What should I do? - UPDATED

Aethelred

A person who lives in Germany purchased a coin from me via eBay at the end of January. When he paid (Paypal), he did not opt for insurance on the coin which he paid about $65 for. I mailed the coin by Global Priority. The coin has not made it to him yet, nor has it been returned to me.

I try very hard to make all of my customers happy, but at the same time I don't want to be out the coin and the $65, nor do I want my first negitive feedback on eBay bacause of this. What should I do?

hookedoncoins

This is why I make insurance mandatory on items over $50. Although overseas insurance is a bit expensive (I have never sold overseas).

I say if he didn't opt for the insurance, that was his perogative and his risk. Whenever I buy a coin and don't buy insurance, I assume full responsibility should the package "get lost."

coinkat

I dunno...PM sent

python

If you offered insurance and he declined it's not your problem.

SYRACUSIAN

But if you didn't , he has grounds for a negative and you shouldn't risk it for $65. You might regret it later. Perhaps wait a little longer and try to find a midway solution? Is he reasonable ?

Aethelred

He did not ask for insurance nor did I offer it.

His e-mail to me:

"hi,
i am the winner of this auction. I am paying with paypal. But first you
must mail me how high is
the price for shipping.
Regards
(name removed)"


My reply:

"(name removed),
I am sorry for the delay in answering your e-mail. Post by Global Priority would be $5.00.
Best,
Michael"

He does seem like a nice guy and I do not want to screw him in any way. I am going to send him an e-mail explaining my position and asking what he wants me to do. If he says "I want a full refund," I think I'll give it.

python

If you sell a lot on ebay that sounds like a good way to go.

rhound1977

You should accept all payments in Pesos with free shipping and insurance, then when you have enough Pesos you can buy some Tequila and invite us over to go crazy.........

wybrit

I'd offer to refund at least half the difference. If you're going to be a power seller someday you're better off refunding the whole kit and caboodle. I hope it's not some kind of scam since I assume there is little traceability of the mailing and little sympathy from the PO.

Aethelred

Very well reasoned advice from everyone. THANK YOU ALL!

1jester

Pretty tough predicament, especially since it could be a scam. I've never had a Global Priority Mailer lost.

Also, insuring the letter would be completely meaningless and pointless, since indemnity is only $40, or so I've heard. I suppose registered is your only option of being able to track it.

I guess you could refund his money, but can you do that via PayPal? I'd offer to go half and half, and if he balks, tell him "Es ist gegen Ordunung was Sie machen. Das wahr Ihre Verantwortung." In other words, "What you're asking is not right. It was your responsibility."

Good luck.

Lloyd

<< <i>I'd offer to refund at least half the difference. If you're going to be a power seller someday you're better off refunding the whole kit and caboodle. I hope it's not some kind of scam since I assume there is little traceability of the mailing and little sympathy from the PO. >>



NAY NAY THRICE NAY.

The guy didn't ask how much was shipping? He asked how HIGH was shipping. You don't know he didn't receive the coin and more importantly you don't know him. Not your problem. The odds are that he has the coin.

I hope you haven't given him a positive yet

Lloyd

elverno

I've only lost two items in the mail in over 1300 transactions, both from France during their riots in Summer '03. No insurance on either so not the seller's problem. I've continued to buy from both of them and neither of them offered anything besides a "sorry".

Lloyd

I've lost 9 items to France. Posted probably 50. I have two negs and a neutral. One neg from France and the neutral from France.

Italy... Probably posted around 20. Lost 3.

Germany ... Lost one out of a LOT. (SEE EDIT)

USA. lost one (to Cosmic - a book) out of a thousand or so.

EDIT: The package for the German coin was found in the guy's local sorting office, torn apart.

MadMuffin

Over the last six months or so I have noticed that many US-sellers state in their auctions that they do not want to ship anything to Germany - insured or uninsured. Same problem with Singapore apparently.

Marcel

Aethelred

<< <i>

I hope you haven't given him a positive yet
>>



That is another issue, in good faith I gave a positive as soon as I got the payment.

Lloyd

<< <i>

<< <i>

I hope you haven't given him a positive yet
>>



That is another issue, in good faith I gave a positive as soon as I got the payment. >>



No it isn't. You're decisions are being controlled partially by this. Neither is it "another issue" to our friend in Germany. He knows you have a clean record and that you're decision to refund (or not) will be based upon what he can do to you, with zero repercussions.

Lloyd

Aethelred

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>

I hope you haven't given him a positive yet
>>



That is another issue, in good faith I gave a positive as soon as I got the payment. >>



No it isn't. You're decisions are being controlled partially by this. Neither is it "another issue" to our friend in Germany. He knows you have a clean record and that you're decision to refund (or not) will be based upon what he can do to you, with zero repercussions.

Lloyd >>



When I said "another issue" what I wanted to convey is that it is another problem on my part with regard to me getting out of this without a black eye.

I do feel like I fulfilled my obligation to this buyer. I mailed the coin he won, said coin was properly described and graded. The coin was mailed via the method the customer paid for, he did not ask for or pay for insurance and as such did not get it. Contained within the terms of my auction is a discussion of the optional nature of insurance. I do not feel that I am being unfair in any way when I assume that my customers are rational adults and will ask for/pay for loss protection of some kind if they desire it. When I buy an item on eBay and do not find insurance coverage mentioned I will ask for it and offer to pay extra for it if I want it.

With regard to feedback, I have always given feedback at the time I was paid for an item. My reason for this is that I believe once I have been paid, my customer has fulfilled his or her obligation to me and has earned their feedback. I have always realized that this is a policy that could very well be used against me at some point. I may now have reached the point where that bites me in the ass. Would you advise not leaving feedback for unknown persons unless/until it is left for me? Is it fair of me to do that?

Here is another question, if I refund this guy's money there is still nothing stopping him from giving me a neg, what kind of idiot would I feel like if I bend over backwards for this guy and still get a neg? Last night I was thinking about giving a half or even full refund, but now that I have had a day to think about it, I am not so sure. If I do get a neg, I am still at 99.7% positive, would anyone not bid on my auctions because of that? I am giving serious consideration to taking a harder line with this guy and taking a neg if I get it.

ajaan

Take the neg if given. Respond to his neg with the story. Don't refund.

Lloyd

AHHHHH - now we are talking sense.

As far as waiting for the buyer to feedback you before you feedback them, well I stand by that one hundred percent. That transaction isn't complete until he/she has accepted the goods. This is just legal cr*p now so let's get to the issue: I'm in this for the long haul. Anything that makes a nutter think twice about scamming me or negging me is welcomed armoury.

There is no doubt that if I hadn't taken this policy I would have more negs. Not because I scammed someone, or whacked a pensioner for her purse, just because an uninsured $5 coin hadn't turned up somewhere.

Lloyd Roberts

Bailathacl

Michael, I'm curious.... what is the feedback like for this buyer??

0john0

I really don't think, as a buyer, that a feedback rating of 99.9% is that much different than 100%. If you have a nice item I like I am going to bid regardless.

Maybe if your feedback were to dip below 97% I would start to worry.
just MHO.
-John

Aethelred

I got an e-mail from the buyer today telling me that he got the coin yesterday!

wybrit