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Insurance?
If you insured the package for the proper value, you will have to contact UPS and file a claim on the missing item. They will probably give you a hard time since the purchaser did not make the box damaged but just keep talking to them and don’t take no for an answer. This is provided you believe the purchaser. They will also want the person with the box to hold it for 5 days after the claim is filed in case they want to go look at it.
Jeremy45
He said USPS, not UPS…is the claim process much different?
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Sorry, I didn’t catch the USPS. Never had to claim a loss but they are very different than UPS. Sorry for the misread.
i had somthing happen like this about a year back. i sent a box with no delivery confirmation or insurance. It was worth about 100$. I sent the box and the guy said he never got it. After going back and forth i ended up just eating the cost and making it right. USPS was no help at all. Now i know 100$ is not as much as 700. Dont give up and talk to some other people about this and let a mod know about what happen. GOOD luck
wow…
personally, Id start hunting down his handle(s) on every gun forum I could find and start trying to figure out just how honest this guy is.
heck, maybe even a background check on the dude 
If you chose poorly, you’re out a lot of money.
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Just out of curiosity, did you happen to notice if the package had been retaped. As in someone noticed it was open and taped it shut, this could be proof of damage. Although without insurance I doubt it would help.
Jeremy45
Did you physically place item in a box and send it? If so, then I wouldn’t be blaming myself. Unless you own a business where the item was lost and not actually sent or something. I think if you did your part of sending the item, it should be out of your hands. Not that you shouldn’t help solve the problem but I’d be VERY weary sending this guy money with out more facts. Easy scam to pull if that’s the case.
Not that this helps the OP… but if you’re using USPS for anything that (or more) valuable, do yourself a favor and use registered mail. There are a few hoops (such as having to use a previously-shipped box, having to cover all seams with the fiber reinforced paper tape, etc), but it’s really pretty cheap, and its probably the most secure way most of us have access to for shipping something. It goes in a locked separate compartment with a documented chain of custody all the way from you to the destination (where signature is required).
I just shipped $4000 16lb custom rifle in a 62" aluminum case (inside of a box) with via registered mail – fully insured, etc. for just over $50.
This doesn’t help directly, yet, but was the item serial numbered? I wonder what the chances of it turning up somewhere are? Either in the buyer’s possession or being resold. It could be reported as stolen anyway.
If I was BUYING something for $750 bills, I would as a BUYER damn well ask and pay for insurance!!!
I’d call and ask about this, as I recall you have to swear out an affidavit, as does the recipient, that the item was “lost” to the Postmaster.
Shouldn’t be too tough…or maybe it was swear out an affidavit to the local PD, either way – I would not be giving up $750 on someone’s word I don’t “know”.
I will never send anything with USPS that takes more than a stamp, they are no help if anything gets lost.
Short story. Sold VZ52 cleaning kit. Shipped USPS but stupidly did not insure. Buyer claimed he did not recieve. Refunded money and questioned USPS. Since no insurance, my loss. Three weeks later the box is returned marked “Found in supposely empty equipment”. Empty is the word. The box had been slit open, the cleaning kit removed, and the box resealed. $55.00 plus shipping education.
And I am out the cleaning kit.
I would not refund it if I knew I had sent it unless you promised insurance and did not buy it.
You did your part. It shows as delivered. He cannot prove you did not send it.
Also, for you guys who ship USPS: use endicia.com or one of those 3rd party mailers. The sell their own insurance instead of USPS and at least endicia is pretty easy to make a claim through. I have not done it but I almost did once. Item showed up finally. The form was not bad as I recall.
I have actually never had anything lost through the USPS
You can take this for what it is worth. I have friend both his father and brother work at the post office and I live on the mail route that they train nebees on and I am the very last house on the route there is no telling when my mail arrives every day sometimes 3pm - 6pm. But all the crap that goes on with the postal service I trust them more than UPS I have gotten letters 6 months late :rolleyes: but they will be in a plastic bag explaining that the letter got hung up in the sorting machine 
I know 6 months later but I still got the mail. I know for a fact that the US postal service takes employee theft more seriously than UPS ever would.