That's a great idea. I'm gonna remember this if it ever happens to me.

Thanks guys, I'm not saying he said I packed it incorrectly, but if he suggested that, I'm not buying it in the slightest due to the cut tape. It really seems like there was theft somewhere along the line because of the cut tape, it seems like there is theft involved somewhere. I would like to subtly suggest he get the police involved without outright accusing him because it looks like it was left at his house at 2 according to the "tracking" info that I have and may have been left unattended for several hours. The post office where I grew up wouldn't do that and I had to go to the post office to pick stuff up and while that was a pain in the ass, for safety reasons it was much preferable.

Sent this to the buyer:
Sound like a non-accusatory first step in asking for a police report before giving a refund?

nicely played

+1

This was what I got back from him, so I guess it's time to call the post office and then encourage him to call the cops.

Yup.

What's his definition of a "parcel storage?"

-Kurt

Apparently, it's some sort of postal locker according to the post office when I called them.

My most recent e-mail to the recipientSounds like the box was partially damaged in the mail, but the letter carrier said it wasn't empty, so maybe I should offer a partial refund? I really don't feel like just giving in and giving a full refund, but it's starting to seem like that might be easier especially as they did indicate there being some damage to the box.

I agree with some of the above responses. If he agrees to get the police involved, then offer a partial refund(after the police have responded)

If it happened in his home, and he files a police report, it may be covered under his homeowner's insurance. If there's a deductible, I guess it's only fair to offer a partial refund... but I think you should (continue to) drag your feet about that.

Does anyone know the fee structure for insurance from usps? I can't find it online. I have a bunch of saddles I (stupidly) bought because I wanted to try a number of different ones to find one that fit. Now that I have, I want to sell the rest (where this problem initiated). So in the future, I'd like to insure them when I send them, but want to be able to figure that into the cost of shipping. Let's say they sell for $30-40. Are we talking $3-4 or more or less? Thanks so much.

Ah, your search abilities far outstrip my own. I searched and found myself in some pointless FAQ's that were full of info about forms, but lacked that crucial fee structure. Guess I'm just an idiot, thanks.

I once shipped a pair of wheels to Texas, using USPS at the insistence of the buyer. A month later, the box arrived, intact, with one wheel in it. No joke.

Perhaps someone else has a key to his mailbox ? Landlord ? former tenant ?

How do the postal clerks put the mail into them... keys?

how the heck does that happen?

I have had several problems with UPS and FedEx ground. I can't recall having one with USPS Priority.

How indeed! I once mailed a draft of my dissertation to my my advisor, who was puzzled to receive a biology text book in the mail from me. Same size, different contents!

I'm not blaming anyone but myself, here: I hadn't done a good packing job. I learned (eventually).

Most shipping problems are the fault of the shipper. Not saying it was in your case or the OP, but in most cases it is, let me pass on a few hints.

If shipping several items, wrap the items together in heavy plastic, tape that closed, use bubble wrap if the items are at all fragile. Select the proper sized box, this should be at least 5cm (2") larger in all dimensions then your plastic wrapped package. If there are any shipping labels or bar codes, they should be peeled off or marked out with a marker. Use shipping peanuts, put a 5cm base in the bottom, put the package on top, and add more peanuts, gently shake the box to get the peanuts to settle, add more peanuts, you want the peanuts to be well settled, the number of peanuts should be slightly more then it takes to fill the box, in other words to close the box, it should take just under the same effort as to close a quick release. Before you close the box, add a sheet of paper that has the name, address and telephone numbers of the shipper and receiver and a description of the contents. Tape the box closed, now shake the box, if you hear any sound from inside, open it and add more peanuts, and try again. Apply another layer of tape, lengthwise, but go all the way around the box, turn it 90 degrees and repeat. Remember tape on a package is like grease on a bicycle bearing, using more then you need is better then less then you need. If the box was used before, tape all the seams and edges. Now apply your shipping label, then using clear packing tape, put a layer over your label so that it overlaps, but the label is still readable. If the carrier adds their own label like UPS and FedEx do, this gets applied to the unmarked side of the box. If the carrier offers insurance, then get the insurance, this should only be considered a backup, because you packed the box to not need it. If your not willing to take your box and have a soccer goal keeper score on the opposite net with it, then it's not packed well enough.

Always good to share tips.
But in my case, I am a very experienced shipper, who has sent many bikes, frames, and parts without incident - including to Japan, Singapore, etc. The wheels were in an actual wheelbox, plenty reinforced to prevent hubs from gouging through the box (a pet peeve). It was very carefully and well-sealed.
The buyer reported that it arrived sealed and undamaged! This was why he refused at first to believe I had actually sent him both wheels. I reported the weight the box had been assigned when I mailed it, and he subsequently weighed it himself, and he finally believed me when it weighed less!
It probably sat and sat somewhere in route (as I said, it took a month to get there). Perhaps I was the victim of a theft and the thief left one wheel in the box and retaped it so as not to arouse suspicion. Or - perhaps more likely - the box was opened at some point as part of some kind of random Homeland Security inspection, and the lost wheel simply didn't make it back into the box.
I'm not sure I would have believed it myself, until it happened to me - and until I told the story and it turned out some folks had even weirder things happen to their own packages. But no way it resulted from poor packing.