quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Stand your ground.

Let him out you on the internet. You just respond: Show me proof that you sent the money. He can't. Internet will backlash on him.

Even in court, he wouldn't have grounds. He can't show proof that he sent payment.

Yup.

I've gotten cash in the mail before as payment, but like you I had stated USPS Money order or Check and the cash in an envelope was a complete surprise.

If what happened to you happened to me, I would respond "the payment didn't arrive, please cancel your MO or check - we can either try again or go our separate ways".

"BUT I SENT YOU CASH".

"You are an idiot. I stated MO or Check."

<bye>

Follow the rules for the USPS. If they are willing to insure the letter for the cash, let him file a claim for the loss. They aren't idiots. If they insured letters for that, everyone would be losing money and filing claims.

The tracking only indicates that he mailed something to the UPS Store, it really doesn't mean the package was meant for you. He could have mailed anything to that store and "claimed" that it was your cash.

Do not pay that idiot anything. Either he made a big mistake or is a scammer. If someone stole the cash, he is an idot. Wads of cash are easy to feel in a cardboard envelope.

If you have to send cash use Priority flatrate box and put a block of wood in the box as well.

US Postal Inspectors are Great.
I was a LEO and worked with them on repeated occasions. Their main job is to watch the postal employees, and for sure they are effective.

I would call them on the phone and talk to a person rather than an email.

Finally, there are many internet payment methods that are far safer than the US Mail.

Sorry to hear about all of it, but getting the Postal Inspectors involved could lead to an answer. It is also a good thing to tell the guy, as if he is honest it will give some hope. If not he may just go away.

Ima gonna toss out another possibility...

It was delivered by USPS to the UPS store which likely isn't really UPS, but a mailbox/package drop franchise. USPS did their job, once in the hand of the private mailbox service it becomes their responsibility and to me the most likely is they screwed up and put in wrong box or an employee realized it was cash and helped himself to it.

My guess would be USPS is going to refuse/deny responsibility as they delivered it to the location and the claim for either negligence or theft would be on the mailbox business.

Personally, if for any reason I wasn't able to have or trust mail delivery to my physical address, I would only do a PO box (at the PO). No third party maildrop for me.


Regardless, as others have said, it is on him not you. He should consider the loss as a the cost of the lesson learned.

After a bad boxing decision Teddy Atlas said after the fight that it was a case of the judges being either incompetent or corrupt, and that no one is that incompetent. A man that spends a great amount of time on gun forums, and I assume conducting transactions, couldn't be that incompetent.

quote:

Originally posted by Virginia sheepdog:
A man that spends a great amount of time on gun forums, and I assume conducting transactions, couldn't be that incompetent.

This.
"Long time member, high post count" means he has common knowledge of buying and selling. No doubt the forum had had threads on payment issues. Had he posted on the forum: "Hey, is it OK to stick cash in an envelope and mail it as payment?" what do you think the answer would be?

You didn't receive any funds so you shouldn't be out a firearm, and the buyer's an idiot.

Tell him "sorry I never received cash and you should have not sent cash".

If sender did not insure it, then no claim. All sender can do is request a "lost mail search."

https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

For as long as I can remember, I have had people say "never send cash through USPS".

Am I the only one who has had this grilled in to me?

IMO, the problem is his, not yours.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Do not pay that idiot anything. Either he made a big mistake or is a scammer. If someone stole the cash, he is an idot. Wads of cash are easy to feel in a cardboard envelope.

If you have to send cash use Priority flatrate box and put a block of wood in the box as well.

I've had things "disappear" while in the postal system. This is a case where he claims to have sent you the money but there's no proof. The burden of proof is on him and his claim (if any) is against the shipper, not you.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
If sender did not insure it, then no claim. All sender can do is request a "lost mail search."

https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

The receipt shows it was Priority Mail, USPS insured, therefore the sender needs to resolve this with USPS.

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:

quote:

Originally posted by ml1209:
Here is a pic of the tracking results on the USPS website. It shows time and date, but not address.

Seems pretty clear to me.
Something was insured and delivered to the front desk or reception area in Houston, TX.

Should be easy to track down. How many front desk/reception areas can there be in Houston?
I would advice him to make an insurance claim, if the front desk doesn't have it.

Unless your name is "Front Desk", then you are screwed.

The UPS store has multiple PO Box type boxes that can be rented, my store I use have addresses that start with suite 180 then the box number- like 180-100, 180-101 etc.. All parcels are sent to the UPS store and they sign for (if required) and accept all parcels then place them in the proper box. Front desk/reception is a common entry when they are delivered to the UPS store. My guess is it's in the wrong box, or the UPS store gave it to the wrong person. I've been given other people's parcels before by mistake. FYI the UPS store usually insures packages up to $1000 so the OP could ask them to file an insurance claim since USPS shows proof it was delivered.

quote:

Originally posted by Virginia sheepdog:
After a bad boxing decision Teddy Atlas said after the fight that it was a case of the judges being either incompetent or corrupt, and that no one is that incompetent. A man that spends a great amount of time on gun forums, and I assume conducting transactions, couldn't be that incompetent.

And to actually give advice if it matters:

What happened is on him. It's not your problem and you shouldn't spend your time dealing with it. If it was a mistake with usps or ups he can go through the process of figuring it out and fixing the problem. Having your name slandered is some bs, but if your not at fault what else can you do. You're time is your most valuable resource. Don't burn through it if your not sure the guy is good to go. And it sounds like you jave doubts. I know nothing about your situation and I am suspicious. Caution can save lives and money.

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
If sender did not insure it, then no claim. All sender can do is request a "lost mail search."

https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

The receipt shows it was Priority Mail, USPS insured, therefore the sender needs to resolve this with USPS.

All priority mail is insured automatically for $50.00. You have to buy additional insurance if you want it. If he sent cash without the additional insurance he screwed up. Why not just pay a few dollars for a USPS money order? I would never send cash.

Point him to this thread, if he's not already seen it. He was in the wrong, and owes you an apology for the accusation and threats.

You know, I'm interested to know if the OP actually has started a similar thread on the other board that he's a member of. There are no good reasons to start a thread here, if you haven't tried to solve the issue where it originated.

Let me just add to the chorus of "Either scam or fool".
Either way, you have no real responsibility here, and I would politely state that and then cease communications.