I posted an ad on another board and buyer sent me payment in an envelope via USPS with tracking. I had the buyer send the payment to a UPS store mailbox. The tracking showed it arrived, but the UPS store has no record of it and I do not have the payment in hand. Now the buyer is threatening to "out" me on the internet if I don't ship him the item (it's a gun).

The problem is, he sent the payment in cash, as in actual cash. I didn't know this; I thought he sent a postal money order.

I believe he sent the payment, but I don't have anything and he has no proof it didn't arrive.

What can be done?

what did the ups
post office say?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
what did the ups
post office say?

As far as they're concerned, it was delivered.

What payment form was agreed on?

Sounds suspicious to me. How many people send cash besides a 89 year old grandma?

quote:

Originally posted by EmpireState:
What payment form was agreed on?

I told him to send it as a money order. He didn't disagree. Then all of a sudden he said he sent cash.

Something weird is going on. How can they say it was delivered? Im sorry man.

was the amount over $25.00 ?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
was the amount over $25.00 ?

Yes

quote:

was the amount over $25.00

You mean one of them high dollar firearms???

quote:

Originally posted by pwelch001:
Something weird is going on. How can they say it was delivered? Im sorry man.

Yes the USPS tracking website system said it was delivered.

quote:

Originally posted by ml1209:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
what did the ups
post office say?

As far as they're concerned, it was delivered.

Does he say that or do you have documented proof from the USPS in the form of a certified mail receipt that you have personally seen?

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Sounds suspicious to me. How many people send cash besides a 89 year old grandma?

Yeah I didn't like the fact he sent cash.

If he did indeed send cash, he's a dolt. An extra $1.20 or $1.60 spent on a USPS MO would have saved a lot of trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by ml1209:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
what did the ups
post office say?

As far as they're concerned, it was delivered.

Does he say that or do you have documented proof from the USPS in the form of a certified mail receipt that you have personally seen?

It wasn't certified mail. All priority mail has a tracking number nowadays, whether a signature is required or not. In this case, buyer didn't opt for signature.

The USPS said it delivered it, the UPS store said it was delivered, but when you opened the box, it was not there? I think I'd call the Postal Inspector. Maybe the mail carrier accidentally put it in the wrong box, but I suspect only the USPS can check n that.

quote:

Originally posted by ml1209:

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by ml1209:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
what did the ups
post office say?

As far as they're concerned, it was delivered.

Does he say that or do you have documented proof from the USPS in the form of a certified mail receipt that you have personally seen?

It wasn't certified mail. All priority mail has a tracking number nowadays, whether a signature is required or not. In this case, buyer didn't opt for signature.

Then he and you are both screwed. What an idiot. It's simply he said/she said, and the USPS worker who saw the cash and decided to pocket it is the only winner. He can say and show that it was delivered and you have no verifiable defense to his claim.

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:
The USPS said it delivered it, the UPS store said it was delivered, but when you opened the box, it was not there? I think I'd call the Postal Inspector. Maybe the mail carrier accidentally put it in the wrong box, but I suspect only the USPS can check n that.

The UPS store didn't say it was delivered. They said they have no record of it coming in.

Sounds like your being scammed. Make him offer up some proof he sent cash... a bank withdrawal receipt within a few days of when he says he would have mailed it, a mutual fund company transaction/withdrawal statement, check cashed for $$$ receipt, etc.

I'd still call the Postal Inspector, but it seems to me the sender is screwed. You haven't received payment, the UPS Store says they have no record it got there. You could talk to the Postmaster and see if they can talk to the carrier that supposedly delivered it.