Three deals gone bad in one month - lessons in honesty & shipping.
So I've had a rough collecting month. I've had two trades on here and one ebay purchase end up poorly, and all because the people I've dealt with either weren't up front on condition and/or failed to pack things properly when shipping them to me. Here are the cases:
NA trade #1) Item shows up packed in, not a box, but a cut up Pepsi 24-pack box taped around my item. No padding whatsoever. It's damaged (obviously), and additionally it's in rougher shape than I was led to believe (even with pics). I have to PM the individual to figure out how to resolve this. We agree on an updated price, and he refunds me part of the money I paid over what was traded to him. I've sold to this person a couple times prior, and when I send stuff, everything has been very accurately described and packed extremely well, so I was slightly peeved at the lack of reciprocation. We hugged and made up, but it was a situation that could've been avoided with a little more honesty and care.
eBay purchase) I have a thread I started about this, and once my refund for the game hits, I'll be posting his name in the HoS for being a time waster, at the very least, as he is/was a collector on other boards. I purchased a sealed game listed as 100% Mint, and the pictures appeared to match the description fairly accurately. I also had it on good authority that this guy's stuff is just as good as he says it is (and no ill will towards the friend that referred me, he got screwed harder than I did here). The auction states the seller only ships in mailers, and since mine is a cardboard boxed item, I decide to ask for the price on a box to ship it in. After agreeing to an exorbitant price (which apparently was a complete rip-off, but that's a story for another thread), I get him to ship it to me boxed and well-padded in bubble wrap. The game arrives a week later, and the "box" I overpaid for is barely thicker than the game, and "well-padded" to this guy apparently means a single layer of bubble-wrap on top and bottom, and a few small bits rolled around the edges. The game is dinged up, but also has flaws on it that are clearly not from shipping (scratches on the box, dirty seal, dirt on the inside of it?!). I have to go through an ebay claim, and I'm out $40 to get my damn refund because I have to return it with tracking to Europe, which is only possible with Express Mail.
NA trade #2) I have a game a WTB thread really wants, and so I PM the seller to try to work out a deal. With a little trouble agreeing on a price, I take a look at their FS/FT thread and see a game in about the right price range to make it affordable for the buyer, and agree to cash + trade. The game shows up today, and it's in a box that's barely thicker than the game itself. I open it up, and although it's in bubble-wrap, because the box was too small, the game looks like its the dude punched it with his fist on the front and back of the box before shipping it out to me. I recheck his old sale thread, and verify the game wasn't supposed to look this way. Again, this is a buyer that I've sold to multiple times, and as far as I know I have always packed things extremely well to send them to this person. I'm still awaiting a resolution on this problem, but again it's something that could've easily been avoided with more care.
I'm not here to point fingers at the two NA members who I've dealt with above, because they're good guys and I'll probably have more dealings with them in future. What I'd like to find out is if I'm one of the few collectors on here who packs things for other people like I'd like to them to arrive for me? Am I wasting my time and money on extra padding and occasionally buying nice shipping boxes for things, and making sure boxes are really well taped and secure? I mean, I really try to take pride in the way I send stuff to people, because it's often the only way I'm ever going to physically "meet" any of these people I deal with, and while we're only an online forum, I'd like to leave a decent enough impression.
If you've read all of this, thanks for endulging my rant. I've had this happen quite a few times in the past, but 3 in a month, all from collectors, and I had to just stop and say "What the hell?".
NA trade #1) Item shows up packed in, not a box, but a cut up Pepsi 24-pack box taped around my item. No padding whatsoever. It's damaged (obviously), and additionally it's in rougher shape than I was led to believe (even with pics). I have to PM the individual to figure out how to resolve this. We agree on an updated price, and he refunds me part of the money I paid over what was traded to him. I've sold to this person a couple times prior, and when I send stuff, everything has been very accurately described and packed extremely well, so I was slightly peeved at the lack of reciprocation. We hugged and made up, but it was a situation that could've been avoided with a little more honesty and care.
eBay purchase) I have a thread I started about this, and once my refund for the game hits, I'll be posting his name in the HoS for being a time waster, at the very least, as he is/was a collector on other boards. I purchased a sealed game listed as 100% Mint, and the pictures appeared to match the description fairly accurately. I also had it on good authority that this guy's stuff is just as good as he says it is (and no ill will towards the friend that referred me, he got screwed harder than I did here). The auction states the seller only ships in mailers, and since mine is a cardboard boxed item, I decide to ask for the price on a box to ship it in. After agreeing to an exorbitant price (which apparently was a complete rip-off, but that's a story for another thread), I get him to ship it to me boxed and well-padded in bubble wrap. The game arrives a week later, and the "box" I overpaid for is barely thicker than the game, and "well-padded" to this guy apparently means a single layer of bubble-wrap on top and bottom, and a few small bits rolled around the edges. The game is dinged up, but also has flaws on it that are clearly not from shipping (scratches on the box, dirty seal, dirt on the inside of it?!). I have to go through an ebay claim, and I'm out $40 to get my damn refund because I have to return it with tracking to Europe, which is only possible with Express Mail.
NA trade #2) I have a game a WTB thread really wants, and so I PM the seller to try to work out a deal. With a little trouble agreeing on a price, I take a look at their FS/FT thread and see a game in about the right price range to make it affordable for the buyer, and agree to cash + trade. The game shows up today, and it's in a box that's barely thicker than the game itself. I open it up, and although it's in bubble-wrap, because the box was too small, the game looks like its the dude punched it with his fist on the front and back of the box before shipping it out to me. I recheck his old sale thread, and verify the game wasn't supposed to look this way. Again, this is a buyer that I've sold to multiple times, and as far as I know I have always packed things extremely well to send them to this person. I'm still awaiting a resolution on this problem, but again it's something that could've easily been avoided with more care.
I'm not here to point fingers at the two NA members who I've dealt with above, because they're good guys and I'll probably have more dealings with them in future. What I'd like to find out is if I'm one of the few collectors on here who packs things for other people like I'd like to them to arrive for me? Am I wasting my time and money on extra padding and occasionally buying nice shipping boxes for things, and making sure boxes are really well taped and secure? I mean, I really try to take pride in the way I send stuff to people, because it's often the only way I'm ever going to physically "meet" any of these people I deal with, and while we're only an online forum, I'd like to leave a decent enough impression.
If you've read all of this, thanks for endulging my rant. I've had this happen quite a few times in the past, but 3 in a month, all from collectors, and I had to just stop and say "What the hell?".
Comments
Hopefully things get resolved quickly and easily!
That sucks Jon. It's definately an everyday problem I deal with (I opened a beat up sealed NES game stuffed in a bubble mailer an hour ago
). This is the message I send EVERY single person I buy from regardless of reputation:
Hi. Please package in a sturdy box to avoid damage in shipping. The condition of the games box is very important to me. Please, no padded envelopes. Thank you very much and have a great week,
Even with this message, I still get at least one thing damaged in shipping every week. Personally, when shipping I would much rather pay an extra $1 or 2 to ensure my buyers get the goods unharmed rather than chance the Mail system.
Some people just suck ass at Ebay.
I was a little worried I didnt pack the game I sent you good enough, I hope it was ok.
I will say that Jon does pack like a champ. I got a single nes cart from him and I told him he could just wrap paper around it and send it if he felt like it.
Well he sent me it in a free cart protector, bubble wrapped, in a sturdy box. A crazy amount of security when I expressed my lack of concern.
In summation, Jon rules and it sucks his items got hurt
Am I wasting my time and money on extra padding and occasionally buying nice shipping boxes for things, and making sure boxes are really well taped and secure?
You forgot to add : and making sure that shipments to Canada are fully insured so buyer get knocked with 20%+ custom taxes?
Thanks guys for the nice words, especially James (I know getting beat up game boxes isn't quite so troubling as losing a relative). The sealed SE looks fine
Sweet ,
You forgot to add : and making sure that shipments to Canada are fully insured so buyer get knocked with 20%+ custom taxes?
Heh, touche. Although I did apologize for my ignorance, and that was my first time ever shipping to Canada oh so long ago, lol. But if I'm not mistaken, it arrived very nicely packed?
You forgot to add : and making sure that shipments to Canada are fully insured so buyer get knocked with 20%+ custom taxes?
Heh, touche. Although I did apologize for my ignorance, and that was my first time ever shipping to Canada oh so long ago, lol. But if I'm not mistaken, it arrived very nicely packed?
Yeah, sure! No complain here, I've made some decent profit out of your stuff!
I hate, hate, hate when I get games packed in cut up cereal boxes. What kind of shit-head does that?
I confess, however I only use the fortified with iron kind of cereal boxes. Does that count?
I hate, hate, hate when I get games packed in cut up cereal boxes. What kind of shit-head does that?
Hey I don't appreciate you talking about me like that
Just today I got a package in with the dreaded USPS received in damaged condition tape all over it. It sucks. I hat when people over package sometimes you can take it to far!
I also just received a lot off of eBay packed in a Bud Light box. Bad packing material, but I thought it was funny when it showed up.
Sorry your trades haven't been working out the way they should! I admit that I used to send CIBs in bubble mailers like 3-4 years ago, but I know better now; I feel like a real bozo when I think about it now.
as far as packaging.. if you're the type of person who wants a perfect box or are worried about loose carts getting scratched, you should really contact the seller before buying and confirm that they will ship it according to your specifications.
at least you got your stuff.. some douche still owes me a Chip and Dale and a few other games
as far as packaging.. if you're really the type of person who wants a perfect box (something the average person doesn't give 2 shits about) you should really contact the seller before buying and confirm that they will ship it according to your specifications
I believe he said he did, and the sellers still sent them this way.
at least you got your stuff.. some douche still owes me a Chip and Dale and a few other games
as far as packaging.. if you're really the type of person who wants a perfect box (something the average person doesn't give 2 shits about) you should really contact the seller before buying and confirm that they will ship it according to your specifications
I believe he said he did, and the sellers still sent them this way.
i thought he only asked one person (the ebay seller).. and from what I could tell, the seller did do everything he asked (box, bubble wrap), but it still wasn't good enough? to me, an average non-collector (like most of the people you will buy from), it sounds really anal, but i don't know all the circumstances
but my point was mostly this: contact the seller beforehand and suss out if they are the type of person who understands what it is to be a collector. if they say they only send in envelopes, and then want to charge an arm and a leg for anything else, they obviously arent someone who cares about collectors, they're just trying to dump off their games.
i dunno.. i'm not a collector so i don't really care about minor flaws. These games have survived over 2 decades of kids thrashing them, so i'm not too worried about what the mailman might do to them in a few days. obviously if you're biding on a "MINT PERFECT CONDITION NEW IN BOX" it better be mint when it gets to your house.. but otherwise.. meh.. just put it on the shelf next to all the other games, no one will know besides you that the warning label on the back of the cart is slightly worn
I am alot like you Nesguy, I've been burnt so many times, my ass is still on fire. I've received sealed games in paper envelopes, no padding, cibs in envelopes that were basically smashed to the cart sides bent out. All this from the Ediot-bay though, thankfully no one from here yet.
It's gotten to the point where I don't send them payment until they tell me: 1, no tears in a sealed game. 2, it will be shipped in a sturdy box w/ extra padding. I will pay extra for shipping,but if they don't talk back and assure me, me no pay pay. I used to pay instantly. That's when they tell you "DON'T WORRY I USED TO WORK FOR FED EX"... arives in paper envelope padded in suran wrap. no kidding.
For sales myself, I don't care if I'm sending a pos cib, its getting the full treatment, when I send it, it arrives in the same condition it left, even if it's only worth $2 or I got it for free, it could be their prize possesion.
I only send cheap, cart only's, in bubble envelopes, you are over the top, if you do that with all your carts dude.
Also, quick tip, If you are buying your boxes somewhere, just use the priority boxes, free via the USPS, and wrap them in a brown paper bag from the grocery store, usually they are bullet proof.
at least you got your stuff.. some douche still owes me a Chip and Dale and a few other games
as far as packaging.. if you're really the type of person who wants a perfect box (something the average person doesn't give 2 shits about) you should really contact the seller before buying and confirm that they will ship it according to your specifications
I believe he said he did, and the sellers still sent them this way.
i thought he only asked one person (the ebay seller).. and from what I could tell, the seller did do everything he asked (box, bubble wrap), but it still wasn't good enough? to me, an average non-collector (like most of the people you will buy from), it sounds really anal, but i don't know all the circumstances
but my point was mostly this: contact the seller beforehand and suss out if they are the type of person who understands what it is to be a collector. if they say they only send in envelopes, and then want to charge an arm and a leg for anything else, they obviously arent someone who cares about collectors, they're just trying to dump off their games.
i dunno.. i'm not a collector so i don't really care about minor flaws. These games have survived over 2 decades of kids thrashing them, so i'm not too worried about what the mailman might do to them in a few days. obviously if you're biding on a "MINT PERFECT CONDITION NEW IN BOX" it better be mint when it gets to your house.. but otherwise.. meh.. just put it on the shelf next to all the other games, no one will know besides you that the warning label on the back of the cart is slightly worn
Even if your not a collector, if you take a picture of something your selling or describe it, the least you can do as a seller is package it in a way that insures that it arrives to the buyers house in the same condition it left the sellers house it. even if you don't talk to the seller about packaging that should be a given.
i always pack the way i would like to receive something.
I got a bunch of N64 stuff in a box that where too big and without padding from some guy on Egay.
It arrived with a big hole in the box and stuff falling out of it....