shocking response on ebay from a soldier

exactly my point

 

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I Suspect A Postal Problem!!

I know it is difficult to understand the seeming bias, but as an individual that lives in a secure gated property with patrol dogs, etc., who receives virtually all shipments at a POBox, I have identical problems.

I believe the problem is because of the interactive "system" between eBay, PayPal, USPS and sellers who want to save some of their S/H fees.

I believe sellers have had problems, as I, with the postal system. Postal employees often will not scan "delivery confirmation" packages at a Post Office address. Many Postmasters believe it isn't necessary to scan packages that have postage purchased on the internet, and will even scan "Signature Confirmation" packages by an alternate method which will not allow tracking by an individual other than a postal manager, not allowing internet verification.

I've been informed by several sellers that I must pay the appropriate fees for UPS, FedEx, etc., and supply a land address, so that they can verify delivery.

I've just come to realize that payment of a $10-$12 fee is often the cost of doing business in todays world.

I now have problems with UPS who has teamed with USPS to reduce their delivery efforts. I have a secure gate for UPS, FedEx, etc. "drop" deliveries, which doesn't allow property access, but access to a large fenced area with a shelter. UPS now prefers to deliver my packages to the local Post Office, and show "front door" delivery. It has been a problem when local UPS personnel can't be contacted, and the shipment is "lost" by USPS.

Please don't take the delivery requirement as a personal slight against those stationed abroad, as there are some of us requiring "security" stateside who also have your receiving problem. Security often has a cost. :thumb:

 

As the seller you hold the right to ship however you please. If the buyer i not happy with it they can go with someone else. Please allow me to share my thought process\story no matter how flawed it may be. And please no that i don't mean to be inflammatory or insulting, as i said before as a seller its your right to ship how you please.

2003 I am deployed, they have no options to wash your own clothes you have to turn them into a company and pick them back up in a few days. Said company is operated by 3rd country nationals which are around my size. After about a month I had 2 pairs of underwear and 3 undershirts left. Every time I would get my clothes back it was missing multiple items. The store on base did carry these items except they are underarmor type shirts and underwear, the shirts cost around 30.00 each. Considering I had to wear an undershirt in uniform, everyday I had to order them in. I went back and forth with companies that on their websites said they supported the troops etc. I quickly learned that when someone says they support the troops etc it sometimes means they are rooting you on from the sidelines. As long as they don't have to do anything extra or actually do anything to show that support then they are cool touting their support.

My thought process when dealing with a company that wouldn't ship because they had to do a customs form PG version:

I haven't been home in 5 months at this point, I haven't been to the united states in 2 years. I get limited time on the phone and computer and im wasting it trying to get draws and shirts. This guy probably is going home to kiss his wife and i haven't been able to even see my SO in almost 9 months. I have been eating slop and have had sand in every possible place on my body. I haven't been able to sleep a full nights sleep or even have 2 minutes privacy, i can't even go to the bathroom by myself. And this guy is going to complain about taking the extra two minutes to fill out a customs form?

As a gun collector it is a lot like coin collecting in the fact its a lot of the same names. I was deployed yet again and ordered some equipment from a high end "furniture" company. I ordered about 3k worth of accessories. When I opened the box I noticed some of the packaging had been tampered with. Thinking it was customs that did it i was not happy. When I took everything out I discovered candy had been hidden in every orfice possible. A can of smokeless tobacco and some energy pills had also been hidden within the accessories. I was like wtf. At the time we were only getting 2 15 min phone calls a week and 30 minutes a week computer time. So i shot the company an email asking if a mistake had been made and inquiring why this stuff would be sent with my gun equipment. The reply I got back was that the company supports the troops and they understand how american candy and fresh tobacco can make such a huge difference when you are away from home. Although they were unable to give free equipment they wanted to help any way though could and it was really appreciated what I was doing. Mind you I never told these people that I was deployed or military. They based all of this off my address. I went back and looked at my CC several months later and noticed they gave me a 20% discount. 99% of my furniture on any of my weapons are made from this company and i will continue to go through them.

It is a frustrating subject. I currently live overseas and use an APO address. In the past year I have been in the same house with my SO a total of 2 months. November 28th was the first time I got to sleep in my own bed in 14 months. In my eyes (and it may be wrong) but I think in some cases it wouldn't hurt to go the extra mile to help out. Yes i did sign up for this myself and i LOVE what i do and wouldn't change it for the world but if you have the chance to help someone in the military and it only takes a few minutes, why not? You may look at it like well when things get lost or damaged I have to deal with the hassle of making it right. I look at it as I have to live and eat this job, there is no hanging up my coat and escaping it at the end of the day and you wouldn't even spend 30 minutes of hassle in the event it does get lost..for me?

Here is a news link of the most stressful jobs they just put out: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/5-most-stressful-jobs-1B7822274

Again I mean no disrespect and everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you don't feel comfortable sending to an APO box then by all means don't. As a seller that is 100% your right and I respect that.

EDIT: And one thing to keep in mind, there are some military that take it to the fullest. I have seen people that have been in 6 months or my personal favorite guard members that have been in a year, never deployed etc. And they are quick to ask for discounts etc.

 

Mikey what branch u in

 

I understand where the OP is coming from but let me tell you, it sucks trying to find people who will ship to APO/FPO's. When I was stationed overseas I had the hardest time finding companies that would ship to me. It was pretty disappointing and disheartening when I wanted something from the US and couldn't get it. Luckily my parents were awesome and would get me the things I was looking for and mail it to me. Never had an issue receiving anything via my FPO except magazines. Those always seemed to disappear.
If anything, just send it registered mail. They would have to sign for it? Just a thought.

 

This is not the OPs fault or problem. He politely explained that he doesn't ship to APO/FPO and why.
The potential buyer responded with a snarky reply. If I were the seller and got a response like that,
I would have told the potential buyer to go pound sand. If the potential buyer had been polite, I may
have made an effort to accommodate him. Supporting the troops doesn't mean having to kiss their
hind quarters.

 

I agree 100%. I was thinking about future dealings. Either way, it's the sellers choice. The potential buyer lost all credibility when he went off on the OP. I'm sure he's one who asks for discounts every where he goes and feels entitled to do so. I'm not a fan of those people.

 

Yes, be a soldier and be proud. I was US Army. I'm proud of our troops.
But being a soldier does not entitle you to demand special treatment from
anyone.

 

Exactly. In fact IMO you should be more humble. I've been in the Navy for almost 11 years and never asked for a discount until I bought my house. Saving some $$ at home improvement stores has been great this last year! Other than that, I consider myself to be just like any other person and will gladly pay regular prices and expect no preferential treatment.

 

Probably just got a Dear John and is disgruntled by the fact that she's hangin' out in the B's...

 

i use to ship to APO/FPO addresses all the time. i would even give the soldiers a discount on shipping. i just had a lot of bad luck with packages never making it or being damaged when they got there. i would have been more than happy to work out other arraignments with the buyer. the fact that he called me out saying i have no support for the troops is what made my final decision. it is my choice. if people who have APO/FPO addresses are not happy with that there are many other sellers on ebay. but that still doesn't mean i don't support the troops.

 

Yeah he was a d-bag no question about it.. People like him put the rest of us in a bad light I think.

 

I agree with you 100% urban And the guy that messaged you probably has done 1 rotation and has never crossed the wire. I wouldn't have even took the time to explain to him i would have just reminded him that he is the one that signed up for it.

I have seen tons ask for discounts etc. And its embarrassing. When I am in the states all I want to do is blend in and be away from that environment.

I guess the thing that annoys me is the hypocrisy about the whole support our troops thing. You will see businesses and people saying they support our troops but then it makes me ask...how? in mind? in spirit? One good example of this is Dell, years ago (I dont know if they still do it) they used to offer discounts for students and military you just had to go online and put in your info and once you were approved you could order at a discounted rate. I went on there to buy a new computer because mine got ruined. The civilian site was a good 15-20% cheaper. I emailed them and asked why I would be charged more and they told me that just how their pricing structure worked out that year with sales and all.

I don't ask or want anything special. And it embarrasses me when i see a military member trying to get something for nothing just because of their job.

 

I feel the exact same way. There are many people in my family who have served and I admire them and are very proud of them. I understand we need to support and respect the troops. But, just because they served our country does not mean they are entitled to whatever they want...they are not above the rules and don't get a free pass. I would not have changed my policy for him and my response to his would not have been civil.

 

I would not has responded to him.

 

I would have told him: Go Navy.

 

They Should Be Honest!!

I agree with you that the hypocrisy should end.

When they drafted "grunts" in my times for the Vietnam "conflict" you knew that if you walked the streets alone in this country as a serviceman someone was likely to call you a baby killer or assault you. When I foolishly went off base alone in this country and was assaulted by 3 "minorities", I was asked "what were you thinking, traveling alone". No hypocrisy there!!

You never had to worry about a stranger smiling and telling how much they appreciated your efforts, as they often just turned their heads. No hypocrisy there!!

You really didn't have to worry about being paid minimum wage, housed in extravagant quarters or fed overfilling rations. No hypocrisy there!!

You wouldn't receive a "discount" on anything, but more than likely be ignored by business owners. No hypocrisy there!!

I relished the times I'd enter a new base in my dress uniform, receive a salute, and be greeted with "good day Doc, what can I do for you?". No hypocrisy there!!

I agree, let's eliminate hypocrisy! I believe both yours and the responders posts here have been appreciatively honest.

I believe the majority who say "we support our troops", truly mean that. I know that I do, as I have a handsome healthy tall athletic 21 year old Marine Grandson, stationed in Afghanistan. He joined because he stated that greater potential success in life would probably be his because of his CHOICE. I love him with all my heart, as you could hardly meet a more dedicated considerate humble MAN. I want him to have the ultimate tools for success in his job, which I believe are being provided. Beyond those tools of support, I don't believe that because of his occupational choice, that he should have any additional benefits which are greater than another public servant who daily risk their lives, such as a policeman or fireman, etc. JMHO :thumb:

 

Hey Urban - I'm active duty, currently at an APO, and really he shouldn't have even bothered with the sale or tried to establish other means of buying your coins. Also, you do have nice coins

 

There is a forum member who posted right above me who had bought from me plenty of times while stationed in the Continental US. He just got stationed in Korea and I agreed to send to him to an APO.

Though in your defense, OP, I would not have done it either seeing as he has low feedback and you haven't sold to him before.

 

see under your circumstances i would have done the same as you. if it was someone i had been dealing with for a while and then they needed it shipped to an APO/FPO address i would have had no problem. the person i was dealing with did respond back to me and kind of apologized for his remarks to my first response back to him.