posted on June 8, 2002 04:21:17 AM new
Here's the scoop...I both buy & sell on ebay...I bought a football card for $1.31...Shipping options were $1.50 or a SASE with a toploader...I mailed him a $1 bill and the 31 cents inside the toploader and taped it...I put that inside my SASE, and then mailed it to him in a business size envelope...I just got an email from him...Says he just received payment, but it was 31 cents short...He said there was a hole in the envelope and the coins probably fell out...He said he knew that was a small amount, but considering the "Ebay costs" he wanted me to send him the 31 cents that was missing...I had to read the email 3 times to believe it...I have considered 2 options...(1) Tell him it will cost me a 34 cent stamp and envelope to send 31 cents and to keep the $1 and send me back the toploader in my SASE, and if he cares to reconsider, send me the card along too...or (2) Tell him do to my expense, he should keep the "Ebay Costs" (I estimated at 37 cents) and send me the change in the toploader in my SASE and we'll call it even...I hardly find it possible the coins fell out seeing how it was inside 3 things...Also if there was a hole when he got it, shouldn't it have been stamped damaged by the USPS?, and shouldn't he have questioned the USPS...This is a triffleing matter for sure, but it kind of has my dander up that the guy would send an email like that...I have gotten payments with no SASE when there was to be one and I sent the card anyway with a note letting the guy know, and have also got A SASE and no payment, which I also sent the card..It was a cheap one and I thought it was no big deal and laughed it off...What should I reply to this guy????, would like your feedback...
posted on June 8, 2002 06:03:29 AM new
I received a dollar in an envelope, inside a box. The envelope had a hole in it and was missing 10cents. I figured that we throw that much on the dresser and shrugged it off.
However, he can still turn you in as an NPB even for 31 cents.
posted on June 8, 2002 10:39:08 AM new
We don't have enough information to make a determination of what really happened. So it lays on the buyer who sent cash to be responsible. Send the .31¢ and make sure it is beyond secure, and do not buy from this seller again if you aren't happy with the way he conducts business.
When I send anything except paper in an envelope, I tape up all the edges.
posted on June 8, 2002 11:33:17 AM new
Maybe this seller is working on all low priced items and .31 cents out of a $1.31 sale is a large percentage to give away. Around 24%. I think if he was going to rip you off he would have said he never recieved it at all or that the $1.00 was gone too.
posted on June 8, 2002 06:43:10 PM new
Why were you mailing cash? Next time make sure to use a check. If he don't accept checks, move to the next auction. Lastly, it is just a crappy sports card anyway. That is why there is Bidville.
posted on June 9, 2002 07:26:21 PM new
In all fairness to you, it is generally accepted that, if we put cash in the mail, we do so at our own risk; therefore, if it did not reach its destination, you still owe the seller .31. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. And as someone pointed out, he acknowledges receipt of the dollar bill, which makes him appear to be on the up-and-up.
Tightwad? Hard to say - the .31 could represent most, all or more than his profit on the card.
If you told us what denominations of coins you used, I missed it, but would hope you used 3 dimes and a penny, rather than a heavy quarter, and a heavy nickel.
But regardless, I would like to make a suggestion, if I may: When it is absolutely necessary to mail coins, tape them to a stiff card, or piece of cardboard, then take the envelope to the window at your post office and ask the clerk to hand stamp it. Ohterwise it will probably be run the the machine, and this is where the coins hang up and cause the envelope to tear, etc.
Send your seller 3 dimes and a penny in the above manner, and don't make him feel like a louse about it either.
posted on June 12, 2002 08:32:55 AM new
Many years ago when we sent cash through the mail we used heavy cardboard, cut a hole in the cardboard the size of the coin, put the coin in and used tape across the coin so it won't fall out. Preferably dimes since they should be the same thickness of the cardboard and with the tape across it you can't feel the coin. I got cash all the way from Spain with no problems.
posted on June 13, 2002 09:21:43 AM new
My way of thinking has always been to "pick your battles wisely"...frankly, this is not worth the stress and hassle. Just mail the .31 cents and be done with it.
posted on June 13, 2002 11:50:18 AM new
I agree with gc2 [b]It is generally accepted that, if we put cash in the mail, we do so at our own risk
Tightwad? Hard to say - the .31 could represent most, all or more than his profit on the card.[/b]
I had one send a substantial amount of money through the mail and it was lost. They had to resend it by money order.
I suppose if you had sent a money order or check in the first place you would have spent the same amount of money (31cents plus 34cents to send the lost money).
I require the buyers of mine to send the amount due. Anything other than the balance, I won't ship.
Some buyers are tightwads, too. I have had buyers hagle over 50cents for the actual shipping. Go figure.
Personally, if I received a payment with "lost" money I would require the buyer to send the "lost" money 31cents or 50cents. That is their responsibility to ship their payment properly and in turn, my responsibility is to ship the widget properly. It works both ways. I wonder how many buyers would neg a seller if the widget was shipping in the same manner.
[ edited by clarksville on Jun 13, 2002 12:06 PM ]
