Help: Buyer wants refund, but I said no refunds...

[Kitsune Sniper]

Hi.

I have a problem with a buyer. I got this message earlier today:

Hi,

I have recived the Sims 2 University game but when I tryed to install it a message popped up that said that a file having trouble installing and would not finish the instalation.
I made multipule unsucessfull attemps and it is obvious that the disk is falty.
I need to know if your are willing to make a refund or not.

MosaicTileSupplies

The item in question is this. Now, I didn't say there were no refunds or returns accepted when I initially listed the item; however, I did answer a question when someone asked me about it and posted it on the auction so others can read it. It's located here. The question was asked, answered and posted on September 14. The bidder bid anyway - three days after the question was posted.

Now, I don't give refunds on software. I already said that in the question (and added a "No returns on software" policy in all my auctions afterwards). The winning bidder made his/her offer AFTER I posted the question. So what do I do? I'm afraid I'll be slammed, AGAIN, for something that is not my fault...

Help?

[dieourumov]

send it the cheapest pay possible that it can be tracked with insurance.

[Mayhem]

What's the weight of the package? For that size you should be able to send it letter airmail rate. Might squeeze into $10 there, have to see. Insurance would be whatever on top.

[jajaja]

Yes, if thats the way he wants it. But it will most likely get broken if you dont send it in a box. Then he will claim money from Paypal and give you a negative most likely
Did you list the shipping price in the auction?

The picture he gave you. It looks like it was shipped between 2 cartboard plates. And it was cheap. Can you send it the same way and for the same price?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Yes, if thats the way he wants it. But it will most likely get broken if you dont send it in a box. Then he will claim money from Paypal and give you a negative most likely
Did you list the shipping price in the auction?

The picture he gave you. It looks like it was shipped between 2 cartboard plates. And it was cheap. Can you send it the same way and for the same price?

That is the reason why I don't want to ship it like that. It's much safer to send it in a box. Less risk there.

I could try to send it that way, but see, I don't have such sturdy cardboard available. The only boxes I have are rather flimsy. I'll see what I can do about that.

dieourumov:
I can't send an item overseas with tracking via USPS. And if I choose another method, it'll cost MORE than GPM.

Mayhem:
I can send it via airmail letter rate, but not if I want it to get there intact.

[jajaja]

You can ship worldwide with USPS and get a tracking number I recently did this. I payed $26 to get one NES game sent from USA to Europe. It was fully insured and it had tracking.

Isnt there any way you can get good cartboard? Ask in a foodstore if you can, you probly get it

[Kitsune Sniper]

You can ship worldwide with USPS and get a tracking number I recently did this. I payed $26 to get one NES game sent from USA to Europe. It was fully insured and it had tracking.

Isnt there any way you can get good cartboard? Ask in a foodstore if you can, you probly get it

The jerk won't even PAY $12, you think he'll want to pay $26?

And the local foodstores do have cardboard but they throw them out rather soon, or they... well, have oils, fats, and such from food. >_<

[jajaja]

Hehe true, but I just wanted to say that it is possible
Ye, they might have food on them, but not all. Like cartboardboxes that contained chipbags or other stuff. Its worth a shot, you will probly get something if you ask.
Good luck

[Vectorman0]

You can get some semi-decent cardboard from the boxes the USPS gives you. I justify it as I am still shipping stuff through them.

[NESaholic]

What you also can do is make the box yourself with cardboard and some tape to make it fit around the record,the cheapest way right?
Just use some old papers and cardboard inside also the to keep the record in one place and that it can't bend when mailed and your finished.

[Kitsune Sniper]

You can get some semi-decent cardboard from the boxes the USPS gives you. I justify it as I am still shipping stuff through them.

The local clerk told me that if I ever mangled a Priority Mail box and use it for another purpose, he'd refuse to ship anything I try to send.

So... not an option.

Nes-a-holic:
I want to do something like that... or maybe get a huge envelope and send it that way. Problem is, most cardboard here is not even sturdy at all.

[Mayhem]

I can send it via airmail letter rate, but not if I want it to get there intact.

It might be called "airmail letter rate" but it is what essentially replaced the old "small package" rate.

Airmail letter rate can be used for packages/parcels that have no dimension greater than 24 inches, a combined length/width/depth of no more than 36 inches and a weight less than 4 pounds.

It's how I get a lot of my smaller items sent from the US now. I can't imagine the dimensions or weight being outside those I've listed. And yes it applies to shipping in whatever box you want to use and how much you pack it to protect.

[Griking]

The auction description says "European, Asian, Australian and Canadian bidders must contact me to inquire shipping charges to their country". Did this guy contact you beforehand for a shipping quote? If not then its his own fault and not yours.

I'm assuming that the seller of the package that he provided a picture of used Global Priority Mail. For an 8 oz. package shipping would cost $5.00 (Link). Great price but only because you're sacrificing the weight of packaing material that will protect the record during shipping.

My recommendation is to package it up in a small box and ship it via Airmail Letter Post. As long as you can get it packaged within a pound shipping would only be $9.25 (Link) If he doesn't accept that offer then tell him to pound sand.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The auction description says "European, Asian, Australian and Canadian bidders must contact me to inquire shipping charges to their country". Did this guy contact you beforehand for a shipping quote? If not then its his own fault and not yours.

I'm assuming that the seller of the package that he provided a picture of used Global Priority Mail. For an 8 oz. package shipping would cost $5.00 (Link). Great price but only because you're sacrificing the weight of packaing material that will protect the record during shipping.

My recommendation is to package it up in a small box and ship it via Airmail Letter Post. As long as you can get it packaged within a pound shipping would only be $9.25 (Link) If he doesn't accept that offer then tell him to pound sand.

The guy never asked me for shipping costs beforehand.

The small Flat Rate Envelope is about three inches tall by seven inches long. The item would fit, yes, but in little pieces. Not to mention that there isn't any space for padding.

*kicks stupid USPS website*

Maximum length, height, depth (thickness) combined: 36 inches.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immc2_017.html

The box I intended to use has dimensions of 11 by 10 by 3 inches. Can I use this box?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Sorry, this post is not meant as a bump. I decided to tell him that it's either $12 or nothing.

Hello.

I'm not reducing the price of shipping. I can't lower it any further.

I wrote "European, Asian, Australian and Canadian bidders must
contact me to inquire shipping charges to their country." on the
auction for a reason. Most bidders contact me before the auction
ends.

If you do not wish to pay the cost of shipping, then you must
definitely not want your item to arrive in one piece. I refuse to
ship the item in anything but a box with tons of padding inside. The
album is rare and I will not risk it be destroyed or damaged because
of bad packaging and awful handling by the postal service in both
your country and mine.

If you do not wish to complete this transaction, we can both agree to
not continue with it. Simple as that.

*prepares for the impending negative*

[Mayhem]

The box I intended to use has dimensions of 11 by 10 by 3 inches. Can I use this box?

Yep that's fine. None of the dimensions are over 24 inches and the combined dimensions is 24 inches (so under 36). So weigh it, and then calculate airmail letter rate on the UPSP website.

[anagrama]

Frankly, your original $20 quote for shipping a 7" record was ridiculous - I'm not surprised the guy wasn't happy. Even $12 is steep. It has usually cost me around $10-$15 to get LPs sent from the US to the UK, and I wouldn't expect to pay more than around $8 tops for a 7".

Why are you insisting on shipping it in a box? I've bought records from all over the world, and have never recieved one like that - an LP/7" mailer or a couple of bits of stiff cardboard does the job perfectly.

[Darth Sensei]

Perhaps you would be better off doing what others have done and refuse to sell to foreigners.

[Griking]

Frankly, your original $20 quote for shipping a 7" record was ridiculous - I'm not surprised the guy wasn't happy. Even $12 is steep. It has usually cost me around $10-$15 to get LPs sent from the US to the UK, and I wouldn't expect to pay more than around $8 tops for a 7".

Why are you insisting on shipping it in a box? I've bought records from all over the world, and have never recieved one like that - an LP/7" mailer or a couple of bits of stiff cardboard does the job perfectly.

Did you read my response? I included links to the USPS website with their shipping rates. $9.25 is the minimum charge for Airmail to Poland for a one pound package or envelope.

[anagrama]

Since when did a 7" single weigh a pound?