I recently did 3 jobs for my MSC that requires a specific weight and size box. It did not say I HAD to buy a box, so I just used ones I had at my parents house from Christmas. You know, the huge ones they send for a tiny toy? I found 3 the same size, and measured them all. They were what the MSC was looking for, and I was happy I didn't have to go to the store!
Well...the post office didn't measure the boxes correctly...so now my scheduler said they need a receipt for the boxes to prove I had the right ones. I don't know what to do! This was about $40 of shipping fees I emailed him right away to tell him these were just packages I had at my house...but haven't heard back all day. He said he would need the receipts by 12 PM tomorrow afternoon. UGH!!
I'm tempted to go buy 3 boxes in the size I sent and email that receipt.

Any advice? :-/

On the surface this totally sucks. This is why I do not do the dim weight thing, I would suggest first of all to go back and read the guidelines again and if it does not indicate that you have to have a receipt for the boxes, then copy that part of the guidlines and send it. Otherwise, Yeah go ahead and buy some right size boxes and send it to them. But it occurs to me that the date will not match up, That's all that I can think of to do. Glad you posted this so that others can see what can happen.
Also how do they know that the PO did not measure them correctly ?

I've never done that particular shop and am not familiar with the instructions. I'm posting to encourage you to call and speak to the project manager, rather than email. In complicated situations, that's often best. I've had occasion to speak to the project manager in my area on these shops a few times, and they've all been very fair and helpful. Good luck! Keep us posted.

And after the fact purchasing boxes for a receipt that would 'fit' is NOT an answer as those are NOT the boxes you used for shipping. Indeed call and speak with the project manager and see what you can work out. If you measured the boxes and noted the measurements and they worked per instructions, make your case that the PO employee must have been cutting you a break by measuring them smaller to ship cheaper or just plain old goofed.

Uline.com - buy the minimum order of 14" cube boxes (25 pieces), I think that comes to around $45 - then just keep doing the PO shops till you use all the boxes.

If it is the MSP I think it is, they accept a scanned copy of the receipt for the 25 box lot and a reimbursement request for $1.75 or so, and have an endless supply of the shipping shops. Did you have to ship canned goods to a food pantry?

Not a quick fix, but it should be a reliable one. Thinking more about this as I type, check with the scheduler first since the receipt will be dated after your shops.


geauxcj Wrote:
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> I recently did 3 jobs for my MSC that requires a
> specific weight and size box. It did not say I HAD
> to buy a box, so I just used ones I had at my
> parents house from Christmas. You know, the huge
> ones they send for a tiny toy? I found 3 the same
> size, and measured them all. They were what the
> MSC was looking for, and I was happy I didn't have
> to go to the store!
> Well...the post office didn't measure the boxes
> correctly...so now my scheduler said they need a
> receipt for the boxes to prove I had the right
> ones. I don't know what to do! This was about $40
> of shipping fees I emailed him right away to
> tell him these were just packages I had at my
> house...but haven't heard back all day. He said he
> would need the receipts by 12 PM tomorrow
> afternoon. UGH!!
> I'm tempted to go buy 3 boxes in the size I sent
> and email that receipt.
>
> Any advice? :-/

Yes...food pantry.

I noted that I could buy boxes in my email, but I know it's not right...

I'll call this morning. Was just hoping he would respond yesterday.

I'm out $40

He said there is nothing he can do. I understand why they need the receipt, especially since they didn't measure boxes. That's a lot of money right now I'm in tears...and it sucks. I should have just bought the stupid boxes. I was just so happy I didn't have to make an extra trip to store. -sigh-

Ugh I'm so sorry that happened. I've done one of these DIM weight shops in the past and that's all I will ever do. I'm too afraid of something going wrong and being out that much money. The only thing I can say is that at least you can write it off as a donation to charity. I think.

Yes, when a shop is rejected, leave it on your shop sheet, count the mileage driven and mark the expenses you expected to have reimbursed as "unreimbursed business expense". These items can be deducted as costs of doing business. Unfortunately there is no way to deduct an unpaid fee for a rejected shop because in theory you did not earn it.

While I have never seen these specific things addressed in IRS rules, my logic is that you went to the location in good faith and paid in good faith what you had every reason to believe would be reimbursed. When some snafu causes a shop rejection you are entitled to claim the expenses just as an oil driller who comes up with a dry hole can claim the drilling expenses. The oil driller cannot claim the value of the oil he hoped to produce, but he can claim his legitimate expenses.

I'm really sorry to read this thread.

I am doing 6 shipping shops tomorrow and I was so concerned about being reimbursed for my boxes that I made the cashier run 7 different transactions when I purchased them.

Again, I'm really sorry that you lost your money. That's just not right.

Sorry to hear that, geauxcj, but at least you have the definitive answer. I hope that a fantastic paying shop comes your way so that it makes the burn a little less!

Thanks

I noticed I haven't been approved for the regular box shops that I requested a few days ago. I normally hear back fast. I like those. Quick and easy (normally).

Sorry to hear that. The 'old' company which used to do these shops used to send you the boxes.

What really scorches my rumpitude is when they shaft us on the fees and then use the report anyway.

Now that will suck!

Yeah, mine is scorched too. Maybe I am being dense, but if they did not measure the boxes is it not the PO employee's fault? Do not get it.Also what I do in these rare instances is try to pick up a couple of extra shops to at least psychologically mediate the damages.

It all depends how you look at this. It is a part time hobby (business) for me. In a business you do make losses.It is something you don't want but it happens.I find these shops so easy to do, I feel even if I loose some money, I can easily make it up in a few shops.

If do a large number of shops, these things will happen (even for very experienced shoppers).

sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It all depends how you look at this. It is a part
> time hobby (business) for me. In a business you do
> make losses.It is something you don't want but it
> happens.I find these shops so easy to do, I feel
> even if I loose some money, I can easily make it
> up in a few shops.
>
> If do a large number of shops, these things will
> happen (even for very experienced shoppers).


I agree and that is the best way to look at it, but if you consider this work a hobby you are going to piss off a lot of us, including me, as this is a part or full time job to earn income and not a hobby like gardening or whatever. Just saying.

This is my job. I pay my bills with this. So to lose the money really sucks for me.

I know better next time. :-/ If there is a next time...lol

Yes, it is the employees fault. I guess it just might seem odd to the client when they see 3 jobs coming from me, and none were measured. I've never seen the clerks measure large boxes when I go. -sigh-

I've tried to pick up some more jobs to compensate, but nothing approved yet.

Walmart in my area sells those 14" cube boxes for $0.63 each.

geauxcj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is my job. I pay my bills with this. So to
> lose the money really sucks for me.
>
> I know better next time. :-/ If there is a next
> time...lol
>
> Yes, it is the employees fault. I guess it just
> might seem odd to the client when they see 3 jobs
> coming from me, and none were measured. I've never
> seen the clerks measure large boxes when I go.
> -sigh-
OK here is what I do not get. If it is the employee's fault why do you get punished for it? I have not read the guidelines, but I don't get it.
>
> I've tried to pick up some more jobs to
> compensate, but nothing approved yet.

I haven't done scenario c shops for that very reason. I'm scared to put that much money at risk. I did get a low limit credit card to use for reimbursable expenses. But shipping shops have to be paid for in cash. grrrrrrrr

Totally agree - if it is a full time job for some people, I totally agree with them. I would love to make it my full time job but I don't think I can make enough to feed a family.


cynb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sbrahma Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It all depends how you look at this. It is a
> part
> > time hobby (business) for me. In a business you
> do
> > make losses.It is something you don't want but
> it
> > happens.I find these shops so easy to do, I
> feel
> > even if I loose some money, I can easily make
> it
> > up in a few shops.
> >
> > If do a large number of shops, these things
> will
> > happen (even for very experienced shoppers).
>
>
> I agree and that is the best way to look at it,
> but if you consider this work a hobby you are
> going to piss off a lot of us, including me, as
> this is a part or full time job to earn income and
> not a hobby like gardening or whatever. Just
> saying.

The post office challenges it, and I have to prove I used the right box....BUT...who's to say I did just mail a small envelope of beans? I guess a receipt just "proves" I sent or bought the right size box.

So the post office just rejects the shop when you don't have "proof" that their employee made the mistake, and you are not paid. At least that's what was explained...somewhat.

Giving to a food bank is great, but I feel bad because the huge box itself weighs a pound...and I can only send like 2 packages of beans before the weight limit is hit. Kind of a waste. If they asked me to fill the box up, that would have been much better...but shipping would be much higher. Oh well.

I recently purchased 2 packages of three boxes each to do the regular box shops. The total was $11.00 and I attached the reciept to a shop report. I was not reimbursed for the boxes. I was told that each box needed an individual receipt, as that's how the client wants it. I certainly didn't see that in the guiedlines and now I'm out $11.00. Frustrating and for the months prior, they were freebees I had in the house.

All of the above is why I won't do scenario C shops for these people.

I won't do them either. During the last round I did 4. Two of them let the package slide as a regular box - their random act of kindness. When they see a 3# box going to a Food Pantry they may feel like doing a favor. I was paid for both of them though.

Wow my heart goes out...I hate to hear of this happening. And I am glad I have never done this type of shop. I liked the way the old MSC handled these shops. They sent a box and an address. I didn't have to worry about the weight or the size. Even when I do a Regular A, I get nervous. What if the box is less than 18 oz? I am screwed. I also have had a negative experience with this company related to the USPS. The clerk added something--I am still not sure what the hell it was but it looked like I was doing personal business. I had several go rounds with the scheduler, explaining I wouldn't be doing personal business 75 miles awa from home.. The shop was paid, but I was hanging on the edge. Does this company have project managers?

This entire post reinforces the fact that I avoid the scenario C's. I did two D's today...piece of cake!

I actually like this MSC. I never worry about the weight. I buy 1 lb. bag of rice+box wt. + few newspaper balls (packing material) and I am always up to 1.5 lbs.+