In a bit of a dilemma...

niangelo · 08-09-2009, 11:20 PM

...but not serious enough for the advice forum.

See, on another forum, I responded to an ad in a buy/sell forum for a guitar pedal. I've never had a bad deal (on that forum), and this guy looked OK, so I paypalled him money and asked him to send it to me, cross border into Canada, via USPS.

At first he insisted on using United Postal Service (UPS) but I've been dinged with huge brokerage fees, so I kindly asked him to go USPS. He agreed and said that he had sent the pedal, a few days later.

Fast forward two months, to now. Still no pedal. When I ask him questions, he gets back to me, but takes several days to do so. I asked him if he had a tracking number for the package, and he said he couldn't get one at the local post office. I then asked if he could take the receipt in and see if he could track it that way, and he said he would... that was 6 days ago, no response.

So here's my options:

1. Eat the cost (200 bucks!)

2. Demand to see proof that he sent the package, or go get my money back through paypal.

I'm really wondering what to do. I want to be a fair and ethical buyer. And hHow often do I save receipts for stuff like that? He could have lost it, but who knows?

I don't want to stiff this guy if he's legit, but I'm worried that I'm getting ripped off. And even if I'm not and the package is lost, I really don't want to be out 200 dollars.

Do I have any recourse through the post office without tracking info? What should I do?

TravisR · 08-09-2009, 11:41 PM

IMO, your best bet is to be upfront with the guy. Be nice, but tell him exactly what's up. If you're not going to get your package, you deserve to get your money back. Give him a few days to respond, and if he flakes out on you or ignores you, you should be able to try to work something out through PayPal.

**tenwatt** · 08-10-2009, 05:17 AM

I'm with Travis...I'd just tell him that you haven't received your pedal so you're going to attempt to get your money back. Immediately upon sending that message I would start the process through Paypal.

Nate · 08-10-2009, 09:49 AM

I assume you requested neither delivery confirmation nor insurance?

Delivery Confirmation as such is a domestic-only service, but the Post Office certainly has international tracking options that would have been available, so either he didn't ask or he's lying on that front.

If he actually sent the package (you have to work out for yourself whether you trust him), I think your best bet is going to be to ask him which Post Office branch he used, and contact that office yourself.

My guess, though, is that he probably still has the pedal, does intend to ship it (there aren't really as many total tools online as the news makes it out to be), but is just not too concerned about when.

My experience, with less valuable transactions than yours, is that once a shipper has waited a week, the item pretty much is out of mind and they won't ship it until you keep bugging them over and over.

Sometimes things come up in life, so maybe there was a family emergency. Maybe he's just lazy. I don't know. I don't think you'd hear anything in response from him if he was really scamming you, though.

Lesson learned, though: Always get tracking + insurance over $100.

KATSRUS5 · 08-10-2009, 12:33 PM

You could make a claim with Paypal. Then, if they have not sent the item they have a chance to do so in order to settle the claim or put the burden of proof on the seller. If they do not purchase delivery conformation then they will most likely have to refund you the money. I believe that was what happened with my mom on an item she sold and the purchaser didn't get delivery conformation. Now she makes everyone who buys something from her get it so she isn't out any money anymore.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 08-10-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

I assume you requested neither delivery confirmation nor insurance?

Delivery Confirmation as such is a domestic-only service, but the Post Office certainly has international tracking options that would have been available, so either he didn't ask or he's lying on that front.

Last I checked, my local post office said there were no international tracking options. (I was shipping two packages, to Paris, France, so it wasnt like I was shipping them to a hut in lower Botswanna)

Quote:

If he actually sent the package (you have to work out for yourself whether you trust him), I think your best bet is going to be to ask him which Post Office branch he used, and contact that office yourself.

Which will likely not know anything. I had a package take a little too long getting to Paris last month. There was absolutely nothing either of us could do to find the package. Thankfully, it arrived a little later than we hoped, but it arrived.

This is evil advice to give, but here goes.

Paypal is biased towards the seller. By shipping USPS, there is no trackable way to prove you were sent the pedal, thus he will be unable to defend himself from your claim.

Moral of the story, as a shipper, always insist on usps or another form of trackable service.
Frankly, Niangelo, I would likely not ship to you as a random buyer on ebay, because of this. I nearly lost $500 last month over being a seller of such an item that shipped within 12 hrs of payment. It just took a while to get there. I now demand a trackable service to protect myself.

Nate · 08-10-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billgamesh

Last I checked, my local post office said there were no international tracking options. (I was shipping two packages, to Paris, France, so it wasnt like I was shipping them to a hut in lower Botswanna)

Not even a return receipt?

The Post Office's "tracking" certainly isn't great, but it will tell you a) if the item shipped, b) if the item arrived. That seems like it would settle most cases like this, with insurance picking up the tab for the occasional actual missing package. I see the appeal of real tracking, though... it's just that I've had too many bad experiences with having to pick up packages from UPS warehouses after the driver simply cut his route short at the end of an evening when the package's tracking said it was "out for delivery."

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 08-10-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Not even a return receipt?

Nope.

Quote:

The Post Office's "tracking" certainly isn't great, but it will tell you a) if the item shipped, b) if the item arrived. That seems like it would settle most cases like this, with insurance picking up the tab for the occasional actual missing package. I see the appeal of real tracking, though... it's just that I've had too many bad experiences with having to pick up packages from UPS warehouses after the driver simply cut his route short at the end of an evening when the package's tracking said it was "out for delivery."

You can still find it though. My peavey guitar took USPS 9 months to deliver. With tracking.

niangelo · 08-10-2009, 01:38 PM

Thanks for all the information.

It still stand though, that a week ago he said he would stop by the post office and try to sort it out... no reply since then, and no reply since the subsequent message sent yesterday.

I may have to go to paypal. I can't see any other options. I will gladly repay if it shows up.

Nate · 08-10-2009, 01:55 PM

Hmmm... I googled it on their site and it seemed they had options, but I've never done any international shipping. I stand corrected.

niangelo · 08-10-2009, 04:26 PM

I filed the claim. I'm actually two days over the deadline but paypal made an exception - if I hadn't filed now, I'd have recourse whatsoever.

I feel bad for the guy if he actually sent it, but a week with no communication at this point - it's unacceptable.

mattslope · 08-14-2009, 06:23 PM

The line between acceptable and un- is a fine one indeed, just ask the teachers at the grade school I work for.

mulletman · 08-14-2009, 06:25 PM

The problem then, is that you're interacting with grade school teachers.....

mattslope · 08-14-2009, 06:27 PM

Harumpf!