The EBay thread.

[Sheldonrs]

I was on a huge gem stones kick for a while. I gave them as gifts. eBay has 800 carat emeralds (extremely poor quality but pretty) for under $20.00. :-)

[glatt]

I just posted another one. I re-taught myself some basic HTML to post better and more pictures.

[fargon]

I would use that camera all the time, if I could easily get film for it.

[glatt]

You can order film online very easily and send it out for processing with pre-paid mailers.

Here's another auction I just posted.

[sexobon]

I still have a Speedlight SB-15. It's been the filler flash and backup to the more powerful Vivitar 292 on my F2A as well as the primary flash on my FTN when I was working two cameras. The SB-15 is a really nice unit.

[glatt]

I was a little sad putting this stuff up for auction. It's a bunch of really nice equipment. Too bad film is such a hassle and expense. But putting it up for auction was the first time I touched it in a decade.

[glatt]

And here's one last one for today. My FIL's 35mm camera. It's nice, but not worth much now. Maybe the flash will generate some interest.

[glatt]

I'm monopolizing this thread. Sorry.

I have a question.

I sent the blu-ray player with tracking, but no signature required.

It was delivered on Friday afternoon. The buyer sent me a message this evening claiming he didn't get it.

What happens in this situation? Will ebay make me give the money back?

[Undertoad]

That, I don't know. I've never been the one taking care of shipping and everything that happens after the listing.

[sexobon]

The buyer can't seek restitution from the carrier you chose and employed. The buyer can only seek restitution from you (unless it was covered by the eBay protection plan).

Besides, the buyer needs that money so he can order pizzas to eat while watching movies on his new Blu-ray player that he didn't have to sign for.

[glatt]

I've bought tons of stuff on eBay and never had to sign for any of it. Are you supposed to require a signature?

[sexobon]

For any purpose, including eBay sales, it depends on the value of the item, the ability of the carrier to prove (without getting a signature) that they not only delivered it; but, to the right address and how much you can afford to lose for the sake of not inconveniencing yourself; or, your customers with that requirement.

In this kind of situation, buyers can use what sellers call "feedback extortion" to make you act quickly, before you can even contact the carrier and coordinate with eBay, to give a refund or else they'll leave negative feedback and ruin your eBay rating. EBay rules prohibit sellers from leaving negative feedback on buyers so that's no deterrent. Once they leave negative feedback, the onus is on you to prove that they actually got the item in order to get that negative feedback expunged.

Hopefully this buyer isn't corrupt, demanding, or suspicious of you and will give you time to investigate and it will all work out. You may want to start requiring signatures on higher dollar value items so you don't have to sacrifice them to save your ratings and fight with carriers for restitution.

[glatt]

Buyer was apparently out of town for the holiday weekend. On Sunday, he checked the tracking of the package to see when it would arrive, and saw it was left at his door Friday afternoon. He called his son, who went over there, and there was no package. The Post Office delivered it 5 days faster than they said they would.

I care about my 100% feedback, but I'm not sure I care to the tune of $280.

I wonder what the right thing to do is? I held up my end of the transaction, but the buyer has every right to be unhappy. Should I offer to split the loss with him? Give him a full refund, even though I didn't do anything wrong? Take the money and run?

[classicman]

That sux. Damn I dislike some people.

[Gravdigr]

I'd say the really, really, proper thing would be to give the dude his money back, IF you think he's being straight with you.

But, like you, I'm not sure about $280 worth of proper. Offer to go halfsies, if he gets too shitty about it, tell him to take a hike and talk to his neighbors.

You do have reasonable proof it was delivered, after all.