Quick Ebay Q

mjd

mjd

mjd

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Joined
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Llanelli, S.Wales
I purchased an acoustic guitar on ebay early last week.
The listing suggested collection only or the buyer is free to arrange their own courier. Before buying using buy it now, I messaged the seller and asked him to verify that he was able to provide 'bombproof' packaging to ensure safe transit. He said yes, so I went ahead.
The courier delivered the guitar today. The main body of the guitar was wrapped in some 'small cell' bubble wrap of which there were probably one or two layers at best. The neck and headstock were well padded though. The bubble wrap was further covered with some cardboard, though this was very thin and was only being held in place by the grace of god. On delivery the driver commented on how poorly packaged it was.

Still fingers crossed I took some photos of the arrival condition and then unwrapped it. It was no great suprise to find that it has taken a knock and the lacquer and binding along one edge have been badly damaged.

The seller has been tip-top throughout the transaction despite problems with the original courier failing to collect, but I know the courier is simply going to laugh at me if I try to claim for this.

So what do I do?

While I appreciate I organised the courier, I did specifcally ask for 'bombproof' packaging and this simply wasnt up to the job. :(

I am hoping to sort it out amicably, but if that fails a bit of googling does seem to imply ebay/paypal would side with me as the seller is reponsible for adequate packaging?

What do you think? Am I the bad guy if I push for a refund on the grounds that it was not packed adequately?
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
Courier will blame poor packaging.
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You have to try, failing that ebay dispute. It's silly not even trying.
You have 45 days from payment date, to file a dispute, so plenty of time to try and resolve it with courier, before going down other routes.
 
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There was no mention of the cost of packaging anywhere so I have no idea whether I paid for it or not. The listing did however plainly state that courier collection was an option and I took the precaution of messaging the seller prior to purchase to confirm he could pack it adequately.
I will attempt a claim with the courier, but know they will take one look at the packaging and wash their hands of it. If the seller hadnt been so communicative and accomodating throughout the transaction this would have been an easy decision. :(

For those that may be interested this was how it arrived - http://www.mjdonline.co.uk/crafter
 
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I'm not a musician or in anyway knowledgeable in these things but Im sure either a retail guitar box or hardcase would be the only acceptable way of packaging.
 
Couldn't you ask for a refund and return the item back to the original seller, being as he is at fault for the packaging? I have had many issues with eBay and just avoid the place now. But I'm sure you have the right to return the item down to the seller not ensuring that the item was packaged correctly or properly for such a delivery. Is the damage repairable or will it be a constant defect on the guitar, so if it was me, if it's fixable, claim money from either the courier or the seller (You'll be better off claiming from the seller) and then fix the guitar, or do a full refund for the item and courier service at the sellers fault.
 
The damage is only through the lacquer, so it can probably be repaired.
Having said that it wasnt expensive (RRP £200, I got it for £100), so there is every possibility the repair would almost outweigh the value.

I have requested the necessary claim documents from the courier just so I can show I have tried.

I have no doubt ebay will side with me as the seller is ultimately repsonsible for ensuring their item is packed adequately, but I'm going to feel like a bit of git.
 
I think this a difficult one....

He said on the listing that you could arrange a courier yourself, thus the responsibility is all on you if you take that option. Unlike an auction with usual shipping, you have not paid anything to cover packaging materials (although to be fair, these days, shipping on eBay pretty much does only cover the shipping and the seller usually has to stump up for materials).

So while it was pretty poor of him to have not wrapped it properly and in many ways, that is pretty stupid as it was clearly going to end up damaged, at the end of the day he wasn't paid anything for the packaging. The guy clearly didn't want to deal with selling it via a courier, which is obviously why he never listed the option himself.

I suppose for guaranteed safety, you should have arranged packaging for the courier to ensure it was protected. As the Courier has already remarked that the packaging was insufficient, I would imagine they have made note of this for any potential claims.

If its just cosmetic damage, I'd perhaps just look at a bit of money back from the seller on this one perhaps.
 
Nexus said:
I think this a difficult one....

He said on the listing that you could arrange a courier yourself, thus the responsibility is all on you if you take that option. Unlike an auction with usual shipping, you have not paid anything to cover packaging materials (although to be fair, these days, shipping on eBay pretty much does only cover the shipping and the seller usually has to stump up for materials).

So while it was pretty poor of him to have not wrapped it properly and in many ways, that is pretty stupid as it was clearly going to end up damaged, at the end of the day he wasn't paid anything for the packaging. The guy clearly didn't want to deal with selling it via a courier, which is obviously why he never listed the option himself.

I suppose for guaranteed safety, you should have arranged packaging for the courier to ensure it was protected. As the Courier has already remarked that the packaging was insufficient, I would imagine they have made note of this for any potential claims.

If its just cosmetic damage, I'd perhaps just look at a bit of money back from the seller on this one perhaps.
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This isn't really how it works
 
The seller should have used "bombproof" packaging like he said he would.

Because he did not the item is damamged.

Thus its the sellers problem

The delivery company will refuse due to lack of packaging in accordance to the policy they hold.

Paypal dispute
 
You do realise many courries don't actually insure guitars even if you pay for enhanced insurance. And those that do require hard shell cases.

You stand no chance with the courier for damage to item, only loss.
 
Scrutinize said:
You do realise many courries don't actually insure guitars even if you pay for enhanced insurance. And those that do require hard shell cases.

You stand no chance with the courier for damage to item, only loss.
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Spot on, I'd forgotten that they are on the exceptions list when booking a courier. For example, from Parcel2Go it states:

guitars - maximum parcel compensation value for damages is £100.00, + up to £1,000.00 compensation for lost items. Guitars must be sent in a hard case.

So it had to be sent in a hard case to be covered, which the courier would have known from the second he picked it up, as they ask what the contents are when collecting.



spoffle said:
Ohhhh your opinion? I hadn't realised, disregard my post then.
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Get back under your bridge troll.
 
Well if the courier has T+C's that require specific packaging then yer only option is working this out with the seller. If the seller did state he would use "bombproof" packaging then I would accept a bit of bubble wrap and a folded piece of card tbh. Seller's error has caused it. However you do always have to keep in mind that the seller didn't want to ship it in the first place.
 
This isn't clear cut at all.
Courier won't pay... And rightly so

It's gonna be you or him. Because ebay tend to favour the buyer you might be lucky. I think I'd side with you.

Seller agreed toship .. Shipping failure.. sellers fault
 
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