Ebay item lost in mail - what to do?

[marineboy]

I just got an empty envelope in the mail that had previously contained and oop Chaos Champion figure. The seller, from England, sent the figure in a regular letter envelope(!) with the flap taped shut. The envelope had opened on one end and somewhere on the journey the mini fell out.

Here's the kicker. The mini cost 2.99 GBP, the seller chearges 4.50 GBP for shipping and handling! Stupid me for not requesting a S&H charge before bidding. The actual postage for the envelope was 0.60 GBP -- that means the guy charged me 3.90 GBP for a lousy envelope not sturdy enough in which to ship the mini!

I messaged the guy, he claims suprise at the missing mini and offers a refund....and makes a return payment to my Paypal to the tune of 5 GBP, whith a message that he hopes we're square now and will I please leave positive feedback.

I'm out 2.50 GBP and a mini I wanted, and this guy wants me to leave positive feedback. Fortunately, he already left positive feedback for me upon receipt of payment, so he doesn't have the option of hexing me should I take the hard line.

What to do? Accept his return, leave lukewarm positive payment and forget abput it or refuse the return and demand full repayment? Two and a half pounds sterling is no big deal, it's just the cavalier attitude of this seller -- high S&H, less-than-full repayment and the request for positive feedback -- it pisses me off.

Any experience out there handling these conficts?

[Ritual]

Sorry about that, Jerome! I've only had positive eBay experiences so far, so maybe I'm not much help here. I'd be very reluctant to give out positive feedback for that transaction, though. Maybe you could give him neutral feedback and give a short description of the circumstances.

[cdukino]

I would leave neutral feedback myself, saying..."Item lost in transit, packaging was weak , part refund from seller."

Hard to put a discription in the limited amount of characters you can use.
Due to the heavy overcharging in shiping and handling with a crappy packaging at that... I would be very reluctant to leave positive feedback. But negative seems a bit to harsh as well in this case... even if he does atleast partly deserve it. If the mini had survived the trip he would have met his part of the deal and I assume you knew on forhand whgat the sendingcosts were (be it rediculously high for it... I hate people who bump up their profit by adding extra shipping and handling... but it's the buyers choice IF he can see it on forhand)

[vincegamer]

I don't think negative seems harsh at all.
Hey, I know, I'll put stuff up for auction on ebay, then send a torn envelope with nothing in it, give a partial refund and I make $$ (sorry, my keyboard doesn't have a pound sign) for absolutely nothing!

Anyway, what I would do is message him and say if he refunds you the remaining 2.5 you will leave positive feedback. He might try to refund minus his cost (.6) in which case I'd leave neutral feedback. If he refuses to refund the rest I'd leave negative feedback. (Item lost in shipping due to worst possible packaging, then refused to refund fully).

[Frustrated Father]

Agree with Vince completely up top there - all or nothing I say.

[Klute]

There is a chance that this is a total scam by him in which he nets £2-50 for every bad sale.
I say refund the money he sent you.
Ask for a full refund from him or very negative feedback will be left as the figure was not securely packaged for the price and you will inform ebay.
A figure should at least be in a Jiffy.

And for gods sake watch those postage fee scam bastards.

[Mosch]

If he'S too stupid to pack it properly, he should be well aware that he will be reaping the consequences.

Agreed with vincegamer.

[marineboy]

Well, after sleeping on it, I gotta agree with the concesus -- full refund or negative feedback. Actually, vincegamer, if it's okay, I'd like to copy-and-paste your feedback reply, concise and to the point.

[praetorian0_1]

Naw, if he's honest he'd offer a suitable replacement or a total refund no question. I screwed up shipping just OK, something I should have taken insurance on and the guy told me the terrain came busted to crap. He wasn't mad, just sad. I told him straight off I'd make him a new one pronto or else give him a full refund. He took the replacement and go a real nice one shipped in a double box that time. The customer is always right. He had a good ebay rep, so no reason to doubt him and he left glowing positive feedback, even recomending me to friends and i made tons more sales to his gang. He needs to refund you the rest of his cash, you don't owe him squat. His problem if he shipped it like that. I would furthermore call the ebay dispute people regardless and let them write him of your concerns. Usually shakes them up a bit too. Then leave absolutely no feedback keeping him guessing, until he satisfies your loss. Then it is your discression if you finally leave him with positive feedback. I would leave him positive only if he is quick about the rest of the refund or sends you another mini.

[marineboy]

I would furthermore call the ebay dispute people regardless and let them write him of your concerns. Usually shakes them up a bit too. Then leave absolutely no feedback keeping him guessing, until he satisfies your loss. Then it is your discression if you finally leave him with positive feedback. I would leave him positive only if he is quick about the rest of the refund or sends you another mini.


I'm not leaving feedback until the conflict is resolved. The idea of contacting Ebay's dispute people is pretty good, I'll do that right off.

More soap opera tomorrow.

[EricJ]

I'm not leaving feedback until the conflict is resolved. The idea of contacting Ebay's dispute people is pretty good, I'll do that right off.

More soap opera tomorrow.

Yeah, I think holding out on feedback is the way to go, it sort of leaves you leverage to resolve the issue better.

[marineboy]

Advised paypal's resolution center of the conflict (item not received), refused seller's partial refund and advised seller of my actions.

He paid up very fast.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

[praetorian0_1]

YESSSSS!!!:rockon: