sandraj
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posted on July 27, 2002 08:30:55 AM new
I was one of the winners of a Dutch auction of 116 flat hoses the first week of July. I paid immediately through Paypal and after 3 weeks and 3 emails heard nothing from seller. I wrote to 12 other buyers and found out that the all hoses were shipped, only 1 lady got her order, the rest are upset and waiting. Looking through the sellers feedback (which was great before this 300 positive so not a new seller) I found the hoses are shipped media mail. Not sure if I can post link to done auction, here is part of this add:
I ship through a shipping company which allows for faster shipment and lower
prices. Estimated shipping time is between 7 and 10 business days. I do have
to pay a surcharge for shipping as well as the actual shipping cost. Please note
that the shipping charges INCLUDE the surcharge per hose that I have to pay. I
am able to sell these for the lowest price on ebay by going through this
company and pass the savings on to you! If buyer is unhappy with the shipping
charges, please do not bid,
Is this considered MEDIA mail because the hoses are bound with a cardboard wrapper with writing on it? (Just a thought)
What I wonder now is could this be a MEDIA MAIL FRAUD and got caught? Thanks for your help, I love buying on Ebay and when I have a problem you folks always come through for me.
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dman3
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posted on July 27, 2002 09:01:05 AM new
if these were shipped Media rate they were shipped wrong.
how ever I believe if they were discovered they would simply return the mail to the sender or it would arrive at the other end post due.
a hose is not medai mail no matter what is shipped with it or what its packaged with..
as well shipping for media mail can take up to 6 weeks to get delivered even if you live next door to the seller.
I dont know how USPS does things I only know that just resently I shipped two Item priority mail one was less then 20 miles away the other on the west coast.
the local priority package took 4 days to arrive and the package to the west coast arrived in just over 24 hours.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
[ edited by dman3 on Jul 27, 2002 09:03 AM ]
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quickdraw29
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posted on July 27, 2002 03:24:02 PM new
How do you know they're shipped Media Mail? Could be Parcel Post. By his ad it doesn't even sound like USPS. Media Mail has nothing to do with cardboardbound wrappers, it has to do with what is in it.
I don't even know why you'd be worried if it is Media Mail fraud, you get a lower price for shipping.
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
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mypostingid
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posted on July 27, 2002 03:40:04 PM new
My concern as a buyer would depend upon what happens if the package is inspected by the post office and is found to be in violation of their Media Mail rules. Will it be delivered to me with postage due? Will it be returned to the sender? If so, will he ask me to pay shipping again? Will the item be confiscated? If so, will the Seller refund me in full, or am I SOL?
If this has happened to anyone here, I'd be interested to know how it turned out.
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sandraj
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:01:36 PM new
I paid $35.50 for shipping which I have no problem with since the seller says he has to pay a "surcharge per hose"
After 3 emails to seller and no response I wrote here (keeping 12 other buyers informed this way also). Reading his feedback people complain about paying high shipping and it being sent MEDIA MAIL (all hoses, I checked) Now dman3 says if these were shipped Media rate they were shipped wrong.
how ever I believe if they were discovered they would simply return the mail to the sender or it
would arrive at the other end post due.
The Seller told other buyers in our "little dutch group"
Hi,
> They were sent last week. Apparently no one has
received their hoses from
this big order that I sent through the postal service.
Im going to send an
email to everyone in the next couple days and see what
happend with all
these orders, I shipped out over 150 orders and Im
very unhappy as it has
cost you the bidder as well as me if these are lost.
I assure you that I
will get to the bottom of this with the postal
service. If I dont get
anywhere with them then I am going to have to send
another 150+ orders out
this time with tracking numbers which you will all
receive. Please bear
with me for the next few days as I try and resolve
this. I have been
selling on ebay for quite a while and only received a
few negs, due to
people being unhappy with cost, but Ive always
delivered my products.
> Eric
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sandraj
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:24:48 PM new
That is what I like about this forum, it gets things workin! Just of this letter from US Postal (?)Hi,
My name is Ms. Layton with the United States Postal Service. I have a Mr. Eric Stone here that is showing me receipts for 232 flat hose orders that were sent on July 15th. He tells me that apparently no one has received their hoses as of July 27th. I have started tracking these packages as Eric tells me many of you are unhappy. I am writing you this email to confirm that each and everyone on this list indeed has flat hose(s) coming to them. Eric also tells me that many of you are leaving bad comments on his ebay file. Im not too familiar with how ebay works, but I do want to clear things up with all of you and let you know that Eric has shipped your hose(s) out and right now the fault lies with us here at the Postal Service. The policy here is to wait 30 days after an item is shipped. After that time a refund is made if we ca
nnot locate the package(s). It has already been almost two weeks since shipment of these. In this coming week I am going to track this order down as it was a bulk shipment. Unfortunately there are cases of theft that also have to be looked into. If we cannot find where these hoses in the next week, then we will prepare to send refunds to Mr. Eric Stone for all the packages shipped. If we do find the shipment we will ship them back WITH tracking numbers for each of you. Eric has done all he can do and seems very upset as all of you must be. Please send all your questions to me and I will do my best to get back to each and every one of you and ask to hold off your negative comments at this time. Thank you for your patronage. You will be hearing from me within a weeks period of time.
Ms. Layton
So if this email is for real the truth should come out. I just didn't want to get stuck with additional postage if these were sent media mail after I paid $35.50 for 5 hoses. I also just got a email from Eric (the seller FINALLY after 3 email asking nicely what is going on) and he said <b>Hi it shipped out a week ago, you should have them by now...<b>
Thank you for all your help and I will keep you posted, Sandy
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Libra63
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:34:21 PM new
Do you really think that the USPS took time out of their busy schedule to write that email? I doubt it, but it seems like they were sent and no matter how they were sent someone will receive them either the buyers or the seller will get them back. Since it sounded like he did mail them did he use a drop shipper? That is what it sounds like to me and if I was a buyer just sit and wait. The USPS can't lose that many packages, or can they.....I have had Priority Mail Boxes take a week to get to it's destination and Media mail sometimes with a week and then sometimes 3 weeks. You know with media mail your postal clerk delivers them when they have time and if they have a bundle of mail they will sit until your postal clerk has the time. Good Luck...
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throughhiker
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:42:20 PM new
Interesting. IMHO, Eric is not only sending inappropriate items via Media Mail but now impersonating a postal worker as well.
It would surprise me if a postal worker would take this project home and compose it on their own computer. This only leaves the postoffice. How many of you see a PC with wordprocessor capability at the postal desk?
"Excuse me sir while I make these ten people wait another 45 minutes so can I contact all your buyers and set their minds at ease. Talk about service. I'm not getting that at my postoffice.
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sandraj
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:45:00 PM new
I love this forum! Really gets things hoppin! One of the bidders from our "Dutch Hose Group" emailed me right away and pointed out that Ms. Lyon from the US Postal Service used a HOTMAIL address to send us all that email.
This
has graduated into mail fraud if he's got someone
masquerading as a postal employee. Let's face it, no
way would a Postal employee use Hotmail!
If we have his snail mail address, we can use the
Postal Fraud Form on USPS.GOV to report him.
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bestattic
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posted on July 27, 2002 04:48:40 PM new
sandraj, I would reply to that email asking for the post office number and their employee number.
B'
Christmas@Carnaby - July18-28
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NearTheSea
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posted on July 27, 2002 05:17:02 PM new
sandraj
Yes, I think you should reply to this 'Postal worker' and ask for the post office address. IF you get one, (or even if you don't) forward the email to the USPS.
They may be interested in this, esp. someone impersonating a postal employee.
[email protected]
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sandraj
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posted on July 27, 2002 05:35:32 PM new
Thank you all again for all your help! I did email Ms. Lyon back
Ms. Lyon,
How kind of you to email such a huge group I would like your post office number and your employee number. We are all amazed about using the HOTMAIL address, but what ever it takes to get the job done.
Thank you SO kindly , Sandy
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=473686
(Just so we keep this person up to date)
Imagine a US Postal worker sending us the message on a Sat. night using Hotmail address. Are we special or what??
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quickdraw29
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posted on July 27, 2002 06:08:25 PM new
A government email would be from .gov
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Suzyq
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posted on July 27, 2002 06:44:55 PM new
Hi -- Just a note. I think that impersonating a gov. employee is a federal offense -- I think that I would take this email to my local PO and show it to a supervisor. I would also give them the name and address of the seller that I sent my payment to as that would probably give them his local PO address.
Just a thought --
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sparkz
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posted on July 27, 2002 07:40:52 PM new
sandraj
If that email did NOT come from a bona fide employee of the Postal Service, you can kiss your $35.50 goodby. The seller will need it for a bail bondsman.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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tammy65
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posted on July 27, 2002 08:15:27 PM new
Wow, sounds like Mr. Eric has gotten himself in big trouble!
Good Luck
Tammy 
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Roadsmith
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posted on July 27, 2002 10:50:28 PM new
JMHO--That "official message" from the P.O. person screamed phony to me as I read it. It was ignorant and unprofessional. Then I thought, well, some of the P. O. people I've run into would fit that description. But Hotmail??? And taking time from her busy schedule to do this????? No way. This is going to land someone in a heap of trouble.
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timetravelers
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posted on July 28, 2002 01:59:12 AM new
check the headers on the email to see where it actually came from, i would forward all this mess to safeharbor.
did you pay by credit card? can you chargeback?
My postmaster will not even let me send an antique magazine media mail nothing with advertising in it..the site shows what is allowed in media mail,beleive it is cds & books etc usps.gov
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timetravelers
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posted on July 28, 2002 02:09:14 AM new
from usps.gov site Does not look like *hoses included in this group"
Media Mail (Book Rate)
Description
Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.
The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.
Media Mail Rates
Weight not over (pounds) Rate
1 $1.42
2 1.84
3 2.26
4 2.68
5 3.10
6 3.52
7 3.94
8 4.24
9 4.54
10 4.84
11 5.14
12 5.44
13 5.74
14 6.04
15 6.34
(more weights see usps site)
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paloma91
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posted on July 28, 2002 03:02:47 AM new
Is the market getting flooded with these flat hoses or what? I see them in almost every store I go to now. Target, Orchard supply and now I even got a spam mail advertising them:
> Subject: New Flat Roll Up Hose & FREE $20 Bonus
> ROLL-A-HOSE!
> REVOLUTIONARY!
> This new garden hose lays completely flat..
> It's just like a hose on a fire truck!
> COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT!
> The Roll-A-Hose can be moved almost anywhere...
> It even stores on it's own wheel!
[ edited by paloma91 on Jul 28, 2002 03:04 AM ]
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dman3
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posted on July 28, 2002 08:50:30 AM new
Well to me it sounds like this person who sold the hoses is having these hoses drop shipped.
what gives me this feeling is the surcharge most dropshippers will charge an extra fee on each order under $100 to cover there extra costs.
now its ok to ship this way but the listing should indicate that shipping can take 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.
now the seller is trying to cover his butt I would send a copyt of the email from the suposed postal worker to hotmail complete with headers im sure they will be very interested.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
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sandraj
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posted on July 28, 2002 09:22:26 AM new
I don't get it? Ms. Layton with the Hotmail address from the US post Office is going to look into 232 hoses lost in shipment according to the email all bidders of this dutch auction got Sat. night. Now I see the Seller started another auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2042098387 Looks like a good deal, how about it?
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kiara
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posted on July 28, 2002 09:31:20 AM new
Bid with confidence as I am a repudable seller!!
repudable? 
[ edited by kiara on Jul 28, 2002 09:33 AM ]
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paloma91
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posted on July 28, 2002 09:40:38 AM new
As far as the email from the suposedly postal employee, you might want to give the us postal service a call 1-800 -888-1811 and ask for their fraud dept. They will probably ask what it is regarding. tell them that you had problems on ebay with a seller who said they sent the items and now you are getting emails from a postal employee via hot mail. (they love this kind of fraud) They should connect you to the fraud dept asap. Once they do and you get ahold of someone, GET THEIR NAME. Explain the situation and forward the postal employee emails directly to that person. That way you have a contact person to deal with in the USPS fraud dept.
I bet this person gets nailed to the wall. Believe me, this will cinch this person so fast.
Please keep us informed as to the outcome.
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sandraj
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posted on July 28, 2002 10:07:06 AM new
Thank you so much for that information. We heard from one of the "Dutch Hose Group" and he is going to wait until August 4th and if the hoses aren't delivered take aution on August 5th.
Now this Ms. Layton hotmail is another issue. I will call the 800 number (thanks again).
I wrote the seller 3 times and finally got this response: Hi it shipped out a week ago, you should have them by now...
I was very nice all three times in my emails. I started writing other bidders when I could not get a response from the seller and the bidders gave me the information that ALL THE HOSES WERTE SHIPPED AND LOST, Eric said he would make good on it. This IS NOT THE MESSAGE I GOT.
I bought 5 hoses and quickly paid $90 for the order so I would get fast shipment. Dad if you are reading this your Fathers Day present is a bit delayed.
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caffeitalia
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posted on July 28, 2002 05:55:52 PM new
If and when you do get your hoses, and if they were actually shipped media mail, then contact all of the other bidders and make sure they turn him in as he also broke federal laws on shipping. I don't mean to put a burden on your shoulders, but you can help others from being victims of this guy. Keep up the good work.
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revvassago
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posted on July 28, 2002 08:12:17 PM new
Notice in their feedback, they admit they are padding their shipping charges to cover auction fees - they used it as a response to several neutrals.
This is against eBay's policy of fee circumvention.
I would report this yahoo to eBay as well.
http://webhelp.ebay.com/cgi-bin/eHNC/query-ebay-rs.tcl?area=questionable&subarea=questionable_violations&rcode=520103751000000&flag1=0&flag2=1&flag3=10&subjecttier1=Questionable+Content+on+eBay&subjecttier2=Listing+Issues&Query=Fee+Circumvention+-+Any+avoidance+of+eBay+Fees+-%3E
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sandraj
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posted on July 30, 2002 12:58:02 PM new
One of the Dutch bidders (out of 49, thank goodness we are keeping each other informed) got this message
yes im waiting for a second shipment to me, this time when i send them out they will have tracking numbers on them. 7/29
People are now writing that their email is being rejected because the Hotmail address mail box is full. What can we expect when the US Postal employee Ms. Layton uses Hotmail to email Ebay bidders? Just to keep you informed. Thanks Folks! Keep cool (92 in Michigan)
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