Buyer of expensive item seems certain it will be destroyed in shipping (long)

[coltranefan]

I listed a fairly expensive "high-end" audio component on ebay recently (BIN or best offer). A guy with a zillion good feedbacks made a very good offer that I accepted.

Immediately after he paid, the messages began. Wanted fed-ex shipping, when I listed UPS ground as the shipping. I try hard to accommodate buyers, but I've had great success with UPS ground, both as buyer & seller. And have had weird experiences with fed-ex ground (It's a somewhat heavy item, so fed-ex air would be really expensive). Also I have a UPS acct., there's a UPS store 4 miles for drop-off from where I live, etc.

(And WHY don't buyers read the TOS?)  So I emailed him back saying some of that, he said OK, send UPS.  And then just a series of dire messages (very polite tho) about UPS not paying off if there is damage. Which I know --I've shipped probably hundreds of delicate items (crystal, china, etc.) over the years. Plus probably dozens of audio components, some keyboard, computers, etc. etc.

The guy is "putting the zap on my head"--making me almost fearful of shipping it, when I never would have been. I mean, I'm always concerned about shipping expensive items, but I do great packing, & have never had a problem as long as the item is shipped properly.

Also, this $1900 audio component has all the original factory packaging, that is the best packing I've ever seen on an audio component. I even took pics of the various stages of packing the double-box with the elaborate packing & sent to him.  His response was more warnings about how UPS won't pay off if damaged, etc.

He just can't seem to believe that the item will survive shipping, or that it's packed well enough. And yet he's SO polite. A friend of mine said, well as long as he gets it OK, things should be fine. But I don't know if he's setting me up to later claim that something's wrong with it? I've had some neurotic buyers, but this guy is creeping me out. I usually ship quickly, but I've been dragging my feet on this--instead of feeling good when I drop it off at UPS, I just think I'm gonna feel really nervous.

I mean, if he's this neurotic now, what can he find to be neurotic about once he get it? The thing is beautiful, but maybe he'll imagine there's damage?

I'm sorry to go on so long, but I've been buying & selling used audio equipment (for my own system) for a very long time, & this is kind of a new one.....

TIA for any advice

[memphiskansasgirl123]

You could have UPS package it and should he claim damages because UPS packaged it, you would more likely than less likely win a claim.   I would make sure I record all the serial numbers, just in case this buyer decides to do a switch out.   

If you decide to package your item, I would definitely take pictures of all the padding,  the exterior and interior, might also help to get that captured on the UPS store camera, just in case of legal claims, etc.

Check out what this buyer has bought in the past and get with those other sellers, see if they report false claims of damages, you will then be prepared for a different route to take.   

Good luck!

[campesinoplastic2014]

You have about a 75% chance of getting a serious flogging on this one.

This one is pretty much telling you to get ready for the claim

[tomuchstuff5]

Would read buyer feedback,,,,,both received and given , if that checks out , use Fed Ex as customer wishes in your name account, but make sure properly packed to be covered by insurance, fully insure by whatever means necessary. Hopefully that will help getting some rest while you wait it out. 

My Fed Ex store suggested that at least some UPS locations are franchises and are responsible for resolving own claims. I don't know this to be true,,,,but is what i was told by a Fed Ex employee. My personal experience with UPS has been horrible. Totally lost a HUGE wood crate of artwork . Store denied they ever had it till I brought in my drop off receipt......still never got a refund from them. Got the run around. I had to refund customer. Didn't use them for years before that over huge overcharge that took forever, but did finally did get straightend out.  

Company I worked for used them. No matter what they did to something, it was damaged because it was improperly packed. UPS never paid claims.

[sidemouse]

Short answer I would either cancel this buyer's purchase for reason "buyer asked" or not ship and wait for the INR (and then issue a refund) because this guy is presently 'planting' seeds of trouble and thus I can almost guarantee, trouble with this one there will be as soon as his seeds germinate.

Under absolutely no circumstances would I ship an item to someone that starts with it right after they pay, it irritates me when they do it but it doesn't really matter what you do or how it all unfolds, something's coming with this one, the writing's all over the wall.

[rolenboy01]

It's almost as if he is warning you he is going to "find damage" and that UPS will not pay out on his fake damage claim and therefore you will be out everything, he is what we call a nice scammer he is "nice" because wants you to be insured so he can profit on his scam more easily without a fight he is willing to wait as he can prepare the undamaged item you sent him in the mean time for resell.

[getitright1234]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

Just curious here.

Is there some reason why, when the buyer requested, you didn't calculate shipping by FedEx and tell them what the extra shipping would cost and let them decide?

I mean besides your discount and not being out of the way, or whatever, to ship UPS?

Perhaps you have been happy with UPS, but not everybody has been.  UPS delivered a very expensive item I bought to a different address - one they got out of the phone book for a person with the same last name and initials.  That was the last time I used UPS (15 years ago) unless someone specifically requests it.

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"This" buyer may been under UPS's radar for filling false claims of damage which is why he was steering the OP from using UPS.   

[llllady]

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

It's almost as if he is warning you he is going to "find damage" and that UPS will not pay out on his fake damage claim and therefore you will be out everything, he is what we call a nice scammer he is "nice" because wants you to be insured so he can profit on his scam more easily without a fight he is willing to wait as he can prepare the undamaged item you sent him in the mean time for resell.

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That was my absolute gut instinct when reading the OP, and is still the same after reading all of the comments. 

If this is an experienced buyer/user, and they were truly worried about purchasing an expensive item from a newbie seller, then they would not have made the purchase from this seller.   Definitely sounds like the buyer is setting the seller up to be scammed by claiming damage.

[rolenboy01]

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@llllady wrote:

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

It's almost as if he is warning you he is going to "find damage" and that UPS will not pay out on his fake damage claim and therefore you will be out everything, he is what we call a nice scammer he is "nice" because wants you to be insured so he can profit on his scam more easily without a fight he is willing to wait as he can prepare the undamaged item you sent him in the mean time for resell.

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That was my absolute gut instinct when reading the OP, and is still the same after reading all of the comments. 

If this is an experienced buyer/user, and they were truly worried about purchasing an expensive item from a newbie seller, then they would not have made the purchase from this seller.   Definitely sounds like the buyer is setting the seller up to be scammed by claiming damage.

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It's not a fun spot to be in but If I was the OP I would take the defect and a potential negative instead of risking $1900.

[doubledz-a2z]

Sounds to me like buyer has the same unit and is looking to upgrade.   I would be afraid of bait and switch.  He gets the mint condition unit from seller, claims damage, when UPS picks up the packaging and item,  their old unit will be in the boxes.    

[gracieallen01]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

Just curious here.

Is there some reason why, when the buyer requested, you didn't calculate shipping by FedEx and tell them what the extra shipping would cost and let them decide?

I mean besides your discount and not being out of the way, or whatever, to ship UPS?

Perhaps you have been happy with UPS, but not everybody has been.  UPS delivered a very expensive item I bought to a different address - one they got out of the phone book for a person with the same last name and initials.  That was the last time I used UPS (15 years ago) unless someone specifically requests it.

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"This" buyer may been under UPS's radar for filling false claims of damage which is why he was steering the OP from using UPS.   

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Yes, this is very true and quite possible, too.

After all, people are people, and, whether seller or buyer, will often do surprising thing - for their personality - when they can rationalize it.  "But, ME?  Well, I only .... "

Been there, done that.  Glad I'm older and learned better (I hope).

[gracieallen01]

Still doesn't address the question, though.

[goddess-bastet-1910]

The buyer just wants your item, and they don't want to end up with a crushed box and damaged item.
He's probably had a problem with an expensive item before and is worried. Just make sure it's well packaged. You'll be fine. He is not neurotic, he is merely worried.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@sidemouse wrote:

Short answer I would either cancel this buyer's purchase for reason "buyer asked" or not ship and wait for the INR (and then issue a refund) because this guy is presently 'planting' seeds of trouble and thus I can almost guarantee, trouble with this one there will be as soon as his seeds germinate.

Under absolutely no circumstances would I ship an item to someone that starts with it right after they pay, it irritates me when they do it but it doesn't really matter what you do or how it all unfolds, something's coming with this one, the writing's all over the wall.

Buyer asked or problem with address>  What do you think? 

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[jonathankirkland]

@coltranefan

Any update on this? I have been following this thread intently and am curious how you have chosen to proceed.

[coltranefan]

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@sidemouse wrote:

Short answer I would either cancel this buyer's purchase for reason "buyer asked" or not ship and wait for the INR (and then issue a refund) because this guy is presently 'planting' seeds of trouble and thus I can almost guarantee, trouble with this one there will be as soon as his seeds germinate.

Under absolutely no circumstances would I ship an item to someone that starts with it right after they pay, it irritates me when they do it but it doesn't really matter what you do or how it all unfolds, something's coming with this one, the writing's all over the wall.

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A couple of times last week, I actually had my fingers poised over the computer kybd. to print & pay for the UPS labels. Then I'd get another message from the buyer warning about packing, UPS not paying off, etc., & it threw me off.

His latest (very polite) message is asking for a tracking #. I haven't replied yet. However I'm not going to be sending it to him. TOO nerve-wracking, shipping expensive stuff is always somewhat concerning, w/o the buyer seeming to expect it to to go badly.

I read thru all the responses here a couple of times; it seems like maybe it's 70-80% of people saying don't do it. Which was my feeling even before I posted here. But I'm still not sure what I'm going to say to him. Maybe: what I said above about being ready to ship last week, but he made me so nervous about shipping it I'm not sure how to proceed. And/or; b/c of his concerns, I've ordered a giant box that will hold the 2 original boxes. Which will take much time.

And/or; I have Dr. appt's this week (true--ironically for high Blood Pressure)), and............     I'd like to avoid ticking him off if possible tho. Maybe just tell him he's made me too nervous to ship it (to him), & ask if he'd be willing to get out out of the deal.

I'll figure something out. I'm not gonna sweat a neg (as much as I'd hate it).  Or if I have to eat the $20 FVF (when I listed it, ebay had a $20 FVF offer).  BTW: the buyer could have asked all these questions, concerns, etc. before he made the offer.

Altho if he is a scammer, he wouldn't do that. I'm about 50/50 as to whether he's an outright scammer, or will just nit-pick the pre-amp to death after he gets it & try to return it.

Anyway, thanks again everyone.....