posted on October 1, 1999 02:10:08 PM
I have never posted before, and since I have only been to Auction Universe once, and that was to quickly, bid (on impulse). I am not at all familiar with its workings. I surfed to this site and found an auction ending in a few minutes, quickly registered and bid. Won auction, sent quoted total, and waited for item to be shipped. I got a stupid notice from UPS, telling me that item could not be delivered because they needed the correct St#. I say stupid, because how did they expect me to get this notice when they sent it to the "incorrect Street Address". They could send me this notice, but not my delivery. I contacted them, arranged redelivery. They didn't show. To pick this up would require driving 60 miles, they sent the item back to the seller. When I contacted him, he wanted another $4.50 for redelivery. I told him no way, give me a refund, he responded he would minus the shipping. Amount is less than $5, but I am really mad about this. I would like some feedback opinions on this issue. Do I have a right to expect all my money back, or re-shipping?
posted on October 1, 1999 03:05:32 PM
Personally, I think the seller should be willing to bend and reship the item to you without expecting you to pick up the tab. Obviously either the seller or UPS goofed up the address (you did include your shipping address with your payment, correct?) If it was a UPS screwup, the seller should take it up with them and make sure to take care of you as a customer.
And I am talking here from my perspective as a seller on AU. I think customer service is the key to distinguishing yourself from the herd. I once shipped an item free to a buyer because his payment got bounced back to him due to a problem between me and my (former) MBE mailbox. I didn't question the veracity of his story, I just got him taken care of. Of course, it was an item under $10. I can't swear I would have been so generous if it had been in the $50+ range!
I understand your concern and I'm perturbed at the seller for not solving this.
In this case you have a couple of alternatives.
My first recommendation is that you post [email protected] and ask them to intercede on your behalf.
I have to say that without all the facts, I can't say the seller is totally in the wrong. It would seem to depend on whether they actually did address the package correctly. Frankly, it sounds to me like an issue between UPS and the seller. It makes sense to me that if they could mail you the notice, they could ship the package and they didn't. That is what service would help discover -- heck they may intercede with UPS on the seller's behalf?
But this is not your only recourse.
As a buyer on AU, you are able to leave transactional negative feedback. You may want to go ahead and do this although it is generally better to wait to see if service can help you resolve this.
Still, both you and the seller should know that even if you leave a negative rating for them, if you and the seller are able to resolve this situation, you will be able to retract that rating and even post positive feedback in its place.
Finally, let me say, if this were a BidSafe auction -- there would not be an issue. You would get your money back (less the shipping fee) and you would be at liberty to leave a negative feedback for the seller. With Bidsafe We hold your payment until you're satisfied.
But do post [email protected] (our service email is not the black hole of Calcutta) and see if they can help you. If they can't, post me and I'll see what I can do.
