Damaged book returned - Advice 1 1

[james_c]

So I have had some books get rejected when submitting Pre-Screen 9.8s and every time so far believe it to be my own error (not catching a defect).  I received my submission of 9.8 Pre-Screen and the first thing I do is look over the rejects to see what I might have missed. Most them I could see where the issue lied with me (something I didn't catch in a certain light) but I got to a particular issue that was obviously damaged. So obvious that it happened while the book was in the bag and board because at the spot of the damaged the backboard has that damaged as well. When I shipped the books in they were place in a CGC kit that had 48 books in 4 bundles each bundle was bubble wrapped before placing them in a Gemini type mailer and also placed between 3 pieces of backboard on each side then taped to make sure there is no movement. All the bags and boards that were used were brand new out of the package. They were securely taped, shipped off and accepted by CGC so I know there was no damage to the outside of the box or they would send them back to me.

I did contact CGC about the issue and they asked for me to send pictures which I did while I was still talking to the customer service rep. I was told I would hear back from them in a couple days...I waited and didn't hear anything. So I gave it a couple more days before emailing them back requesting an update. That is when I got the message that I can get a Pre-Screen refund but the damage could have been done in shipping so it sounds like the blame is being shifted to USPS. 

In my opinion I cant see how it would have been damage in shipping... they accepted the package and the two boxes in return had no damage at all. So what is someone to do in this situation?  Just accept the fact that nothing can be proved and now I have a book that might have been a 9.8 but is not certainly not now?

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with situation and is there anyway to protect myself when submitting books in the future?  (other than hoping someone doesn't manhandle my books)

I don't feel like I could have packed them any better...the only other thing I could have done is ship each book in Mylites2 w/ fullbacks...is that a normal practice that people submitting would do? 

[lostboys]

Maybe you packed them too well and it got dropped during the unpacking battle...

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 4/15/2022 at 7:50 PM, james_c said:

So what is someone to do in this situation?

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with situation and is there anyway to protect myself when submitting books in the future?

Shouldn't CGC be getting an insurance payout from USPS? They should be making you whole with that + the pre-screen refund. I'm not sure if that covers all damages, but that seems like best-case scenario from my POV on this case.

Other than insurance that covers in-transit damages?

[Kronius]

On 4/19/2022 at 6:25 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

Shouldn't CGC be getting an insurance payout from USPS? They should be making you whole with that + the pre-screen refund. I'm not sure if that covers all damages, but that seems like best-case scenario from my POV on this case.

Other than insurance that covers in-transit damages?

If the purported damage happened on its way to CGC, then James, as the shipper, would be the one to file the claim.

[Kronius]

On 4/15/2022 at 6:50 PM, james_c said:

That is when I got the message that I can get a Pre-Screen refund but the damage could have been done in shipping so it sounds like the blame is being shifted to USPS. 

..

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with situation and is there anyway to protect myself when submitting books in the future?  (other than hoping someone doesn't manhandle my books)

I have no experience submitting to CGC (yet-my first time is coming soon). But I do have experience dealing with USPS…

USPS will never pay anything if you can’t prove the shipping box was damaged—-the shipping box that CGC threw away long ago. Without the “damaged” (or undamaged?) shipping box, there is no way for USPS to know if the damage was caused by mishandling by them or improper packaging by you (or mishandling by CGC).

Look at it from CGC’s perspective—anyone could submit an already damaged comic to them and claim it was damaged by CGC. The problem is the individual employee that (likely) dropped your book is probably much better off saying nothing than fessing up. You’d think they’d have cameras covering every square inch of the place to prevent theft, but who knows. That would also require someone spending a lot of time reviewing video tape just so CGC could lose more money?

This seems to be the nightmare scenario that everyone is afraid of. You’d be better off if they lost your book because then they’d have to pay you.

The only way to protect yourself better next time would be to take super detailed photos before submitting. Even then, if they don’t admit fault and blame the post office, your only recourse would be to sue, which wouldn’t be worth it unless it was a super high value comic.

[james_c]

On 4/30/2022 at 12:22 AM, Kronius said:

I have no experience submitting to CGC (yet-my first time is coming soon). But I do have experience dealing with USPS…

USPS will never pay anything if you can’t prove the shipping box was damaged—-the shipping box that CGC threw away long ago. Without the “damaged” (or undamaged?) shipping box, there is no way for USPS to know if the damage was caused by mishandling by them or improper packaging by you (or mishandling by CGC).

Look at it from CGC’s perspective—anyone could submit an already damaged comic to them and claim it was damaged by CGC. The problem is the individual employee that (likely) dropped your book is probably much better off saying nothing than fessing up. You’d think they’d have cameras covering every square inch of the place to prevent theft, but who knows. That would also require someone spending a lot of time reviewing video tape just so CGC could lose more money?

This seems to be the nightmare scenario that everyone is afraid of. You’d be better off if they lost your book because then they’d have to pay you.

The only way to protect yourself better next time would be to take super detailed photos before submitting. Even then, if they don’t admit fault and blame the post office, your only recourse would be to sue, which wouldn’t be worth it unless it was a super high value comic.

Yeah all good points and exactly my situation right now. I guess lucky for me its not a super expensive book (or a book I have a personal connection to) and it probably lowered the book from a 9.8 to a 9.2.

So I guess there really isn't anything that can be done unfortunately (I packaged the best I could, scanned the book ) unless CGC wants to take my word that it was not packaged damaged already. I was hoping for them to maybe cover a pressing fee to possibly correct the issue but doesn't seem likely.

Just hope for the best with future submission I guess...but I do have some more expensive books that makes me pause when considering sending them in at this point.

Edited May 1, 2022 by james_c

[Bird]

On 4/30/2022 at 8:46 PM, james_c said:

I was hoping for them to maybe cover a pressing fee to possibly correct the issue but doesn't seem likely.

I don't think there is anything you can do, but if this is what you want ask for it directly.

I ship my books in packs of 5 as was suggested by cgc at some point. a larger bundle could easily have inner books shift as the box is tossed around and landing on different sides. I don't think you have to have exterior signs of damage to get damage inside. It does sound like you did a great job packing them but there is no way to prove where it happened to cgc.

There seem to be lots of crunched corner books coming back.