posted on December 18, 2000 02:07:43 PM
Very Modern, you did the very best you could for her under an extraordinary set of circumstances. If she can't appreciate that, chances are that she would have been a "problem customer" even if the package had arrived in one piece. Lost/damaged boxes are a risk inherent in every mail-order transaction. No need for her to take that out on you. Perhaps she has a bit of growing up to do?
posted on December 18, 2000 02:08:11 PM
verymodern,
The buyer was not very kind, but I can imagine how stressed I would be, at this late stage, looking at the prospect of doing battle in toystores, probably unsuccessfully, to find a replacement for this.
You come out of this shining. Remember that - you have behaved above and beyond what others would have expected you to do. Maybe you didn't meet the buyer's expectations (obviously, as the toy was damaged), but IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT!
Do what will feel right to you, and let it go. Enjoy your holiday - you have done your best, and deserve a good one.
posted on December 18, 2000 04:41:13 PM
I have a friend who rec'd a box from overseas, which was to contain a box of rather expensive chocolates. The box appeared at her door fastened only with a string. When she opened the box, all of the chocolates were eaten! They did leave the wrappers for her, though. When she went to the PO they said it couldn't have been from the USPS, you see they don't accept packages secured with string. Her reply? Obviously the box did not start out with string. It had made it to the US. Therefore, someone at the PO ate the chocolates and tied the box back up with string. The USPS realized she was probably right and offered her $100 for her troubles. Can you imagine - eating the chocolates right out of her package and then having the nerve to deliver them? Sorry about the damage to your toy. Definately looks like it fell off the truck and someone backed over it. I suppose they're treating it as an act of God?
posted on December 18, 2000 05:28:16 PM
Well, my damage doesn't equal VM's, but is still worthy of a rant.
Won 2 posters from two diffrent sellers on ebay. Turns out both are in Florida. Today, both posters arrive.
One box has: "Do not crush" "Fragile" ALL over the box. The other has nothing written on it.
Guess which box was mangled?
Yep, the one with "Do not crush" all over it. The poster was ruined (not the fault of the seller) and I didn't have insurance (was a low dollar buy, but I *really* wanted the poster).
posted on December 21, 2000 04:54:02 PM
I just saw on TV a surveilence video of some package handlers at an airport actually playing "baxitball" with shipped packages!
posted on December 21, 2000 05:04:15 PM
Very Modern:
Last night in Detroit the news story of the hour was the "hidden camera" expose about Northwest Airline employees (who are moving mail for the post office).
The section of tape that I saw showed several Northwest workers with bags full or packages, swinging the bags full, over there heads and smashing them as hard as they could into either a the cargo container or onto the ground.
They were cheering each other on and trying to see who could smash stuff the hardest.
Go figure. It baffles me that any of our packages arrive in tact.
Sorry about the buyers attitude; perhaps she was stunned and just blurted out something very untactful.
Don't let it get you down. You know you did the right thing. My Christmas wish for your customer is that she learn to be more accepting and tolerant.
posted on December 21, 2000 05:43:12 PM
If anyone has a contact in the news - please feel free to lift these pics and send them, and I would be happy to take more.
posted on December 22, 2000 06:51:21 AM
Your customer is being irrational. You are going out of your way, using your money at a loss to you. Perhaps you should invite her here and 'we' will set her straight. You are under no obligation to refund diddly squat since she did not want to spent the extra .85 to insure her package. Stuff happens and once it leaves your hands and is in the hands of the post office, you are not responsible for the actions of the p.o.
Taking a guess, she probably has a child at home that has to have the bike and will pitch a fit if he/she doesn't get it. The world is not going to end if he/she doesn't get it. geesch.
