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OH Shelli, this is my worst fear 
!!! I do hope the adorable little Sprite turns up soon.....Please let us know how you make out...
Hugs,
Krista
Oh Shelli I am SO sorry!!!
Yes, I have had one bear get lost. I used Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. And I did insure the package... but not thru the post office. I used: http://www.u-pic.com At that time, it was the only way you could insure your packages online. I still use them!
Like the post office, I did have to wait 30 days before filing a claim, and then I was refunded my money, and passed that onto my collector.
Bears by EdieOh Shelli, I feel for you - this all of our worst nightmare! But as so many others have said there is a good chance he will turn up yet. There are just so many ways that things could have gotten screwed up and they do have a habit of turning up somewhere more often than not - I am sure we could collectively write a book on things the post office as done! Sending good vibes your way that "Sprite" will be located soon!
You guys are awesome. Thanks for your sympathies and hints.
Here's the scoop so far.
First, my buyer is a sweet and rational gem of a person and I think she knows, because I've reassured her twenty million times!, that she'll get her money back if SPRITE doesn't show up at her doortstep soon. So she's being totally understanding and I'm really happy about that!
Second, yesterday I went to the contract post office where I shipped SPRITE from and checked in with them about the next step. They're not a post office per se, but basically a corner of a local drug store which contracts out with the post office to handle mail domestically, as well as accepting payments for local utilities. Actually it's kinda a cool little place and it's really near my house!
Anyway, they told me that they can't help me and that I have to go to the MAIN post office all the way across town (gee, think I can stand the ten minute drive? :)) and take it up with them there. So that's TODAY'S errand.
Will keep you updated as things progress.
As a related question...
How long would YOU wait to reimburse your buyer if one of your parcels got lost? I'm not sure how to handle this and it's not like I have that kind of cash sitting in my pocket; it pays my bills!
I'd love your thoughts on this...
Thanks!
BrisbaneHow long would YOU wait to reimburse your buyer if one of your parcels got lost? I'm not sure how to handle this and it's not like I have that kind of cash sitting in my pocket; it pays my bills!
Shelli...I don't have any experience in this at all (from the teddy bear perspective that is) but I would think that you could wait at least another couple of weeks, while you get the paper work etc sorted out and to give Sprite a chance to turn up (just in case he's been mis sorted or something)....perhaps you could ask your buyer, if she is willing to wait longer (until the insurance comes in for example) then that would make it easier financially.
From the buyers perspective (my husband buys stuff from all over the world and its amazing the round about route they sometimes take to get to their destination) we've always been prepared to wait a good while...and so far the items have always turned up. I think if you maintain contact with your buyer (keep her in the loop so to speak) then she would be happy to wait for a while at least.
Good luck
Shel, when I had my parcel get lost, I told my collector that the post office (and in my case, the insurance company) requires a 30 day wait to see if it turns up... so I held the payment until I received it. She was totally understanding in my case.... (Otherwise if Sprite DOES turn up... she'll have to pay YOU back as you won't get your insurance money)
Back Road BearsI'd wait as long as the PO makes me wait before I can file a claim. Honestly, it's not my fault the package is lost, the money that customer paid already paid this month's bills and I won't have that money again until the PO reimburses me. If the customer gets upset by this then I'd figure out a way to pay her back sooner.
Not sure that helped you!
Okay everyone. So here's the resolution on my missing bear situation. It comes to a good end.
First... I went to the "real" post office yesterday and found out that insured parcels must wait 21 days from date of mailing before a claim may be filed. I do have all the necessary supporting documents -- original receipts, proof of item value (a printed copy of my eBay auction!), even a copy of my cancelled check to the post office.
I wrote my collector a note this morning explaining all of that and offering her an immediate, out-of-my-pocket refund, but asked her to wait the 21 days at least before I did that if possible. I told her if SPRITE hadn't shown up by 21 days (next Friday), then I'd pay her THEN, immediately, via PayPal.
But... here's the clincher....
I came home from picking up Jr. High son & friend this afternoon, and guess what was sitting on my front porch? Why, SPRITE! The bottom line is that this is a good thing; SPRITE isn't lost and no refund will be necessary on the part of ANY party.
But I'm sure you want to know why my parcel was returned. Right? Especially because this is the same post office, and the same method, and the same packaging, I've been using successfully for years, to ship my bears.
Well... apparently there has been a change in postal regulations. On SPRITE'S packaging there was a bright green sticker and it reads:
IMPORTANT CUSTOMER INFORMATION
We regret that your mail is being returned to you because of heightened security measures. All domestic mail, weighing 16 ounces or over, that bears stamps and all international and military APO/FPO mail weighing 16 ounces or over, MUST be presented to a retail clerk at a post office. Postage that is affixed to the returned mail may be used for re-mailing the item.
AARGH!
So... I think what happened is this.
The post office I go to is, as I mentioned before, not a post office per se, but rather, a "contract" post office which sends out US Postal Service mail, such as Priority Mail parcels, from a tiny corner of a drug store near my house. They contract with USPS to provide this service.
Apparently, because they are not an "official" post office, they don't get to have the official USPS meter and use STAMPS instead. Also, apparently, they aren't considered USPS "retail clerks." In fact, they are employees of the drug store that contracts with the USPS.
So I think I got double-dorked on this by (1) their use of stamps, and (2) by the fact that they're not "official" postal employees. I'm not sure how my parcel would have been scanned/metered/marked if I had taken it to the REAL post office here in Chico, but obviously, it wasn't done "right" by the contract office.
I also wonder if this regulation is new... ?
Anyway, two things come of this.
1.) I will not be using the contract post office for ANYTHING any more. I feel they should have known this before they charged me $14 for postage and potentially screwed up my customer relationship; and
2.) Now, you US residents know not to put stamps on your parcels... and to be sure to hand all parcels over 16 ounces to a "retail postal worker" directly!!!
I hope this fiasco keeps the rest of you here at TT out of this same trouble, in the future.
Thanks again for all your good thoughts; I'm sure they helped, karmically, enormously!
Hugs,
Shel
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsWhat an ordeal! I'm so glad it ended well, and thank you for sharing this important information with all of us!
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsShelli, so glad he turned up - I bet your buyer will be over the moon!
Now you have to do the big 'farewell' thing with him all over again......or is it only ME that does that??!!..... 
BrisbaneWELL THANK GOODNESS!!! I'm so glad that Sprite found his way home to you...now you can send him off all over again!!! 
Just Us BearsShelli I'm really glad this had a happy ending...you must have a few new grey hairs from the ordeal!!
What I'm left wondering though...is how they can justify dumping that package (that insured and obviously pretty valuable package) on your doorstep with no-one home? What if some neighborhood kid had pinched it?? Then you would never have known what happened to Sprite and would've been out of pocket. Whe you insure a package don't you have to put your phone number on it? Even if not, I would've thought they'd at least leave a card on your doorstep to tell you to come collect it...not the actual package? You could have been away on holidays or anything!
BUT....we are all grateful for the happy ending and very pleased for you and your collecter. :clap:
Apple Dumpling DesignsYAY...I'm so glad to hear things worked out....Maybe Sprite just needed a little extra goodbye hug from you!!!
Canna Bear PaintSounds like Sprite ran into a particulary cranky postal official along his journey, if you have been mailing similar packages and had no previous problems.
The 16-oz rule has been in effect for several years now... I don't remember if it was 9-11 or the postal anthrax scare that caused it, or a combination of the two... but yes, all packages over that limit have had to go through the post office since then. I suppose postal employees are considered "federal employees" and anyone else is just a civilian contractor, or some such mumbo jumbo.
Well, the important thing is that your bear is home! I'm sure you, and your buyer, and Sprite, are all equally relieved about that one :hug:
Best wishes,
Kelly
LutonWell I'm glad that Sprite turned up safe and sound back at the start again!!!
The postal system here is just aa bad sometimes and I think they have now cottoned on to the fact of Ebay and have just put up all their prices !!
Tut-tut!!!!
Claire
Newcastle, OntarioShelli,
I am delighted for you that Sprite has found his way home! You must be over the moon!
hugs,
Brenda
Posts: 434Good news Shelli!! I'm glad Sprite made it back around to you and isn't lost. I would hate to think all your hard work just went out the door. That would have stunk!!! I'm sure your customer will understand and is glad Sprite is going to finally make his way to her heart!!
Laurie Lou BearsHooray Sprite is safe and sound and his new owner can have him instead of a refund.She must be really pleased as you can't replace something like that and the money can't replace all the love and time and effort into making these lovely little bears. 
:dance:
Laurie :hug:
So glad to hear all ended well Shelli!
I had an annoying one some time ago ... I wrote the customer's name in big blue letters on the bear's box, filled in the relevant form and posted at the post office on guaranteed 48 hour delivery. 48 hours later the bear turned up on MY doorstep, not the customers! I was very confused, took the bear back to the post office and re posted.
That's when I realised what had happened: instead of writing the customer's address in the relevant space on the form, in my haste I'd put my address in the recipient's space and the recipient's address in the sender's space (does that make sense?) A stupid mistake and I couldn't blame anyone but myself. HOWEVER, would it really have taken too much effort on the part of the postal clerk to tell me that the 'to' address on the box, didn't correlate with the 'to' address on the form? I had clearly marked the top of the box with the addressee's details and had also clearly marked the side of the box with my 'from' details, but nope, that wasn't enough for the post office ... if it ain't written the right way on the form, they ain't paid to use their initiative! 
aerBearsYeah! A good outcomb. This happened because Sprite was too heavy? Don't tell him, it will give him a complex.
Aerianna
Oh Shelli I am SO glad Sprite was found!
I was about to say what Kelly already did.... that the rule about stamped packages has been in effect a while now... it's just that they are not consistant about enforcing the rule (obviously!)
Here's an easier way.... Click n Ship from the post office! It's NOT stamped mail.... when you use Click n Ship it is considered metered mail. I have a $25 scale from Walmart to weigh my packages. I log in, enter my shipping info, pay with credit or debit card, print out the shipping label.... and then click for "FREE CARRIER PICK UP"! You don't even have to leave you house!
Laura, I'm rushing about right now and don't have time to check into that site in depth. But I've browsed around the USPS site before, and I seem to recall that you can only insure parcels up to a certain point -- like $200. If that's still true, that won't work for me, and I'd have to go into a postal location anyway.
Do you happen to know offhand whether this has changed?
Thanks, you're a gem! And to everyone else... thanks again for all your good wishes and communal sighs of relief!
Chowlea BearsWay to go Sprite - where've you been? Making everyone worry so.............
Hope your adventure was worth it :crackup:
Matilda Huggington-beareI just love a happy ending!!!
