Some sod nicked my Nettar

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

A Nettar I bought for $50 arrived today .... or, at least, the empty envelope did, neatly sliced open with "Packet damaged on arrival New York" stamped on it. I guess the sticker with "Camera value $200" on it attracted somebody's eye, somewhere between Kentucky and New York. The thief must have been surprised not to find a digital P&S that they could sell in a backstreet bar.

The Post Office here is checking that the contents aren't lying about somewhere but it looks like straightforward theft to me.

Anyway, it was shipped USPS Priority Mail International, with insurance included in the international shipping cost, according to ebay. Has anyone had to make a claim on this service? Do I claim the auction price plus postage, the "book value" or the $200 marked on the value sticker?

Any ideas?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I had never ever trouble with any Postal service , sorry to hear your trouble. I have no experience with claim. I think if sender make claim and receiver postal service confirm packet arrived empty you will don't have trouble with refund.

Xpres · Expire: 2014-10-28

If the sender has marked $200 on the front rather than $50 it may be a scam? The damage happened before it got the US - maybe the camera was never there in the first place? Now the sender can claim $200. Maybe my imagination runs away a bit.... Embarassed

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

No, so far I don't think that is the problem.

The item was posted from the southern US (and was accepted with a sticker stating it was a camera, so presumably at the moment it was handed over it had something in it). By the time it reached New York it had been tampered with. It was coming out of the US, not going in.

So if we pay for shipping with insurance, it is the person who sends it who benefits from what we pay, not us? That doesn't seem right.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

It's down to the sender to claim for the loss and to re-imburse you. The contract exists between the sender and the Postal Service, whatever one it might be.

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

The sender says there is no insurance to my country ... I think that is right, actually (despite the standard e-bay statement). I guess I check with e-bay but it looks like a total loss.

The Novar anastigmat doesn't even have a lens number to give me a chance of catching it on ebay, does it?