Gave the guy a quote based on what the post office determined based on
weight, insurance and delivery confirmation... I made a special trip to the PO to get him a quote for parcel post. So he pays for the auction, and
then I get this crap in an email:

This member has a question for you.

Do not respond to the sender if this message requests that you complete the transaction outside of eBay. This type of offer is against eBay policy, may be fraudulent, and is not covered by buyer protection programs. Learn More.


Dear rxxxxxxxxxxx
hey i need this priorty mail if you can, the shipping you have on it will cover it... thanks

- wxxxxxo

Yeah, if I squeezed the radio into a flat rate box instead of wasting $$
on bubble wrap and extra layers of protection. I'm spitting nails.

A high-end AK collector tried to pull something on me recently. The guy bought a complete, possibly working chassis, paid immediately, then told me to ship only the audio transformers. I could see - AT LEAST - complaints for excessive shipping, partial refund, complaint of non-working(?) parts, and me left with a pile of useless parts.

I made the mistake of testing the trannies: they were good but the guy would not acknowledge the good results or agree that he bought the whole thing as-is. I gave him a full refund and sent a 2nd chance offer.

Interestingly this is the 2nd time in a month I've learned of high-end collectors manipulating honest sellers.
Ref: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... true&rt=nc

Peter,

I would message the buyer that priority shipping, properly packed will cost extra.
If he/she balks, then immediately file to cancel the transaction, hoping he/she will
pull the "feedback" card and threaten you with it. You can then claim feedback extortion.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/fee ... rtion.html

~ Mitch ~

I do it. Priority mail is the best here. Only one that is any good.

I send a message to the seller, though, that I'll pay the difference and ask for a revised invoice first.

Rich

Guess it depends on the value of the item, its shape, etc whether or not you could cram it into a Priority Flat Mail Box. You did say it was a ' radio' and other than shirtpocket transistor sets there's not many radios that will fit Flat Rate with adequate packing.
OTOH, the difference between Priority and Parcel Post sometimes isn't very dramatic on smaller boxes.
F'were me I'd stick to my guns and save HIM some headache of receiving a busted up radio

Ranger RCI-2950 ten meter rig... I had it boxed up in an oversized box
with layers of large bubble wrap. I suspect it could have fit in a flat rate
box, and I would be at risk if it got damaged in transit.

Ended dropping the insurance and giving him a three dollar refund. Kept
the proof of delivery though.

Yeah, but I want my stuff in 3 days, not weeks. Parcel post is slow.

I've bought gobs of stuff off the 'bay and asked for media mail or parcel post.
Only seen it add one week (max) to all the stuff I've ordered, so if you're not itchin'
to get it in three days or less, you'll save money. But be sure to ask for tracking!

~ Mitch ~

My experience with Parcel Post has been much better. I just shipped three
FT-726R transceivers to a gent in Nebraska via Parcel Post, and they
arrived in a week. Part of his offer for the package price was that I pay shipping,
and that was a ninety dollar tab out of my pocket. But, this was negotiated before
a dime exchanged hands.

This radio was going between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The shipping calculator was
set up for parcel post, for weight and size of the box I used. The guy wanted it shipped
Priority my dime. If he was willing to pay for Priority on a correctly sized box I'd be
happy to ship priority. How many complaints do you see on this board regarding
improper shipping?

Pete

Several times I've had the winning bidder only want some parts and I've been more than happy to oblige. I just send them an invoice for the lower shipping cost, then relist the rest. I have had cases where the second go-round brought as much money as the first because there were some folks who needed different parts. This typically results in a particularly good feedback since you have been willing to work with them on their specific needs.

Hardly anyone realizes how well something has to be packed to survive. Sounds like the guy Peter is dealing with just hasn't thought about how much padding will be required. I reallylike the flatrate boxes but you have to know their limits.

I use Fedex Ground. Here's a comparison of rates:

20lbs (12x12x12) from PA to CA

USPS - PP (7-10 days) - $26.23

USPS - Priority (2-3 days) - $51.80

FEDEX Ground (3-5 days) - $28.54

Keep in mind that the Fedex price includes insurance and tracking at no extra cost.

Larry

Fed Ex offices aren't nearby. I live in a bedroom/farm community. Closest place is the
village post office, about 1 mile down the road. Considering my Frontier only gets 15 or
16 MPG, traveling to UPS or other services would be a 20 mile round trip. I'll have to
see if Fed Ex will do package pickups--that could work.

Pete

Yes, it's a 25 mile round trip for me as well but if you add the roughly $4 of gas to the Fedex cost it's still very close to the PP cost with the extras added on like insurance, so to me it's worth it. I would rather have Fedex handle a package for 3 days than have the Post Office handle it for 10. The less time the carrier has to damage it the better, in my book.

Larry

You've been lucky or you've dealt with things that COULD be parted out. My snipe buyer had a history of 1-word feedbacks for sellers, my item was practically worthless without the parts, and his reaction bore out my suspicions.



Peter, Maybe your buyer gives you a better feeling than I had but I think you were too generous. With the license to steal granted by Ebay to buyers, I would have told him as-packed as-listed with insurance or refund, his choice. Proof of delivery is the minimum SOP.

Not trying to be an alarmist, but there is no way you should have not insured the package. If it gets damaged, he can file a "not as described" claim and you will be responsible for the value of the uninsured item.

Yeah, he could... and he'd be lying. That radio has several inches of heavy bubble wrap.
He could also leave me a negative for almost any reason and I'd be on the defensive.
I use QRZ.com whenever I can. This radio is more of a draw for the "CB crowd" so
eBay was the ideal venue. I'll be happy when he posts a positive feedback, or whatever,
so I know how it played out.

Pete

I hear you....eBay used to be a breeze for stand-up sellers like yourself who worked hard to accomodate buyers. Hopefully this buyer will turn out to be OK. Best of luck.

[/quote]Yeah, but I want my stuff in 3 days, not weeks. Parcel post is NFG.[/quote]


Absolutely !!! You Are So Right !!!

the PO says 2-9 days and that is bull. when i asked, an acquaintance who worked at the PO once told me that "parcel post" stuff sits around until enough parcels for the delivery area build up. then they all go. in the meantime it all sits around and can (and does) get busted up.

i have asked sellers for Priority and they usually send me a new invoice with priority cost. i have paid for Priority and still got parcel post. too many sellers offer economy shipping which is the crapola method and yes, it can take 2 weeks. for a mere 2-4 dollars more for priority, i can receive the package in 2-3 days.

i love priority mail.

i was reading another post in another category about radios getting damaged due to poor packing, careless sellers, careless shippers, etc. for us, it is a total shame for us.

anymore, in the past year for me, ebay = hassle. my experiences in many aspects have not been good ones as a buyer this year.

unless it is something i can not live without and want to deal with the hassle and take a 50/50 chance on damaged goods, i pass it up.

just my opinion based on my experiences.

steve

I bought some serviceing CD's from one of the members here, and had them shipped "Media Mail".
They took 6 weeks or more to get here and the PO had opened the parcel to make sure they really were "Media Mail".
They took almost 4 weeks to get it checked out and shipped to me- finally.

The member here was SO GREAT!.
We had no idea of what had become of the parcel, and he offered me a full refund
It came a couple of days later with a note from the PO inspector inside. (Guess he was on donut break for 4 weeks?); just before he was going to mail me a refund check.

He is the kind of member we need here. They will bend over backwards to treat you right.

PO inspector: You are fired!

Dealing for larger items with the unknown public through pony express or whatever is always a 50/50 chance of a problem. Deal in person when possible. Auctions, tag sales, swap meets, craigs list, the fleas and a occassional antique shop.