trying to analyse the flaw and possible "problems" - just to be fair in my judgements.

Please share your knowledge 

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All items entering the USA have to have tariffs prepaid. If you're sending it through the postal system, that happens with Zonos. You have to have paid them before creating the Canada Post label. Some other couriers like UPS might still try to collect from the buyer, but I believe they also have to prepay the tariffs themselves, so if the buyer refuses they're going to charge you for them along with a fairly hefty processing fee.  They're also non-refundable. If the buyer wants to return the item, you can't get the tariffs back.

[mrdutch1001]

Just as a matter of interest...was this book of "Russin" nature?...perhaps the item was not lost to damage, but seized by customs...

[recped]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

Just as a matter of interest...was this book of "Russin" nature?...perhaps the item was not lost to damage, but seized by customs...

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If the package and item was seized by US Customs USPS would never had anything to do with it.

This situation is really very simple, the package was processed by US Customs, handed over to USPS, while in transit with USPS it was damaged and the contents lost.

It's standard policy for USPS (also Canada Post) to continue the delivery process (if the recipient address is still available) and attach the notification shown in the picture the OP posted.

[mrdutch1001]

You are absolutely correct!...and I knew that about customs>USPS too...sorry for my "senior's" moment lapse in memory...

[raanana]

Why it would be a problem even if book is of Russian nature ,never heard that term before ))