posted on December 22, 2004 02:17:45 PM
I had inquired about an auction while it was still going. I wanted to know if the seller would ship it via Fed Ex Ground using my account. She agreed. I missed placing a bid on the auction. A few days later I emailed her asking if she would sell the item to me for $20 and still ship it via FE Ground. She agreed, and I sent her payment via Paypal and my Fed Ex account number. She ships the item yesterday, and today I receive it. She shipped it using Fed Ex Express Priority. Here is the thing. I only requested it be shipped via Ground. My original cost would have been about $8. Now it is $83. I emailed her regarding the issue. The items I purchased is worth about $25-35, so I was willing to pay $28 including shipping. I ask her to cover the difference because she made the error. Now she is emailing me back telling me I committed fraud by offering to purchase the item out of auction, something I was not aware was illegal. I simply missed bidding on it before it ended and it wasn't relisted. I emailed her via ebay's system, so there is a record of it, and i'm not worried if I simply didn't know this was wrong for me to do. Is it??? I thought you couldn't do it while the auction was still on. Also, she agreed to my inquiry, so where does her responsibility come in if she is pointing fingers at me for that?
Now she is refusing to reimburse me for her mistake, accusing me of committing fraud, and then laying a guilt trip that she is a single mother with 3 kids, and these are nothing more than a nice gift for a friend, and not baby formula, food, etc.
I paid the $20 via Paypal. She shipped it to me at a rate 10 times higher than what I requested her to ship it at.
My options, file a chargeback with Paypal. Refuse the package from Fed Ex so that it is returned to her and she is billed. I sympathize for her, but at the same time, I have made my share of mistakes which cost me dearly financially, and don't think this is my mistake when she received two emails that clearly stated I wanted these shipped via Ground.
posted on December 22, 2004 03:26:38 PM
This is why I would never ship with another persons account or have someone ship to me with my account. It is your fault for having them use your account they probably do not normaly use Fedex and where prompted by them to ship it Express or made a mistake and filled out the wrong form. You should eat this and learn from it in my opinion.
posted on December 22, 2004 03:34:46 PM
Sorry rustygumbo, I have to agree with toolhound.
I once shipped something to someone using their Fedex account. The counter-person tried to fast-talk me into using their "default shipping for this customer class" or some such mumbo jumbo. If I had not insisted on verifying the charges, I would have shipped a heavy stereo receiver at some priority level that would have cost well more than $100.
I now insist that anyone wanting to ship on their own account make all the arrangements and have a pickup at my place. Nobody seems to take me up on it
posted on December 22, 2004 03:38:37 PM
You should call FedEX and ask them if they can stop the express shipping and switch it to ground. If they can't - I would explain what happen and plead for a refund of the difference.
I did this with DHL and they gave me the credit so maybe Fedex will give you one.
Good luck
posted on December 22, 2004 03:40:14 PM
"It is your fault for having them use your account "
I kinda have to agree. This person probably never used Fedex before in her life, and all of a sudden you want her to ship using them. It was a mistake, certainly. I don't know that "fault" or "responsibility" are easy to pin down on this case. There was no fraud on either side... This whole situation was just an unfortunate accident.
I know I was talking to my mother the other day about maybe dropping UPS and using Fedex next year, and she was AMAZED that Fedex had an inexpensive "ground" option. She thought overnight was all they did. It's probably not that uncommon of a misunderstanding.
You were probably right in letting her know about the mistake, and not unjustified in asking for reimbursement. But I can definitely see why she wouldn't pay you.
If someone insisted I use a strange carrier, and I made a genuine mistake with the unfamiliar shipper somehow, I wouldn't cooperate either.
It's a sucky situation, but I think you're gonna have to call this one an expensive lesson.
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 22, 2004 03:56:48 PM
I've got a call into Fed Ex's billing dept. I think what irritates me though is the fact I was very clear in two emails. She just started making up excuses and blaming me. I did call Fed Ex and tell them that I didn't authorize them to use my account for Overnight. Not until I used those words, "didn't authorize" did Fed Ex jump up and filled out a report. I can understand that a mistake happens. I told the woman Ground twice though. I'm not sure how much clearer it would have to be, except that I mail her a preprinted label, which I will make sure to do next time. I have been attempting to work the Fed Ex side of things, because I would rather keep these than return them. I don't want her to pay either if possible, but I just don't think I should be responsible for her disregard to both of my emails. I clearly explained Fed Ex Ground regulations requiring 2 inches of packing around all objects, shipping it via Fed Ex Ground, where to write the account number.
What about me asking to purchase this outside of ebay after the auction closed? I was only aware that bidders couldn't offer less during an auction. I simply missed the end of the auction and still wanted the items. I've sold plenty of items after the auction closed for the same reason, and never had a problem. If that is against the rules, then I will have to make that change on my shipping side as well and turn away post auction offers.
posted on December 22, 2004 04:11:35 PM
"...outside of ebay after the auction closed?"
I don't THINK it's against any rules to make an offer after the auction ends with no bidders, but if it means no commission from eBay, they're likely to take her side of an argument. I wouldn't worry about it- other than feedback, there isn't much she can do to you.
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 22, 2004 04:13:44 PM
You don't have to turn away post sales offers. Just tell them you will relist, at a good time for both of you, with a buy it now. Then immediately email them the number.
As for the ground thing - I can tell you from my experience with FedEx that if you don't say they will pick the most expensive way to go. Never ask how you want it sent - just go to the highest. So it's really hard to hold her at fault - IMO.
posted on December 22, 2004 05:35:42 PM
Sounds to me like you had made up your mind what to do before you asked the question. One thing this thread will do is make a lot of sellers make sure to never use anyones account to ship anything.
posted on December 22, 2004 06:38:54 PM
Got that kind of thing last week,,,,UPS,sorry, We have our OWN account.....and guess what,,,the shipment has been RETURNED! Headache now EVEN with MY OWN account, Can you JUST imagine with HIS account? to CANADA! A resounding NOPE.
posted on December 22, 2004 07:03:09 PM
Why didn't you give her your Mastercard and Visa account numbers while you were at it? Do you realize that if this person is not honest, she can send express shipments all over the world at your expense? Quit worrying about the $75.00 you will wind up eating, and cancel that account and reopen a new one with a new number. And don't give it out to strangers in the future.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on December 22, 2004 09:09:31 PM
I get requests all of the time where someone wants me to use there own FED EX number. I always give them a big fat HELL NO. I do charge a small amount over actual costs of shipping, and I use that to cover expenses.
One other thing that is also happening is many UPS and Fed ex accounts are being hyjacked by scammers to have items sent to them and the poor suckers that gave out their account number getting stuck with the bill.
In this case rusty, you should have simply let the transaction happen normally. You are fully responsible for the goof up. Learn from it and move on.
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Alive in 2005
posted on December 23, 2004 04:46:27 PM
It should be a lesson learned by all. Don't use some one else account, tell them to issue a pickup or will call or whatever else the shippers want to call it, if you want it that badly.
My fed ex experience was also the same the counter people are after sales and if you are not familiar with their procedures you do not know. further more the sender in this case was not footing the bill so would they really have an interest in how much you were paying for shipping?
posted on December 23, 2004 04:57:41 PM
Quietly win one of her auctions and leave a big fat neg about how she can't differentiate shinola from other substances concerning shipping. And then tell FedEx that your account has been hijacked and you refuse the item. Don't forget to schedule a stop on next summers vacation to pitch a brick through her window. Kick her dog, too.
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The Democrats were rejected by a majority of Americans
posted on December 24, 2004 11:53:32 AM
Parklane- I can always count on you revealing my inner dark side. I have had many thoughts myself regarding those very things. lol.
The best part of all of this is that she has accused me of being a scammer. Ironic. She screws up, she knows she screws up, and now I'm the scammer. Go figure. She reviews my feedback, now approaching 4500 with a 99.2 and she starts that I have 37 negs and that she caught me scamming her. A powerseller with 4500 positives, 6+ years selling on ebay and I'm a scammer. Yeah, and cows fly around the moon on Sundays. A complete moron if you ask me.
Now, we all know that even though I have 4500 positives, she only focuses on 37 negs, which about 34 of them are retaliatories b/c the bidder never paid. Many of you remember my discussion threads about what you sell can determine how irresponsible your bidders are. I sell mostly to younger people. This seller sells antiques. Definately a more mature crowd. But of course, she is stupid enough to make that an issue without ever realizing that it is actually possible for the greatest seller on ebay to have more negs because of their customer base.
My favorite is that she sells antiques, but she struggles to make it to feed her 3 children, and pay for baby formula, etc. and that I should feel sorry for her when she made a mess of this. Temptation to sabotage her auctions is strong. I must use the force against the dark side....
posted on December 24, 2004 02:05:41 PM
Sorry rusty,
But if I were in her shoes, I would think you are a scammer as well. You were in the total wrong in this case. Not her. She used your account. You didn't pre-set up the terms with your shipping company. You must pay. End of story.
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Alive in 2005
posted on December 24, 2004 02:22:34 PM
stone-he did email her TWICE stating how he wanted it shipped,I dont know why she felt she was being scammed. Lets face it there really isnt a clear cut solution-its her fault for mailing it the way she did.Its sucks either way and I feel bad for you Rusty,as I would probably have to eat this one to.
posted on December 24, 2004 02:40:34 PM
I guess the lesson learned is don't prepay someone else's shipping. I wouldn't do it for this exact reason. Even when customers return an item, I tell them exactly how to send it and how much I will reimburse them for it for that class of mail. I wouldn't give them open access to an account though. Sorry, I agree with others, though the mistake was hers, I don't think you have recourse here to get her to pay the difference in shipping. If she had paid for the shipping and wanted you to reimburse her after you stated you wanted it shipped ground, then I think that is a different story. Keep us up to date as to what happens with FedEx though.
You simply don't get it. E-mailing her doesn't mean squat. Rusty didn't set up the shipping with his shipping company. He should have. It got goofed up because he didn't do what was needed to be done. He loses.
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Alive in 2005
