Need help from the board on a bad package

Wondo · March 18, 2008 6:31AM

I purchased four 1938 Churchman boxing sets through ebay last week from the UK. I paid through PayPal with a credit card. The envelope arrived today in a plastic bag. The envelope was ripped and only 20 out of 200 cards were in it. What is correct order to notify, dispute, etc. on this transaction.

Thank you for your wisdom in advance,

John

storm888 · March 18, 2008 6:36AM

I guess there was no insurance?

stown · March 18, 2008 6:37AM

Did you get insurance?

edited to add: ha! brilliant minds think alike.

WinPitcher · March 18, 2008 6:38AM

I would contact the seller and tell him. After he tells you to pound sand I'd file with paypal.

Sorry that happened to you.

Steve

Wondo · March 18, 2008 6:38AM

<< I guess there was no insurance? >>

No,

There was no insurance.

storm888 · March 18, 2008 6:41AM

Tell the seller what happened.

He will likely not want to solve the problem.

Contact PayPal and open a dispute/claim.

stown · March 18, 2008 6:42AM

I would start taking pictures of the packaging and the bag it came in.

I'm sure you will need this if/when you file a dispute with PayPal and eBay.

jimq112 · March 18, 2008 6:47AM

John, was it one of the USPS body bags? They usually have some printing on them that says "we care" or "we're sorry". If so, the envelope was probably misshaped and got caught in a mail processing machine.

If that happened, more than likely the cards that are missing were either destroyed beyond recognition or scattered all over the place.

I've had great luck buying from UK but as a rule they really don't package stuff well enough to get here safely.

If you didn't have insurance I would suggest saving the bag and file with paypal for not as described. Proper packaging and shipping is part of what you bought, and you didn't get that.

Wondo · March 18, 2008 6:51AM

<< John, was it one of the USPS body bags? They usually have some printing on them that says "we care" or "we're sorry". If so, the envelope was probably misshaped and got caught in a mail processing machine.

If that happened, more than likely the cards that are missing were either destroyed beyond recognition or scattered all over the place.

I've had great luck buying from UK but as a rule they really don't package stuff well enough to get here safely.

If you didn't have insurance I would suggest saving the bag and file with paypal for not as described. Proper packaging and shipping is part of what you bought, and you didn't get that. >>

The bag is plain and was heavily taped shut. The envelope was hand made of a very old brittle paper.

jimq112 · March 18, 2008 6:55AM

USPS will always use a marked body bag or at least a stamp. The envelope probably came apart before it got to us.

Same as everybody else, contact the seller then file the paypal claim.

The bad part is losing cards you can't replace, not the dollars that you can.

yankeeno7 · March 18, 2008 7:11AM

It's quite possible it wasnt the sellers fault OR the PO fault. This could be a case of customs opening the package to check it out and of course not giving a crap what happens to the contents.

I have mailed many packages to UK because I have a friend there and many packages are sent to me. Every once in a while customs hold up a package for WEEKS and sometimes open the package and just shoved everything back in without care.

Customs doesnt care what damage they do because we have no recourse.

WinPitcher · March 18, 2008 7:13AM

Barry

This came from the UK, Ive had stuff sent from Europe and never has it been opened.

I have heard that they open our stuff going to them not there stuff coming to us.

Then again anything is possible.

Steve

yankeeno7 · March 18, 2008 7:19AM

Steve

Actually, my Christmas package this year was opened by US Customs. There was a homemade gift busted and two hand made cards by my friends kids that looked like they were dropped on the floor and stepped on (dirty). The retapping was horrible.

This wasnt a first for me. Homeland security crackdown. I think plenty gets opened. I was disgusted but I know there is nothing I can do about it. Just hope it isnt my package they decide to open again for a while.

Wondo · March 18, 2008 7:28AM

I have notified the seller and will await an answer.

Thanks for the help, folks.

John

sfmays24 · March 18, 2008 7:49AM

What a nightmare, John

I think yankeeno7 may be correct about Customs possibility... then again, I have heard that many dealers/collectors in the UK don't seem to think proper care & packaging is important when it comes to collectibles.

As for Paypal and the use of your credit card, you don't need to buy insurance... however, the buyer protection from your credit card (bank) may not apply or have some limits with overseas purchases? You may want to contact your bank/credit card customer service while you wait for a reply from the seller.

Good luck!

Mike

stown · March 18, 2008 7:50AM

If he tells you to pound sand, report the incident and provide pictures to PP and eBay.

Good luck and keep us posted

tsalem · March 18, 2008 7:52AM

"As for Paypal and the use of your credit card, you don't need to buy insurance... however, the buyer protection from your credit card (bank) may not apply or have some limits with overseas purchases? You may want to contact your bank/credit card customer service while you wait for a reply from the seller."

This is what you need to do.

If you payed with paypal funds in your account, you may be screwed, not sure if your
covered on international buying with Paypal

WinPitcher · March 18, 2008 7:59AM

his wasnt a first for me. Homeland security crackdown.

Yikes sorry to hear that.

Just like the airports, they pull my father aside (retired police chief)
and let me (known felon) through.

J/K

Steve

Wondo · March 18, 2008 9:43AM

Heard from the seller - wanted to know if the package was signed for. My wife signed for two packages this afternoon - I received four. I'll have to check with my postman. I would find it odd to sign for a damaged package.

I cannot see any markings on the package to indicate insurance and the flat was rubber-banded with other mags.

Not looking good for our hero.

Estil · March 18, 2008 11:33PM

<< 

<< I guess there was no insurance? >>

No,

There was no insurance. >>

Who wants to bet the seller will play the insurance card?

That is they'll say, "Well, you didn't pay extra for the insurance; sorry."

Yes, most definetly Paypal claim all the way if you need to.

Wondo · March 20, 2008 9:57AM

Dispute is now in paypal's hands. The seller has now recinded any comments about insurance (there was none offered - specifically stated in listing) and states that he cannot be responsible for damage in shipping. We'll see what the arbitrator says....to be continued.....

WinPitcher · March 20, 2008 10:02AM

That stinks Wondo

keep us updated.

Steve

jimq112 · March 20, 2008 10:02AM

I went thru that once and my statement was that my not buying insurance did not eliminate his responsibility to protect the product. USPS will not pay an insurance claim with poor packaging, so even if you did buy insurance it wouldn't have made a difference.

WinPitcher · March 20, 2008 10:04AM

Good point Jim

My question is why do some clerks then let us pay for insurance when they should know that it is not packed well enough?

Steve

jimq112 · March 20, 2008 10:10AM

Steve - a good clerk asks if the package contains anything hazardous, liquid, fragile, or perishable and stamps the living crap out of it if it is any of those. Then they should ask a little about packaging. Most around here do, unless there's a long line. Like every other business you get idiots and people who don't care.

If you file a claim for damage the first thing they want is the packaging materials. Unless the box is obviously crushed there better be some packaging materials there or they aren't paying.

WinPitcher · March 20, 2008 10:26AM

Jim

Before I knew about this requirment I would get and send bubble mailers with insurance.

I now know that if i buy insurance the item better be in a box.

Steve

jfkheat · March 20, 2008 9:16PM

In my opinion, insurance is the biggest scam the USPO and UPS have going. Why should I have to pay extra to make sure they do their job. Then if the package is damaged by them, they make you pay again to file a claim.
James

Estil · April 22, 2008 8:10AM

<< In my opinion, insurance is the biggest scam the USPO and UPS have going. Why should I have to pay extra to make sure they do their job. Then if the package is damaged by them, they make you pay again to file a claim.
James >>

My question is why a lot of the seller's claim the insurance is for the seller's protection yet they make the buyer pay extra for it and according to them it's the buyer who gets screwed if they don't.

storm888 · April 22, 2008 8:27AM

"My question is why a lot of the seller's claim the insurance is for the seller's protection yet they make the buyer pay extra for it and according to them it's the buyer who gets screwed if they don't. "

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In a PayPal transaction, the insurance is for the SOLE benefit of the seller.

In a non-PP transaction, the buyer better make sure the item is insured.

MOST sellers try to get the buyer to pay for the insurance. I do BINs and
just include ALL mailing costs in the price.

The new "Free Shipping" logo that EBAY places in FS-listings is kinda nice.

I have had some USPS-insurance claims on bubble-mailers. No problem;
but, I use heavy cardboard inside the mailers. They are sort of like "a little
box inside of a bubble mailer."

What happened with Wondo's dispute?

Need help from the board on a bad package

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