Last week I sold 5 rolls of wheat heads to a guy on ebay, and sent him the coins. When he got the padded envelope, it was all beaten up (he said it looked like a truck had run over it) . And there was a huge hole in it. Then he looked inside, all the rolls were gone and found a note from the post office that said, the package had been damaged during delivery. I didn't have insurance for the rolls, as i sold them for less then ten dollars. So. Should I give the guy a rebate? I don't have any more rolls I want to send. Or is it not my fault that the rolls didnt get to him, and should I move on and tell him, tough luck. Let me know what you guys think monleyman
Although I don't think it is your fault...Personally, I would go ahead and give them a refund since it was for under $10. I guess I would rather lose the $10, than risk some negative feedback and possibly a future customer.
The rules I found some time ago say that if you offered insurance and he refused, it is his loss. Otherwise, it is your responsibility to get them to him. Not too sure how serious you are about eBay, but even in the first case, feedback considerations definitely must be considered.
My attitude is either you buy insurance, or you self-insure. That's the only way to maintain a positive customer experience. Now, the post office would not put a note inside the envelope. Rather they would tape it back up and put a label on the outside apologizing for the damage. I don't know the best way to ask to see the envelope or to get it back, but if the customer says the note was inside the envelope, I would question it.
Maybe I missed something but I don't think you posted the amount of this sale. And as already stated, did you offer insurance? Did you send it via USPS? Sorry but so much depends on so much. If the sale was for a large amount of money I would be suspicious of a typical lost in the mail fraud. Many people buy things via ebay or other web sites and then claim as this person did. I never heard of a post office putting a note in such an envelope. In fact I've received items from our post office all beat up as noted and no note, no nothing, just a smashed up package. If it were me I would contact the individual, ask for that note, contact the post office for varification that they did in fact put that note in there. Mention what your plans are to the customer. If he refuses to send you the note, I would suspect it is a fraudulant situation and he is afraid of a Federal investigation. If he agrees and the does send you the note and if the amount paid wasn't excessive, I'd probably just send him a refund. I'me a very suspicious individual possibly due to growing up with so many not to law abiding citizens.
I think this is where the disclaimer could come in handy. "we reccommend insurance for all purchases. Failure to buy insurance releases the seller from anythign that occurs to the package/product during shipping. Ample care will be taken in hopes that somethign does not happen, but uninsured packages are the buyer's responsibility." On the nice side, if you use paypal to print out shipping, it offers free delivery confirmation which can help protect you, as a seller, some
This has been brought up several times on this site. Insurance is to protect the seller, not the buyer. The buyer gets what he paid for or he gets all his money back. Seller receives the insurance claim $$$, not the buyer. I was a believer in the " if buyer refuses insurance it is his problem" theory myself, and after reading the reasonable opinions, AND speaking to both Paypal and my post office, have changed my thinking. It is sellers obligation to deliver in a safe and timely manner the product which was paid for. I offer insurance as an option under $50, and if I feel I need it, I will cover it myself if buyer declines. I mandate insurance over $50 and include it in the shipping rules. Buyer can figure that into his bid. If any of us were to buy something, and not get it....we'd want our moneyback correct? This thread would have been about the poor packaging instead. If buyer paid by paypal, and you cannot prove delivery, he will win his claim. If he paid by check or money order,it is up to you to refund or not.
alright guys, thanks for the tips. I've decided that since its only ten dollars, I'm going to refund it. I think it will help my conscience, my ebay feedback, and it will make the buyer happy. Thanks again monkeyman
I once shipped 2 old glass knife holders, and the buyer said only one was in the still sealed package. Of course the one that 'transported out of the package' was the $57 one. After several e-mails, we decided that the seller must have thrown it out with the packaging. I still gave a refund, I didn't have to, but it made me feel good.
I shipped 100 rolls of wheats about two weeks ago, all were rolled, then boxed in $25 boxes, taped and then bubble wrapped and stuffed with more packing into one of those flat rate priority boxes, and they made it there all in one piece - despite the fact that the box weighed 35lbs. I insured it, and when the postal clerk asked what they were -"rare antique bricks, all well packaged"
I think you where to blame since 5 rolls of pennies should have been in a box and not a padded envelope.
It is unfortunate but the postal system seems to be rife with thieves. I have had several packages I have bought show up empty. In most cases the seller did a poor job of packaging. In fact, one seller put the word “RARE COIN” on the envelope. Guess what, that envelope showed up empty. Idiot.:headbang: It was a PCGS MS66 Walking Liberty Half. The Post Office Clerk handed me the envelope (again, ripped open and nearly in half) has if nothing was wrong. I looked at the envelope and said it’s empty. He said “so”. Yes it was insured, but anyway, my point is that sometimes this is due to poor packaging. I am not saying this seller was guilty of that though. Having received several empty packages, and many years ago having some of my buyers claim the same, I use as much tape as I can. So much sometimes the postal clerks complain. I tell them too bad, get rid of the postal thieves. I typically get comments about the secure packaging. I only had one issue in the last 300 or so where the buyer claimed he never got it. I think he lied but he got a refund I also have paid for insurance when the buyer opts not to on more expensive coins.
