Shipping etiquette

[brianrhoff]

Hello friends!!

I have a bit of a situation on my hands and I wanted to get some opinions.

I've been lusting after a very specific reference for quite some time. It's not very common so when it comes up for sale I always seriously consider it. The stars seems to have aligned last week when the watch I was seeking out was available and I was in a good place financially to pull the trigger. This was a Friday.

We exchanged payment information and I send full payment + $100 for fedex next day shipping via paypal. Hoping to have the watch dropped in the mail that day for a next day (Saturday) delivery.

The seller, who I will not be naming here. Was unable to drop it in the mail that Friday. He assured me he'd be dropping it off first thing Saturday morning...meaning I would not get my precious watch until Monday morning. At this point I look in the mirror and say to myself that I'm a grown man and I will be patient. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Saturday afternoon I get a text with USPS tracking information (not fedex) for a Monday delivery by 8 PM (not first delivery). At this point I'm just happy to have the watch on the way. I spend the rest of the weekend with my family and at the omega boutique trying on references similar to mine also pre-ordering the adjustable deployment clasp so it can be fitted and installed on my watch when it arrives on Monday.

Monday comes and goes. No update from USPS at all. The tracking information has it just sitting right where it was dropped off. This is the point where I ask for a picture of the shipping receipt so I can try to dig in a bit more and get a realistic idea on where my watch is and when it will get to me.

The seller sends over the receipt and I see that he spent $39.00 on shipping.

I told him that I was not happy to see that shipping was $61 dollars less than what he quoted me. I was told that "the box and bubble wrap isn't free".
I can't help to think that if my $100 was spent on shipping on a faster service or a different carrier I wouldn't be in this situation.

Is this acceptable practice? Should we not, as a community, be honest with each other? Was my $61 worth it to this guy? Should I ask him for that money back?

Anyway...It's now Wednesday and I don't have my watch. Tracking is saying that it's still sitting at the post office where it was dropped off. I've opened a case with USPS but they need 2-3 business days to get back to me. Wish me luck.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by brianrhoff

Is this acceptable practice? Should we not, as a community, be honest with each other? Was my $61 worth it to this guy? Should I ask him for that money back?

Not if he promised Fedex next day air. That's the part where he violated the terms of your agreement. In terms of cost, he never said $100 represented actual shipping cost, but I think it's a reasonable expectation on your part.

The worst may be yet to come -- because a genuine seller probably wouldn't sully a deal over $61

[imperio]

Originally Posted by brianrhoff

Hello friends!!

I have a bit of a situation on my hands and I wanted to get some opinions.

I've been lusting after a very specific reference for quite some time. It's not very common so when it comes up for sale I always seriously consider it. The stars seems to have aligned last week when the watch I was seeking out was available and I was in a good place financially to pull the trigger. This was a Friday.

We exchanged payment information and I send full payment + $100 for fedex next day shipping via paypal. Hoping to have the watch dropped in the mail that day for a next day (Saturday) delivery.

The seller, who I will not be naming here. Was unable to drop it in the mail that Friday. He assured me he'd be dropping it off first thing Saturday morning...meaning I would not get my precious watch until Monday morning. At this point I look in the mirror and say to myself that I'm a grown man and I will be patient. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Saturday afternoon I get a text with USPS tracking information (not fedex) for a Monday delivery by 8 PM (not first delivery). At this point I'm just happy to have the watch on the way. I spend the rest of the weekend with my family and at the omega boutique trying on references similar to mine also pre-ordering the adjustable deployment clasp so it can be fitted and installed on my watch when it arrives on Monday.

Monday comes and goes. No update from USPS at all. The tracking information has it just sitting right where it was dropped off. This is the point where I ask for a picture of the shipping receipt so I can try to dig in a bit more and get a realistic idea on where my watch is and when it will get to me.

The seller sends over the receipt and I see that he spent $39.00 on shipping.

I told him that I was not happy to see that shipping was $61 dollars less than what he quoted me. I was told that "the box and bubble wrap isn't free".
I can't help to think that if my $100 was spent on shipping on a faster service or a different carrier I wouldn't be in this situation.

Is this acceptable practice? Should we not, as a community, be honest with each other? Was my $61 worth it to this guy? Should I ask him for that money back?

Anyway...It's now Wednesday and I don't have my watch. Tracking is saying that it's still sitting at the post office where it was dropped off. I've opened a case with USPS but they need 2-3 business days to get back to me. Wish me luck.

Unacceptable. Money aside, if next-day shipping was agreed upon then that is what should have been used, and not the cheapest and slowest available option.

[Etschell]

this is why i use trusted sellers. they are pros and most dont nickle and dime with shipping costs.

[ashbaug2]

I sell things on eBay quite a bit, and I never include the cost of a box or bubble wrap in the shipping charges. C'mon! And especially not for almost twice the cost of the actual shipping charge! This thing had better show up in a box the size of a VW Bug completely filled with bubble wrap....

But in all seriousness, like previously replied, it's not acceptable if overnight FedEx shipping was negotiated. Who got the quote for the overnight shipping? You, or him? If it was him, I would demand a refund for the entire cost of shipping, as the pre-negotiated terms were not met; if it was you, I would demand a refund for the rest of the shipping not spent ($61).

Either way, bad business practice on his end, and if it's through the forums, I would post a comment naming him, but make sure you have the watch first. The fact that you have not received it still is somewhat worrisome. The initial text may have been simply showing that a label was created; unless the tracking shows that it was scanned in at a USPS location (not dropped off at a UPS Store...), I would be wary of it even being shipped yet...

Good luck with this. The only saving grace is that it's through Paypal, so you are covered in the event this turns south...

EDIT: To clarify, I've never bought or sold anything on a forum, just eBay.

[subtona]

First thing first.
let us know you received the watch and it is as described.

As far as the shipping costs, I would offer (if it were my sale) and expect a full refund of the $100 for the miscommunication by the seller... and I would be extremely unpleased if I had to ask twice.


Ps when shipping a watch, USPS is the stuff nightmares are made of.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by subtona

First thing first.
let us know you received the watch and it is as described.

As far as the shipping costs, I would offer (if it were my sale) and expect a full refund of the $100 for the miscommunication by the seller... and I would be extremely unpleased if I had to ask twice.


Ps when shipping a watch, USPS is the stuff nightmares are made of.

not if it is registered mail, you can insure it for up to 50k

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Etschell

not if it is registered mail, you can insure it for up to 50k

Dealing with insurance is the nightmare I was referencing.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by subtona

Dealing with insurance is the nightmare I was referencing.

perhaps. chances are slim either way that youll need it. plus if you insure your watches outside of usps it is of less concern.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Etschell

perhaps. chances are slim either way that youll need it. plus if you insure your watches outside of usps it is of less concern.

I guess I’m a lottery winner...I needed it.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by subtona

I guess I’m a lottery winner...I needed it.

well let's hope you didnt waste your lottery luck on that.

any shipping insurance carrier is going to be a pain in the you know what. none of them ever want to pay.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by Etschell

well let's hope you didnt waste your lottery luck on that.



any shipping insurance carrier is going to be a pain in the you know what. none of them ever want to pay.

Any insurance carrier not just shipping

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Etschell

well let's hope you didnt waste your lottery luck on that.

any shipping insurance carrier is going to be a pain in the you know what. none of them ever want to pay.

Lucky enough to enjoy a few watches and share company on the forum for leisure.

Hope the OP receives his watch as described and all he has to deal with is a discrepancy of $100 more or less.


Ps my good luck has saved my butt from being extinguished too many times to count...can’t ask for anything more.

[brianrhoff]

Thanks for all the replies and support. I have attached a picture of the receipt. I just noticed that he actually bought bubble wrap as part of the purchase. LOL.

Anyway...the shipping information has been updated since the original post and is now in my state so it's on the way.

I have asked for my shipping money back. He told me that he feels like I owe him money for my "harassing" him.

I'm willing to open up a paypal dispute over it. I hope he just refunds my shipping and it ends there.

Stay tuned for more! and of course....pics of this baby on my wrist!!!

(I'm too jr on the forum to post links but I have a shot of the bubble wrap on the receipt. You'll just have to take my word for it)

[Time4aRolex]

Couple of things. Registered mail takes for ever. Stuff moves on a fixed cadence. Rarely moves on weekends. Took 6 days for my last watch to move from San Diego to New Hampshire. There was a long time that it showed not moving.

Does the tracking number show that the watch is in USPS possession? If so you are good relative to your insurance as long as the shipper declared proper value.

Lastly, Shipping was mis represented to you. I don’t think registered overnight is actually available. However USPS is not Fed Ex. $100 to ship a 1 or 2 lb box in the only makes sense if it is Fed Ex overnight or UPS red. The idea that a box or boxes and bubble wrap costs $61 is laughable. He did not do what he committed to. The guy owes you a clear explanation and some bucks.

Good luck as you get this resolved.

[GB-man]

If this is a random joe then

A I’d be worries he’s sending a box or rocks

Or

B He probably does not have a parcel pro account to ship fully insured overnight.

If this is a regular seller and you specifically paid for overnight then I’d be extremely annoyed. Did you beat him down on price really bad? He clearly is either scamming you and trying to buy time or more likely just wanted to save 60 bucks and had no other means of insuring it.

I always ship fedex priority overnight by 1030 AM and fully insured. I also buy boxes if the watch isn’t an ideal fit for a flat rate box. These are high dollar items the least you can do it package them right.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by GB-man

If this is a random joe then



A I’d be worries he’s sending a box or rocks



Or



B He probably does not have a parcel pro account to ship fully insured overnight.



If this is a regular seller and you specifically paid for overnight then I’d be extremely annoyed. Did you beat him down on price really bad? He clearly is either scamming you and trying to buy time or more likely just wanted to save 60 bucks and had no other means of insuring it.



I always ship fedex priority overnight by 1030 AM and fully insured. I also buy boxes if the watch isn’t an ideal fit for a flat rate box. These are high dollar items the least you can do it package them right.

agreed on all points

[MinMay]

1) The seller is a jerk. Can you reveal his identity so I can avoid him?

2) You paid and both agreed with next day air for Fed Ex. And seller used USPS First Class so he can save on shipping. Seller is wrong there.

3) I would let it go with the shipping cost and reveal the seller identity. Seriously... I wouldn't want to deal with him.

4) You got lucky...he could have scammed you. Luckily, he ended up being a jerk and not a scammer.

[tudorbaja27]

Harassing him?
Name him. Get your watch safe and sound. Use TS from now on.
Also - he owes you $61 in my book.

[bdex75]

Asshat seller if this is all the facts. I would want at least some refund for the lack of overnight shipping.

I bought a very large and heavy Gerstner toolbox that had to be shipped half way across the US. The seller promised FedEx. The seller took the toolbox to FedEx store and had them box and ship in. When it was all done I had a 3' x 3' x 24" FedEx box show up with enough bubble wrap and peanuts in it to secure my AD's annual Rolex shipment. $71 with $1000 worth of insurance on it. And that included the overpriced FedEx supplies.

[Burlington]

If you had pre agreed and paid for a specific method of shipping, with a specific carrier, then the fully reasonable expectation is this should be met.

[Old Expat Beast]

I'd be naming the seller in the Buyers/Sellers Who's Who section if he stiffed me out of $60 for shipping.

[Chewbacca]

S/he should refund the shipping difference.

The other stuff, that’s another matter out of your hands and represents a bigger problem.

[bondtoys]

Seller may have spent $$ on insurance and that amount may not show up on the receipt (which as far as I understand only shows the bare shipping cost)

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

Seller may have spent $$ on insurance and that amount may not show up on the receipt (which as far as I understand only shows the bare shipping cost)

I sent my Rolex to RSC registered mail because I had to and they only charged me about 40 dollars. It’s pretty economical but slow as

Point being that 40 sounds about right for registered and insured.

My understanding is with registered mail the package literally goes hand to hand from one individuals custody to the next. I found the process to be archaic and ridiculous. That said, without parcel pro I might have to use it.

[PLNYC]

Seems like a terrible experience for you. I’d use The Who’s who section on this seller

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by GB-man

I sent my Rolex to RSC registered mail because I had to and they only charged me about 40 dollars. It’s pretty economical but slow as

Point being that 40 sounds about right for registered and insured.

Not sure if every small company with just a handful of shipments receives the same prices like RSC ;)

[joli160]

If I was the seller I would have done it differently and use the agreed courier ...

But, you agreed on 100$ shipping costs, which is reasonable enough. Bubble wrap, insurance and all that
Only thing seller did wrong was not to use FedEx and you want to slam him for that ?
I think USPS is a better and more secure option anyway.
The overnight delivery promises from couriers don't hold up very well is my experience as a consumer who buys everything online.

If the watch turns out to be as described be happy and let it be, you did not loose anything that you did not know beforehand

[wickets]

Originally Posted by joli160

If the watch turns out to be as described be happy and let it be, you did not loose anything that you did not know beforehand

he was supposed to have his watch on saturday, its now thursday and still not on his wrist. No reason to be happy at all...the seller is terrible and on top of that is being a giant &@$*! about it.

[walds11]

He should refund the $61 back to you. Name and shame this a hole. I hope you receive your watch safe and sound.