Dumb eBay shippers
- Thread starter dalangdon
- Start date
Help Support :
maggie~hamilton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 711
Horrendous stories all. I have more than my share too, but the worst -- by far -- was the time I won a beautiful Kirby 511 (1951), in practically mint condition, all original, all the attachments & accessories, boxes, literature, including the large outer box that was just in unbelievable condition. This was way-back-when, when I had first joined eBay (1997 -- and, oh, how eBay has changed for the worse over the years) and made the mistake of giving other eBay users the benefit of the doubt, that they were intelligent.
Well, I paid for the auction then waited for it to arrive. I came home from work one day and it was pouring down rain. As I walked up the sidewalk, my heart just sunk down to my toenails when I saw a large maroon box with a KIRBY logo on front, standing on my porch in the downpour.
When I got to the box and saw it was soaked, I literally stood there and bawled. As best I could, I dragged it up onto the porch and opened it up -- which of course just meant peeling back the old, brittle cardboard. Everything inside was drenched as well, and the beautiful, mint, dark gray bag had streaks of maroon on it where the wet attachment box inside had pressed against the bag and the ink had transferred onto the bag. I knew there would be no way to remove the ink stains without ruining the bag.
Oh ... My ... God.
I don't think I have ever sent a more blistering email to anyone. I bet that lady's monitor is STILL smoking. Then after that, I called UPS and gave THEM unholy hell for leaving the box outside in the rain like that.
I mean, really, how could someone be so stupid as not to know that the box was a valuable part of this set? She knew it was old, she had described it as "vintage collectible old kirby." yet she just sent the thing in the original box, with magic marker scrawls and shipping stickers and plastic tape all over it. So even if it had not gotten wet, the box would still have been a total loss although the stuff inside would have been okay.
After that experience, I do not hesitate to send sellers very explicit packing instructions, written clearly enough for an 8-year-old to understand. And I also tell them my feedback comment will directly reflect how well they did or did not follow my instructions. If they reply with "attitude," I regale them with the above sad story and USUALLY by then they get it. But not always. There truly are some very, very, very stupid (and mean) people on eBay.
(These photos are not of the same Kirby obviously, but the same model I got later -- given to me by a friend who found it in her aunt's attic. She even delivered it to me! This one is as complete as the ruined one, but not in as-nice condition - even as nice as it is.)
Well, I paid for the auction then waited for it to arrive. I came home from work one day and it was pouring down rain. As I walked up the sidewalk, my heart just sunk down to my toenails when I saw a large maroon box with a KIRBY logo on front, standing on my porch in the downpour.
When I got to the box and saw it was soaked, I literally stood there and bawled. As best I could, I dragged it up onto the porch and opened it up -- which of course just meant peeling back the old, brittle cardboard. Everything inside was drenched as well, and the beautiful, mint, dark gray bag had streaks of maroon on it where the wet attachment box inside had pressed against the bag and the ink had transferred onto the bag. I knew there would be no way to remove the ink stains without ruining the bag.
Oh ... My ... God.
I don't think I have ever sent a more blistering email to anyone. I bet that lady's monitor is STILL smoking. Then after that, I called UPS and gave THEM unholy hell for leaving the box outside in the rain like that.
I mean, really, how could someone be so stupid as not to know that the box was a valuable part of this set? She knew it was old, she had described it as "vintage collectible old kirby." yet she just sent the thing in the original box, with magic marker scrawls and shipping stickers and plastic tape all over it. So even if it had not gotten wet, the box would still have been a total loss although the stuff inside would have been okay.
After that experience, I do not hesitate to send sellers very explicit packing instructions, written clearly enough for an 8-year-old to understand. And I also tell them my feedback comment will directly reflect how well they did or did not follow my instructions. If they reply with "attitude," I regale them with the above sad story and USUALLY by then they get it. But not always. There truly are some very, very, very stupid (and mean) people on eBay.
(These photos are not of the same Kirby obviously, but the same model I got later -- given to me by a friend who found it in her aunt's attic. She even delivered it to me! This one is as complete as the ruined one, but not in as-nice condition - even as nice as it is.)
maggie~hamilton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 711
Which all this is why I don't shop on eBay, except in a very few instances for things that aren't rare, collectible, expensive, or much breakable.
It's not just EBay. I bought a new Briggs and Stratton 14HP engine from a place that deals in engines. It's their business. I think it was something like $40.00 for shipping.
When it arrived, it was in a box twice as large as it needed to be, with NO packing material of any kind. It was free to roll around. The end of the crankshaft was sticking through the box when it showed up. Luckily there was no damage.
When I emailed them, and told them what I thought of their shipping methods, they replied that they shipped them like this all the time, and I was the first to complain. Oh, and if I wanted to pay additional $$$$, they would have foamed it in place in the box.
Never again.....
kennyGF
When it arrived, it was in a box twice as large as it needed to be, with NO packing material of any kind. It was free to roll around. The end of the crankshaft was sticking through the box when it showed up. Luckily there was no damage.
When I emailed them, and told them what I thought of their shipping methods, they replied that they shipped them like this all the time, and I was the first to complain. Oh, and if I wanted to pay additional $$$$, they would have foamed it in place in the box.
Never again.....
kennyGF
rocketeer500
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2006
- Messages
- 115
I too, have had my share of eBay shipping....
But, to be honest, I've had more success than tragedies. While I'm not proud of the fact that I've furnish most of my house with items from eBay, I've learned that you (the buyer) need to tell the seller how to package the items. In the beginning, when I first started to buy items on eBay, it was a hit-or-miss situation. But, when I became more familiar with the item/weight or type, I would, and still do, tell the seller how I want the item packaged, and offer to pay additional if necessary. With a feed back rating of over 700, I can honestly say that I've had problems less than 5% percent of the time.
Now, I'm not trying to discount all of your horror stories, I too have my own, but it's more of a "buyer beware" situation. And it's up to the buyer to make demands on how items are shipped.
But, to be honest, I've had more success than tragedies. While I'm not proud of the fact that I've furnish most of my house with items from eBay, I've learned that you (the buyer) need to tell the seller how to package the items. In the beginning, when I first started to buy items on eBay, it was a hit-or-miss situation. But, when I became more familiar with the item/weight or type, I would, and still do, tell the seller how I want the item packaged, and offer to pay additional if necessary. With a feed back rating of over 700, I can honestly say that I've had problems less than 5% percent of the time.
Now, I'm not trying to discount all of your horror stories, I too have my own, but it's more of a "buyer beware" situation. And it's up to the buyer to make demands on how items are shipped.
maggie~hamilton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 711
Well, how can it be a case of "buyer beware" situation when you are buying something from a seller sight unseen and with little if any insight into their intelligence or lack thereof?
There are sellers who just don't give a s#!t and will pack stuff as they see fit, without any regard to buyers' instructions. And you can't always go by their feedback: Sellers of this stripe are notorious about leaving unfair and false retaliatory negative feedback when someone leaves it for them as an honest indication of the transaction.
Many people, including me, are thus usually reluctant to leave a negative, especially in view of eBay's cop-out "we are just a forum" policy of not intervening in the feedback process unless a feedback contains profanity or threats.
So again, how could you consider the onus to be on the buyer?!
There are sellers who just don't give a s#!t and will pack stuff as they see fit, without any regard to buyers' instructions. And you can't always go by their feedback: Sellers of this stripe are notorious about leaving unfair and false retaliatory negative feedback when someone leaves it for them as an honest indication of the transaction.
Many people, including me, are thus usually reluctant to leave a negative, especially in view of eBay's cop-out "we are just a forum" policy of not intervening in the feedback process unless a feedback contains profanity or threats.
So again, how could you consider the onus to be on the buyer?!
michaelman2
Well-known member
I have at times added the following to my Paypal payment to the seller:
" Dear Seller, Thank you in advance for advising the shipping company as to the contents and your packing method. If there is any doubt as to the proper packing of the item, the person that is receiving the parcel from you can many times advise if you are indeed properly protecting the item being shipped
Improperly packed items will always be denied when a claim is filed. If you are still in doubt as to the proper packing of the item please feel free to call me at ......"
I ended up doing this when I was collecting Candlewick glass. I had a long stretch where I would receive more broken items than intact items.
I had usually started out when paying by asking the seller to please place cardboard between plates along with the other packing, very simple.
I rec'd one parcel, 12 dinner plates stacked one on top of the other, absolutely nothing between the plates, all broken.
Frankly being an Ebay buyer and seller, when I am a buyer, my responsibility is to pay promptly. As a seller I am to ship safely and promptly.
As someone mentioned above, Ebay will completely wash its hands in the event you have a dishonorable person, either seller or buyer. A dishonorable person cares little about poor feedback and if they do, they simply retaliate.
I have rattled on....sore sore subject with me.
" Dear Seller, Thank you in advance for advising the shipping company as to the contents and your packing method. If there is any doubt as to the proper packing of the item, the person that is receiving the parcel from you can many times advise if you are indeed properly protecting the item being shipped
Improperly packed items will always be denied when a claim is filed. If you are still in doubt as to the proper packing of the item please feel free to call me at ......"
I ended up doing this when I was collecting Candlewick glass. I had a long stretch where I would receive more broken items than intact items.
I had usually started out when paying by asking the seller to please place cardboard between plates along with the other packing, very simple.
I rec'd one parcel, 12 dinner plates stacked one on top of the other, absolutely nothing between the plates, all broken.
Frankly being an Ebay buyer and seller, when I am a buyer, my responsibility is to pay promptly. As a seller I am to ship safely and promptly.
As someone mentioned above, Ebay will completely wash its hands in the event you have a dishonorable person, either seller or buyer. A dishonorable person cares little about poor feedback and if they do, they simply retaliate.
I have rattled on....sore sore subject with me.
Well, the seller got back to me, and refunded me the purchase price, but not the shipping price. That's somewhat ironic, but since the shipping was not very much, I'm not going to complain.
Chalk another one up to experience....
Chalk another one up to experience....
whirlcool
Well-known member
Wow, shocking that they refunded your money to you. But you lucked out big time!
Now for the legalese....
It is completely reasonable to expect the seller to take reasonable and responsible care to ensure that a product that they are shipping is adequately packed for shipment to the buyer. The degree of care that under the circumstances would ordinarily or usually be exercised by or might reasonably be expected of an ordinary prudent person (a Reasonable Man). The exercise or absence of reasonable care, which is a jury question, often determines the verdict in tort cases or cases involving injury to others properties.
As for stupid people on Ebay.......
People get away today with such outrageous behavior that would not be acceptable just one generation ago. No longer is there any retaliation or punishment for being plain stupid or being irresponsible. Therefore, irresponsibility has become a life style for many these days.
I think I have created a paradox!
Now for the legalese....
It is completely reasonable to expect the seller to take reasonable and responsible care to ensure that a product that they are shipping is adequately packed for shipment to the buyer. The degree of care that under the circumstances would ordinarily or usually be exercised by or might reasonably be expected of an ordinary prudent person (a Reasonable Man). The exercise or absence of reasonable care, which is a jury question, often determines the verdict in tort cases or cases involving injury to others properties.
As for stupid people on Ebay.......
People get away today with such outrageous behavior that would not be acceptable just one generation ago. No longer is there any retaliation or punishment for being plain stupid or being irresponsible. Therefore, irresponsibility has become a life style for many these days.
I think I have created a paradox!
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Chalk another one up to experience....
Hopefully you left the appropriate feedback???
Chuck
Hopefully you left the appropriate feedback???
Chuck
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
No longer is there any retaliation or punishment for being p
In fact, it's rewarded! Look at the one who got $$$$$$$ for spilling hot McDonald's coffee in her lap! Um, DUH!!! You didn't order iced coffee!
Chuck
In fact, it's rewarded! Look at the one who got $$$$$$$ for spilling hot McDonald's coffee in her lap! Um, DUH!!! You didn't order iced coffee!
Chuck
Lack of intelligence on YOUR part does not constitue an emer
Well Dan, I feel your pain.
I imagine it would feel great to be able to give the sender a "Bronx salute", otherwise known as the (middle-finger) bird...and have them actually see it!
Well Dan, I feel your pain.
I imagine it would feel great to be able to give the sender a "Bronx salute", otherwise known as the (middle-finger) bird...and have them actually see it!
brettsomers
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,993
NOBODY IS SAFE!!!
i just opened a box that contained what was to be a lovely direct drive turntable. as i picked up the box, it sounded like loose dishes!!!
THIS FROM ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED SELLERS ON EBAY WITH 100 PERCENT FEEDBACK!!!
the turntable had been shipped with the platter in place. of course the platter fell off the spindle in shipping. it was resting against the tone arm when i opened the box. also, the weight/stress of the heavy platter caused the motor to fall off its mounting. in essence the motor broke off.
HINT: YOU NEVER SHIP A TURNTABLE WITH ITS PLATTER IN PLACE! YOU ALWAYS REMOVE THE PLATTER AND WRAP IT SEPARATE.
when i emailed the ebayer prior to the end of listing he ASSURED me that he knew what he was doing. WRONG! this is not the first time this seller has done this to me. this SAME seller once shipped me a NIB GE toaster oven. well kinda NIB, the bakelite shards and crumbs falling from the toasted had a diminishing effect.
moral of the story: you are never safe, even when you deal with 100 percent feedback ebayers. very very sad.
i just opened a box that contained what was to be a lovely direct drive turntable. as i picked up the box, it sounded like loose dishes!!!
THIS FROM ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED SELLERS ON EBAY WITH 100 PERCENT FEEDBACK!!!
the turntable had been shipped with the platter in place. of course the platter fell off the spindle in shipping. it was resting against the tone arm when i opened the box. also, the weight/stress of the heavy platter caused the motor to fall off its mounting. in essence the motor broke off.
HINT: YOU NEVER SHIP A TURNTABLE WITH ITS PLATTER IN PLACE! YOU ALWAYS REMOVE THE PLATTER AND WRAP IT SEPARATE.
when i emailed the ebayer prior to the end of listing he ASSURED me that he knew what he was doing. WRONG! this is not the first time this seller has done this to me. this SAME seller once shipped me a NIB GE toaster oven. well kinda NIB, the bakelite shards and crumbs falling from the toasted had a diminishing effect.
moral of the story: you are never safe, even when you deal with 100 percent feedback ebayers. very very sad.
maggie~hamilton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 711
I feel your pain, Brett.
brettsomers
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,993
i feel i must add a correction to my previous post. i had contacted a different seller about his turntable shipping savvy. not the shipper of the loused up one i got today. i had been shopping for a turntable and got two sellers confused. i suppose i cannot assume anyone, no matter how spotless thier feedback is, knows how to pack tricky items like turntables. this could have been avoided if i had indeed contacted this seller and offered help.
thanks Charles.
thanks Charles.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
I've documented a few of the more irritating ones in the last few years. I'm planning on penning an article on it for Antique Week newspaper.
Glass plates, wrapped in a single layer of thin bubble wrap and wedged into a shipping box!
Glass plates, wrapped in a single layer of thin bubble wrap and wedged into a shipping box!
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
A rocking Presto mixer with plastic trough-style bowl. Specified to put plenty of cusioning between the goods and the box, and to protect them from damaging each other. Beaters wrapped in a single sheet of newspaper in the bowl. Yep--- damage! BTW, neutral FB for the glass plates in the previous post because of the lack of care in packing, though there was no damage. Negative for this one because of the damage.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Electric Corning coffee perc. Specified "at least 3" of padding like wadded newspaper all around it." The ecuse after the fact? "Itwas a strong shoe box." NEGATIVE FB!!!
