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Jul 11, 2014 1:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I don't remember when or who posted some information about filing a claim with the USPS over damage done to box/plants during shipment. I just remember it being stated that it was easy and fast when filing a claim and that she had ALWAYS gotten a refund from the USPS. Well, I filled my first claim over a month ago for damaged plants and a "destroyed" box, and have checked in with the USPS every week since (I have a USPS account and ship hundreds of boxes each year with them). I got a letter today, stating that since I did not supply additional information about the claim, my claim was denied. I never received a letter asking anything more from me and certainly never had anything posted to my claim on line. This is exactly what I figured would be the result of my claim.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for Frillylily
Jul 11, 2014 1:34 PM CST
Missouri (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier
Has too much time passed to file the claim again? I would write a letter of appeal and send it in. Or go to your post office in person with the notice they sent you and see what they say.
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Jul 11, 2014 3:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I have filed an appeal - we are dealing with the federal government! My hopes are not high but then they never were. I have a feeling that whoever said it was a fast, easy, straight-forward process, works for the USPS................ Whistling
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Jul 11, 2014 6:58 PM CST
Name: Sandy
Mont Belvieu, TX 77580 (Zone 9b)
Hibiscus I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Composter Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Tropicals
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Texas Plumerias Lilies Irises Hummingbirder
I have always been told they wont insure plants Shrug!
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Jul 11, 2014 8:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Now you tell me! How about a shipping box (USPS box) that looks like it survived 9/11?
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Jul 11, 2014 8:58 PM CST
Name: Sandy
Mont Belvieu, TX 77580 (Zone 9b)
Hibiscus I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Composter Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Tropicals
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Texas Plumerias Lilies Irises Hummingbirder
I am not sure about that. I do know you have to surrender everything that was in the box. I bought glassware on eBay once and 1 piece was broke and they wanted all of it to pay the claim. What stupid rules.
I would appeal it again and again
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Jul 12, 2014 6:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Just like companies that sell poor quality, deceptive, or false-advertised items and have a "full-refund" policy, the federal government knows that 80% of people won't file a (first) claim and that over 50% won't appeal.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Jul 12, 2014 7:10 AM CST
Name: Sandy
Mont Belvieu, TX 77580 (Zone 9b)
Hibiscus I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Composter Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Tropicals
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Texas Plumerias Lilies Irises Hummingbirder
I totally agree with you. To me it makes no sense if 3 glass items were in the box they could not divide the insurance into 3. Instead of better things get worse.
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Jul 17, 2014 8:58 PM CST
Name: aud/odd
Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
I do not know if you are going direct to the Postmaster General but that is where I would go. I have written a complaint to PG because this year I was not receiving packages, and my mail carrier was saying it was delivered. There was no way it was stolen because I am home when the mail is delivered.


After I sent the letter my local PO contacted me to inform me there was an investigation started.
That stopped after I sent in the complaint and I have not had missing packages since. I had called my local PO several times things kept not arriving.



Postmaster General

U.S. Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW

Washington, DC 20260-0010


I would explain just what you said the amount of shipping you have do. I have filed twice in the last 10 yrs and both times it has been quick. One was a train set 100.00 plus they reimbursed my shipping charges. One was plants. Both were claims of items not received and not damage. I do not know if damage is different.
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Jul 21, 2014 2:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I just returned from a week fishing in Alaska. Thanks for the information, Cinta. IF my challenge of the rejection does not get my refund, I will contact the PMG.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Avatar for cycadjungle
Jul 26, 2014 10:02 PM CST
Lakeland Florida (Zone 9a)
Bromeliad Seller of Garden Stuff Vegetable Grower Tropicals Seed Starter Pollen collector
Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Cactus and Succulents Xeriscape
I have been shipping plants for 25 years and all the people at the post office have always told me that I can insure the box, just in case it never gets to where its supposed to go, but as soon as you tell them there are plants in the box, they will not insure the quality of the plants that arrive, and will turn down the claim. That includes mutilated boxes. In this case, it just ain't right, but that is the way it goes. I have had a few shipments damaged, but no money back, and as you already found out, it takes a while to go through the process.
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Aug 19, 2014 12:14 PM CST
Name: Kyla Houbolt
Gastonia, NC (Zone 7b)
Composter Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Herbs Daylilies Sempervivums
Frogs and Toads Container Gardener Cat Lover Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! The WITWIT Badge Winter Sowing
I suspect the USPS quality of service has deteriorated recently due to various cutbacks in their funding (I'm guessing that latter part -- but they do keep reducing hours etc.) I had a weird experience, not with plants, but with a heavy box of crystals (minerals, not glass) which I shipped cross country in a prepaid priority package. It was under their weight limit which I had checked in advance, but it was heavy for its size.

It reached its destination but was left unclaimed by the carrier, got sent back to the PO of origin, then RE-sent to the destination, where it finally made its way to the address on the label. Looked like it had been kicked around quite a lot despite big red "fragile" stamps all over.

I was just glad it made it finally; I'd given up. I tried once to file a claim on an insured package and though I've forgotten the details, I did learn it wasn't worth the effort to go through all the song and dance.

Too bad. The Postal service used to be a darn good service, IMO. Now, I'm just glad to still have it!
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