Other views: Books dented and damaged, but no help from post office

I'm a writer and happy to have found a publisher who likes my works. I was sent three cartons of books recently, 48 packed to a carton. Two cartons arrived in pristine condition. Two days later, the third carton arrived, but unlike the first two cartons, it had extra bands around it holding it together. Inside, all but six books were damaged; spines creased, pages folded over, dings and scratches on covers, etc. Even the dividers and flat cardboard from inside were missing. I took the box and some representative damaged copies to the post office, and what follows is basically the conversation that ensued.

"I'd like to file a claim. As you can see, one corner of this carton has been shredded like it was dropped, and all these books spilled to the ground."

"Was it insured?" she asked.

I had checked with my publisher earlier. "No," I said.

"If it wasn't insured, we can't do anything about it."

I retaliated that during transportation, this box was dropped. "Do you think the books were shipped in this condition?" I asked.

"Sorry."

I said, "The other two boxes came bound just like this one, and they arrived in perfect condition. Your people dropped this box, then stuffed the books back in, put bands around it to hold it together and sent it to me in this condition."

"It wasn't insured," she emphasized. "I suggest you go back to the company who sent it. Perhaps they have some other way they can cover the damage."

"I have the other two boxes in my van, which are in good shape. Would you care to come outside and view them?"

"It will do no good, they weren't insured."

"Are you unwilling to come look at the other two boxes?"

"You will have to go back to the company who shipped the books. Sorry about that."

If I understand correctly, because the books arrived damaged and weren't insured, the Post Office does not have the claim responsibility. What? Our government passing the buck?

These cartons were not wrapped with Scotch tape; they were bound securely with heavy duty tape. Anyone who would examine the carton could easily tell it had been dropped. I was appalled that the post office clerk would not take two minutes of her time to simply check out the other two boxes. What really hurts is I'm paying her wages, and, the burden of expense has fallen upon my publisher and me.

Dvoracek is a Fargo author who has written novels, short stories, poetry and screen plays. Among his works are "Charlie's Gold & Other Frontier Tales" and "The Boys from Fargo." He writes under the pen name Kent Kamron. He also is well known for his 350 television episodes he did as "Madd Frank." E-mail dkd@I29.net