Just got screwed...

[scott37300]

Unfortunately when seling you need to insure the package for twice the value since you wil be refunding the purchase price and unless you double the value your out the item as well.

This makes no sense at all.

The buyer already paid the seller, that is the money that gets refunded. Than if you insured the item for it's value that is your money to keep.

 

[sawatch]

I have my postal deliverer call me when envelopes come in like that. I take my camera to the PO & take pics of it & the PO stamps it as damaged & returns it to sender. I email the ebay seller & send the photos [try to get the PO employee to hold it & get the uniform in the pic] & let them know that they can make it right or I file a PayPal claim. That'll freeze the sellers PP acount till he adds the funds or they charge his cc acount. Big hassle. BTDT. Out of a dozen same type sinarios, I'v had only one irrate seller, he called PO & they set him straight. Pics are worth a thou words.

 

[scott37300]

A little googling shows that the USPS has an auction almost every month in Atlanta at their Mail Recovery Center. Might be worth checking out for anyone living around Atlanta. Might get some good deals that us others were originally supposed to get!

http://www.usps.com/auctions/

 

[treasureseeker]

I have my postal deliverer call me when envelopes come in like that. I take my camera to the PO & take pics of it & the PO stamps it as damaged & returns it to sender. I email the ebay seller & send the photos [try to get the PO employee to hold it & get the uniform in the pic] & let them know that they can make it right or I file a PayPal claim. That'll freeze the sellers PP acount till he adds the funds or they charge his cc acount. Big hassle. BTDT. Out of a dozen same type sinarios, I'v had only one irrate seller, he called PO & they set him straight. Pics are worth a thou words.

You are not suppose to be able to take photos in post office. It may be an after 911 rule.

 

[canuckian]

A little googling shows that the USPS has an auction almost every month in Atlanta at their Mail Recovery Center. Might be worth checking out for anyone living around Atlanta. Might get some good deals that us others were originally supposed to get!

http://www.usps.com/auctions/

if anyone on here goes to their auctions and sees an FHNF100 ratchet, it's probably mine!!

 

[pault28]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I don't feel alone...it's unfortunate that this happens so frequently.

Today, just so I could sleep well tongiht, I went to the post office just to see if by chance the missing inner envelope had been found. Of course it hadn't. So I am back where I started, but at least have covered my bases. I also asked them if they could tell me from the priority mail number the weight of the package. I wanted to know this so I have a factual number reflecting the weight and how it certainly should not have been in a paper envelope. The post office said since he weighed and printed the label at home, they do not have record of the weight and the charge was direct billed to his account. It would have been nice to have the evidence filed away should I need to use it.

I am prepared to make a dispute/claim with ebay. You all suggest I should file it as "item is not as described" since there is no shipping specific topics? I want to make sure I do this properly so I do not get denied of my refund. Basically I am asking advice so I can cross all my "t's" and dot all my "i's" to cover my ****.

 

[bigdaddyisu]

Yes, file as a item not as described.

I had a similar situation 4-5 months back. I returned some impact sockets that were not as described (heavily modified beyond what the pictures showed) and the seller claimed to get a bag of seed from me instead. Paypal/E-bay denied my claim saying I didn't supply evidence of returning the item even though I provided tracking info. I then went to my credit card company and filed a claim providing proof I couldn't have possibly shipped the seed the seller claimed (the possible seed package weight wasn't even close to the weight shown my receipt from USPS). Mastercard refunded my money even after e-bay told me to take a hike.

That said, hopefully you paid with a CC.

 

[pault28]

i paid via paypal with a master card logo'd bank debit card credit card i have on file with my paypal account.

 

[pault28]

Bump...any other specific advice before I go through and file the dispute?

 

[canuckian]

I just got through a dispute/claim for a ratchet I paid for and didn't receive. My only advice is to be honest and respectful in your communications to the buyer through the resolution center. This does 2 things. It gives the seller no reason to get defensive but in the event that they do, paypal will look at the communication and see that you've done everything right and honestly and will likely find in your favor. If you start accusing things and getting your back up, you'll reduce your chances. Nobody likes a jerk! Also, make sure and give the seller options for resolution. I gave 3 - refund, send another of the same item or send a replacement item of equal value of my choice(provided he had it). if the resolution doesn't work and you come to the point when you file the paypal claim, state your case thoroughly and again, honestly to paypal. My claim was settled in less than a week after I filed it.

**edit** Good Luck!!!

 

[treasureseeker]

When I have eBay issues I read their discussions forums. Posting there isn’t for the thin skinned but there is a wealth of information. I have never gotten a missing item yet . I had my share of not as described but most have just let me return for full refund. I mainly buy items worth more than they sold for. You may be able to find the shipping weight from Sears. It isn’t just the weight but how much the item can slide around in the envelope and if the wrenches have any Sharp places. I use the flat rate envelopes mainly for shipping ratchets to save from using the medium flat boxes which are over $10 to keep the selling price down. I don’t know if I would ship wrenches like you purchased in a bubble flat rate envelope but if I did it would have quite reinforced. Half the problem is USSP making up choose the new bubble flat rates for items over .75”. People don’t realize how fragile they are and are packing them like the standard ones.

 

[pault28]

thanks everyone, I opened the case. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. I was civil and honest and hope to get my refund. I'll update once it's resolved. I'd post what I typed to them, but I'm not sure it is appropriate since it is an open case.
Paul