+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I purchased a lot of 14 TI-99/4A manuals on eBay a couple weeks back. It took the seller a week to get it mailed out, which of course is ridiculous but they apologized saying it was a miscommunication with their spouse. Ok fine. A week after that, it arrives, with a plastic bag around it with a note from USPS apologizing for the damage incurred during transit. Oh, and it's stamped on the front: "received without contents." Yup, it's ripped open at the top and there are no manuals - or anything - inside. Has anyone experienced this before? I've never seen it in all my years of using the Postal Service. Yes, it was Media Mail, but I receive Media Mail packages all the time without issue, so I don't think it's related to that. Needless to say, I have already submitted a full refund request through eBay. I feel bad for the seller, but obviously a full refund is the only solution here. I'm bummed, as I was looking forward to receiving the manuals. Here are some pics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupus Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 If they were game manuals your not allowed to send them by media mail.....maybe the usps is fed up and tossing unallowed contents? Wouldnt surprise me as they get really pissy about media mail and seem to take it very personally. Sucks they are gone though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 Pretty sure they return to sender in the case of Media Mail infractions, no? Certainly have never seen this. Pretty wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupus Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 They are supposed to hold them and collect additional postage from the recipient. But they also open them to check for mefia mail violations and that creates a step for stuff to go missing for whatever reason. They very well could have just punctured the end of the pouch too. I always tape edges sending stuff like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejay Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 "We hope this incident did not inconevenience you"? Why would it be mailed in the first place if it would inconvenience you if there is nothing in the package? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, bluejay said: "We hope this incident did not inconevenience you"? Why would it be mailed in the first place if it would inconvenience you if there is nothing in the package? Haha right? So ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejay Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Just now, sixersfan105 said: Haha right? So ridiculous. Oh, I hate US shipping companies so much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 While this is unfortunate, I would advise you edit your pics to blur or remove all addresses please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 49 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said: While this is unfortunate, I would advise you edit your pics to blur or remove all addresses please? I removed the pictures with addresses, but what's somebody going to do? Come to my house and steal my empty envelope? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennybrooks Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I have had this happen. I learned to tape the package very securely when using bubble mailers on both ends and around the package to prevent this after I received my first empty bubble envelope (three early issues of retro gamer mag). This is 75% postal issue, 25% seller issue as they should have provided more resistance to prevent the mailer from being opened. I have received about 5 packages of all types ever through the USPS that have arrived with this message (about 5,000 received, 15,000 shipped) so the rate is not high. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 That happened to me once too -- I sold a PS3 game that was lost during shipping, and the buyer just received a torn envelope like that. USPS uses mechanical sorters, this sort of stuff happens but it seems quite rare. I refunded the buyer's money, she didn't pay for an empty, torn envelope. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 7 hours ago, sixersfan105 said: I removed the pictures with addresses, but what's somebody going to do? Come to my house and steal my empty envelope? It has more to do with security for you and the person whom mailed you the package. Everything in these forums is public searchable through the internet so just trying to protect the innocent here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said: It has more to do with security for you and the person whom mailed you the package. Everything in these forums is public searchable through the internet so just trying to protect the innocent here. I hear ya, but in the digital age it would take all of three minutes to find anyone's address! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 7 minutes ago, sixersfan105 said: I hear ya, but in the digital age it would take all of three minutes to find anyone's address! Not if they don't have your actual name making it easier... Like I said, just trying to help so I will step out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 56 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said: Not if they don't have your actual name making it easier... Like I said, just trying to help so I will step out now. No it's all good, I appreciate it. Just playing devil's advocate. Now who wants to raid some USPS facilities between Michigan and Pennsylvania to find my 14 missing TI manuals?! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 This is why I switched to poly bubble mailers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orrko Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 (edited) In the past concerning medial mail,I checked with a few different post office's about gaming contents to get a correct answer of course and I was told INSTRUCTION MANUALS,INSTRUCTION BOOKS qualify as READING MATERIAL and are fine to go media mail,although magazines are not covered under medial mail since they have advertisements,books are reading material certainly,concerning CD's-CD based games are not media mail this is what i was told,so manuals should have been perfectly fine Edited February 8, 2020 by orrko8791 forgot a sentence pertaining to topic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orrko Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Also this is one good reason to ship by box instead of envelopes,I never use envelopes for that reason (DAMAGES) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupus Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 You would ride a fine line shipping video game manuals alone by media mail. Media mail for written items is only for books, which must be bound and be a minimum of 8 pages. This can include manuals if they meet those specs, but must also be for educational purposes and not include any advertising. Videogames are strictly not counted as media mail as they are for entertainment and not education. So manuals for them would also be considered for entertainment and not education. Also if the manuals shows even a video game companies name and address this could additionally count as advertising. So techincally they have good reason not to allow them and would fall to the individual inspectors determination....and they tend to be very picky on media mail being abused. And any media mail is allowed to be inspected at any time which gives a chance for things to be lost or damaged or not properly repacked. To me its never worth it if you risk having the items lost or discounted for that service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolmoecraig Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Sellers that use Media Mail to save all of a couple bucks are cheap and deserve to be dinged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sethbramwell Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 On 2/23/2020 at 6:04 PM, koolmoecraig said: Sellers that use Media Mail to save all of a couple bucks are cheap and deserve to be dinged. I have used media mail on a few auctions I've sold before because sometimes it really is the most cost effective option. Mind you, I've only used it for books and records. Never had an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.