http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140140764569&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=004


http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140140763468&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=004




I sold the above two MERP books to a fellow in NY state. It's been almost 5 weeks since I shipped the books, and he's saying if he doesn't get them within a week or if I don't refund his purchase within a week, he'll start a Paypal "trouble ticket".




A bit of background here: Package was shipped Small Packet (surface) to him in NY state for $7. He's written several times (firstly after 1 week) wondering where his package is. At first I said it will probably take 12 or so business days (as that's what Canada Post guesstimates, but I've never had a surface packet to the USA take longer than 5 weeks). Since then I've been politely telling him to be patient and that it will arrive eventually and to check my feedback to show I've never had a package lost. Last time he wrote (last week) I said that sometimes small packet (surface) can take 5 or 6 weeks (as I've had to wait that long from stuff from the USA) and as a courtesy I refunded his shipping cost.




Got any other recommendations for me before I respond to this fellow's payment refund threat.




Thanks,




Steve

This sort of thing is why I'm seriously considering not selling to non-US residents, excepting long-standing Acaeum members and people I know. Regardless of what is stated in the auction, if there is no tracking on the package, you're just like Paris Hilton in a home video: fucked hard.
I would claim the insurance and refund him the money. In the future, only ship via a trackable method. It covers your ass.

I'm heading to the post office today to start an insurance claim. I'm just convinced I'll refund his money and he'll suddenly get the package "the next day".

Steve

Beyondthebreach wrote:Well, he bought from you and the package didn't arrive.  You should refund his money.  Perils of selling, but he is the customer after all . . .

Aneoth wrote:Less than $30 worth of goods total. Not worth worrying over for one buyer. Get moving with your insurance claim and send him on his way with a full refund. Continued contact with this guy at this point seems fruitless and too time consuming for just 30 bucks.

Move on with your life,  Just send him packing with a full refund.

BTW: I would add him to my no bidders list from now on. He sounds like an unreasonable chap regardless of whether or not he is lying about getting the books.

He started complaining after ONE weeks time and constantly continues to do so.      

Totally freeky. Life is too short to deal with folks like that more than you must.

As stated above, ALWAYS use some form of tracking for ANY foriegn shipping, including USA. Make the buyers pay for that too. A relatively small extra expense, but well worth it for both parties.

Good advice here. I know no one wants to get taken no matter for how little, but in retrospect for only $30, I agree just do it and get it over with. Like Aneoth, I'd also put him on my block list as even though he is may very well be telling the truth, you never know, so its not worth having to go through it again with the same buyer just in case he's not.

well, i would reccomend to ask him for an additional week.. i bought a book from a canadian seller mid of june and got the parcel last week only... i know that it was an overseas delivery but the seller mentioned me about some recent problems with canadian postal system...
in case, after that week, you should refund him... IMHO!

If you truly suspect he is trying to brown onion you, try this:

E-mail him back, saying you spoke to the Canadian Mail person (joke there) and you were told that they had to do a trace on the package to prevent fraud, which usually takes 3-5 business days. If he did get the package, there's a 90% chance he'll say "Oh my, it just showed up!". If not, wait the 3-5 days, then just refund him the money.

It hasn't been mentioned here yet but you do have the option of not refunding his money - if you want to take the stance that they did not purchase insurance, yadda yadda yadda.  Surface mail small packet is a valid paypal accepted shipping method so as long as you have the receipt, they will not refund the money.  It would also be better if you purchased the shipping through paypal because they would also give you a delivery confirmation number (that may or may not be traceable).

I'm not sure you will be able to make an insurance claim for an undelivered package though.  Insurance covers damage to property not loss of package.  I was told this a number of years ago when I tried to make such a claim as well (but maybe things have changed).

Mars wrote:It hasn't been mentioned here yet but you do have the option of not refunding his money - if you want to take the stance that they did not purchase insurance, yadda yadda yadda.  Surface mail small packet is a valid paypal accepted shipping method so as long as you have the receipt, they will not refund the money.

Except that's wrong.  A seller only wins a paypal claim upon proof of delivery.

bclarkie wrote:Except that's wrong.  A seller only wins a paypal claim upon proof of delivery.

Really?  I lost a case for $130 US in January because the shipper scanned and sent in their shipping receipt but the package was not delivered.  The seller even shipped it the wrong way, surface mail parcel, when we agreed and I paid for airmail parcel.  I'll have to take a look at the paypal agreement again.