I bought a PSA 9 Gyarados from a seller through eBay. I was supposed to receive it yesterday but it was delayed for a day without the tracking updating until the last minute. I checked the serial number with the seller’s post, it matches, no problems there so I’m pretty sure it was USPS who damaged the case. Package looked like it was dropped on the floor, it’s dirty and covered in dust. How exactly do I proceed? I only paid $29.99 + shipping for the card but it sucks cause I’m definitely gonna have to get it re-cased, it’s a nice card. I reached out to the seller but again, I’m sure it’s USPS’s fault.
I’ve never been in this scenario, but first thing I’d do is look up and read usps’s damaged item policy, then contact them in whatever way they say to, preferably calling since that’s always quickest. If you have/have access to the pictures of its listing to show it’s condition before shipment id hope/think that’d carry some weight. I’d also keep the packaging to show its wear from where you suspect the impact. I hope this helps out in some way!
I hope you get this straight in a timely manner! Good luck
Good point to always keep the packaging for any damaged item. In the event of an insurance claim that is occasionally needed.
That said… they only pay out for damage when insurance is purchased. With priority mail, $50 is included, but this ~$30 card was likely sent first class and carries no insurance. It’s a pretty good gig they got… charging extra to ensure and insure that they do their job reasonably. Imagine your mechanic charging an insurance to make sure they didn’t ding your doors when they worked on your car. Even though they wouldn’t ding them very often it’d be a shitty situation to be in when they did it to yours uninsured and it’d be quite the racket.
I said “dropped on the floor” because it’s dirty and covered in dust. I didn’t mean that’s what did the damage.
It had to be something with alot of force or pressure. I have no clue what could cause that type of damage, especially to a PSA case.
Edit: Just noticed, from the side view the case is bent inward.
Yeah unless it was from a very significant height, I don’t think that much damage could have been done to the case from a simple fall. This looks like something was dropped ON it during shipping.
It was shipped first class though, like @gottaketchumall mentioned, so no insurance more than likely. And with no insurance I’m sure USPS won’t give a shit.
Seller has offered a refund, which is nice but I feel bad for him. Losing money on someone elses mistake sucks.
Anyways, I’m bout to glue this thing back together…
Just wrap it in duct tape and cut out the portion over the character.
In all seriousness as a seller I would offer a refund in fear of getting a negative feedback. Especially since it’s only $30. If the case is bent/warped PSA might not even put it in a new case since it might have damaged the card. You won’t know until you send it to them but then you have to risk spending the cost of shipping without knowing if it will get a new case or not. I would examine the card and see if the damage to the case caused damage to the card. If so take a full refund, if not determine how much it costs to get a new case/shipping to and from PSA and accept that much in a refund.
Was reading this on my way home from work and the SAME thing just happened to me today. That being said the seller only shipped in a bubble envelope without addition bubble wrap.
It happened to me a couple of months ago as well. I actually work for the USPS and I am sure it is not done like this at all plants but for the one I work at the packages without special handling… they all get put into a big metal container called a dumper. They are then lifted into the air very high and dumped onto a conveyor belt.
The mail handler is suppose to remove all of the big packages from the belt. They cause jams in the belt and can cause other pieces of mail to get damaged. When all of the mail is dumped the really heavy packages (can be up to 70 pounds) can come crushing down on to some of the smaller ones (the ones with PSA cases) and shatter them. It can be kind of scary at times. Sometimes packages are launched off the belt.
Had a customer send a pic of a damaged case today. 1st time it’s ever happened domestically. I sent first class. Unfortunately it was the last card he needed for a set. We decided that it would be cheaper for me to crack the card & regrade vs reslabbing. I wonder if it’s more frequent with new certs.
hey this is my first post here! I also had my very first PSA card that I purchased 2 weeks ago arrive cracked… Im a little discouraged and have made it a point to mention to sellers to make sure the cards are packaged properly now when Im making purchases. Sorry about your card!
Yes, it was a joke. I’m sorry that wasn’t clear and it came across as personal. You’ll find that the vast majority of people here are very friendly and welcoming and I’m no exception. The more healthy collectors in the hobby the better in my opinion!
I don’t think he meant it in a rude way, but sorry to hear about your case. I am buying an ancient mew card and I been thinking about getting it PSA certified. Hopefully it doesn’t come back in a cracked case.
