What should I do?

Sidetracked · January 10, 2013

I know this isn't golf related but I thought it would be the best section for it.

Last week I bought a brand new iPad off eBay. Sent the guy a couple messages back and forth and decided to just pay him through PayPal so he could avoid the eBay fees. So I paid him that day, non-gifted and he shipped it out last Saturday through UPS. This is what he said. He has no tracking number. It is now Thursday and I still haven't seen the iPad. I know some of you might think its only been 3-4 days, but the fact is I only live an hour away from where he shipped from, Long Beach, CA.

We have been exchanging emails the last couple of days and he told me, that UPS told him I would get the package anywhere from the 10th-16th. That didn't sound right to me. It should only take one day in transit. He did say if it isn't here by the 16th to message him for a refund.

Does UPS offer a shipping service that slow?

Anyway, what would you guys do? Should I just be patient and wait until the 16th or should I file a claim this weekend or something?

jj9000 · January 10, 2013

[quote name='Sidetracked' timestamp='1357845188' post='6204725']
He did say if it isn't here by the 16th to message him for a refund.
[/quote]

Right there is your answer.

Determine a course of action based on what transpires on the 16th and soon thereafter.

halliedog · January 10, 2013

I'm confused. You bought it off eBay, paid PayPal, but were hoping to avoid fees? Or did you convince him, or he you, to close the auction early and so you really bought it from him directly?

I don't know how PayPal will react to a dispute if you bought direct simply to avoid eBay fees. They do seem to always side with the buyer, but if they put 2 + 2 together, who knows. It also makes me suspicious that someone shipped a $500-800 extremely popular tech gadget without tracking/insurance?

At least he is still exchanging emails with you, but do you think if he really did ship it and UPS "lost" it that he is going to come out of pocket for several hundred dollars to make you content? I agree with jj900, but I would not wait until the 16th to let him know your intentions. Maybe he did ship and it will show up, maybe he's scamming you, but the whole deal seems shady to me.

Falang_Golfer · January 10, 2013

I thought all UPS was tracked? And yes, they can be turtles. Hate ups.

practicetee · January 10, 2013

Anytime you ship UPS there is free tracking. Whether he shipped it from an online account or at a retail store he would have a receipt with a number similar to "1Z xxx xxx xx xxxx xxx x" that enables you to track it at all times.

IMO, it is important for you to appear very knowledgable to the seller an demonstrate you know how shipping/tracking works with UPS and how Paypal handles disputes. Don't give the seller that much time. Force their hand so that either way a resolution comes quickly. It will scare the seller either into finally shipping it or being truthful and issuing a refund. With Paypal, if they do not have proof the package was delivered you should win any dispute. The fact you purchased it outside of eBay doesn't matter, as GolfWRX members use Paypal all the time for non-eBay purchases and are covered.

Sidetracked · January 10, 2013

[quote name='practicetee' timestamp='1357865928' post='6206801']
Anytime you ship UPS there is free tracking. Whether he shipped it from an online account or at a retail store he would have a receipt with a number similar to "1Z xxx xxx xx xxxx xxx x" that enables you to track it at all times.

IMO, it is important for you to appear very knowledgable to the seller an demonstrate you know how shipping/tracking works with UPS and how Paypal handles disputes. Don't give the seller that much time. Force their hand so that either way a resolution comes quickly. It will scare the seller either into finally shipping it or being truthful and issuing a refund. With Paypal, if they do not have proof the package was delivered you should win any dispute. The fact you purchased it outside of eBay doesn't matter, as GolfWRX members use Paypal all the time for non-eBay purchases and are covered.
[/quote]

Yeah I got a discount for paying through PayPal instead of buying through eBay so he could avoid the 9 or 10 percent fee. As far as the tracking I didn't know that. I'm going to send him a message asking for the receipt number and if isn't delivered tomorrow I am starting a dispute. Yeah sending an expensive item like that and not knowing tracking is questionable. I'm thinking he never sent it and is trying to scam me somehow even though I can file a dispute. There is no way a package takes 5 days to get delivered an hour away.

PhilMickFan · January 10, 2013

If you live an hour away, UPS would deliver to you the next day. There is no service via UPS that would take 4 days to ship 60 miles. Doesn't smell right to me.

horty1388 · January 10, 2013

I've had a club take 2 weeks to go from seal beach to Torrance which is like 25? miles... Was a combination of poor customer service and slow shipping. That was the last time I bought from golf deals And steals...

Sidetracked · January 10, 2013

[quote name='PhilMickFan' timestamp='1357868830' post='6207037']
If you live an hour away, UPS would deliver to you the next day. There is no service via UPS that would take 4 days to ship 60 miles. Doesn't smell right to me.
[/quote]

Yeah that is what I thought. I even calculated transit time via their website and it said the next day.

will227457 · January 11, 2013

Dude you got screwed, I hope I'm wrong but it does not look good

highergr0und · January 11, 2013

He's just trying to buy enough time for the money to make it to his bank account..... I would dispute it right now.

There is no way it take UPS more than a day, maybe two if he dropped it off someplace and missed the last pickup of the day. They usually deliver in a day in about an 150 mile radius.

Graymulligan · January 11, 2013

There's a reason that one of the warnings on Ebay is the whole "Don't buy or sell outside ebay, always work within the system".

I have a completely different question. If you're buying something that expensive, why not just go pick it up if its only an hour away? I'd personally do it that way just to make sure I'm getting what I think I'm buying. Especially with a seller that wants to do business outside the auction, which is against the Ebay TOS.

Good luck, I hope this works out for you, but it sure smells fishy from here.

Imp · January 11, 2013

UPS has been ungodly slow since Nov for some reason and even after the holidays. SOmething happened, don't know what, but stuff that used to take a day or two now takes 4+ days sometimes.

That said, you're being stalled so there can be no dispute, or it's passed the dispute window. I won't send money outside of ebays procedures just for (what little) protection they do provide. Otherwise, only with a business that takes credit cards so I can dispute the charge.

--kC

Sidetracked · January 11, 2013

[quote name='Graymulligan' timestamp='1357927745' post='6210549']
There's a reason that one of the warnings on Ebay is the whole "Don't buy or sell outside ebay, always work within the system".

I have a completely different question. If you're buying something that expensive, why not just go pick it up if its only an hour away? I'd personally do it that way just to make sure I'm getting what I think I'm buying. Especially with a seller that wants to do business outside the auction, which is against the Ebay TOS.

Good luck, I hope this works out for you, but it sure smells fishy from here.
[/quote]

Well his eBay location says he is in Bakersfield, Ca which is like 3+ hours from me. I finally asked him where he is located a couple of days ago and he said Long Beach, CA. I'm not to worried about doing transactions outside of eBay as long as I pay through PayPal with a CC. Done it many times and never had something go wrong.

Just filed a dispute 10 minutes ago. If somehow PayPal doesn't rule in my side I will call my CC and get the charged reverse. I don't know how they won't rule in my favor because he didn't even upload a tracking number, he just marked it as shipped. Also, since it is over 250 he needed a signature for it and I have not signed for anything.

Is there anything else I should do you think? I have some of his information. No phone number though.

Sidetracked · January 11, 2013

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1357931119' post='6210877']
UPS has been ungodly slow since Nov for some reason and even after the holidays. SOmething happened, don't know what, but stuff that used to take a day or two now takes 4+ days sometimes.

That said, you're being stalled so there can be no dispute, or it's passed the dispute window. I won't send money outside of ebays procedures just for (what little) protection they do provide. Otherwise, only with a business that takes credit cards so I can dispute the charge.

--kC
[/quote]

Paid on Jan. 4th and I have until 45 days after to file a dispute. I'm well within the window.