We sold an item on ebay last June to a customer in Japan.  The item was a pair of UREI LA-2A's that were in great condition and yes, they worked.  These items are highly sought after in the Pro Audio world of music. 

Anyway, shipping via UPS, FedEx, and DHL are extremely expensive when shipping something overseas.  Therefore, we decided to ship these units to our customer in Japan via USPS Parcel Airmal Post with fully covered insurance of $1900.00, double packaging, etc. etc.

Roughly 2 weeks later (after shipping these units), we received an email from our customer in Japan that the box and units were totally destroyed.  At this point, all we can do is file a shipping damage claim with the Post Office to recover the amount lost for our customer.  We had no idea what we would be in for.

First of all, you can't get someone on the phone at the 800 number provided on the USPS website without saying "customer service" oh, around 20 or more times.  They don't provide you with the option of "press 0 to speak to a customer representative".  They just want you to track a package or something easy like that.  Secondly, if you try to file a claim via their website, don't wait around for them to respond because it will never happen.  If it does, you're likely to get a response of "Please contact us at the 800 number provided on our website". 

If you can somehow manage to get through all of that, strap your seatbelt 'cause it ain't over yet!  Once you've "filed your damage claim" with the Post Office, they send someone out to "inspect the damage".  It took almost 3 weeks before anyone from the Japanese Post Office was sent over to our customer's location to inspect the damage.  After there inspection, we received a letter from our Post Office stating, "We have determined that label # 123456 has been delivered to the address on file".  Um, excuse me.  I don't believe that's what I asked for on my plate.   WHAT?!  I know the package was delivered, now tell me and my customer why it was damaged and when my customer will be receiving his money back!  Nevertheless, a USPS representative thought I wanted to "know the status of the delivery" on the package that was sent to Japan when I filed the claim - so that's what she wrote up in the claim.  Gotta love that 800 number.

After getting this mess straightened out with the Post Office that, no, I do not want to know the delivery status, I want to file a damaged claim on the shipment as it was damaged during shipment by the Post Office, I waited and waited.  I've tried calling the Post Office and inquiring on the claim, but no one seems to know anything there and they always want to provide me with someone else in some other department at some other 800  number.  Needless to say, they have yet to acknowledge that there is even a "damaged claim number" on file (even though I have one right in front of my face).  Luckily though, my customer filed a claim with Paypal (the ever-so-great) and received his money back.

So, the next time you go to ship something via USPS that is going international (even with insurance), re-think it.  If the package is damaged during shipment, you're put at the bottom of the Post Office's "To Do List" or worse yet, not even put on it.  It is in your best interest to stick with UPS or FedEx when shipping internationally via Ebay.  Yes, it's more expensive, but if you're customer is honestly ready to purchase the item, they're willing to pay extra for good packaging and delivery!