Should I be worried?

[billbillw]

Hey Gang,
I just wanted to check around here and see what you think. I've sold more stuff than I've bought on Ebay, so as a buyer, I'm still somewhat green. Anyway, I'm started to get worried about a purchase I made last Friday.

I posted in another thread about a pair of RT800i that I bought for an excellent BIN price of $325. Immediately after purchasing, I sent a request for the total cost with shipping and insurance. It wasn't until Tuesday that they sent an invoice for the total. Within a few hours, I paid with PayPal and sent a message requesting that they send me the tracking#s when they shipped. That was Tuesday. I sent another message Thursday asking if they had shipped yet, if not when? Here it is Friday and I still haven't heard a thing from them since I sent payment. Being the worry-wort that I am, I dug up their telephone# and called them only to find that the number is disconnected :confused:

Am I over reacting or should I chill? I sent them another message from a separate email acct, just in case their spam blocker is keeping me out or something. Still nothing.
When I sell to people, I alway write back thanking them for payment and tell them when I expect to ship (which is always within 48 hrs of payment). I always write back and give shipping/ tracking if available. I guess I don't expect or appreciate poor communication when I buy, expecially something as valuable as a set of Cherry Rt800i. Even my wife keeps asking me, when are they going to be here?

The only explanation I can think of is that they are in the process of moving. That would explain a few things: disconnected phone line, selling the speakers in the first place, lack of communication, etc. Even so, I just can't excuse the lack of communication. You would think that they could've at least let me know they might be out of communication. Anyway, I just felt like I had to vent and get some feedback. Let me know if I'm psychotic.

[George Grand]

I don't think you're delusional, I'd be worried sick.

Was this a private seller, or a company that markets stuff over ebay?

I don't know the statute of limitations for PayPal, but I think I would've notified them already. Good luck man.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[DarqueKnight]

You can request a refund from Paypal within the first 30 days after the transaction.

[billbillw]

Originally posted by George Grand
I don't think you're delusional, I'd be worried sick.

Was this a private seller, or a company that markets stuff over ebay?

I don't know the statute of limitations for PayPal, but I think I would've notified them already. Good luck man.



It was a private seller. I looked into filing a PayPal complaint. They recommend waiting until 10 days after purchase.

I might understand if it were a large marketer who has dozens of auctions ending daily with shipments daily. I've bought from them before and although I didn't get and communication, the packages arrived perfect within a few days. I think I'll give this seller until Tuesday, and then I'll file with PayPal.

[George Grand]

It'd be the crack of dawn on Tuesday for me Bill. The seller has had more than enough time to fulfill the obligation for a delivery, and at the very least, a communique. Hopefully it will arrive either this afternoon or Monday.

It is stuff like this that prevents me from both buying AND selling on ebay. Buying for the obvious reasons, and selling because with my job I could be out of the country with very little to no-notice, and to do that to a buyer would be totally unacceptable to me.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[billbillw]

Well shipping is supposed to take 3 days at best. I didn't pay until Tuesday evening. If they shipped Wed, I could get them Monday. If shipped Thur, probably not until late Tuesday. I hate to make a stink they are on the way. The seller had lots of + feedback, so I don't think they would just all of sudden screw me. I'll try and be patient, but if/when I leave feedback, its gonna be truthful about the lack of com skills.

[dragon1952]

It's not uncommon for the item to not be shipped for up to a week. It depends on how conscientious the seller is, how close he is to the shipping facility, how much time he has on his hands, etc. I work 40hrs a week and the shipping places are closed by the time I get home so I often have to wait for the weekend. I wouldn't necessarily be worried yet. I've bought stuff and never received any acknowledgement or answers to emails from the seller at all and 2 weeks later the package arrives.

[billbillw]

I guess you hit the term. Being a conscientious seller is what I expect from everyone. There is no excuse for letting me hang when I've sent several email. Shipping locations are typically open until at least 7 or 8 pm. If they don't ship until the weekend, I will be highly pissed because the invoice said "Item will be shipped as soon as payment is received."

[dragon1952]

Well the P.O. and the UPS/FEDEX stores here close at around 5:30-6:00 so I guess it depends on where you live. It's highly unusual to find ebay sellers that ship as early as the very next day, but I think within 3 days is normal and should be expected. Hope it works out.

[George Grand]

When perfect strangers are willing to send you money, the very LEAST you can do is massage them with good communications and as much info as you can possibly provide. This is lost on a great many sellers who hide behind a line like "Hey, I do a lot of shipping and don't have time to answer every e-mail!" Well that's just plain bullshit. Doing a lot of shipping is doing a lot of selling, which is not going to happen without the CUSTOMER.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[dragon1952]

You need to learn to be less reserved George. Let people know how you REALLY feel once in awhile!

[billbillw]

I guess I'm rare then. I always ship within 48-hrs, usually within 24-hrs. I hate waiting for stuff, so why would I want to make someone else wait. Any online marketplace has to rely on trust and communication. Its just plain rude and irresponsible to take someone's money and then take your time shipping. If someone paid you within 1 day of invoicing, you need to go out of your way to ship it within a day. Heck, I've taken leave from work to go and buy packaging materials to ship things.

[jcaut]

I 100% agree with Mr. Grand. It's the lack of communication and the disconnected phone number that would bother me. I would be worried, and I don't think I'd be concerned about making anyone mad, by taking action on the matter.
Don't wait too long.

Good luck!

Jason

[dragon1952]

FWIW, I looked the sale up and even though the guy has a feedback score of 89 he has only 2 previous sales. All the rest are as a buyer so this guy is definitely not an experienced seller by any means. He's probably freaking out trying to figure out how to ship those monsters. I sure hope he's got the original boxes and packing material. And If I were you I'd be more concerned with the fact he's using UPS. Your next post may be asking for advice on receiving damaged goods! :(

[MacLeod]

Yikes!

This stuff scares the pants off me.

Im leary of buying things online anyway but I will from Crutchfield and Sounddomain ONLY. I will never order anything from Ebay no matter how good is looks.

I hope it works out for ya bro. Maybe dragon is right and this dude is just inexperienced and its taking a while. You were smart to use Pay Pal so it seems you wont be losing any cash.

[billbillw]

Originally posted by dragon1952
FWIW, I looked the sale up and even though the guy has a feedback score of 89 he has only 2 previous sales. All the rest are as a buyer so this guy is definitely not an experienced seller by any means. He's probably freaking out trying to figure out how to ship those monsters. I sure hope he's got the original boxes and packing material. And If I were you I'd be more concerned with the fact he's using UPS. Your next post may be asking for advice on receiving damaged goods! :(

Yes, the seller's lack of sales feedback worried me too, but the price was much lower than average. I requested she (yes, I was trying to keep the gender out of this) ship FedEx and even told her where the nearest FedEx staffed location was (it was only 10 miles away from them). She agreed to price both. I also sent her a message indicating that I wanted to make sure she included enough in the shipping cost for bubble wrap, boxes, and foam. I told her that UPS/FedEx expects the package to withstand a drop from waist high. I also asked her to run a jumper across the leads before packaging. I don't know if it was all in vain though. I guess I'll find out one way or another sometime next week.

[dragon1952]

I also sent her a message indicating that I wanted to make sure she included enough in the shipping cost for bubble wrap, boxes, and foam. I told her that UPS/FedEx expects the package to withstand a drop from waist high. I also asked her to run a jumper across the leads before packaging.

No wonder it's taking so long :D

Just kidding....hope it goes well. The FEDEX suggestion was brilliant.

[MacLeod]

Actually its probably a good thing shes a chick. They tend to be more honest than men.

Men are such pigs!

[dragon1952]

Yeah....plus it'll be easier to kick her ass if she rips you off :mad:

[MacLeod]

LMAO!!!!

Someone needs some sensitivity classes! :D

[DarqueKnight]

Originally posted by dragon1952
Yeah....plus it'll be easier to kick her ass if she rips you off :mad:

Not if she is a lady wrestler, boxer, or truck driver.;)

[George Grand]

Anybody else aware of UPS policy of "ALL ELECTRONICS MUST BE SHIPPED IN ORIGINAL PACKING CARTONS"

That sign is staring me in the face everytime I drop something off at Staples/UPS desk.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

There are times I have shipped items before receiving payment in order for the buyer to have it on a Friday, so they can play with the goods all weekend long. This treatment is naturally reserved for long-time friends, repeat customers, and folks with very high ratings on the Polk Forum Good Buyers/Sellers list.

[billbillw]

Finally heard back from the seller. She shipped on Thursday. I guess I'll find out how well she packed them on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[dragon1952]

Congratulations! Here's hoping you have a beautiful pair of RT800i's sitting in your living room by next week ;)
Here's also hoping she didn't use UPS :(

[jcaut]

Good deal! Looks like I was wrong. I don't do e-bay much: Out of maybe 10 transactions, I've only had mildly bad experiences on two of them. I try to be careful. I've actually had more trouble with a sale on A-gon and one on another forum, involving auto parts. Both worked out, but my CC company had to get involved on one of them.

Hope your speakers are packed well and arrive safely!

Jason

[billbillw]

Originally posted by dragon1952
Congratulations! Here's hoping you have a beautiful pair of RT800i's sitting in your living room by next week ;)
Here's also hoping she didn't use UPS :(

I'm pretty sure she used FedEx based on what she billed me for shipping.

[George Grand]

I'm not about to say you didn't worry for nothing. Piss poor communique's is piss poor communique's.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[billbillw]

Originally posted by George Grand
I'm not about to say you didn't worry for nothing. Piss poor communique's is piss poor communique's.


Yes, I agree. I'll rest much easier when they are here in an undamaged condition. She still hasn't sent me tracking #s even though I've asked for them 3-4 times, but at least she gave me an updated phone #. She moved recently as I suspected.

[billbillw]

Well I have tracking numbers for these now, finally! I'm slightly PO'd though. I thought we had agreed she would send FedEx, but she ended up using UPS! I'm really hoping that when these show up Wednesday, they are not damaged. She somehow added 7 lbs of packaging (over the original Polk shipping weight) to each speaker, so maybe she did follow my advice and made the packages completly drop-proof.

[dragon1952]

You could pack them in 1/4" thick steel crates and UPS would find a way to ruin them. If they show up without damage I'll go without beer for a day.

[wodom1]

When I was driving home from work yesterday going through downtown Chicago, I saw how the UPS guys load the packages that they pick up at offices into the trucks--a driver was standing on the ground behind the truck with a cart full of packages just hurling them into the truck trying to get them as high up on the stack as he could. It looked like he was using the packages for discus practice...

[billbillw]

Thanks, I really needed those extra images in my head. :mad: Now I'm just envisioning them throwing those 55 lb packages around.
The delivery person in my neighborhood is usually a woman. She strugled with the 40lb speaker stands that I got a few weeks back, I can't wait to see her with these.

[billbillw]

Well I got them yesterday. The packaging left alot to be desired, but there was no MAJOR damage. They are certainly not scratch free though. I have several issues to take up with the seller regarding her description and missing items. I believe she owes me some money back, but that's another story.

The good news is that they sound great AND my wife likes them, (whew!). Finally, something she doesn't object to.

[Tour2ma]

Glad they at least arrived...

I've run into a couple ebay sellers who are more than a little generous in judging the condition of their item. Most have seen fit to rebate a few $'s at minimal urging.

Good luck...

[billbillw]

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Glad they at least arrived...

I've run into a couple ebay sellers who are more than a little generous in judging the condition of their item. Most have seen fit to rebate a few $'s at minimal urging.

Good luck...

To give you an idea what her idea of "no scratches" and "grills in Excellent condition" mean, one of the top grills has a busted off pin, and I took more than 20 distinct photos of scratches, dings, dents that I intend to send her. Luckily none of the cosmetic issues are are glarring. I'm more concerned about resell value if I ever want to upgrade.

[billbillw]

Here is a follow up on this semi-nightmare Ebay transaction...

I could go on for pages, but to summarize:

I never was able to get any money back from this seller and I wasn't able to get the missing parts.

I tried patiently for 3 weeks to work things out, but things got adversarial and she wouldn't reply to my messages. I gave up and left appropriately negative feedback.

Lesson learned: Avoid buying speakers from an Ebay seller unless they have a lot of positive selling feedback. In my case, she had mostly buying feedback and only 3 selling.

Overall, I'm happy with the speakers. In my living room, the cosmetic damage is not visible. They sound great and I still feel that the price was good, all things considered.