Fed-Ex Shipment Arrives Empty

Proof? I already said it, bring one of your ebay shipping labels to the post office and ask to see the screen. So. Simple. WOW. Crazy.

Do you need to build a rocket to fly to the moon to prove it isn't made of cheese? Or is it reasonable to just ask Neil Armstrong (well, not anymore) if the moons surface had a Swiss or Parmesan feel to it? Or could you do a little physics analysis of orbits, mass, etc and determine it just COULDN'T be made of cheese, that it must indeed be made of something more dense? Or would Neil Armstrongs word still not be enough?

Ok Ok Ok. You got me. I made the whole thing up. I just wanted to see the beehive of responses by saying I physically saw this disturbing fact, first person, twice, at the post office. I figured by saying I saw it on 2 separate occasions with two separate labels it gave it an air of authenticity. Sheesh. Has my posting activity made it seem like I just felt like blatantly lying about this? Or is it more reasonable I was trying to alert fellow numismatists of this completely insane, relatively unknown fact that all of our ebay/paypal shipping labels contain URL codes that directly link to the ebay item for whoever is working the counter to see? To be honest, my reaction was IDENTICAL to feetfiascos. It is disturbing. Take a deep breath man. Relax.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You made the statement as though it was fact. It's your job to prove it, not mine.
If you can't back it up, keep it to yourself.
Anecdotal evidence is not irrefutable evidence.

 

Whatever you say chief. If you want to pretend this information doesn't bother you, like it would any rational person, that is fine. I do not NEED to prove anything. I have already seen the proof, and have factored this information into my purchasing choices. If you need me to physically drag you to the post office so you can see the same thing with your own eyes, start holding your breath. Hopefully we will be one less argumentative numismatist in under 3 minutes or so. I must say, I like the idea of you ignorantly still making purchases on sleazebay thinking that none of the workers who touch your package at the post office potentially now knows you have "x" dollar valuables in your possession, at your listed address, which may or may not be usable information in a potential future crime. Kind of like the universes karma coming full circle for a needlessly argumentative pompous internet troll.

Take my information for what its worth. And not that I have any hard evidence of this next statement, but, in my experience, lighten up a bit, you will live longer, and be happier.

 

Sometimes all it takes is purchased insurance on a light weight package to attract someone with sticky fingers. I don't think all too many employees know what's inside the packages, as I'd be really hesitant to tell anyone what I ship.

This is another reason I usually try to avoid shipping internationally. Even if I put purposely lie about the contents or whatever on a Customs form, I can never be 100% sure it'll arrive with the contents still inside.

 

The eBay shipping labels are unique. They do have some text about eBay on the label and also a QR code. I can't seem to find one online that isn't blurry or have one to print out to check what data it contains.

The sample QR code on widipedia (below) contains the following text:

VERSION 10 QR CODE, UP TO 174 CHAR AT H LEVEL, WITH 57X57 MODULES AND PLENTY OF ERROR CORRECTION TO GO AROUND. NOTE THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL TRACKING BOXES




So it's not unfathomable that the QR code on these eBay labels might have the item number(s) attached.

 

I did exactly this.

With certain specifics redacted, here is what was shown:







This was with an eBay generated shipping label and as stated in the linked thread, the clerk "keyed" in the number.

Note that there is no reference to eBay or even PayPal.

There are some clickable links but since they were technically closed and Anne was simply being courteous, I did not bother to ask her to click the links.

I will when they are open on Friday or the following Monday.

 

Except for the fact that "fiatfiasco" stated:

Nothing was said about scanning.

 

I really don't think people are making this stuff up. Multiple people. I think maybe when you go they can see it but might not see it every time, depending on how it is entered or what links are clicked. But I have a really hard time believing it is just something two different posters are lying about.

 

It would not be the first time that multiple people "thought" they saw something on different occasions.

I'm thinking "alien abductions".

 

Barney and Betty Hill for you younger folks. Google it.......good read.

 

Do you know if insurance was selected when purchasing the postage via PayPal/eBay? It would make sense that they would have access to the auction if a claim is filed against a shipment that was insured.

There are a whole bunch of missing data points from this story. But I am inclined to agree with the several posters who made the observation that the delivery destination of the item made it clear to any casual observer that coins were inside the package.

That's why most coin dealers I am dealing with, use a post office box or at the very minimum use initials only for the company name on shipping labels.

 

I cannot believe that there is a comparison being drawn between what I viewed at the post office and UFOs. I kind of wish I hadn't alerted some people who are having a hard time believing this, if only so it wasn't on "their radar" and they could continue along in their ignorance. Amazing.

 

I don't doubt what you said for a second. I do, however, question if USPS access to the data is nefarious. If the item was insured, seems to me having access to the auction database would be a reasonable arrangement to help expedite claims. Since a discount on postage is provided to encourage the use of eBay/PayPal when creating shipping labels, one would have to assume there is some efficiency created for the USPS by using the service, hence the better price. Said efficiency might simply be the check and balance on insured loss claims that having access to the auction database provides.

 

The items I saw this with were sent to me signature confirmation, which I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, does include insurance. This was not scanned by barcode, I handed her a post-it note with the tracking number on it.

And what you said about them needing to know what they are insuring seems a likely reason it popped up when they pulled it up in their system. Because I have also picked up a very cheap item ($10-$15?) and the item did not pop up on the monitor. So what I am thinking is that you are dead on. If an item is over that $250 or $300 level on ebay where they automatically make you use Signature Confirmation and you choose to use said discounted postage through them, then yes, it does THEN link it.

On a side note, I think you just solved something that has been itching at the back of my mind for a really long time now. Imagine someone with OCD having an itch in the area of their back where neither arm can reach. You just scratched that for me. I thank you.

And for all the naysayers, or people who think this is just swamp gas or a military balloon, you're right, absolutely right, I forgot to mention that the postal workers at the office I went to all were identical to the ones in MIB 2 where Kay worked after having his mind wiped. One had 22 arms. And 6 eyes. And sorted mail like lightning. I know what I saw, I took all my medications.

 

Signature Confirmation does not include insurance unless you also buy insurance separately.

I haven't had the chance to go down to the post office and try this out yet, but I have asked two friends who work for the USPS (as delivery men, not tellers) and also the manager of my local post office who I have friended on Facebook. All three think this notion is ridiculous, as do the people on the eBay community groups who I also asked.
I'll look into this more deeply, but so far people seem to think I'm crazy for even bringing it up as being a real thing.

 

The USPS is not in the business of expediting anything. It's essentially their job to find reasons NOT to pay claims. I know this from a coin I mailed with insurance AND signature confirmation. When I filed the claim, I had to provide proof of what the item was and proof of value... meaning they didn't know what the heck I shipped or what it cost or it's value or anything.

 

Some of you have to remember this is FEDEX not USPS.

 

Yea we know that, the discussion took a turn onto something else as they often do