Boop has question for Z (or anyone)

[BettyBoop2]

Hey Zeph,

Won this auction....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... TQ:US:1123

It has taken over a month to get the items and then came completely totaled by the USPS.
See pix...<img src="http://www.jtdesign.org/Downloads/bad-x ... C_0001.jpg">
<img src="http://www.jtdesign.org/Downloads/bad-x ... C_0004.jpg">

This is my email to the seller...Hi,
Well nothing but problems. Your package showed up today--and it was packed so poorly that the USPS mangled the books. To tell you the truth the books were JUST BARLY what was described--but the problem is the packing and shipping. JUST TERRIBLE.
The books are unsellable and just about useless.

Send me a real email address and I will send photos. I need to know if you will refund the purchase or if I should open a dispute with eBay.

Please get badck to me



The seller had this to say about it...i saw the pictures you sent...how are u blaming me for the post
office crushing the box???? thats completely out of my control...
i agree that it definitely sucks...but i dont transport the comics
once its dropped off at the post office...looks like the post office
completly mishandled the package...it wasnt crush when it was
mailed...looks like they piled a ton of other boxes on it and
crushed it...u should complain to ur local post office...
and this...
also as u can see the box was stamped on all sides FRAGILE...i understand that ur mainly mad that shipping took long and i explained in the previous email i had sold comics for a friend that was lazy on shipping...so after waiting for a while to get the items i see how u would be extra mad that the box and items were damaged on top of waiting a long time...but honestly...its truly the post offices fault in handling ur package...i cant control how they handle it...once i drop it off to the post office...the box was in perfect condition...and was even labeled as being fragile...i really think u should contact the post office that delivered the box to you b/c they didnt handle it correctly...im sorry...

I bit more on the packaging. It was just the box and the comics, the comics were packed standing up. There was no bubble pack used, not peanuts, no extra material to absorb any punishment. Aslo the book filled the box (standing up) fairly nice front to back they did not fill top to bottom--this means ther was 2 to 4" of empty space to be crushed.

So...the question is, do you see that i might have any recourse? What action, if any would you suggest?

Thanks in advance.

-the boop

[magnusr]

Is the material in the box as soft as it looks? Stamping "Fragile" is one thing (*), but there are some limits. Even if there was insurance the post office would require that the goods were well packed. If they were not, the responsibly is with the seller alone. Maybe you could get your post office to comment (though they will speak in their own interest).

/Magnus

(*) There are even some horror stories about postal employees "testing" packages marked "Fragile".

[superman-prime]

what did he use for packing material AIR ???

[whovianone]

what did he use for packing material AIR ???

Looks like those new "Invisible Peanuts" I keep getting in my packages.

[KO2003]

Fragile Media Mail is an oxymoron to the USPS. As already stated, the lack of any substantial packing material is the crux of the matter. Even if you had purchased insurance the USPS would contest any attempt for a refund due to poor packaging of the items by the sender.

This happened to me a few years ago. The seller stuck the comics which were bagged and boarded in a Priority mail box with no packing material. The postal carrier dropped the box and crushed the corners on all the comics. They were valued at $10 a piece in NM condition on ebay and all my LCS's. In VG condition they were worthless. I had purchased insurance so I took them back to my local PO. I told them that the carrier dropped the package and subsequently damaged my comics rendering them worthless. The Supervisor said the sender was to blame and refused to give me a refund for the insured value. I asked to see his manager. His manager was more sympathetic to my plight and gave me a refund for the value of the comics. I only paid $10 for the lot but hey I knew they were worth ten bucks a piece so that's the amount I insured for $1.35.

In your case, looking at the auction ad which states that the conditions ranged from NM to Good, I believe if you put the items up for auction you could recoup your cost for the comics. The seller was careful not assign a particular grade to any specific comic.NM to Good covers the whole gambit of grading.Having the Byrne issues still make the lot desirable in whatever condtion.

I would give the Seller a positive feedback overall,however, in the Detailed Seller ratings I would let him have it. Let the seller lose some stars. He can't retaliate in any way. Only offer the lame excuse he gave you which doesnt fly in my book. Everyone knows about the gorilla package handlers who scoff at a "Fragile" stamp. Especially concerning Media mail.

Just my two cents..."plink plink"

[BettyBoop2]

I determined to leave Neutral feedback and bounce him on the stars. I wrote...

"VERY,VERY poor packing allowed USPS to ruin a fairly decent run of books. Sad."

-the boop

[jonahhex]

I'm sorry that happened to you Boop! I guess it's something that we've all experienced at one time or another when buying comics on line.

Remember that old television commercial that showed an ape trying his best to destroy a piece of luggage? I try to keep that commercial in mind when making up my packages. I always imagine to myself that the ape from the commercial is the one that will be handling the package I'm mailing.

[BettyBoop2]

Thanks Jonah,

It's live and learn sometimes.

I would say I buy between 15 to 20 packages of books per month on feeBay. I also buy books on Collectors Society, perhaps 5 to 10 a month. And I usually buy one or two items or runs on Craigs List each month.

My comic buying capital is about $1,000 per month, I then try to turn that to $1,500 each month. Some months are better than others.

So...I will now and then run accross a scumbag as above. But...I'm getting better about recognizing various traps to look out for. Good rule of thumb is..."If it looks to good to be true--it generally is"

BTW, in late August I will be putting up about 50 auctions...for ASM's, X-Men and a unique marketing idea for Watchmen.

Any other thoughts out there?
-the boop

[nutflush76]

"Fragile" is French for "Drop me"

[ibreakhorses]

"Fragile" is French for "Drop me"

Yeah, if you work at the post office.