posted on July 3, 2003 03:20:08 PM new
This may be long. I purchased a Smoothie machine on eBay. It was going to be a gift. The seller had many of these items listed..in different colors. The auction description stated.."un-opened, never used, not returned, and not refurbished. They are Brand New."
When I received my item, it was just packed in a regular box...no original box. It didn't look "brand new"...has a scuff and a small scratch...lots of hand prints. I emailed the seller and her explanation was that when she sent one in the original box to another buyer, it arrived broken, so she decided to put mine in another box...without even asking me if I minded..which I did..can't give it as a gift without the box.
I looked at her feedbacks and other buyers were very happy with theirs..even mentioning that it was indeed..in the box as stated. So, I guess I'm the only one without the box.
The seller agreed to take it back..forgo the re-stocking fee and just make me pay the shipping. I strongly feel I shouldn't be out any money...I did not get what I paid for. She also said she would refund my money..through paypal...which I can't accept because I don't have a premier account. I don't want a refund anyway... What I want is a brand new Smoothie machine...IN THE BOX..and I don't want to pay any more for it. AM I WRONG? Should I be willing to pay shipping..another $13?? I will back off if I'm being unfair...I just need another point of view.
posted on July 3, 2003 03:36:44 PM new
If indeed the reason she shipped in a plain box was to avoid breakage, she could have doubled boxed it. Sounds like you got the last one, and she didn't have the original box.
The item was not as advertised, and she should eat the shipping both ways.
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
posted on July 3, 2003 03:41:34 PM new
Actually, she DOES have more. They are listed. As to the double box, that is exactly what I do when I ship an item MIB. She just doesn't want to pay for shipping a new one and to take this one back. I feel bad for her..in a way...I've had to take items back and pay shipping both ways, so I can relate.
posted on July 3, 2003 04:32:43 PM new
Seller has just agreed to send me a new one..at her cost. I don't think there are any winners or losers here. The only bright side is that even though I paid $13 for shipping, I know it doesn't cost that much, so she isn't out TOO much. Like I said, I do feel a bit bad for her..not bad enough, though, to pay the extra shipping.
posted on July 4, 2003 07:14:39 AM new
You should have gotten exactly what she advertised in the listing. If it said MIB, that's what you should have gotten and you shouldn't accept anything less. Don't feel bad about her paying the shipping either. It was her mistake - not yours.
wrightsracing - Yep, you missed the part about it being scratched and scuffed and had hand prints all over it. The handprints could be cleaned off, but can't do much about the scratches. Can't give a gift that should have been "new" if it doesn't look like new.
posted on July 4, 2003 09:43:35 AM new
Another reason to buy certain items on ebay only as a last resort. Hard to find collectibles are what ebay should be used for and not new items that may be available locally. There are far too many of these horror stories.
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Sargent Stadanko
Senior Investigating Officer, Internet Fraud Unit, International Web Police.
posted on July 4, 2003 10:12:18 AM new
If you live by a Kohls department store, they have smoothie machines and almost every Wednesday they have sales and some sales give an extra 15% to Seniors. Sometimes it pays to shop retail. I don't know what you paid but with that high shipping you could have picked out your own and carried it home. Sorry I am not knocking eBay but sometimes there are better deals on what you want in the real world of shopping. Happy 4th
posted on July 4, 2003 10:41:47 AM new
Senior Investigator ACE. What may be local for you does not mean it is local for the world. I have sold many new things to people and their address was Boonedocks. Even other Countries. Your thought of only hard to find collectables on e bay does not hold merit.
I sell a brand new thing and they kill for it everytime it's listed. The shipping is $29.00 and they don't bat an eye. I have 1000's of them.
Once I sold a generator to a guy in the North Atlantic Ocean on his 70 foot sailboat. That one amazed me too! He e mailed me right from the craft.
I too when I first got on e bay thought nothing but find, find, find those duster collectables. I soon realized anything was wanted and collectables are the last thing I sell.
posted on July 4, 2003 03:09:58 PM new
You're right Jack, it's best never to generalize. I should have worded the the sentence something like " Whenever possible, use ebay only as a last resort on consumer goods that may be found in your local area. ". Especially for items that are going to be given as gifts.
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Sargent Stadanko
Senior Investigating Officer, Internet Fraud Unit, International Web Police.
