Damaged caps during post

[Belfong]

So, I am just wondering, we do a lot of trade of key caps via post - whether it was between two persons in a auction or [FS] thread or a [WTB] thread. Or perhaps between a vendor and its customers. Now what happens if the caps were damage by the post - you know, that man behind the post box who had a bad day and stamped really hard on the bubble wrap letter, damaging or cracking the caps - imagine if it were a clack or a bro bot! What happens? It's not the seller's fault, nor the buyer.. is it generally mark as '**** out of luck'?

[ComradeSniper]

In cases like that, assuming the item was packaged well, I prefer to split the loss between the buyer and seller (ie the seller gives back half of the cost of the item to the buyer) since it was no one's fault.

[rowdy]

I haven't heard of it happening often.

It did happen recently where the visor was broken off a Gas Mark keycap.

When something like that does happen, I guess it is up to the buyer and seller to come to an arrangement.

Most sellers here, especially those who actually make the keycaps themselves, are usually pretty good about it.

[damorgue]

I'd say that there are two ways an item can be damaged in transit:

Either the item wasn't packaged satisfactory, and it is the seller's responsibility to replace it. Or, if the item was damaged even though it was satisfactory packaged, then the postal service must have been irresponsible enough to warrant them replacing the item or reimbursing the buyer. This is usually done on the spot as it will be evident from the packaging that it has undergone excessive damage. This requires the packaging to have visible damage on the outside, as if item was damaged without the container being damaged, it wasn't packaged satisfactory.

The only thing which in my opinion remains to be argued is where to draw the line of sufficiently packaged. I'd say that stamping heavily doesn't qualify has excessive force and that a parcel should withstand that.

[Belfong]

Typically, key caps packaging are quite simple - a yellow bubble wrap envelope i.e. not necessarily in a parcel. So the packaging is always very nice and decent - just the force of the post master for stamping that could easily crack the caps. Happens, just wondering how people here dealt with it. I can't imagine the devastation from a cracked Clacks!

[Wildcard]

I just picked up another Sun keyboard and unfortunately, they didn't package it well. They basically taped two priority mail boxes together and threw the board in the middle with a single layer of thin bubble wrap. They're saying they want to file a claim with USPS, but as I pointed out to them, this was poorly packaged and was bouncing around in the box. If USPS asks me, I'm going to tell them the truth. Whenever you ship something, it's always a good idea to keep the item suspended somehow in the middle with enough spacing that a corner or end was to get smashed it won't pinch what you're sending.

[Wildcard]

This also applies to small items. Always provide adequate spacing.

[Puddsy]

I keep worrying that I'm using too much packaging when I ship.

Then I see pics like that and think, "nah, I'm good"

Sorry about your keyboard, that's really unfortunate.

[rowdy]

So is it a good idea for sellers to photograph the item as they are packaging it?

Sort of like a reverse unboxing?

[tbc]

this is REALLY common among the regular experienced sellers on most other forums.

[SpAmRaY]

So is it a good idea for sellers to photograph the item as they are packaging it?

Sort of like a reverse unboxing?

I usually do that in case someone claims to have an issue.

[kolonelkadat]

So is it a good idea for sellers to photograph the item as they are packaging it?

Sort of like a reverse unboxing?

yeah. although i generally do video since its a bit easier as you dont need to press any buttons. I even did boxing/unboxing videos for every disk i got from netflix/gamefly/etc. No sense in getting stuck with bull**** fees for someone elses cockup.

Saved myself $400 when comcast "lost" the equipment I had returned to them after cancelling my service. They sent me a bill for the gear. I sent them a video of me boxing that **** up (with care taken to record serial numbers as well).

As easy as modern smartphones make shooting hd video, theres no reason not to take an extra 10 seconds to protect yourself and your credit rating.

[Wildcard]

So is it a good idea for sellers to photograph the item as they are packaging it?

Sort of like a reverse unboxing?

yeah. although i generally do video since its a bit easier as you dont need to press any buttons. I even did boxing/unboxing videos for every disk i got from netflix/gamefly/etc. No sense in getting stuck with bull**** fees for someone elses cockup.

Saved myself $400 when comcast "lost" the equipment I had returned to them after cancelling my service. They sent me a bill for the gear. I sent them a video of me boxing that **** up (with care taken to record serial numbers as well).

As easy as modern smartphones make shooting hd video, theres no reason not to take an extra 10 seconds to protect yourself and your credit rating.

That's a good idea. I've taken photos in the past when shipping heavier items with UPS. If UPS didn't package it they'll try to say you didn't package it properly when you file a claim. Photos help negate those claims.