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Audiogon advice

64.109.11.104

Posted by anonposter on September 21, 2002 at 08:48:26

I recently sold a CD player on Audiogon, but things didn't go as planned. I am posting, not to justify my position, but to solicit advice.

When I sold the CD player, I offered to pay shipping and split PayPal fees. A potential buyer offered my asking price and agreed to pay one half of the PayPal fees. I spoke with him on the phone, and then 15 minutes after receiving payment, I was at the UPS service counter handing them the double boxed CD player.

The buyer receives the package 3 business days later. I didn't hear from him, but I saw via UPS Tracking that it had been signed for. I waited 3 more days, but no contact. At this point, I transfered the funds out of my PayPal account. In the Audiogon listing, I made it clear that I needed the money immediately to pay my tuition bill. So that is what I did. I paid my tuition.

Now, 4 more days go by. The buyer emails me saying the CD player doesn't work. He and I go back and forth for about one week via email diagnosing the problem. He badgers me for a refund, but I instead offer to file a UPS claim. He says there is no apparent damage to the shipping material, but I figure it is my only option.

I file the claim, and UPS offers to pick up the item from the receiver. The buyer then emails me saying he will be out of town and that UPS cannot pick it up for one week.

Fast forward one more week.

UPS picks up the package. They say there is no damage, and they ship it back to me. I did not ask them to ship it back to me, so quickly I think of the next step. I have UPS redirect the package to the manufacturer (not an easy task to do, but they agreed). I then call up the mfg and ask them what kind of service they can do. They claim the problem can be fixed with about 75 dollars worth of parts/labor plus return shipping.

At this point, I email this new solution to the buyer. I offer to pay _all_ costs to fix and ship the CD player. I also tell him that I may be able to afford a partial refund (if parts+labor+shipping is not extravagent) for his troubles and for being patient throughout. By this point in time, the buyer is very upset. I was hoping to appease him a little with my new offer. But, instead, he gets upset and files a fraud claim in PayPal.

What did I do wrong? I told him I do not have the money to refund him. I did actually sell some items to raise a few bucks, so I can afford the cost to repair the CD Player.

Just so people are aware of what we are talking about. The buyer paid 575 plus about 8 dollars in PayPal fees. I paid 12 dollars for the shipping, per my Audiogon listing, 8 dollars in PayPal fees, and I have offered to eat the costs of repair and return shipping. What else can I do? The CD player _did_ work before I boxed it up and shipped it. I do believe the buyer that it doesn't work now. He has good all feedback, and I spoke with him on the phone. Shit happens. Things break.

Should I just let him fume?

Am I doing the morally and ethically correct thing?

This process so far has taken one month. I received payment on August 23rd. I expect that the repair and return shipping will take another 2 weeks. What kind of partial refund does that justify? I have already accepted the fact that he will _probably_ leave me negative feedback on Audiogon. I am not trying to salvage that at this point. I just to do the right thing.

Thanks.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Crux Audio

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