iPhone 6(S)/Plus My old iPhone disappeared during USPS shipping. What can I do?

[j-a-x]

I recently sold my used iPhone on Swappa. Before shipping it I wiped the phone, removed my SIM, packed it up, and sent it USPS priority with signature confirmation. Despite this, the phone was never scanned once I dropped it off in the USPS secure drop off bin and the package has never been seen since. USPS has no idea where it is and won't let me file a claim since it was never scanned. They claim I didn't drop it off.

Given that I have the phone's ESN (and maybe IMEI), what can I do? Obviously there's no "find my iPhone" tracking since I wiped it, but is there any way to find out whether the phone was stolen and somebody is using it, or if it's simply lost?

Will reporting it stolen do anything aside from me having the satisfaction of knowing that a thief is not using it?

If I report it as stolen and the buyer gets it 2 months from now (I've heard stories of that type of thing happening), will the buyer be able to use the phone? Can I even report it as stolen given that I don't technically own it anymore now that the buyer and I exchanged money and I transferred ownership to her?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Newtons Apple]

At best the can blacklist the IMEI. You can report it stolen but it will not accomplish anything unless you need a police report for insurance purposes.

You need to return the money to the buyer as it is not their fault, not even your fault but bad luck for sure.

 

[newellj]

I recently sold my used iPhone on Swappa. Before shipping it I wiped the phone, removed my SIM, packed it up, and sent it USPS priority with signature confirmation. Despite this, the phone was never scanned once I dropped it off in the USPS secure drop off bin and the package has never been seen since. USPS has no idea where it is and won't let me file a claim since it was never scanned. They claim I didn't drop it off.

Given that I have the phone's ESN (and maybe IMEI), what can I do? Obviously there's no "find my iPhone" tracking since I wiped it, but is there any way to find out whether the phone was stolen and somebody is using it, or if it's simply lost?

Will reporting it stolen do anything aside from me having the satisfaction of knowing that a thief is not using it?

If I report it as stolen and the buyer gets it 2 months from now (I've heard stories of that type of thing happening), will the buyer be able to use the phone? Can I even report it as stolen given that I don't technically own it anymore now that the buyer and I exchanged money and I transferred ownership to her?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Wow, that really stinks. A few responses:

Yes, I have personally had USPS packages that were not correctly scanned show up, as if by magic, weeks later. But I'm not sure that helps a lot in this case because (and this goes to your last question) I think that legally the sale has not been completed until the buyer receives the phone.

That means that you need to refund her money and hope that she does the right thing if the phone shows up at some point in the future. It also means that you can report the phone as stolen since ownership hasn't been transferred yet.

I don't know if it's possible to blacklist the IMEI; I'm sure someone will comment on how that works.

Possibly reporting the phone as stolen might allow you to make a claim on your homeowner's insurance, but the amount is probably below your deductible and you might not want to make a claim like that in any case (some insurance companies reportedly cancel policies after customers make claims).

Good luck, that's a difficult situation.

 

[j-a-x]

Wow, that really stinks. A few responses:

Yes, I have personally had USPS packages that were not correctly scanned show up, as if by magic, weeks later. But I'm not sure that helps a lot in this case because (and this goes to your last question) I think that legally the sale has not been completed until the buyer receives the phone.

That means that you need to refund her money and hope that she does the right thing if the phone shows up at some point in the future. It also means that you can report the phone as stolen since ownership hasn't been transferred yet.

I don't know if it's possible to blacklist the IMEI; I'm sure someone will comment on how that works.

Possibly reporting the phone as stolen might allow you to make a claim on your homeowner's insurance, but the amount is probably below your deductible and you might not want to make a claim like that in any case (some insurance companies reportedly cancel policies after customers make claims).

Good luck, that's a difficult situation.

I know ultimately she needs a refund if she doesn't get it, but it has only been 5 days. I wonder how long I should wait? I wouldn't want to refund her and then find out she got the phone 2 days later.

I paid for 2-day priority shipping in a small flat rate box and I mailed it on Friday so I expected her to get it by Monday (generally weekend days count as transit days). However since it hasn't been scanned who knows if it was stolen out of the USPS depot instead of being scanned or what happened.

I was hoping there was some way the carrier could check if that IMEI had been used recently and if so maybe track down the thief that way (or at least give me some confidence that it was not stolen).

I went to my local USPS office where i dropped it off on Friday to ask them what happened and they just said they had no idea and there was nothing I can do.

 

[newellj]

I know ultimately she needs a refund if she doesn't get it, but it has only been 5 days. I wonder how long I should wait? I wouldn't want to refund her and then find out she got the phone 2 days later.

I paid for 2-day priority shipping in a small flat rate box and I mailed it on Friday so I expected her to get it by Monday (generally weekend days count as transit days). However since it hasn't been scanned who knows if it was stolen out of the USPS depot instead of being scanned or what happened.

I was hoping there was some way the carrier could check if that IMEI had been used recently and if so maybe track down the thief that way (or at least give me some confidence that it was not stolen).

I went to my local USPS office where i dropped it off on Friday to ask them what happened and they just said they had no idea and there was nothing I can do.

Not sure what the carrier can do - I think you have to call and ask.

I don't know what's a reasonable period. I think a week is too short. Two weeks feels like a reasonable time, but it may feel short to you and long to the buyer. Hopefully you're dealing with someone who's relatively understanding.

Are there any guidelines on Swappa for this kind of case?

 

[noobinator]

I'm assuming it should have arrived by now as well?

 

[BruiserB]

It doesn't help you now, but in general, whenever I've sent something valuable, I drop it off in person at a counter (USPS, FedEx, UPS) and request that the clerk scan it immediately and give me an acceptance receipt.

Has the buyer inquired yet about not receiving it? There's always a chance it made it there with no scans at all.

 

[j-a-x]

I'm assuming it should have arrived by now as well?

I paid for 2 day shipping. It should have arrived by Monday. if it was scanned and just late I wouldn't be as worried bout 5 days with no scans (not even the initial pickup scan) for a 2-day package is something that has never happened to me.
[doublepost=1517416949][/doublepost]

It doesn't help you now, but in general, whenever I've sent something valuable, I drop it off in person at a counter (USPS, FedEx, UPS) and request that the clerk scan it immediately and give me an acceptance receipt.

Has the buyer inquired yet about not receiving it? There's always a chance it made it there with no scans at all.

Yes the buyer has been messaging me daily. She seems nice though.

I paid for signature confirmation so is it possible it was delivered with signature confirmation and I was not notified?
[doublepost=1517417044][/doublepost]

Not sure what the carrier can do - I think you have to call and ask.

I don't know what's a reasonable period. I think a week is too short. Two weeks feels like a reasonable time, but it may feel short to you and long to the buyer. Hopefully you're dealing with someone who's relatively understanding.

Are there any guidelines on Swappa for this kind of case?

I went into the USPS station where I dropped it off this morning and they were just like "well it's not in the system, and we have no idea". Not sure what to do now aside from wait and hope. That's basically what Swappa said.

 

[Newtons Apple]

If it was due to arrive by this last Monday, I would wait till the end of the week and then refund.

How long would you like to wait for a phone you paid for?

 

[j-a-x]

If it was due to arrive by this last Monday, I would wait till the end of the week and then refund.

How long would you like to wait for a phone you paid for?

Personally I’d like to get it instantly.

But I’d understand nobody would likely give me a free iPhone just because shipping is slow.

I wish I could confirm that it was indeed stolen via the IMEI. I wish I could have sent it with find my iPhone activated or something.

 

[noobinator]

I feel your pain OP. I used to go in to drop off a pre-paid and the employee would be like "Just leave it on the counter over there. thanks!". And I'd do it but there would always be a few hours of stress where it wasn't being scanned. Now I just wait in line and request a scan/receipt. It sucks but it helps me not go insane.

I'd start checking to see if I can file a police report and looking into insurance policies or something?

 

[j-a-x]

I feel your pain OP. I used to go in to drop off a pre-paid and the employee would be like "Just leave it on the counter over there. thanks!". And I'd do it but there would always be a few hours of stress where it wasn't being scanned. Now I just wait in line and request a scan/receipt. It sucks but it helps me not go insane.

I'd start checking to see if I can file a police report and looking into insurance policies or something?

Usps said if it isn’t scanned there’s no proof I dropped it off and hence insurance isn’t possible.

In the future I’m definitely going to the counter. Sadly that usually means a 30 min wait here at my local post office.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Personally I’d like to get it instantly.

But I’d understand nobody would likely give me a free iPhone just because shipping is slow.

I wish I could confirm that it was indeed stolen via the IMEI. I wish I could have sent it with find my iPhone activated or something.

The main lesson to be learned is to have/get proof of shipping. Do not just drop it in the box, go to the shipper and get a receipt. USPS scanning/tracking system is not that good. It might cost a bit more but FedEx or UPS has better tracking.

It could also be just lost in the system and will show up sooner or later.

 

[noobinator]

It sucks because they probably have security cam footage of you dropping off the package but I have no clue how to get that and I doubt it is even possible. It'd drive me nuts knowing proof exists but you don't have access to it.

 

[newellj]

If it was due to arrive by this last Monday, I would wait till the end of the week and then refund.

How long would you like to wait for a phone you paid for?

That's one of the questions. The other is how long would a seller like to wait? That's more or less the one/two week spread I was thinking of. As a buyer, one week is stretching it. As a seller, I think two weeks is reasonable. I *just* (as in today) got a UPS failure resolved that started in the middle of December, so roughly six weeks (and UPS acknowledged that they had destroyed the package in transit [and no, I have no idea how]).
[doublepost=1517418682][/doublepost]

The main lesson to be learned is to have/get proof of shipping. Do not just drop it in the box, go to the shipper and get a receipt. USPS scanning/tracking system is not that good. It might cost a bit more but FedEx or UPS has better tracking.

It could also be just lost in the system and will show up sooner or later.

Yeah, I wasn't going to say that, but it's what I do. UPS, FedEx, USPS, it doesn't matter - I hand the package to a clerk and when they give me the pro forma question about whether I want a receipt I smile and say "yes, please, that would be very helpful." Asking for a receipt makes them scan it right then, which UPS and FedEx don't always do unless you ask.

 

[Newtons Apple]

That's one of the questions. The other is how long would a seller like to wait? That's more or less the one/two week spread I was thinking of. As a buyer, one week is stretching it. As a seller, I think two weeks is reasonable. I *just* (as in today) got a UPS failure resolved that started in the middle of December, so roughly six weeks (and UPS acknowledged that they had destroyed the package in transit [and no, I have no idea how]).
[doublepost=1517418682][/doublepost]

Yeah, I wasn't going to say that, but it's what I do. UPS, FedEx, USPS, it doesn't matter - I hand the package to a clerk and when they give me the pro forma question about whether I want a receipt I smile and say "yes, please, that would be very helpful." Asking for a receipt makes them scan it right then, which UPS and FedEx don't always do unless you ask.

I remember shipping a very expensive new Leica camera with three lenses to a collector in China and had is boxed and double boxed for safety. I wanted to insure it for $17,000. UPS said they would not do it unless I allowed them to open the box to proved the contents. I watched them do it and they repacked it better than ever and off it went! I have had great luck with UPS, very few problems.

 

[mattguy10]

Usps said if it isn’t scanned there’s no proof I dropped it off and hence insurance isn’t possible.

In the future I’m definitely going to the counter. Sadly that usually means a 30 min wait here at my local post office.

It’s a pain going through what you’re dealing with at this point, but it looks like that 30 minute wait would have been worth it now! We live and we learn. Good luck to you. I hope everything works out!

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I have seen "unscanned" packages arrive a week later without any sign it was in the system until the day of delivery. So there may be some hope there still. If it doesn't show up, sorry for your loss.