I will refund in full. HOWEVER.....

[city*satins]

Buyer purchased this lot of 4 jigsaw puzzles from me.  Had an unusual question prior to purchase - asking about the comparative thickness of the puzzle pieces vs older puzzles that were more durable. I am not qualified to answer that so I referred her to a jigsaw review site that reviews (but does not sell) different brands and rates them including Master Pieces puzzles.

The boxes were in better condition than I stated, as I prefer to under-promise and over-deliver.  Master Pieces boxes (including these, are quite thick and strong and add a lot to the weight of the package)

What I sent

I wrapped them up in tissue and paper, then bound them together in heavier paper, then bagged them for waterproofing and to ensure no movement. Then packed them in a Priority large cube box and used air pouches to keep everything centered and unmovable.  (I upgraded to priority because a snowstorm prevented me from shipping on time)  

Delivered 8 days ago.   Today I got a message saying that despite there being no damage whatsoever to the outer box, this is what arrived:

I'm hard-pressed to see how this horrendous damage could have occurred to the tightly wrapped and padded contents without any damage whatsoever to the outer Priority mail box. They look like somebody sat on them or ripped them.

The message by the way is accusatory and suggests that the very prospect that the pieces too might have been miscounted now raises another specter in her mind about my honesty.

I'm being asked to state whether I "have any knowledge of what happened here."

Thoughts?

[southern*sweet*tea]

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I noticed that my shipping boxes that have been stored outside in the cold (unheated garage) start to behave like they are wet when it has been really cold. Maybe a possibility here? They got a little cold, took on some moisture from the environment, and became a lot more fragile?

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Agree with you  @roryriver. As if the box were stored out in the garage until the buyer got around to taking it into the durn house and thoroughly inspecting the contents.

IMHO, this person (buyer) wanted something for nothing, and she got it.

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This may be true. Or it may not. Who knows...

But how much should the OP be out to "take one for the team"?  The whole point of selling is to make money, not to lose it.  OP has already lost, should she continue to lose more?

Sometimes you have to pick your battles. This is a losing one no matter what the OP does, so she may as well protect her pocketbook as much as she can. 

It would be financially irresponsible to require a return for a worthless item with high shipping costs.  Would anyone here reimburse the OP for being a sport and taking one for the team?  

[emerald40]

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New puzzles are not that cheap. I recently found some at Target for $9 but the cheapest other than that I've found is $12-15. I like specific artists and quality of puzzle. I don't have any local dollar stores so I have no idea where I could buy them cheaper than Ebay.

I buy used puzzles all the time. I can do a 1000 piece puzzle in one sitting. It's like meditation for me. It wouldn't be meditation if I spent $20 and up for the privilege (that's what many of the puzzles I like to do sell for on Ebay, new or used).

__________________________________________________

I just did a search for new Milton Bradley and I saw some nice ones listed at $6.99 and up.

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[city*satins]

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New puzzles are not that cheap. I recently found some at Target for $9 but the cheapest other than that I've found is $12-15. I like specific artists and quality of puzzle. I don't have any local dollar stores so I have no idea where I could buy them cheaper than Ebay.

I buy used puzzles all the time. I can do a 1000 piece puzzle in one sitting. It's like meditation for me. It wouldn't be meditation if I spent $20 and up for the privilege (that's what many of the puzzles I like to do sell for on Ebay, new or used).

__________________________________________________

I just did a search for new Milton Bradley and I saw some nice ones listed at $6.99 and up.

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I'm sorry but I've completely lost track of the point you're trying to make. Other than that used puzzles should be displayed in some special way to show the boxes have been opened and that you personally could never have imagined that someone would actually buy my used jigsaw puzzles in the first place being as they're so cheap new.  Neither of which is really on topic but that's okay - threads meander like burbling brooks.

If there's something I should take away maybe you could clarify for me.

[southernfriedbelle]

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wrote:

I noticed that my shipping boxes that have been stored outside in the cold (unheated garage) start to behave like they are wet when it has been really cold. Maybe a possibility here? They got a little cold, took on some moisture from the environment, and became a lot more fragile?

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Agree with you  @roryriver. As if the box were stored out in the garage until the buyer got around to taking it into the durn house and thoroughly inspecting the contents.

IMHO, this person (buyer) wanted something for nothing, and she got it.

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This may be true. Or it may not. Who knows...

But how much should the OP be out to "take one for the team"?  The whole point of selling is to make money, not to lose it.  OP has already lost, should she continue to lose more?

Sometimes you have to pick your battles. This is a losing one no matter what the OP does, so she may as well protect her pocketbook as much as she can. 

It would be financially irresponsible to require a return for a worthless item with high shipping costs.  Would anyone here reimburse the OP for being a sport and taking one for the team?  

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?? @southern*sweet*tea Not sure what you mean? I was agreeing it was possible that the damage could POSSIBLY have resulted in the way @roryriver suggested. Not that @city*satins should "take one for the team."

[southernfriedbelle]

@city*satins And some seem to burble more than others!

[city*satins]

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And some seem to burble more than others!

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I have to confess to burbling myself from time to time. It used to irritate the heck out of one poster some years back who (admittedly with some personal animus)  described my posts as turgid. 

I've got a lot of hilarious mileage out of that word ever since but refrain from applying it to any posters on these boards.  

[tunicaslot]

Our basement flooded a few months back - those boxes look exactly like the toy and game boxes that received water damage. Our items were in a large corregated box. The water extended over to the one corner of the box that sucked it right up and only the one corner of the boxes inside received damage - but it looked exactly how they look in the photos.

I'm going to guess - in transit - the box received some water damage and the items were repacked - although I have to say - I had a carton of regional rate c boxes that were new and still in their shipping box - after they dried out - the only way you knew they had gotten wet was that they separated at the end of the flaps. Since the flaps were folded under and taped to form the bottom of the box - the buyer may not even have noticed the water damage to the outter box..

[ersatz_sobriquet]

I don't see any water lines on those boxes. However maybe the buyer put the stack underneath their hanging plant, watered it, and oops there ya go. 

Shipped inside plastic bags would prevent water during shipment, so I think it happened after the buyer received them. 

[mirror-in-the-attic]

"What a mess" posted of a scenario where the item was damaged in transit and the usps just switched out boxes and sent item on it's merry way.  Buyer received damaged goods, outside box wasn't damaged.

I am just saying that, I completely identified with what the seller, in this case (puzzles) said buyer related concerning waiting and debating to say something or not.  

Sometimes, I think people get so jaded they assume the worst.  I am not saying I know anything for certain, but I'm on the side of the buyer here.  Of course, I could be wrong, but it is how I see it, in this case.