I shipped a $300 package last month to a customer via UPS.

Customer claims to not have received it.

UPS tracking says delivered on doorstep with a photo.

I’ve opened a claim with UPS and it says under investigation. Tracking now says “open investigation.”

Customer is saying she’s going to sue me and file a chargeback unless I refund her. I responded that I am waiting until UPS has completed their claim to get the insurance to refund her.

She says that she cannot wait and will just have to sue me since she thinks I’m negligent in this case.

I have copy of shipping label and screenshots of full tracking. I even take photos of the packages before I ship.

Can she actually sue me? Nothing online says she can but I’m a bit confused. What can I do in this situation to protect myself from this happening again aside from shipping insurance?

  • biglytriptan@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Yeah this customer is kind of being a dick. I’ve had eBay sellers screw me worse, at least you communicated that you’re waiting for your UPS claim to give her a refund. Most sellers just tell me “carrier’s fault, I’m not responsible,” which forces me to do a chargeback if it’s a not inconsiderable amount of money. This isn’t a winning case in court (lol let’s face it, customer was just bullshitting). You showed due diligence in filing the claim. The commonly accepted practice is that once it gets a delivery scan, your part of the deal is done, and even more so if it has a picture at their doorstep, AND a signature from someone in the building/house. After that, they can try disputing with their payment processor. Anything more than that is just a courtesy. IF she got litigious, most jurisdictions require her to try to formally come to some amicable agreement in writing before filing a lawsuit and trying to serve you.

    I say wait for UPS’s investigation to conclude, and stop contact with the customer unless it’s in writing (at least an email). Once someone says the “L” word, now you gotta CYA.

    $300 is a lot, but even the crazies know that court costs are going to be more than that, not to mention the time investment over a sucky case