drbrownauctions
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posted on February 6, 2002 02:28:01 PM
I bought a computer on ebay. It was an old one. It cost me $125 including shipping. It arrived today and doesn't even power on. The box was visibly crushed. And the driver didn't even knock on my door, just left it. Well, I've emailed the seller who has lots of good feedback. And I did buy insurance (only $1)... so I'm hoping it'll be easy to get my $$ back. Now I'll have to put my new network off for another 10 days or so  ... so even if I get my money back, I'll lose my 10 days. Oh, the good news is that I paid by PayPal and via credit card... so I can chargeback if necessary. So, the point is, does anyone want to tell me anything I should know to protect myself? Thanks.
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thedewey
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posted on February 6, 2002 02:44:54 PM
Be sure to keep the box and packaging materials in case the carrier needs to inspect it. If it was the post office, you might need to take the package to your local post office and let them look at it (see what your seller says). Photographs of the computer and packaging wouldn't be a bad idea.
It might not hurt to print out a couple of copies of the auction page and the e-mail correspondence, just in case.
You might also check with your credit card company on the steps needed to do a chargeback, in case it comes down to that. Some credit cards have restrictions such as a certain number of days (etc.)
Sorry it arrived broken. Maybe the seller has another one he/she can send you.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 6, 2002 03:03:31 PM
It was shipped Fedex Ground. The seller probably doesn't have another one, b/c they don't deal mainly in computers, and I haven't seen another up for auction.
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barparts
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posted on February 6, 2002 03:18:23 PM
You will need to file a claim with Fed Ex. But don't wait. Do it asap because you only have a limited time to do so. Be sure to keep all of the packaging boxes ect. Even add some packing if you don't think it was adequate because that is what they are going to be looking for. It will make your claim go much smoother for you.
As far as the seller goes, you do not have a claim against him/her as they did send you the item and you received it.
It might seem like a lot of work on your end, but that is the way the laws around shipping are set up.
Good luck,
bp
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 6, 2002 04:06:23 PM
yes, but I once sent insured UPS and it broke, and I had to resend and file the claim myself. After all, the shipper is the one with the receipt. And I won't do anything dishonest like adding packaging. If the seller didn't package right, that's they're fault not mine or FedEx's
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kahml
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posted on February 6, 2002 04:57:18 PM
I think you had better read this:
http://rate.dmz.fedex.com/us/services/termsandconditions/ground/claims.html?link=4
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 6, 2002 05:01:25 PM
thank you...
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xenainfla
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posted on February 6, 2002 08:24:01 PM
FedEx and I had a go around on a mirror they damaged. In anticipation of you having the same problem, I would suggest you continue to fight them.
In my case, I shipped a mirror, wrapped with heavy cardboard in front of the mirror, double wrapped with bubble wrap and additionally cushioned with styrofoam. This was all in a New corrugated box designated for shipping mirrors and was marked on all four sides "Glass".
To my surprise, my buyer advised that the FedEx driver advised that the mirror would not be delivered because the mirror shattered and that FedEx had started the claim process. FedEx returned the box to me. What a surprise to see tire marks and puncture marks through the box and upon inspecting the wood frame in the box, seeing huge gouges and scrapes.
What was more shocking was FedEx stating that they believed we were equally at fault and they were only reimbursing me 1/2 of the total insured value. When I submitted digital photos of the tire tracks, puncture marks and frame damage, they immediately agreed to send the other 1/2.
I have stopped using FedEx as a result of this, because I believed they knew right away that they were the cause of this and thought they could get away with just paying for half of it.
Good luck with your computer claim.
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DeSquirrel
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posted on February 6, 2002 08:33:47 PM
You may not have a problem. If the system got roughly handled a card could be half in and half out of the slot, or a piece of memory or the cpu could have popped loose. Open the case and see if the cards are all seated, etc.. I once serviced a pc where the fan came loose and knocked the power connection off the motherboard. A 3 minute fix.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 06:49:45 AM
I opened it up... nothing seems to be loose.
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kahml
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posted on February 7, 2002 07:05:34 AM
Just curious about And the driver didn't even knock on my door, just left it.
Weren't you supposed to sign for the delivery?
And I thought FedEx has a tracking system in place even for ground. What does the "received by" portion of that state?
It seems that the delivery was part of the problem.
OTOH, is it possible the seller simply shipped an already "dead" system?
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DeSquirrel
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posted on February 7, 2002 08:11:21 AM
I think I smell a rat. I'm also wondering if it was already dead. Of course you could have gotten a crack in the motherboard, but that kind of pounding should have been evident in the package.
drbrownauctions. I probably throw away better stuff every day than what you paid $125 for. If you get stuck and want to invest in the UPS charges, I'll fix it at no cost.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 09:06:12 AM
thanks for your support guys. i also smelled the same rat about it already being "dead." I mean if something didn't work right I'd understand, but it seems to be a dead power supply to me. Isn't a power supply a little harder to kill. I guess a cracked motherboard would do it too. I opened it up and tried shorting the soft power jumpers with a screwdriver in case it was the switch but still nothing.
The box did show damage. It was crushed.
As far as the tracking. It says delivered and the "signed for by" section is blank.
I got an email back from the sender. They said that FedEx would pick it up tomorrow and they would file a claim for me. However, if I don't get back 100%, I may just file a chargeback on my credit card. I don't think it was a very good job of packing. Under the computer was a layer of foam peanuts... and it was that side that was crushed. The other side had lots of packing materials, but that side stood up just fine.
DeSquirrel, thanks for the offer, I'll consider it if it comes to that... but I hope it doesn't
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 09:06:48 AM
btw, this seller has a feedback of OVER 10,000 with only about 100 or so negatives...
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mrfoxy76
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posted on February 7, 2002 09:10:47 AM
thats good when fedex pick up the package
just give them the computer box and the packaging they will sort it out with the seller.
i sell computers, printers etc and FEDEX can be VERY ROUGH at times I once shipped a printer in PERFECT condition was TOTALLY smashed up once the sender received it!
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 11:12:05 AM
mrfoxy... do i have to reseal the package and everything... or just give it to them?
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kahml
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posted on February 7, 2002 11:25:25 AM
<<Isn't a power supply a little harder to kill.>>
Actually, if the fan stopped working (for whatever reason), the power supply will eventually overheat and die - just like a processor would.
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stopwhining
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posted on February 7, 2002 11:40:52 AM
fed exp delivers to business addresses and their doors are always open during office hours.
thats why many fed exp drivers just leave the package at the door.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 11:59:14 AM
I guess I meant isn't a power supply harder to kill in transit.... b/c if it was an overheat problem that would mean i was sent a dead machine
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kahml
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posted on February 7, 2002 01:32:51 PM
Affirmative!
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bettylou
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posted on February 7, 2002 01:55:34 PM
drbrownauctions: Wow. Sorry this happened to you. If you're in the SF Bay Area, we can help set you up with an inexpensive 'puter or parts to cobble together same.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 02:00:53 PM
I'm far away in Boston but thanks... my brother just moved back home from N.H. That's why I'm networking, I don't want to fight with him over my computer. If we can survive another few weeks we'll be okay.
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 7, 2002 09:08:51 PM
well, i got an email from the seller saying FedEx ground would be here to pick up the package tomorrow and he'll file the claim for me...
I repacked it... I had to add a ton of peanuts just to fill the box... I guess that might explain why it was crush.
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nycyn
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posted on February 8, 2002 05:27:17 PM
Think you're depressed?  How about being a denizen of downtown Manhattan where they finally admitted that which we knew but have been in denial about: carcinogens in our carpets!
You know, for perspective. (weak smile)
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drbrownauctions
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posted on February 8, 2002 06:03:20 PM
thanks nycyn
Well Fedex didn't come today like the guy promised.
In 29 days if this isn't settled yet, I'm doing a chargeback. I intentionally emptied my PayPal account right before this, so I could use my CC.
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nycyn
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posted on February 8, 2002 06:22:04 PM
I don't know if it would help to take pics of the lousy pack job... In any event, I'm sorry this happened. Like my kid says: "That hadda hurt!"
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