posted on January 25, 2002 11:29:53 AM new
I sold an LP on November 11. I mailed it media mail to the winner on the 19th after receiving his payment.
On December 20th it was returned to me as unable to deliver. I immediately emailed the winner but received no reply. He had an .edu address so I just assumed he was on Christmas break.
Since I did not get an answer from him I sent another email Monday since I knew classes had resumed at most Universities.
This time I got an immediate response but I didn't care for the tone of it. He stated the address I mailed the Lp to was his correct address, and that he was receiving mail at this address all the time. He practically said I was trying to cheat him and that this had taken way to long and I should get his item to him immediately.
If this is the case, why haven't I heard from him? Wouldn't you have emailed wondering why you didn't get your purchase after months went by? Why no answer to my first email -- which he stated he did answer and assumed I was ignoring him. Have you ever seen a buyer who would not have immediately sent another email? Why did he just sit and patiently wait? I did send him a photo of the returned package with all postal notifications about forward order expired.
Anyway, I offered to ship it priority mail at my expense which would mean I would lose money on the deal, or refund his money. He just gave me a second address I could use and told me to do whatever I wanted to do. I still don't like his attitude and have never had a problem with anything, or had anything returned in three years with Ebay.
posted on January 25, 2002 11:42:28 AM new
I find that college students are a big proportion of my bad experiences as a seller. One had a bounced check for $5.00. Others didn't answer emails. Etc. etc. When they decide they are through with you there's nothing to be done. The ones that are ordering textbooks from me are exceptions.
posted on January 25, 2002 01:00:54 PM new
I am leaning strongly in the direction of just returning his money. If I remail the lp I have to insure it to be sure he gets it and he will probably neg me anyway.
I just don't think it is worth the hassle with his attitude. Not to mention the $5.00 I will be out in remailing.
When it was first returned I just felt bad for him, and wanted to get the item to him as fast as I could, but after his email I just want the transaction over with.
[ edited by lindajean on Jan 25, 2002 01:03 PM ]
posted on January 25, 2002 02:18:50 PM new
I run into this type of thing all the time, My guess is your student buyer lives in a dorm.
They are getting there mail Just fine but packages are a different story Most of the time the dorm has a bunch of small mail boxes packages are left to wait at the post office if they are not claim in 14 days or so they are returned to sender as undeliverable.
Now and then the postoffice will forget to send the person the yellow pick up slip some times the student got the pick up slip but was not in the dorm before the dead line and the package was returned to sender.
in all honesty the buyer should be responable to resend you shipping but on these items I usually just resend at my cost and avoid the wrestleing over the 2 or so Dollars.
I don't want to look like I am makeing excuses for this person but chances are they left school earily for thanksgiveing break not returning till it was to late to pick up the package.
for me at least it is not unusual to not receive notice from a buyer if a package don't show up many times I will receive the notice from the buyer after I have left feed back for a big group of sellers.
posted on January 25, 2002 02:19:35 PM new
I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, but the buyer was a 'nice guy'. The package was returned as undeliverable and I emailed my buyer who answered with, 'Oh, I moved and forgot to put in a change of address. Here's the new address'. Well, I had to send the package again which means I lost money on postage. Sometimes it's like giving away our items if you handle low-price items.
posted on January 25, 2002 02:29:51 PM new
You can try taking it back to the post office and tell them your customer insists that this is his address. I had something similar happen to me last week and I printed out the buyer's e-mail and took it with me to the post office. They have re-mailed the package for me at no additional expense on my part. It's still too early to tell if this worked but it might be worth a shot in your case.
posted on January 25, 2002 08:35:43 PM new
I agree with dixiebee - take it to your PO and have them redeliver it. Explain that this is his address, either he didn't get the package notice or had gone home for break.
This happened to me as well, not a college student, just a nice lady who never got her item due an error in a change of address form. My PO clerk never batted an eye when I said the address was verified as hers. He just had it resent and she got it on the second attempt.
It's worth a try, won't cost you anything if it goes through, you'll be done with him and then put him on your blocked bidders list.
If you try to refund him the money he might not get that either.
