What would you do in this situation?

[wtl]

A while ago I posted a thread and asked where I could get an eyepiece for my Leica M6 as I lost it in a shooting event. Some suggested DAG and I contacted Don. In the meantime, a forum member PMed me saying he has this part for $35. DAG also had one for $30 plus $2 shipping. I thought I would just support a member so I asked the member to match DAG price and sent $32 total to the member instead of orderig one from DAG. Since then, I got an email saying it had been shipped but nothing has come.

Now the member told me that he no longer drives and he managed to file a USPS form finally to track down the package. He has no tracking information despite many times I requested. He told me in the email now that he "can no longer do more for me".

When I shipped my Voigt. Vito camera to "jingles_97", I sent him the tracking number and then followed through with him until the camera arrived safely. That wasn't even a sale and I paid for the shipping. I always thought it is sender's responsibility to make sure the good arrives.

My question is: how do you all think of this?

 

[Ken Ford]

IMO: if the seller chose not to purchase insurance and tracking from USPS, the seller should refund your money.

A sale isn't completed until the buyer gets the goods unless the buyer specifically waives insurance and tracking.

 

[danielnorton]

I agree with Ken, if no insurance was purchased (unless they offered and you refused) your money should be returned.

 

[jonasv]

I don't know about US postal costs, but over here, insurance and tracking nearly triples the shipping costs. As far as I'm concerned, it's the seller's responsability to properly put the package on the mail, but he is not responsible for what happens after that. The buyer should demand insurance if he wants it. Personally I would probably split the costs when something doesn't arrive, but I don't see that as an obligation at all.

 

[steelheart]

He should refund your money or produce the item you paid for. It was his responsibility to insure the package and see to it that the package was trackable and arrived in a timely manner, which he did not.

If he dosen't refund your money, you can file a complaint with the USPS and tell them that you are the victim of mail fraud. If you file a complaint with the USPS, they will have to investigate - they won't just ignore it. They take mail fraud seriously.

I would send the seller a registered letter and tell him he has 15 calender days in which to refund your money or you will file a mail fraud complaint with the USPS. This might get him to refund your money; if not, proceed with your complaint.

 

[Ken Ford]

jxv, over here insurance and tracking is a minor cost. The insurance for this parcel would be $1.35, and the delivery confirmation $0.50.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Just as it is the buyer's responsibility to get the money to the seller ... it is the seller's responsibility to ACTUALLY get the goods to the buyer. You never hear this claim: hey, I sent you the money, but I can't prove it, so you have to send me the goods on my word alone ;-)

As a seller, I always ship with tracking and insurance, just because, in this world, things can go wrong. On the other hand, you'd be amazed at how many sellers I've dealt with who ship without insurance and tracking. Or, who promise to ship with insurance and tracking and when asked for the actual tracking numbers, can't provide one. Even some totally honest sellers seem perfectly willing to take the risk of shipping without insurance, and treat a request for insurance as something you (the buyer) should pay extra for ! In other words, insurance is something I feel that the Seller must always budget in, it should not be discretionary, no matter how 'lucky' you feel. That is just good business policy.

In this case, the seller is at fault. If he has purchased insurance and tracking, he should be able to provide you with that information. In any event, the loss must be pursued from his side, as he is the alleged sender for USPS or other shippers' purposes. As an intended recipient, you have no recourse.

Send him a final email requesting a refund. If not, do as Steelheart suggests and file a complaint, call his local police department and file a complaint.

And for all of us at RFF, post a feedback so that no one else has to go through this unpleasant experience. Good luck

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

jxv, over here insurance and tracking is a minor cost. The insurance for this parcel would be $1.35, and the delivery confirmation $0.50.

Ken is right ... for only a minimal cost, it should have been done. It should be done as a matter of course by the seller (without asking). The real question is whether this guy really sent it, but just didn't insure or track it. Or did he even send it at all.

In any event, you deserve your money back.

 

[doubs43]

Insurance is something I always request and pay extra for. I just won an item on ebay and the seller's shipping rate was for parcel post. I requested Priority Mail WITH insurance and paid a few dollars extra. It's worth it to me and also helps to cover the seller too.

Walker

 

[wtl]

Thank you all. I will drop the seller an email ans see what happens. I hope DAG still has that eyepiece sitting...

 

[pbjbike]

I dunno, but the eyepiece is a rather small item in the world of Leica gear, not that $32 is chump change for anyone. I would not have insured it unless the buyer requested it...Sorry for your loss of $$ 🙁.

 

[Ronald M]

Who is responsible depends upon the sales contract. Usually it is FOB sellers location. That means free on board. Once shipped, it is yours in other words.

USPS never gets anything of value. Nobody ever collects from them even if they get insurance anyway. Excuse after excuse.

I get the tracking number from the shipper ASAP. Then I follow it until it is my hand.

Stories like this keep me from buying from unknown partys including E bay. I don`t care how many favorable ratings he has.

 

[pbjbike]

FWIW, repairman Ken Ruth has worked for a certain camera collector for years--the guy send him 100 or more cameras and lenses a year. Always with no insurance or even "fragile" stamped on the box to prevent anyone from thinking there is anything valuable inside.