darned ibns member....

[San_Miguel98]

i posted this on the ibns forum, but that forum seems dead. i'm not expecting any replies over there for about a month or two. anyway, i remember this happened here to another coinperson, but i forgot who it was and where the post went. i'm curious about the end result with that whole issue, as the issue is now mine. thoughts, anyone?

 

A member used my address from the IBNS listing and sent me a large package full of about 150-200 different notes. The vast majority of them were "junk" with an average retail value of $0.40. I did not request any of these from him, and I have never heard of him before. Included with this large stack of junk was a bill for $100.00.

 

This member lives overseas and I think it's a hassle to make the trip to the post office, to pay for the proper packaging, and to pay for the international airmail fees for junk I did not ask for in the first place.

 

What should I do, and has this happened to other members?

[ccg]

It's never happened to me. In Canada, if I remember correctly, anything you receive in mail that if addressed to you, without being requested, is legally considered a gift.

 

Frankly, it is an odd situation. Myself, I'd be annoyed at the prospect of paying to return something that I didn't request, and that is legally my property, though it would be the right thing to do. Going down the line would be sending partial payment or return.

[Scottishmoney]

I had this happen with a "member" from Mongolia, I checked my IBNS membership list, hmmm "Member" was not listed. He sent me practically worthless Mongolian notes and asked for USA notes in exchange. Needless to say I did not ask for the Mongolian notes, but my kids liked the "gift"

[MisterMcDoo]

Happened to me, too, from someone from Mongolia too. But I got nice crispy UNC notes that were pretty neat (albeit low value), and he said it was an option to pay.

 

I tried to use the IBNS forum, but nobody ever seems to use it. Oh well...

[San_Miguel98]

mine came from a guy in lithuania, and the majority of the notes are from the early ex-ussr countries like the belarus animal series. anyway, i'm mostly angry that the guy who sent them to me seems to be preying on new ibns members (i finally got listed after joining four months ago). this seems like the only way he can charge so much for the stuff nobody really wants to buy. i'd be less angry if a telemarketer decided to call me during dinner, than to deal with a $100 unsolicited bill with a $5.00 return fee.

[gxseries]

I honestly don't understand though... it's not like he's going to track you down with his Mafia ™ associates if you aren't going to pay

 

On the other hand, I don't understand why they would do such things. I mean, surely, if you were to send money over, it would be nice for them, but there is always a risk that you aren't going to do so.

[San_Miguel98]

after thinking it over, i think i'll hold onto these notes until he complains about it. then i'll let him know how i feel and i'll ask him to pay for a stiff envelope and registered international air mail fees. the more of a hassle it is, the more of a lesson he learns.

 

btw- if he doesn't want to pay for the return, i'm predicting many many banknote contests/giveaways!

[henare]

i suppose the real question is "does the IBNS know their membership list is being used this way?"

[San_Miguel98]

heheh...got a letter from the postal service

 

If a company sends you a gift in the mail, but you didn't request it, the item

is yours, and you are under no obligation to pay anything (regardless of the

mail class).

 

You, the consumer, may only legally be sent two types of merchandise through the

mail without your consent or agreement:

 

Free samples which are clearly and conspicuously marked as such.

Merchandise mailed by a charitable organization that is soliciting

contributions.

And in these two cases, you can consider the merchandise a gift if you wish.  In

all other situations, it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that

person has previously purchased or requested it.

 

If you do not wish to pay for unsolicited merchandise or make a donation to a

charity sending such an item, you may do one of three things (in each case, by

law, you have no obligation to the sender):

 

If you have not opened the mail piece, you may mark it "Return to Sender," and

the Postal Service will return it with no additional postage charged to you.

If you open the mail piece and don't like what you find, you may throw it away.

If you open the mail piece and like what you find, you may keep it for free.  In

this instance, "finders-keepers" applies unconditionally.

Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to

follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.

 

If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of

unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such

items--especially if you are sent statements insisting on payment for the

merchandise--you should contact you local postmaster or the nearest Postal

Inspector.

 

Note: These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009.

[gxseries]

YES, FINDER KEEPERS *LOL*

 

[banivechi]

I think it is the time to subscribe at IBNS ... but being in Romania I'm sure that nobody from Ukraine (my neighbours) or Mongolia will send to me unsolicited notes.

[gxseries]

[ccg]

If you open the mail piece and don't like what you find, you may throw it away.

If you open the mail piece and like what you find, you may keep it for free.