Narrative Summary

I am a full-time reseller. I bought a massive box of 50 vintage video games at a garage sale for $100. Later, I sold just one of the rare games on eBay for $80. I shipped it to the buyer, but USPS lost it. I filed a claim, showing my eBay sale for $80. However, the USPS adjuster demanded the original acquisition receipt. When I explained the garage sale lot, they attempted to calculate the value by dividing the $100 lot by 50 games, offering me a final claim payout of exactly $2.00.

The Resolution Strategy

USPS adjusters often aggressively pursue a seller's original "acquisition cost" to minimize payouts, completely ignoring the fact that a reseller's business is based on asset appreciation and market value.

To fight this, the Authori claims platform generated an appeal anchored tightly to DMM Section 609.4.3. The postal regulation states that indemnity is based on the actual value of the article at the time of mailing.

The appeal letter firmly shut down the original acquisition argument, stating that the garage sale price was legally irrelevant. At the exact time of mailing, the item was bound by a completed, legally binding eBay transaction for $80. By pointing out that the DMM mandates valuation at the time of mailing—not the time of acquisition—the appeal forced USPS to honor the eBay invoice. The absurd $2 offer was overturned, and the full $80 was paid.