As usual, eBay woes

[valis2]

Every time I get a message from an eBay member I break out in hives, I tell you.

(This does make me feel doomy about making eBay so important in my life...)

Long story short--this person feels that I didn't include the "book" with the game. I immediately replied, "Did you check the packaging?" and I also asked them which was missing--the book or the map or both.

Listen, I've learned that a lot of people do not completely inspect the box. I know that sounds patronizing and evil to ask that question, but it's true.

I didn't hear anything back for a day and a half, so I emailed again, asking if they had found the book or map.

I received a reply finally (this morning) that the book was missing (but they did not clarify whether the map was missing (I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS (though I recognize the irony in that statement))) and a bit of not-quite-strong language wanting a refund or at the very least a refund for the book part. (Why does it matter if the map was missing? Well, they were together. So if only one is missing, that's strange. If both were missing, well, then, I might have shipped them to somebody else, though I doubt it highly.)

So I responded by refunding the entire purchase price (but not the shipping) and I said:

Normally I would wait for one more email just to be certain that the book or map is not there before I send out a refund; I've had people overlook things before only to find them later (multiple times, actually).

However, you are clearly upset about this issue, so I've just processed the refund (but not the shipping charges).

Thanks and have a nice day!

What's your opinion, flist? Was I too nasty? patronizing?

Comments

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I still ship overseas--but I don't advertise it. Every time I think, yeah, I should open it up to overseas buyers, I think, ARE YOU CRAZY?!

I mean, 95% of the transactions are smooth and easy, but those 5% that are left...*shudders*

Though I have thought about opening it to Canadian customers.

More woes

[ook.livejournal.com]

The problem with out-of-country transactions is that you have to figure out the postage and tell them BEFORE they bid on it. Which usually means a trip to the post office. Unless you're shipping something small and light. My items tend to be larger and heavier. I once had to charge some guy $16 to ship a poster to Canada (uninsured -- insured added like $7 to the shipping). I mailed the poster, emailed the guy when he might expect it, and later got a whiney email from him "Where's my poster?" The poster arrived a few days later (at the end of the shipping period I'd told him about in my email) but he forced ME make an unnecessary trip down to the PO to inquire about a tracing form for his stupid poster. Meh.

Ugh. I once charged some lady in Japan $35 to ship an old Evian water bottle. She paid it but I still felt badly about it. :/

Re: More woes

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have used the shipping calculator, but boy, does it have limitations! I've lost my shirt on a couple packages. But then again, for most of them, I come within a dollar or two.

I've definitely had my share of "Where is it?!" Canadian problems. I think sometimes it gets mired in Customs--it seems to take a long time--weeks, in some cases. :(