Soldato
I've just had a message from someone I sold an item to in Denmark that it's arrived damaged and now I've got to honour my word and send him the money back. 
Not only will I have lost any profit but will be in deficit to the tune of about £120 if he sends it back to me, since I'll have to cover his return postage, plus I already covered some of the postage myself sending it out ( it was £64 insured but I charged him £50 and covered the remainder myself), plus a large roll of bubble wrap, plus about £20 (4%) that paypal took from the proceeds.
I sent it via myparceldelivery.com and DPD were the couriers. I packed it as well as I could in a sturdy 5 mm thick cardboard tube, tons of bubble wrap on the outside, and a load of gaffa tape.
This was his message "Hi,Just unboxed the unit.
Im sad to say that there are two things wrong with the it. The power supply end got shattered along the way. Also, it sounds like there is a loose spring inside the unit which is falling around and rattling up and down. I'm not sure this plays a role when in use but I can't get it to work without power. What should we do from here? Can I send the unit back to you? I wish I had the skills and time to fix this but I don't unfortunately
Sorry for the bad news and thanks for your understanding...
Best wishes.."
It's a rare vintage spring reverb unit shaped as a drainpipe in a grey plastic shell, an old analogue piece of studio equipment that basically adds reverb to guitars. It worked when I tested it and yes you can hear a spring if you shake it, but I didn't suspect it as broken when I sent it as it can't be seen. Don't remember thinking it was falling around. So I've actually no idea if it got broken in transit or not. The power supply I wrapped in bubble wrap and there was just enough space at one end of the cardboard tube to slot it in. I made a lid by cutting two cardboard circles and gaffa taping it thoroughly over the end. Bubble wrap went over that. I thought it would be sufficient but I guess not.
I need to make a claim as I added up to £500 cover and the sale was £425 plus £50 shipping. Do you think I stand much chance of getting anything back? They say "If your parcel was damaged by the courier, you can claim for the repair cost, or the cost of replacing the item if a repair is not possible. This is available up to the compensation value purchased with your booking. You must be able to prove the value of the item and any repair costs."
I suppose worst case scenario is I get nothing, he sends it back and I can sell it cheap as needing repair to just recoup my losses.
I want to reassure him that I will of course pay him back the £475, and that I will also put in a claim. It might have been easier to ask him if he could get the power supply repaired and I'd cover his costs but the spring seems to complicate it further.
Not only will I have lost any profit but will be in deficit to the tune of about £120 if he sends it back to me, since I'll have to cover his return postage, plus I already covered some of the postage myself sending it out ( it was £64 insured but I charged him £50 and covered the remainder myself), plus a large roll of bubble wrap, plus about £20 (4%) that paypal took from the proceeds.I sent it via myparceldelivery.com and DPD were the couriers. I packed it as well as I could in a sturdy 5 mm thick cardboard tube, tons of bubble wrap on the outside, and a load of gaffa tape.
This was his message "Hi,Just unboxed the unit.
Im sad to say that there are two things wrong with the it. The power supply end got shattered along the way. Also, it sounds like there is a loose spring inside the unit which is falling around and rattling up and down. I'm not sure this plays a role when in use but I can't get it to work without power. What should we do from here? Can I send the unit back to you? I wish I had the skills and time to fix this but I don't unfortunately
Sorry for the bad news and thanks for your understanding...
Best wishes.."
It's a rare vintage spring reverb unit shaped as a drainpipe in a grey plastic shell, an old analogue piece of studio equipment that basically adds reverb to guitars. It worked when I tested it and yes you can hear a spring if you shake it, but I didn't suspect it as broken when I sent it as it can't be seen. Don't remember thinking it was falling around. So I've actually no idea if it got broken in transit or not. The power supply I wrapped in bubble wrap and there was just enough space at one end of the cardboard tube to slot it in. I made a lid by cutting two cardboard circles and gaffa taping it thoroughly over the end. Bubble wrap went over that. I thought it would be sufficient but I guess not.
I need to make a claim as I added up to £500 cover and the sale was £425 plus £50 shipping. Do you think I stand much chance of getting anything back? They say "If your parcel was damaged by the courier, you can claim for the repair cost, or the cost of replacing the item if a repair is not possible. This is available up to the compensation value purchased with your booking. You must be able to prove the value of the item and any repair costs."
I suppose worst case scenario is I get nothing, he sends it back and I can sell it cheap as needing repair to just recoup my losses.
I want to reassure him that I will of course pay him back the £475, and that I will also put in a claim. It might have been easier to ask him if he could get the power supply repaired and I'd cover his costs but the spring seems to complicate it further.
