Damaged outside of the package?

MULLINS5

Canadian buyer claims that this item arrived damaged. Anyone who has received an item from me knows I pack well and I get a lot of positive feedback about it (item goes in padded envelope, then in a box, then the box goes into another padded envelope).

I'm looking at these pictures and saying to myself that this damage couldn't have happened inside of the package. Especially the tear in the dust jacket. Looks like it was damaged intentionally to receive a full 100% refund.

I looked through his feedback and he claimed recently in a negative that the item arrived damaged. Leaves a lot of unnecessary negatives and neutrals.

Anywho~ I'll eat it, which is OK, but wondering what you guys think of these pictures.

MrNearMint

I'm just curious, why would you take the loss? Why not just have buyer ship it back for refund? Unless that is what you meant, then nevermind.

MULLINS5

It'll cost $23 to ship it back from Canada -- seller pays return shipping on items "received damaged" and at this rate, with the damage to the item, it's a loss no matter what.

gregmo32

Just on principle,I would be inclined to have him return it. This would also allow you to have a response that doubts his claim of receiving it damaged which may help future sellers he attempts to scam. How much did he pay for it?

alifaxwa2

Get pictures of the packaging and file an insurance claim with USPS.

DoctorK

In all reality it does not matter how the book was damaged if the buyer files a SNAD claim. Especially if you believe he/she is not being truthful. At this point, I would file an insurance claim (if insured), let the buyer keep the book, block the buyer, and move on.

Indy78

I'm looking at these pictures and saying to myself that this damage couldn't have happened inside of the package. Especially the tear in the dust jacket. Looks like it was damaged intentionally to receive a full 100% refund.

What am I missing here? The book has sustained such heavy damage that it's deformed, never mind the tear in the dust jacket. To me, it looks like it was run over or something very heavy fell on it. I would think if somebody intentionally damaged it, they would have bent a corner or something similar so the book would still be usable. It looks like no amount of (reasonable) packaging would have stopped the force(s) that caused that damage. If it were me based on those photos, I would assume the best regarding this buyer.

dennis07

I've received heavily damaged packages before. One had tire tracks on the outside. S&^% happens. The fact the buyer has left some questionable feedback makes me think maybe something is up
but you'll never prove anything. Sorry this happened to you.

charrigan

Time for the old "refund and block".

RedRomad275

What he said...^^^^^

MULLINS5

Thanks guys -- no doubt I'll give the guy a refund (regardless of what I think happened to the book) not just because I have to because of eBay and Paypal buyer protections -- but because it's the right thing to do. I only have $10 in this book and sold it for $80. When it comes back I'll make another facsimile dust jacket and resell it for less, and should break even altogether.

I don't actually purchase insurance but instead transfer what insurance would run to a bank account. This way insurance money is in the account, packages are self-insured, and if I need the money to payoff something like this -- it's there. If it's a very expensive item I will pay it. I sold a book last week for $3750 and went ahead and bought the $50 worth of USPS insurance because if something happened it would nearly deplete everything in the "insurance account"

I contacted some of his sellers and they say fight it because he extorted money from them. This buyer actually wants me to send him another book as a replacement (better shape, original dust jacket) that I have for $500 -- but he doesn't want to pay anything extra for the book. Go figure.

Maybe it was ran over by a truck? Never know!

Thanks again!

edit to add: doesn't matter how well you pack an item ~ anything can happen!

rcmb3220

Maybe he's upgrading at your expense.