posted on May 20, 2001 08:25:04 AM
Somehow this makes me antsy. What do you think?
Canadian Bidder
Auction ended 4-24-01
EOA sent 4-24-01
Reminder for Mailing Info on 4-27-01
Received Mailing info from bidder 3-27-01
Bidder Paypaled Payment 5-2-01
Item sent to Bidder 5-3-01
I state clearly in my auctions, "I am not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail if bidder does not request and pay for insured shipping".
Bidder did not request insurance, and this is a $150 Item that he won for $51.00, but since DC does not work for Canada, something told me to insure this, which I did at my expense, because it was like pulling teeth to get his shipping info, and he paid on the 11th day,when my auctions clearly state, "Payment is to be received within 10 days unless other arrangements have been made."
Bidder contacts me 5-20-01 (today) and says package should have arrived a week ago and do I have any way to track this? I do have the insurance tracking number, but it just struck me as odd that he would wonder if I had the means to track this transaction. Maybe I have delt with too many trying to pull a fast one, but my red flage went up. I did respond to give it a bit more time, but that I would start a Postal Search and investigation on Monday and if it should arrive to please let me know, so the investigation could be aborted on this end.
I also gave him 2 payment options Global Express, and Airmail Parcel Post, which is the one (APP) which he chose. This item is very expensive in Canada, and I am wondering if he had to pay a large duty on it because he got them so cheap, and now he decided he didn't want them. I just do not know where to go from here. This transaction has been nothing but delays by him from the start, and I love my Canadian buyers, but am seriously thinking to stop selling to buyers there, as this is the second one this has happpened with. Are shipments usually delayed this long to Canada? Do Customs slow things down alot? Thanks!
Edited to add> I have not had a problem at all with PayPal and I love using them, and do not want this bidder trying to pull a fast one and maybe ruining my good standing with PayPal. Should I alert Paypal to this, just to protect myself? Where is Paypal Damon when you need him?
posted on May 20, 2001 08:44:08 AMBidder contacts me 5-20-01 (today) and says package should have arrived a week ago and do I have any way to track this?
I receive the same request from USA bidders whenever an item seems to be delayed, by the USPS.
Does it strike me odd?
No.
Do I panic & think they're attempting to rip me off?
No.
FYI - Had you included the final auction page, or an invoice with the final ending price of $51.00 US, that's what the buyer would have been Taxed on. In the Province I live in that would amount to just over $5 Cdn, plus a $5 fee to the nice postal person that delivers it.
If in fact this item is worth $150 US, I would rather doubt the high bidder would have refused to pay for the fees.
As far as delays go, I find the USPS to be just as slow, or slower than Canada Post.
I also don't believe that the USPS will "investigate" a lost package until after 30 days has passed.
It's a holiday weekend up here, so perhaps your high bidder will have your package on Tuesday?
posted on May 20, 2001 09:28:45 AM
reddeer> no, no,no.....This is not a post to say who has the better postal service. The US vs. Canada. I was asking some questions and giving my feelings on the transaction. If I sounded combative, that certainly was NOT my attempt. It is not a Canada post vs. the US postal service. I just want my bidder to receive their package, is all. Nor am I in a panic. Just wondering if there is a delay at customs in Canada since I do not live there. After doing 800 transactions, give or take a few, I think most sellers get a feel for a possible problamatic sale, don't they? And Zazzie, no I didn't put $150 on the customs form, just what the high bid was. I do not want my Canadian bidders to pay high rates, anymore then I would want to pay.
posted on May 20, 2001 09:32:38 AM
furkidmom---once I had a package from the states go missing--the seller was able to find out from the post office if the package had crossed the border from the barcode on the customs form.
Sorry, I'm simply going off the facts presented by you thus far.
Comments such as "This transaction has been nothing but delays by him from the start"
From what you posted, I gather he contacted you 3 days after the auction ended?
You consider that a delay???
From what you've stated, the auction ended on Tues April 24th, and buyer PayPal'd funds to you on Wed, May 2nd.
You consider that a delay???
>........ and he paid on the 11th day,when my auctions clearly state, "Payment is
to be received within 10 days unless other arrangements have been made.
Huh? Maybe my math skills are a bit weak, but I came up with 8 days, which is 2 days sooner than your TOS state.
Methinks some sellers worry too much about nothing ...........
posted on May 20, 2001 10:32:45 AM
redeer> Perhaps I have been spoiled by all of my great customers huh? I used to have payment to be received within 7 days and thought that unreasonable after being a seller for awhile and changing as I read these boards and the constructive postings and changed it to 10. Actually from end of auction to payment date, he was right on the date, 10 days from end of auction. And yes, that was an obvious typo on my part. My bad.
I have only had to reissue a second plea for mailing addy 7 times and all of them were deadbeat bidders. Also have had one who claimed to never have received the package, so I started using DC. Just recently, had one who said the DC had been ripped off the package, so would I send another item, and I told them not to worry, I had the receipt. Never heard from them again.
Zazzie, Thanks! That is something else to look into, which is what I asked for in the first place. Any direction here.
posted on May 20, 2001 10:55:23 AM
Oh, sorry, the title of this thread is:
This whole deal smells bad to me somehow...
And on that note, I don't think anything smells bad.
I still don't understand how an auction can end on a Tues, payment is received by you on the following Wed, and that ends up as 10 days?
Maybe my Canuck calendar is different than yours? Please explain.
I have only had to reissue a second plea for mailing addy 7 times and all of them were deadbeat bidders.
Lucky you, I have to send out a second email to high bidders at least once a week. Sometimes there can be ISP email glitches that take place, and sometimes buyers just simply have a life outside of eBay. No biggie to me, and most of the times these buyers that need a second email turn out to be great customers.
As far as "Any direction here."
I've already stated:
"I also don't believe that the USPS will "investigate" a lost package until after 30 days has passed."
posted on May 23, 2001 08:19:30 AM
well, well, WELL! I received an answer to my email to my buyer telling them that Yes, I could trace the package because I had purchased insurance in the event it went missing, and would be happy to work with them and the Post Office to track down this package. If in fact, it was lost, or a postal employee tampered with the package, be assured, our post office is VERY aggressive in tracking the chain of hands all packages go through. Well lo and behold, I get this email yesterday that the package actually arrived on May 14th and the post carrier had put it on his porch, his son took it in and put it in a closet and forgot to tell him about it. That I could call my Post Office and tell them all is well, and Thanks very much, and sorry for my having to get the Post Office involved. Don't you have to go to the post office there or something to get a package from out of the country to pay duty or claim it or something? Here we don't have to, as packages from everywhere are just brought to the house period. I really feel silly being so unenformed about how this works with our neighbors to the North. From where I live, the Canadian border is just a 3 hour drive up the freeway! Anyway, all is well! Thank Goodness I insured it from this end and tracking was available!!
posted on May 23, 2001 09:10:10 AMDon't you have to go to the post office there or something to get a package from out of the country to pay duty or claim it or something?
No, in my area they deliver to the door and you pay them the fee right away. If you're not home they leave a card. Then you have to pick it up at the post office. In smaller towns they don't always deliver larger packages.
At $51US=$76cdn it should have been taxed, but sometimes you'll get a good customs officer that will let it pass without charging.
posted on May 23, 2001 09:33:04 AM
I hope not everyone judges Canadians by what they have read here. I work with them almost on a daily basis and even the ones from Montreal are nice. I think it is eBay & AW that makes them bitter.
Too many people on AW are so quick to jump at other people. To bad you can not approch things in a nice way. You accuse people of being unreasonable or a troll in most all the posts.
I found the post to be a reasonable question that was asked and then the cans jump in defending their buddies.
You can see why people from the US do not want to sell to you http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=375292
Give me all the crap you want cause I sell to Canada and know exactly what it is like.
So furkidmom I am glad it worked out. Why a kid would set something in the closet from the mail for 7 days and not tell their folks is beyond me. I would question that even if they were'nt Canadians.
posted on May 23, 2001 10:28:05 AMI found the post to be a reasonable question that was asked and then the cans jump in defending their buddies.
Huh?
Furkidmom ........ Glad to hear it all worked out & that your Canadian high bidder didn't turn out to be someone attempting to pull a fast one.
FYI - The USPS has no way of "tracking" parcels shipped to Canada, even if they have insurance. I'm not sure who told you that, but they were incorrect. Also, AC is correct, parcels from the US are delivered to the door up here, and if there's a Customs fee the PO delivery person collects it. If no one is at home the PO person leaves a card in the mail box & you then have to pick the parcel up at the nearest PO outlet.
posted on May 23, 2001 10:48:29 AM
Yes, that's correct. It can also take them months to track them down, depending on the country etc.
If something goes missing in Canada, your best bet is to call the Canada Post 1-800#, give them the city/town street addy, postal code, and ask them for the buyers local PO phone number. If the item was charged GST [tax] they will have a record & signature of the transaction.
As I mentioned in my first post on this thread, neither Canada Post nor the USPS will "investigate" anything until at least 30 days has passed from the time the item was shipped. It may even be 45 days now?
posted on May 23, 2001 02:22:41 PM Furkidmom ........ Glad to hear it all worked out & that your Canadian high bidder didn't turn out to be someone attempting to pull a fast one. FYI - The USPS has no way of "tracking" parcels shipped to Canada, even if they have insurance. I'm not sure who told you that, but they were incorrect. On the contrary, my bidder was trying to pull a fast one. The item I sent them is a well known, brand name product that runs about $150-$300 (depending on size) here in the US and when they asked if I had any way to track it, the antennas went up! I know that the USPS has no way of tracking articles to Canada with only the insurance number as it does not scan in on the site I went to, (the ins. #) but thankfully, the bidder did not know that, and like a miracle, the package showed up, as they thought it could be traced back to them. They had it all along, knew they had it all along, and I stick to my initial gut feeling they were trying to get a freebie. I would feel the same if it was a US winner, or from timbucktoo! It was just too coincidental it showed up as soon as I told them it was tracable. I have had about 30 other Canadian transactions and they were wonderful and would welcome them again to my auctions. The forms are simple, and they understand the shipping rates are high. I always give a couple of options to them and they chose what is right for them. Thanks all for your comments.
posted on May 23, 2001 02:46:42 PM
I once had a customer receive an item at work and someone put it in a closet and forgot to tell her. It can happen. Never once did I think she was trying to pull a fast one. People get busy, they forget.
I do not want my Canadian bidders to pay high rates, anymore then I would want to pay.