Re: I'm confused: USPS denied me the ability to pu... - Page 6

TTerri · ‎02-20-2011

@sfnative wrote:
@AliJoi5 wrote:
Yes that IS strange. From what I understand, you can insure a USPS parcel up to $5,000. If you need more coverage, you would then have to buy an independent insurance policy. Certain items are excluded/uninsurable, such as unusually fragile mailpieces, etc. But I doubt that what you were returning to the Q exceeded $5,000 in value and/or was especially fragile, correct? So then I cannot understand why they would deny you coverage. That's crazy. Sometimes I use the Q return label and other times I don't. Naturally, insurance is included when you use the Q label. But I always buy insurance when I'm returning a package using my own postage. Check out the USPS's website... they have a section regarding insurance parameters. I can feel your pain though... I've had my issues with the PO, but as HappyDaze said, never with them wanting to take my money!
@AliJoi5

OP here.

After all was said and done, I learned that if I had NOT used the Q label and replaced it with a hand-made label of my own, I could have purchased insurance.

On the flip side of the coin, I learned here today that QVC insures all returns, but you need a receipt of the "return" from the P.O., which was like getting water out of a stone for me and actually cost me $1.35.

Those pre-paid labels (Newgistics, Inc.) that the shopping networks use all have insurance put on them so when you use them, your return is fully covered if it gets lost or damaged. That's why you can't buy insurance. You can track Newgistics packages here, http://www.tracking.smartlabel.com/ after the package has been picked up from the post office.

Also, if you're using a prepaid label and you take it into the post office, if they won't give you a receipt ask them to scan the package in front of you.

For those who don't know, you can schedule a free USPS package pickup if you're using a prepaid label. https://tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPickupAction!input.action

When you schedule a pickup, you can put the package in your mailbox, beside the mailbox, leave it at your front door OR have them knock on your door so you can hand the package over to them. No need to make a special trip out just to go to the post office. Your package will be scanned by them immediately.

HSN's prepaid labels are usually (except for jewelry) for either USPS or UPS. It's one huge label with both USPS and UPS tracking numbers on them. You simply take the package to the place of your choice.

sfnative · ‎08-26-2015

@Nightowlz wrote:
The Post Office will not let you purchase insurance if you use the Q return label. It's beyond me why they will not do this. They won't even give you a receipt showing you dropped it off at the post office. I had a return that was received by Q but I had to call to get my credit issued because they showed they never received it. I had my USPS tracking # that showed they did receive it. Anyways during my conversation with a Q supervisor she told me that the Q return labels do have insurance included. She also said if you want to take your pkg to USPS & use the Return Your Way Label on your Q receipt you can sometimes get a better rate. You should be able to purchase ins with that label but I'm not sure. I did not think the Q labels were insured. I always pay to ship any return over $100 with USPS or UPS so I can insure it. With that said with the cost of shipping I try to only buy things I know I'm going to keep. There is always something some time or another that will need to be returned.

@Nightowlz

OP here.

Re they won't give you a receipt: I got a similar run-around during conversation with the PO guy and I was ticked off. He wasn't answering my question about getting a receipt for my return and before I knew it, the conversation had taken another turn.

However, ten minutes later as I made to turn and leave, smoke pouring out of my ears, this PO guy said, "You can purchase a receipt for $1.35." What!?! So I did.

FYI: Here's the receipt information from the USPS in the lower left hand corner:

PS Form 3817, Apil 2007 PSN 7530-02-000-9065

It's called "Certificate of Mailing." By my hand, I was made to write my home address and the QVC Parcel Return Service info. Then he date stamped it in purple and on the right is a sticker that came out of a machine relevant to my transaction with date, some other numbers and the cost of the receipt, $1.35.

Hope this helps.

sfnative · ‎08-26-2015

@KingstonsMom wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
The Post Office will not let you purchase insurance if you use the Q return label. It's beyond me why they will not do this. They won't even give you a receipt showing you dropped it off at the post office. I had a return that was received by Q but I had to call to get my credit issued because they showed they never received it. I had my USPS tracking # that showed they did receive it. Anyways during my conversation with a Q supervisor she told me that the Q return labels do have insurance included. She also said if you want to take your pkg to USPS & use the Return Your Way Label on your Q receipt you can sometimes get a better rate. You should be able to purchase ins with that label but I'm not sure. I did not think the Q labels were insured. I always pay to ship any return over $100 with USPS or UPS so I can insure it. With that said with the cost of shipping I try to only buy things I know I'm going to keep. There is always something some time or another that will need to be returned.

@Nightowlz

My P.O. won't give a receipt when using Q's pre-paid label either, but the Q pre-paid label DOES include insurance for the cost of the item.

Maybe that's why you can't 'double' insure the package.

@KingstonsMom

@Nightowlz

OP here.

You can purchase a USPS Certificate of Mailing for $1.35, as I had to do with my package at issue. Ask for the following form:

PS Form 3817, April 2007 PSN 7530-02-000-9065

Good Luck!

sfnative · ‎08-26-2015

@chickenbutt wrote:
If you use a pre-paid shipping label no other services can be purchased. It's been that way for as long as I can remember (decades?).

I wouldn't worry about it being insured because QVC self-insures, so you're covered there.

You should have the tracking number that was on the pre-paid label so that is how you can keep track of progress. Like others have said, though, this mode of shipment is about as slow as molasses in January so don't be in a hurry. It's a bulk-type thing. You can always pay to ship and then you have more choices. Otherwise, you are subject to the terms of the pre-paid label. HTH

@chickenbutt

OP here.

Have been shopping with QVC since 1989 and, as stated to others here, did not know our returns were insured. While living in CA, always purchased insurance on returns. Now live in Oregon. Unable to purchase insurance and got a big run-around re getting a receipt until I started to pull away to go. Then he says I can purchase a receipt for $1.35. Have learned here today that others have been denied receipts. What's with these people? I'm still fuming about this PO experience.

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

When the post office raised rates on stamps I went in our local and wanted to buy several penny stamps for our left overs. The woman behind the counter told me I didn't NEED that many stamps. I told her it was not up to her to tell me how many I needed and she did sell me the stamps. As my son says "so what's your point, Mom"? You have to speak up--that is my point.

sfnative · ‎08-26-2015

@ncascade wrote:
I am confused by your sentence "denied me the ability to purchase insurance".

@Group 5 minus 1

OP here.

Except for 6 years, lived in California until we retired and moved to Oregon 2 years ago. Have shopped with QVC since 1989. Have ALWAYS insured returns, except in one case recently and it was stolen by a USPS employee.

Last Monday I needed to return a $100 sweater. I packed it in the Q bag and placed the Q sticker on it. Asked to purchase $100 insurance. PO guy denied me the purchase of insurance. Said that Q label actually denied me the ability to do that. He couldn't explain why. After nearly a lifetime of living in California, I never had a problem purchasing insurance on a package be it to the Q or anyone else. Now I'm in Oregon and I have a problem

Today I learn on this thread that Q returns come with insurance. I honestly did not know that. However, you need a receipt to make that work. I had a devil of a time getting a receipt out of the PO guy and just as I was leaving the PO he finally tells me that I CAN get a receipt, but have to pay for it. Say what? Yup, $1.35. So my package is in transit, I have a receipt, but no idea if it'll get there or not.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Hey again, SF!

So, you were being sold insurance on a pre-paid label before? That is where the problem is. They cannot add services to a pre-paid label so somebody was either not knowing what they were doing or pocketing this 'insurance' money

I can understand that you're upset, though.

In the few times I've used a pre-paid label over the years I just made sure that I either printed a copy of the return label or wrote down the tracking number. I think I recall being given a copy of the scan by the USPS clerk in the past, also, and that will have the tracking number on it.

You'd think that everybody would know the same stuff, right? I guess there would probably be some clerks flying by the seat of their pants - it happens pretty much everywhere, eh?

insomniac · ‎03-09-2010

Whenever I mail a package, I am ALWAYS asked if I want insurance.

Maybe you're from a backward sort of town.

VaBelle35 · ‎03-10-2010

The UPS Stores in my town also do post office and they have the pick up for the vendor that picks up the QVC returns (when you use the QVC return label) so I am always able to get a receipt and I get an email confirmation as soon as the package is scanned by the vendor QVC uses for returns.

I avoid the post office like the plague. We have two very small post offices in the next towns over and I use those. I only go to the main post office when my HOA sends me a certified letter that my lazy postal carrier will not deliver. They refuse to deliver any of the letters. They make you pick them up.

===================================
QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Venezia wrote:
@sfnative wrote:
Having found it necessary to return an item to QVC, which I don't do often at all, I took it to the Post Office for processing and was denied the ability to purchase insurance. This was news to me.

Since I have already experienced theft of two items by employees of the USPS, I was livid at this news.

Does anyone know when this policy was initiated? Thanks for your help.
I had the exact same thing happen to me once at my local, rural post office. I had been using a different post office nearer to work normally. I was stunned, when the lady said she couldn't sell me insurance. When I asked why I was told.....that it was because I was returning a package to a company!!!

I pointed out that I was mailing a package at my own expense; it shouldn't matter to whom or why. She would not budge, so I took the package back and went out of my way to go to my "normal" post office, where I mailed it without saying anything about what had happened at my local until after the package had been mailed. I then told the lady there and she said it was total nonsense and offered to call my local and "explain" to the lady in charge there. I declined that and instead reported it to the post office's 1-800 number. I subsequently got an email from my "local" saying that she was "sorry" I wasn't happy with the service I'd gotten but that I was asking her to lie and circumvent the system!!! Say what????? I almost forwarded that back to the head of the postal system, but decided just to take my business elsewhere in the future.

I've also had one person tell me they couldn't give me a receipt for the prepaid labels - again, that's just a lie. I always get a receipt although this lady insisted that I ask for "a prepaid label acceptance receipt"! I said I didn't care what she called it - I just wanted proof of having handed over the package! Without that, if the package goes missing, you have no evidence whatsoever. (Photocopy the label with the tracking number before you hand it over, just in case.)

It seems to me in my area that they are hiring a lot of "casual" workers now who don't know the job (although the two instances I've just mentioned were full-time federal employees). Like the one who said she couldn't sell me any stamps because they were locked in the "back room" and she didn't have the key! This was on a Friday and the regular postmistress wouldn't be back till Monday!!!