My first BAD EBAY transaction

[montessori]

Hello!
I have been buying stuff on Ebay for a few years. I bought my living room set, end tables, rugs, kitchen faucet, garbage disposal,
lots of Fiesta Ware, art work, lamps etc... LOTS OF STUFF.
The big items were local auctions and are beautiful Danish teak antiques.
I just got a gorgeous handmade copper floor lamp and the art work I have gotten is spectacular.
I've done really well and maybe I shouldn't get upset about one bad transaction.
But, I am upset. I bid on a teak magazine rack.
I won the bid on Feb 12th. No one else bid and I got it for $12.00.
The seller specifically said in her description that $12.00 shipping would cover speedy shipping and careful packaging. No insurance offered.
I paid the $24 with PayPal within minutes of the auction closing.

I finally got the package on March 15th. It was in a flimsy box with a couple of pieces of newspaper in it. All of the spindles on the rack are broken.
The seller wants me to send it back to her, at my expense, which is actually a little more than $20. Then, she will refund $12!!!

She is in Canada, she insured the package for $12 and says that the Canadian PO only covers LOSS, not broken items.

I told her that I have pictures of the item but I feel it's crazy for me to spend MORE money to send it back to her.
She says that it's crazy for me to think that a SELLER should refund any money without getting the package back first.

She threatened to leave negative feedback.
I paid IMMEDIATELY and then waited patiently for the package.
What kind of negative feedback does she think she could leave??

I am out $24 and have a box of broken pieces of wood.
I could spend more money to get back $12.

I don't THINK I am the crazy one or am I missing something here?

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't know much about Ebay, but if I were you I'd just take the loss and leave HER negative feedback.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I hate to say it, but... accept the $24.00 loss and move on. As you stated, you have had years of success with Ebay. There are bad eggs selling on Ebay, that is for sure. I came across one last year and it got ugly. My loss was about $55.00. I left 2 negative feedbacks for him and he left one for me stating that I swore at his grandmother! Kinda funny, dont you think?

If he/she does leave you bad feedback, it will only be one and most people dont judge you on 1 bad, if you have many good. Chances are they wont leave you any feedback as long as you leave none for them. (That doesnt warn others though)

Good Luck!

 

[Nancy]

If she leaves negative feedback then you can respond to it (at least you used to be able to do that) then you can explain the circumstances..and you can always leave negative feedback for her. I have learned never to business with someone from Canada. Their postal service is not as good as ours. I have had some problems in the past.

Of course if she would have packed it better it should have survived.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Tell her that you won't send it back because of the cost, wait for her feedback to you and then give her negative feedback for poor shipping and customer service.

 

[elmosmom]

Doesn't paypal offer some sort of protection againest deals gone bad. When I had a problem a friend-an ebay seller-suggested reporting the incident. Your seller said the package would be properly wrapped and it wasn't they should be held accountable.

 

[peachgirl]

She is in Canada, she insured the package for $12 and says that the Canadian PO only covers LOSS, not broken items.

From the Canadian postal service website...

"Coverage or Insurance is available from Canada Post to provide compensation for the loss or damage of mailable items if the requirements are met."

USA-Coverage for loss or damage: Coverage for up to $100 is included. Certain exceptions apply.

The only exclusion for loss I saw was this:

Shipments containing glass or ceramic items, items of a perishable nature, or items requiring temperature controls are subject to coverage for loss but not for damage.

I didn't read everything there was there, but from first glance it looks like your seller might not be telling you the truth.


You might want to check out their website. It does give instructions and phone numbers for filing claims. This link is the page about insurance and claims..

http://www.canadapost.ca/common/tools/pg/manual/d01-e.asp#p007

 

[airhead]

Post her username here so we can all make sure NOT to buy or sell to her. It sounds like a scam to me.I would leave negative feedback also. I have been selling on eBay for 4 years. Knock on wood,I've only had a few knukleheads to deal with. In the end I did get my $$$$. If you're interested how,PM me. I won't go into on the boards!!

 

[peachgirl]

she insured the package for $12

Another thing...

She didn't insure it for anything. Insurance up to $100 is included in the cost of shipping. There is no additional charge. So, at least for that much of her story, she isn't being honest with you. I would certainly check out whether it's possible for you to file a claim, but more importantly, I'd report this seller to Ebay and do what I could through Paypal.

 

[battricia]

From the PayPal website:

Buyers

PayPal helps you buy with confidence on eBay. When you use PayPal to pay for a qualified listing, PayPal Buyer Protection provides $500.00 USD of additional coverage at no additional cost.

Make sure a listing is covered before you make your purchase. To find out, look for the PayPal Buyer Protection icon in the Seller Information box on an eBay View Item page. If your purchase is not covered by PayPal Buyer Protection, it will likely be covered by PayPal's Buyer Complaint Process.



PayPal Buyer Protection coverage is: $500.00 USD. To see the equivalent coverage amount in your currency, click here.



Before filing a claim we encourage you to work directly with your seller as most issues can be resolved through direct communication.




PayPal Buyer Protection covers:

Items paid for with PayPal and paid to the seller's email address associated with the listing (to make sure you pay the correct email address, use the grey Pay Now button found when the listing closes on eBay)



Items not received at all or received significantly different than what was described in the listing



Items purchased on eBay - when paying for your item, make sure you select eBay Items as your Payment Type



Tangible items (physical goods that are shipped to you) only. Services and intangible items are not covered

Make sure to talk to them about it.

tricia.

 

[damo]

Here's what is says on the back of my receipt I got when I sent a package to my dad in the US from Canada.

"Liability coverage against loss of damage of up to $100 of the shipment's value is included with purchase. Fragile or perishable articles are excluded from liability against damage. Canada posts's liaibility is limited to the actual value of the item if less than $100".

There's nothing wrong with the postal service. You are just being ripped off by the seller.

 

[airhead]

Was this resolved?

 

[montessori]

I thought I responded last night, I must never have submitted the response.

I am really grateful to all of you for answering me!

We have guests from out of town (while in the middle of remodeling) and I haven't had a chance to read the posts carefully or to explore the different options.

I did email the seller just to clarify what her position is.
I asked her exactly how much money will I be refunded if I spend the extra $20 or so to send the thing back to her.

This was her reply.

$12

I am tempted to go the route suggested by Tinkerbelle...just forget the whole thing.
I'll think more about it when I have a moment to myself.

Thanks again!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too had trouble with mail from an Ebay purchase coming from Canada. They required putting what was in the package on the outside. Idiot of a seller put "diamond ring" in stead of just ring. When it came, the package inside had been opened, and there was nothing but an empty plastic bag. I was out $500 and neither Ebay or the postal service could do anything about it.

 

[MosMom]

Don't be afraid to leave negative feedback because you are afraid you may receive it in return. That is how people like this can treat customers poorly and keep stellar feedback. I've taken a few negative feedbacks in order to make sure others know about the practices of others. I just make sure to respond to my negative and explain the situation (as best I can with the small space provided). I don't think it has hindered my sales/purchases and I checked up the other day on one really bad buyer I had...she now has 13 negative feedback and most of them are for similar things she did to me.

I would tell her that you are going to file with eBay and you will leave negative feedback. Her tune may change when you mention filing with eBay or Square Trade. You paid for insurance (I don't buy that they don't cover damaged items either) and she needs to honor that insurance. I would also contact Canada Post about their insurance policies and file a claim with them. Take the situation into your own hands and file the claim directly with Canada Post.

HTH

 

[damo]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I too had trouble with mail from an Ebay purchase coming from Canada. They required putting what was in the package on the outside. Idiot of a seller put "diamond ring" in stead of just ring. When it came, the package inside had been opened, and there was nothing but an empty plastic bag. I was out $500 and neither Ebay or the postal service could do anything about it.

Someone sent a $500 ring through the mail without insurance? The theft must have occured at or after customs since they are required to check the item out.

 

[montessori]

AAAAAARRGGGGHHH!

I decided to file a case with PayPal.
I have so much going on here but took a few minutes to sit down and do it.
I typed in my complaint, it took a while to compose my words and explain things clearly.
I clicked on "Continue" and the next page said my session had run out, please sign in again!!

Everything I wrote had disappeared.

Well, I have to go back to school now!
I'll see what I can do tomorrow.