Christian Ethics & eBay Sale

NostalgicGranny · #41 01/02/10, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsumner

I did a little research on ebay. I think I found the auction ad that we are discussing here. The ad states and I quote: "A snack sized baggie full of Otter Tail Tobacco seeds". If I won the bid on this auction, I would expect TWO snack sized baggies Full of Otter Tail Tobacco seeds, no ifs, and or buts. I think the term "Full" describes a filled bag. If you had the bags packed for shipping and someone else wanted a third bag, why in the world would you then repackage the snack size bags. Just fill a third bag with additional seeds. Opening, repackaging and moving seeds around in a order to create a third bag just doesn't sound right. The first post in this thread stated
"It was a multiple auction for Tobacco seeds and the guy bought 2. At the last minute I also got contacted from an ht-er for seeds. The auction stated they would be packed in snack sized baggies, but I only had two snack baggies left. So I took them and dumped them in a larger baggy and tossed in a bunch of loose seeds as a bonus. This way I was able to fill both orders."

What gets me is the phrase "This way I was able to fill both orders." In my opinon this emplys that the contents of two snack size baggies were required to fullfill the third order. This would make sense because why would it be needed to even open the first two baggies?

Please, I'm not trying to start a fight with anyone, just the way that it appears. If anyone ever watches the JUDGE JUDY show, she has a great saying. "If it doesn't make sense, then something is wrong"

I have info for the ad, PM me if needed.

Daniel

Ok I'm not quite sure I am following you correctly.

What I did was take a quart size baggie and dump the two snack baggies into that - since I was one baggy shy of the other order. Then I tossed in and extra handful of seeds. There is a huge size difference between a snack size baggy and a quart baggy. I kinda understand his problem. However were I to order 2 5 lb pkgs of say coffee and the store sent me one 10 lb bag with a bit more added, it would not bother me in the slightest, I would be grateful for the extra. After all I am not buying the bag I'm buying the contents.

It is plain to see from reading the posts that most people want that bag. Regardless of anything extra. That's ok with me. I offered a refund. Not much more that I can do.

To refund the money before the item is returned would not be good business in my eyes. Sears wouldn't refund your money before you returned the item. Neither would wally world. I would have no guarantee that he would send the item back. Plus even paypal requires that the merchandise be returned first.

If all the man wanted was the baggies, I would go buy some and send him 2 baggies. He clearly doesn't want them.

It wasn't some evil intention to cheat the man. And merchandise wise - except for the baggy I didn't. Even though it was marked non-returnable, I offered a refund. The rest is up to God, as I have left it in his hands, and asked him to help me make it right.

Thank you for your kind offer of help with the ad, but after this fiasco, I don't think I will be selling seeds any more.

Melissa · #42 01/02/10, 11:16 AM

So you had plenty of seeds to fill three orders, you only had two actual snack-sized baggies.

NostalgicGranny · #43 01/02/10, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa

So you had plenty of seeds to fill three orders, you only had two actual snack-sized baggies.

Exactly.

ErinP · #44 01/02/10, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seedspreader

As a business the onus is on you to return the money and to await the return of the goods, (IMO) as he did when he ordered from you.

No it's not.
I do fully agree with those who've said offer the refund (and forget about the weight thing!), and pay return shipping fees (do a partial refund out of their original PP payment). But the vast majority of mail order co's require the item back in their warehouse before they refund/exchange...

fantasymaker · #45 01/02/10, 12:47 PM

Ok fess up tell him what you did and send him 2 snack size baggies and tell him he can put the seeds in both bags and keep the extra or at your expencse send the seeds back and you will package them in the 2 bags and return them. His choice as to which.
I expect what I see discribed to be what I get. Who knows maybe he REALLY wanted the BAGS!

ginnie5 · #46 01/02/10, 03:14 PM

I wouldn't be upset if I got one bag instead of two as long as there was an explanation. I'm thrilled to get combined shipping whenever I can.

#47 01/02/10, 03:36 PM

offer the refund, pay the shipping and call it a lesson learned. to use your example if i buy 2 5lb bags of coffee from the store, and i receive a 10lb bag. i could potentially be very upset. what if i was giving two folks 5lbs each of coffee for a gift. they dont want my repackaged coffee, they want fresh. for the actual issue, you dont know his intent for the seeds, next send as described. for the ebay fabric purchasers.. in the description it almost always states, if you buy more than quantity of one, it will be send in continuous yardage. thats covering your rear

||Downhome|| · #48 01/02/10, 03:58 PM

I would of contacted him prior to shipping anything (you may have stated that you did and I missed it) you have to stand by your description or have ok to alter from it, if he put his ok on it and you said "no refunds" well thats that, but if you shipped with out confirming and differed from the discription, you changed the rules after the fact and he has a right to do the same. fair is fair and right is right. I would refund the money but maybe see if he would send some different seed in place of what you shipped he may be game and you may still come out of it with something you want. I dont think it has anything with being a christian , ethics are ethics but if you want to bring religion in didnt jesus say to turn the other cheek.

Gercarson · #49 01/02/10, 03:58 PM

I rely totally on the description (and photo) of an item on eBay. I LOVE eBay too. I always try to handle any problems with the seller (I do NOT sell on eBay) before I file a complaint and do not leave negative feedback - just no feedback - I want what is advertised and expect it to be what is described - down to the number of "snack baggies". I think if you are going to say no refunds given - then give what you advertise. I say, refund and apologize - that's the ethical thing to do.

NostalgicGranny · #50 01/02/10, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idigpotatoes

offer the refund, pay the shipping and call it a lesson learned. to use your example if i buy 2 5lb bags of coffee from the store, and i receive a 10lb bag. i could potentially be very upset. what if i was giving two folks 5lbs each of coffee for a gift. they dont want my repackaged coffee, they want fresh. for the actual issue, you dont know his intent for the seeds, next send as described. for the ebay fabric purchasers.. in the description it almost always states, if you buy more than quantity of one, it will be send in continuous yardage. thats covering your rear

It deffinately was a lesson learned!
For the record though we are talking seeds that I sat at the kitchen table and put into a baggy not coffee that is vaccum packed to keep it fresh. He did not have an issue until he realized Ottertail is in Minnesota instead of down south. You are right though, it never occured to me that someone would buy so many seeds at once. That amount of seeds for the average home user would have lasted years or as long as the viablity lasted. So I should have listed it stating that multiple orders would be combined in one baggy. I would have if I could have foreseen one last extra sale. But in my joy over the extra sale, I did not take everything into account. That money was my Christmas dinner money, and quite frankly it seemed like a blessing to get another sale at the last minute. So I rushed through it without thinking about how the other guy might feel. I have apologized - that is standard practice for me when someone isn't thrilled with the item. And I have offered a refund. He stated neither was acceptable. Until now, I did not see anything else I could do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ||Downhome||

I I dont think it has anything with being a christian , ethics are ethics but if you want to bring religion in didnt jesus say to turn the other cheek.

No, it doesn't have anything to do with Christian ethics, but I do or atleast try to. Which is why I asked for Chritian advice. It was clear to me almost immdiately that most Christians would not have done it that way, and THAT is important to me. I believe when Jesus said to turn the other cheek, that was dealing with physical things. And quite frankly I was the one who goofed up. So hang my head would have been more like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gercarson

I rely totally on the description (and photo) of an item on eBay. I LOVE eBay too. I always try to handle any problems with the seller (I do NOT sell on eBay) before I file a complaint and do not leave negative feedback - just no feedback - I want what is advertised and expect it to be what is described - down to the number of "snack baggies". I think if you are going to say no refunds given - then give what you advertise. I say, refund and apologize - that's the ethical thing to do.

Normally I do supply photo's - my digital is on the fritz. The no refunds was to prevent theft of a hard to weigh item, and a perishable item, that needs to be stored properly. As far as I can remember it is actually the only item I have ever sold as no refund. If the seller just had a goof up - no biggy no negative. But I will give a negative if need be. Just as this guy most likely will as he is clearly unhappy.

Someone else mentioned giving a partial refund (before the item is recieved), and I am thinking of refunding the shipping just in case he needs that money in order to send the item back. And then once the item arrives refunding the rest.

ErinP · #51 01/02/10, 05:32 PM

That's how I usually do it.
My official policy is "no refunds." However, I can and do, change that as needed.

I always refund their return shipping.
"Let me know when you ship it how much it cost." and then I refund that amount plus a little extra. That way I know that it's actually on the way.

seedspreader · #52 01/02/10, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

No it's not.
I do fully agree with those who've said offer the refund (and forget about the weight thing!), and pay return shipping fees (do a partial refund out of their original PP payment). But the vast majority of mail order co's require the item back in their warehouse before they refund/exchange...

Guess you've never done business with Amazon.com eh?

I had a defective unit I bought for Christmas. They paid shipping of old item back and gave me 30 days to ship it in, I had the piece replaced within 2 days of informing them.

They've got a loyal customer here.

ErinP · #53 01/02/10, 11:39 PM

Oh to be sure, there are those that do!
(Why I said "vast majority" afterall)

My point was simply that it's not a requirement, or even expected.

haypoint · #54 01/03/10, 01:48 AM

Hindsight is 20-20. My first thought was to send him two empty bags. Depending on the value of the seeds, could you simply send him a bag of seeds in the smaller bag? That way he's getting two bags. If the seeds are of greater value, have him send them back and refund his money.
Lesson learned.

A couple years ago, I broke my French Press coffee maker. It was about a quart size. I found the exact same brand on ebay, with a picture. Ad said it was a 4 cup. I bought it and got one half the size I expected. In the picture it looked the same and some folks drink from tiny cups. Was my fault, so I ordered one the correct size.