Thread: Guess it was just my turn...

Until I became a belly dancer, I never purchased items from either ebay or from personal sellers, but to feed my dance habit, I needed to start testing those waters.

Eventually, I knew I would get "burned", but I surely did not expect it to be by a Bhuzzer.

Here's what happened...

On 26 June, I sent my $45 via paypal.

On 27 June, the seller replied the merchandise had been shipped.

Nine days later, on 6 July, I pm'd her, "Hey, did you send the belts via UPS or FedEx? If so, can I get the tracking number? The package hasn't arrived yet and I'd like to check with the shipper."

On 8 July, she replied that it can take up to two weeks for the package to arrive from her overseas location and that there was no tracking number for the service she used.

On 16 July (20 days from paypal date), I sent another pm.

Ten days after that, on 26 July, she replied with: "Sorry, I just saw your message, I've been away on holiday. Hm, thats odd that they haven't arrived yet. ...I'll ... check with the post office in the morning. I'll let you know then."

I have not heard from her in the nearly two weeks since, though I've sent multiple pm's (which have not been read). Monday, my paypal recourse window closes. I've got no choice but to put in a dispute.

I find this very disheartening....

I know when I send things out to another country I can't do the delivery confirmation through USPS. So if they said they didn't get it, I wouldn't be able to prove it, so I would just give them the money back.

I would definitely complain to EBAY.

Unfortunately, I hate to say it, this was a sale through Bhuz. ,f::

Uh ohs.

Must be an oversite? Has the seller sold here before? How many posts does she have?

Usually, something in life happens that she couldn't get back to you in a timely manner. If it is indeed lost, I hope she refunds you the money that you paid.

Whenever you send items overseas through USPS make sure to send them Express Mail. You will receive a tracking number and know what is going on with the package.
Hope this helps! www.bellydancestore.com

Originally Posted by bellydancestore

Whenever you send items overseas through USPS make sure to send them Express Mail. You will receive a tracking number and know what is going on with the package.
Hope this helps!

I will have to look into that when I send again. Yet, I just sold an item with First class mail, but I will put Express on my post.

Totally helps, thanks!

My turn to. But, I wouldn't call it a burn. I just was going through my projects to see what I didn't need for another Bhuzzer only to come to find out that a bra I purchased said a different size than posted. Bummer. I already took it apart.

Hi AuntieCrazy

Sorry to hear about your "burn".

I had the same thing happen last year, also from a Bhuzzer living in Ireland. Was it someone called "Sarah" or "Zara"?

When I posted about it, it turned out that she had burnt more people here on Bhuz.

So.....you are not alone!

Cheers Rosemarie

Wondering if this is the same member. Curious to know???

I would go through PayPal, that's what their dispute resolution process is there for. It is the proper path of action and gives the seller plenty of opportunity to resolve things if necessary.

My son (18 years old) sells on ebay and recently shipped an item to Hawaii. It was supposed to take 10 days via usps and took one month. He had a tracking number and everything but it just took a while. Unfortunately, he got negative feedback because the buyer was very impatient. The item did get there and was fine but usps is slow sometimes.

Originally Posted by petitefifidance

Unfortunately, he got negative feedback because the buyer was very impatient. The item did get there and was fine but usps is slow sometimes.

Hmmmm. I was so patient and willing to believe her bull**** that I missed the deadline to lodge a dispute with Paypal.

I wish I had been "very impatient"!

Cheers
Rosemarie

Did you use a credit card thru Paypal, or cash thru Paypal? If a credit card, you still may be able to file a dispute thru the credit card issuer.

I bought some bras advertised as "bellydance bras" that turned out to be just lingerie bras with some decorations added. The single picture with it didn't show that. I'll ask for a lot more pictures and a lot more questions next purchase.

Thanks for the support, everyone. I really detest conflict and this is sooo not what I come on Bhuz for. ,f::

My paypal dispute window closes tomorrow, and because of the lack of responses on behalf of the seller, I opened a paypal dispute yesterday afternoon.

The seller's Bhuz name is not Zara. After she received the paypal dispute notice, she sent me a pm through Bhuz telling me she'd refund the money and apologizing. I did receive a dispute update through paypal, but it was a note from her stating she was having trouble with the refund. Hopefully, this is not another delaying tactic - it doesn't sound like it is, but what do I know. *shrug*

I pm'd another Bhuzzer who had bought from her in the same thread, and that individual received her items about a month after she made payment. So it looks like maybe it's hit or miss.

If I receive the refund, I'll consider this a case closed and a lesson learned. If I do not receive it, I will post the seller's Bhuz name so others will have fair warning.

Thanks again, everyone!

If she has issues with refunding, maybe because the amount of time. Tell her to send you money, using the personal tab, money owed. That way you won't get that fee when she sends it to you.

But, always do a PayPal dispute before it ends. Don't rely on them, because if they aren't PM'ing you back, you never know. Even if it is a life situation, least PayPal can be your mediator. If she doesn't refund you today, I would do it.

Glad your situation was resolved (well almost) and don't let it stop you from buying from Bhuzzers. I have purchased dozens of items, and only had one loss.

Originally Posted by petitefifidance

My son (18 years old) sells on ebay and recently shipped an item to Hawaii. It was supposed to take 10 days via usps and took one month. He had a tracking number and everything but it just took a while. Unfortunately, he got negative feedback because the buyer was very impatient. The item did get there and was fine but usps is slow sometimes.

I don't think they can send items USPS from another country. We can send it to them from here of course.

Originally Posted by Rosemarie

Hmmmm. I was so patient and willing to believe her bull**** that I missed the deadline to lodge a dispute with Paypal.

I wish I had been "very impatient"!

Cheers
Rosemarie

Agreed. You have to be sometimes. I ordered something from a seller who shipped it Parcel Post. It was in the beginning of the year and the mail system was crazy. Probably, because of the holiday. On the 40th day I disputed it. Funny it was on my doorstep the next day! PayPal had nothing to do with that. You never know. The tracking kept saying the label was printed. It never even said it was accepted or shipped. So it was questionable for me too. Although, I don't like to speculate.

On another note, this is the reason I usually only like to ship Priority unless it is a large item, so I give the buyer an option of what they would like to do, and add insurance if needed. Sometimes I will do this for free.

As a seller and since most of my items sell for $20 or less, I would totally just refund the money to avoid a dispute. If they get it maybe they would be honest or maybe not, but least I will have a good reputation of making them happy. At least I hope so. ..l;,

I think all a seller has to do is provide proof (receipt) that they actually shipped something to you and paypal does not blame the seller, nor is it the seller's obligation to refund, I could be wrong but it sounds right...
It stinks, but the buyers assume all the risk...for high value items it is best to pay extra for insurance...there are maximum insurance amounts for some countries though.
Many sellers of all sorts will state that they are NOT responsible for items lost in the mail & recommend you do not opt out of paying the extra for insurance...

Ebay is soon going to eliminate the insurance option on listings I see, I wonder why...???

Originally Posted by Rosemarie

Hi AuntieCrazy

Sorry to hear about your "burn".

I had the same thing happen last year, also from a Bhuzzer living in Ireland. Was it someone called "Sarah" or "Zara"?

When I posted about it, it turned out that she had burnt more people here on Bhuz.

So.....you are not alone!

Cheers Rosemarie

Yup I got burned by her as well. My only bad experience here on BHUZ thank goodness!

pming you...i hope it isn't the same person i just bought two items from...it's coming from ireland so i'm giving it some time... i have purchased from this same seller before with no problem and the item came quickly...like within a week or so....

I sent you a pm, Lylagus, but, yes, it's the same person.

Hopefully, I'll get my refund tomorrow and you'll get your items very soon. I would like to end this transaction on at least a cordial note, you know?

Just wanted to update everyone.... the seller has refunded my payment. I don't know why there was a delay - she didn't say and I didn't ask - but I wanted everyone to know she kept her word.

Thanks again for all the support, fellow Bhuzzers. I've had lots of good transactions on Bhuz and met some really wonderful people, and I'm glad this ended well (though I would rather have had the belt, of course!). ..g.:

I used delivery confirmation or signature confirmation that way you can track post office packages online. And you can also send the buyer the confirmation # and so they can see when you shipped it and the route it takes. Hey its 80 cents extra but to me way worth any hassle or aggravation of shipping delays. I'm glad you got your refund.

Alrana

just throwing out there: several of my europe to us/canada shipments cost like a MONTH. and undless you use a very very expensive private carrier, it's difficult to get a tracking number from here. the post office doesnt do tracking numbers on "kilopost" up to 5kg or so here... you get a number for the package, but it's not a tracking number

I send things to my son in Scotland all the time and I always send it UPSP Global Priority with a tracking number. Never had a problem tracking it. (once there was a delay and it took almost the full 2 weeks to get there, but this is rare.) This may be an agreement between USPS and Royal Mail, but it is something to check out before you start a No International Buyers rule.

{{{HUGS}}}

If I do anything, Tahiradancer, it would be to institute a "no international _sellers_ " rule. ..g.:

Actually, Bhuzzers, the tracking/no tracking was part of the problem. The very first thing I did when I realized there was a delay was ask the seller for a tracking number, only to be told there was none. After I filed the paypal dispute, however, she sent me a pm stating she had used to the tracking info to confirm the "delivery" (which still, nearly two months later, has not arrived). *shrug*

Instead of ignoring international sellers altogether, I think I'll just ask up front what kind of tracking options are available and, if I really want the item, pay a little extra to ensure, at a minimum, peace of mind reference the shipment. I think that'd be a win-win for everyone. :)