Ebay item damaged in transit

[RunnerDuck]

Wondering if anyone has delt with this?

I bought an item off ebay (OLD style plan city parking garage) and it arrived damaged. The problem is - I am 100% sure the damage is due to how it was packaged. The elevator shaft was attached to the base of the garage by two screws. The shaft ripped off of the base of the garage in transit. The elevator car itself also split open in the process. I can glue the elevator back together and I am pretty confident that will hold. The base of the shaft I am less sure of (since screws will go through the fault line) and think I will have to have a new piece made (which is possible, if I can find the right person with the right tools) (This is the OLD style of garage with a threaded dowel to raise and lower the elevator, not the new style that breaks all the time - hence why it would be worth the aggrivation and hence why I can't just call plan for parts...)

Anyway. I emailed the seller and asked if they would consider a partial refund due to the breakage - and they want me to file a claim with the post office.

The box was not damaged at all. I do not think the post office is at all to blame. I think the seller is to blame. She says wait until she talks to her husband and that it cost a lot to insure the package. Well, that's fine... but insurance is no substitute for packaging an item correctly. And what will the post office do anyway??? I have never had to file a claim.

I know worst case scenerio I can fix the toy and leave negative feed back but - has anyone ever dealt with an ebay seller who packaged poorly and then wanted you to file a claim?? I don't feel right filing a claim. This would not have happened had the shaft been removed from the base. (It's a matter of two screws, it's not a hard process and would have saved so much trouble now!)

[ett]

Was there insurance purchased w/the shipping? If there isn't, there isn't any claim to file with the PO. It's only a couple of dollars to insure the package for lower amounts, but you can't do it after the fact so I'm not sure what the seller is talking about. I don't know how ebay works but usually when I sell stuff online, unless the buyer purchases insurance, I am no longer responsible for the package after I ship it. And I believe that's how most online sellers work. How was the item packed that makes you to believe it was poor packaging?

[KrisM]

Insurance isn't that expensive.

The seller is responsible until you get it, regardless of whether insurance is purchased or not. It's ebay rule because it is the Federal rule . You bought a garage in one piece. The seller needs to get you a garage in 1 piece.

You can file with paypal as item not as described, since you didn't purchase a broken garage.

[m448]

Originally Posted by KrisM

Insurance isn't that expensive.

The seller is responsible until you get it, regardless of whether insurance is purchased or not. It's ebay rule because it is the Federal rule . You bought a garage in one piece. The seller needs to get you a garage in 1 piece.

You can file with paypal as item not as described, since you didn't purchase a broken garage.

This because contrary to popular belief insurance is for the seller not the buyer (no matter what people put in their listings about it being option - geniuses).

[RunnerDuck]

It was insured up to $100.

This is similar to the item (only this one has a string and pulley, mine has a dowel inside the shaft):

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models...-153829341.htm

Rather than remove the elevator shaft from the base, it was shipped attached to the base - the other levels were removed, though - so there was a large elevator shaft sticking off a wooden platform attached by two screws. With no support to either side - it ripped off the base along the line between the screws.

It should have been removed for shipment and it's easy enough to do - there was no good reason not to.

I have already glued stuff back together but I did take pics of it when it arrived so I have pics of the damage. But I also smashed the box and stuck it in a bag - there was NO damage to the outer package.

What happens if I file a claim with the post office?? Do they take the item? Do I get it back?

I asked her for a partial refund - say $20 - because I was expecting an item in used but working condition.

eta - I was also under the impression insurance wasn't that expensive - but more to the point - I don't think the post office is at fault! It shouldn't have been shipped with those pieces attached.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by RunnerDuck

It was insured up to $100.

This is similar to the item (only this one has a string and pulley, mine has a dowel inside the shaft):

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models...-153829341.htm

Rather than remove the elevator shaft from the base, it was shipped attached to the base - the other levels were removed, though - so there was a large elevator shaft sticking off a wooden platform attached by two screws. With no support to either side - it ripped off the base along the line between the screws.

It should have been removed for shipment and it's easy enough to do - there was no good reason not to.

I have already glued stuff back together but I did take pics of it when it arrived so I have pics of the damage. But I also smashed the box and stuck it in a bag - there was NO damage to the outer package.

What happens if I file a claim with the post office?? Do they take the item? Do I get it back?

I asked her for a partial refund - say $20 - because I was expecting an item in used but working condition.

By fixing it, you might have an issue. You have accept it as yours in that condition. I've never experienced this personally, but I've read about that in the ebay Answer Center.

To file a claim, you need to take the packaging and the item as received to your post office. The seller should have told you that right away so you didn't dispose of them. Again, I don't know what will happen now.

Good luck!

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by m448

This because contrary to popular belief insurance is for the seller not the buyer (no matter what people put in their listings about it being option - geniuses).

Yep. And ebay took away making it optional during listing, too.

[m448]

Yes the post office will take the item IF they pay. Honestly they'll have better luck squeezing blood from a turnip. UPS or Fedex? They will after a while but the post office won't.

[RunnerDuck]

Hmmmm... the thing is when I started to fix it it never occurred to me to get the post office involved. It was so obviously not packaged in the best way. I took pics for proof and then set about gluing. I figure I don't really want to RETURN it since with work I think it can be fixed - the point is just I shouldn't HAVE to fix it.

Like I said worst case scenerio is, I leave negative feedback.

[m448]

The solution would be for the seller to issue you a partial credit. But whether they will or require you to ship it back for a full credit? That's their call.