Ebay issue: What would you do?

GuidoTorpedo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
4,228
Reaction score
76
Location
Maryland
OK, so last week I sold some stuff on the bay. Included in the stuff I sold were a few sets of used pool balls. One of the customers I sold the balls to just emailed me through ebay saying that he received an empty box... nothing in it.

I kind of don't have a prob sending the guy another set, but I don't like being fucked with. I ahve a delivery confirmation number and a receipt showing the charge from USPS by weight. Should I just send the guy another set, or ask him for pics of the box (like that is going to do any good)...

Opinions?
Thanks!
-Mike
 
OK, so last week I sold some stuff on the bay. Included in the stuff I sold were a few sets of used pool balls. One of the customers I sold the balls to just emailed me through ebay saying that he received an empty box... nothing in it.

I kind of don't have a prob sending the guy another set, but I don't like being fucked with. I ahve a delivery confirmation number and a receipt showing the charge from USPS by weight. Should I just send the guy another set, or ask him for pics of the box (like that is going to do any good)...

Opinions?
Thanks!
-Mike

I dont think USPS would complete the delivery if there is evidence the balls came out, ie hole. I bet the corner of box split open and they rolled out hence reason they didnt see the hole. If guy has alot of positive feedback then i would give him benefit of doubt and ask if he could supply pictures of packaging how he received it.
 
I would ask for pictures. Did they say whether or not the box was open or broken or are they trying to say you shipped an empty box? If the other people that ordered ball sets from you got them okay then it's a bit suspect that they didn't receive them. Check their feedback. If they have good feedback then they might be telling the truth if they have similar claims like this with other sellers then I would advise them to contact the post office or whoever was used to ship the item.
 
i would ask for pics of the box , telling him you have a receipt for the shipment for the weight and usps is asking for this for insurance purposes. call his bluff. i had this done to me before and i document with pics or video on higher price things.(cya) but still that don't help sometimes.
 
I agree with checking his feedback first. But remember this, if the box they were shipped in was so damaged that the pool balls fell out, then USPS would've put a sticker on the box saying that the parcel was damaged during shipping. You NEED to see a picture of that sticker on the box or the guy is probably full of shit. I can't imagine everything falling out of that box while enroute and no postal worker not seeing balls rolling out into a hamper or on the floor, or not noticing a huge rip or tear in the box.
 
If you have proof of paid weight, then you are in the clear.. end of story. Tell him he should still have 2 balls that he can play pocket pool with :)

Kevin
 
I dont think USPS would complete the delivery if there is evidence the balls came out, ie hole.

UPS would... I had them deliver me a box w/ tempered glass pieces cascading out the sides -- used to be a galaga glass...
 
I dont think USPS would complete the delivery if there is evidence the balls came out, ie hole. I bet the corner of box split open and they rolled out hence reason they didnt see the hole. If guy has alot of positive feedback then i would give him benefit of doubt and ask if he could supply pictures of packaging how he received it.

Nope...the US postal service will deliver ANYTHING... I got an empty 8.5x11 envelope ripped wide open with the contents completely gone from the USPS... just the envelope...
 
I have seen plenty of beat to shit packages with contents hanging out the sides. None of them had a fancy sticker on them admitting damage by the carrier.
 
Nope...the US postal service will deliver ANYTHING... I got an empty 8.5x11 envelope ripped wide open with the contents completely gone from the USPS... just the envelope...

I'll second that. I received a priority mail shipping box that had the tear strip pulled and opened, clearly some postal employee helped themselves to the contents.

What I got was a nice empty box with a note saying "contents may be missing". WELL F**KING DUH. Insurance did sort if out in the end.

- James
 
Ask yourself the question is what you got paid for a set of pool balls worth the trouble and factor that in to your decision as top whether or not you just send him another set. If you do, but feel something fishy was going on, simply block him from your auctions so you don't have toi deal with it again.
 
Definately check the feedback.
Then you have to ask yourself, why would he lie about used pool balls?
Sure there is a chance that this guy is trying to get one over on you,
but is it more likely that the balls got stolen, or came out of the box?
I would file a claim and send another set or a refund. It's not worth the
negative feedback on you.
 
Send him another set- yes it sucks but it's the right thing to do. Double or triple bag the next set and ship it in a thick box with plenty of tape.

Asking for pictures won't prove anything and if the guy is actually dishonest it wouldn't be hard for him to fake the pic anyway. You didn't mention a sticker about shipping damage from USPS; that would be the only reason for a pic or scan.

Eventually when selling, something like this happens no matter how well you perform your duties as a seller. Make it right, do it quick and turn it into a positive for the buyer.

I sold an Asteroids Deluxe to a buyer on Craigslist this past weekend, he emailed me that it wasn't working when he got it home. I'm exchanging emails with him now to cover basic troubleshooting but I might end up driving over to fix it for him- and he lives over an hour away. Sure it sucks to have to do it, but it's the right thing to do.
 
Ask for pics, but send him more...

If he's got any decent feedback, I'd ask for the state of the box (pics or at least a description) so that you can figure out what happened. Then I'd ship the second set insured (they aren't much money, right? So insurance should be cheap). That way, if they go 'missing' again, he'll have to prove to the PO that they weren't there.

I see several possible scenarios on his end:
1) The PO screwed up, the box has a torn corner (or edge) and the balls are rolling around a sorting center somewhere. In this case he's completely in the right. Not at all unlikely.

2) He's trying to mess with you. For a second set of used pool balls, I can't see it being worth the effort, but then some people (especially criminal types) have no brains. In this case he's an idiot crook - make him work for it.

3) He's got someone on his end who's stealing his mail. Who knows if this is likely or not, but it's not impossible.
 
I've received boxes from the post office with twenty pounds worth of things missing out of the large gaping hole in the side of the box and they didn't leave a note or anything. I've also gotten some with tears that did have the sticker, it's just hit or miss. Plus you have to remember machines sort these things so a lot of the damage isnt' caused by humans, it's caused by conveyor belts.
 
I wish you guys were ebay sellers when I got crap that was misrepresented or shipped poorly.

Let say set of balls cost buyer $20 + $10 Shipping
Seller has to send another set + $10 Shipping??? I would rather refund $20 and forget about it.

With reciept from post office showing weight, I would just send him a copy of that. The buyer can take it up with PO. I would not even let buyer know I have a 2nd set. That option should be kept secret in case you end up deciding to send it.

If I was buyer, If I saw that reciept with weight, I would excuse you from obligation since you done your part as a seller.

Kevin
 
Last edited:
Timely Package

I got home today and sitting on my front porch was this box. Notice the huge gaping hole. There is no label from the post office addressing the hole. I don't think anything is missing but I wasn't expecting the package and I don't really want to contact the sender to ask.
 

Attachments

  • HPIM0236.jpg
    HPIM0236.jpg
    91.6 KB · Views: 47
If it is cheap and really does not cost you much I would just send him another box. It is better that than to hassle with PayPal or get a negtive feedback. With Ebay's new feedback rules buyers have you by the balls
 
Don't refund him. That is what he wants... Free pool balls.

Also, make him file a claim... That way, he can't do this bullshit to too many people.
 
Back
Top Bottom