ruined items

[coolections]

Did you know if it pours down rain all day and buyer leaves stuff outside you still pay even though buyer should have made sure items did not stay in out in rain all day ? Did you also know if you call Ebay they say do not respond and do nothing, it is clearly the buyer's fault and seller will win the case? Just a heads-up sellers always lose so just give a refund even if the buyer is at fault.

[heckofagame]

Never call eBay customer service. They are not actual employees. They have no authority. They have little knowledge. They get paid by the call. 

[coolections]

I knew that when I called but unfortunately Ebay's game gives you no chance when responding to a claim but, have buyer return soaking wet items, or just let buyer keep soaking wet items even though it was buyers' fault and even though Ebay agreed it was buyer's fault. Actually, two "different" reps agreed it was buyer's fault. No button to get Ebay to step in.

[ed8108]

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@coolections wroteJust a heads-up sellers always lose so just give a refund even if the buyer is at fault.

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Maybe it's the cost of doing business on ebay ?

[coolections]

When you only make $8 per sale and they steal $60, that cost goes up very fast making you sell another 8 items just to come out even. Even when buyer admits they left package in rain for 8 hours.

[ten_o_nine]

No button to get Ebay to step in.

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Thank God, you don't want eBay to step on you. I meant step in.

[krazzykats]

Put items in plastic before shipping?  😉

[adamcartwright]

I'm sorry that happened to you

To prevent this from happening next time, wrap your items as if you expect their outer packaging to get wet or bashed or whatever.

You can't cheap out on packaging materials.

There's no faster way to lose repeat customers, IMO.

[coolections]

I've shipped over 4 thousand packages. It is not due to lack of packing material. Buyer even admitted in messages they left out in rain all day. Ridiculous that Ebay will not protect a seller even when buyers admit they made a mistake.

[reallynicestamps]

I agree with your premise, but if something will be damaged by water, don't you package using waterproof materials?

When I ship stamps I use both a poly slip and a poly envelope, usually the eBay branded ones.

Responsibility is often shared.

[oaklandmaryland]

that's why I put all my items in plastic bags before mailing

[a_c_green]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

I agree with your premise, but if something will be damaged by water, don't you package using waterproof materials?

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Small world... only just this morning I had a note from a recent buyer who was concerned about how his purchase would be packed up for shipping, asking for lots of padding because his local PO was apparently pretty rough, so I sent back my standard reply to these questions, excerpted here:

"Regarding packaging, all items are wrapped and enclosed in ZipLok bags, and surrounded by biodegradable peanuts within the box. Box flaps are glued for extra rigidity, with a tape overlay on seams and shipping label. If it gets wet, it will remain legible, and if it lands in water it will float. Thank you again for your purchases!"

If the buyer actually filed a Not As Described case over this, I would ask for its return before refunding, unless you are convinced that if your package had gotten wet on the outside, the item really would have been irreparably damaged. The buyer may be hoping that you'll capitulate and refund without a return.

[chapeau-noir]

I try to account for people leaving stuff out because I know it's gonna happen.

My mail can get wet just being delivered.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Sorry, but it's pretty much always been up to the seller to account for that.  I put everything in ziplock plastic. 

[herecometheplayas]

I once shipped a large bottle of Hair Skin and Nails gummies to someone who went on vacation and they were left in her mailbox for 4 days. When she wrote saying they were liquid and she poured them all out, eBay still made be refund. How to you account for melted items?