topic Buyer Beware! in Buying

eBay store - Buyer Beware!

hecate_2007 — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 11:59:59 GMT

Beware shopping at this business online at eBay.
Seller employs lazy courier (Couriers Please)(no thanks!),
Courier delivers to pop-up shop miles away instead of delivering to 2 optional pop-up shops across the road,
Then turns around and blames you.
Item is sent back to seller, but no refund.
Item tracking number comes up as delivered (to pop-up shop),
So eBay closes case, and mysteriously all feedback is removed.
If item was delivered, why am I unable to leave feedback?
Very very strange. Very unusual for eBay.
So much running around to fix seller's mistake, and now no communication forthcoming, and definitely no refund.
Case is now being reviewed by PayPal.
AVOID SELLER.

Buyer Beware!

digital*ghost — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:30:54 GMT

Sounds like a bit of a mess 😞

Has the seller provided any reason at all for denying a refund? Was there no alternative aside from the package being RTS?

ebay will always remove negs / neuts when a case is decided in the seller's favour.

And as much as I hate to say it, PayPal will likely rule the same as eBay (they don't actually require proof of delivery, the seller only has to provide proof of posting to your address).

How did you fund the PayPal payment?

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

davewil1964 — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:36:54 GMT

Your failure to collect, regardless of the reason, is, ipso facto, not a valid reason for receiving a refund. All tracking shows delivered, so your failure to collect is neither eBay's nor the seller's fault. It is still delivered according to the tracking, which is what eBay go by. The seller could well incur costs from the carrier for RTS.

If you don't want courier delivery, check with the seller prior to purchase if there is any doubt.

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

hecate_2007 — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:38:29 GMT

Regardless, the item was not delivered to the address, this particular courier never gets out of the van,

I have often caught him from my kitchen window just driving up to the letter box and just sticking the yellow and red card straight in,

The item was sent back to the seller, as I could not walk 4 kms the distance with a broken toe,

The seller knows this, I attempted to have the parcel redirected,

I also rang the pop-up shop 4 kms away to have them redirect it, but no luck,

The seller did absolutely nothing to fix the problem,

The item was automatically sent back after 7 days,

10 days later, still no communication, and no refund.

Not a way to run a reputable business.

I'm surprised that for only $56, the seller would do this,

Maybe he thinks eBay buyers have no voice, so who cares,

Well I do, so there!

eBay store - Buyer Beware!

countessalmirena — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:48:15 GMT

@hecate_2007,

The seller's responsibility (according to eBay policy) ends with the proof of delivery to your address. After a failed delivery, it seems that the courier delivered to a pop-up that was within a reasonable distance for you to collect. (4 km is very reasonable.)

To the best of my knowledge, eBay will deem delivery to a PO or similar, where the parcel is ready for collection by the buyer, to be delivery to the buyer.

(Just be aware that the seller's responsibility according to Australian legislation ends with proof of postage rather than proof of delivery.) Quoting from Sale of Goods Act:

❝Risk prima facie passes with property

Unless otherwise agreed, the goods remain at the seller’s risk until the property therein is transferred to the buyer, but when the property therein is transferred to the buyer, the goods are at the buyer’s risk, whether delivery has been made or not: [...]

Delivery to carrier

Where in pursuance of a contract of sale the seller is authorised or required to send the goods to the buyer, delivery of the goods to a carrier, whether named by the buyer or not, for the purpose of transmission to the buyer, is prima facie deemed to be a delivery of the goods to the buyer.❞

- Sale of Goods Act 1923 (NSW - current)

You obviously received the card notifying you that you had a missed delivery, and that the parcel could be collected from the pop-up shop.

Once aware that the parcel had been delivered to that address, your responsibility was to collect the item. It can be awkward getting around with a broken toe, but 4 km is so close that you could reasonably ask for a lift from a family member, friend or neighbour, go in on crutches to collect the parcel, re-enter the car giving you lift, and be brought back - with the exercise taking no more than 15 minutes.

You could also have asked family member/friend/neighbour to pick up on your behalf.

It is certainly not the seller's responsibility to do anything once the item was despatched with the correct delivery address on the label.

You knew that the pop-up shop would not have the parcel "redirected" - you rang them to ask and they told you that it wasn't possible. You could have asked them to rePOST the item, with postage cost being your responsibility, and they would probably have obliged you.

Now that the item's been sent back to the seller, you would have the right to a refund less the non-recoverable costs incurred by the seller. That would include the seller's eBay fees, postage cost, handling cost, PayPal fees.

Have you asked for a refund less those costs? If you contacted the seller with the attitude of blaming the seller for doing "absolutely nothing to fix the problem", you've probably made the seller disinclined to assist; nevertheless, if you message the seller politely, or phone the seller politely, or send a polite letter) asking to be refunded less those costs, I would be surprised if the seller did not issue that refund.

If the seller is a business, you can ask your local Consumer Affairs/Fair trading to contact the seller on your behalf.

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

gutterpunkz05 — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:39:12 GMT

@hecate_2007 wrote:

Regardless, the item was not delivered to the address, this particular courier never gets out of the van,

I have often caught him from my kitchen window just driving up to the letter box and just sticking the yellow and red card straight in,

The item was sent back to the seller, as I could not walk 4 kms the distance with a broken toe,

The seller knows this, I attempted to have the parcel redirected,

I also rang the pop-up shop 4 kms away to have them redirect it, but no luck,

The seller did absolutely nothing to fix the problem,

The item was automatically sent back after 7 days,

10 days later, still no communication, and no refund.

Not a way to run a reputable business.

I'm surprised that for only $56, the seller would do this,

Maybe he thinks eBay buyers have no voice, so who cares,

Well I do, so there!

How is this the sellers fault. they have shipped the item to an address provided by you. If you apparently know that you have a

dodgy/lazy courier servicing your address, then dont buy items online if they may be shipped by courier. You obviously knew that the item was awaiting collection but failed to collect . It is not the sellers fault that you have a broken toe and could not walk to collection point. Anyway the mods have deleted the sellers details, so your attempt to damage the reputation of a reputable seller

is all in vain

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

chameleon54 — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 19:31:01 GMT

@hecate_2007 wrote:
Beware shopping at this business online at eBay.
Seller employs lazy courier (Couriers Please)(no thanks!),
Courier delivers to pop-up shop miles away instead of delivering to 2 optional pop-up shops across the road,
Then turns around and blames you.
Item is sent back to seller, but no refund.
Item tracking number comes up as delivered (to pop-up shop),
So eBay closes case, and mysteriously all feedback is removed.
If item was delivered, why am I unable to leave feedback?
Very very strange. Very unusual for eBay.
So much running around to fix seller's mistake, and now no communication forthcoming, and definitely no refund.
Case is now being reviewed by PayPal.
AVOID SELLER.

My understanding of a " pop - up shop " is one that rents a vacant premises, trades from makeshift shop fittings such as trestle tables etc. for a few weeks and then closes down again, sometimes " popping up " somewhere else. ( see link below )

Your claim that an established courier company would have a contract with such a transient business to act as a freight depot for receival and handling of parcels just doesn't smell right. And two more pop up shops just across the road, both of which also act as freight depots for the same established company ? That's an awful lot of " pop-up shops " acting as freight depots for a major courier company ????

I smell porky pies.

https://www.thestorefront.com/mag/what-exactly-is-a-pop-up-shop/

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

springyzone — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 21:42:09 GMT

It does sound as if you have a lazy courier & you should have been able to collect the parcel at your address if you were home.

It's a pain when you have to travel in to some place to collect but I actually think you were lucky. At least you got a card.

I missed a collection once and was sent an email with a code number and told to put it on my mobile phone and that would tell me the collection address and when I waved the code over the lock there, it would open the appropriate locker and I could collect the parcel.

I didn't own a smart phone.

What you needed to do was what i did, delegate or get help. You needed to get someone to drive you to the pick up point or even get a bus.

Given that for one reason or other you couldn't do that though, I do think the seller should at least have refunded you the purchase price minus his expenses, now that he has his item back.

If contacting paypal, that should be the aspect you concentrate on-that you have no item as it has been returned to the seller and you have had no refund of the item price either.

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

digital*ghost — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 23:12:12 GMT

@springyzone wrote:

I didn't own a smart phone.

Sometimes they can hurt more than they help - I actually had a similar situation to the OP recently. I bought a 16-drawer storage cabinet online and used my home address cos I figured carrying them home from my PO box would be a pain. Got the tracking number (Fastway) and figured it would be a few days, but missed the delivery because it came the next day.

They got left at a greengrocer's a few k's away, and kinda inconvenient to get to for someone who doesn't drive, but I was at least familiar with the area as I used to live down that way and it was right near where I used to take some classes.

So, it's a 10 minute walk up to a main road to catch a bus down to where this shop is, hauling this big bag to hopefully fit the cabinets so I didn't have to catch a taxi back. Get to the bus stop and start to look up when the next bus comes, only for the bus to sail right past me as I'm looking at my phone.

Got there eventually, only to find the box was a lot smaller than I was expecting and easy to carry, so I coulda had it sent to my PO box anyway.

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

gutterpunkz05 — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 01:43:31 GMT

@chameleon54 wrote:
@hecate_2007 wrote:
Beware shopping at this business online at eBay.
Seller employs lazy courier (Couriers Please)(no thanks!),
Courier delivers to pop-up shop miles away instead of delivering to 2 optional pop-up shops across the road,
Then turns around and blames you.
Item is sent back to seller, but no refund.
Item tracking number comes up as delivered (to pop-up shop),
So eBay closes case, and mysteriously all feedback is removed.
If item was delivered, why am I unable to leave feedback?
Very very strange. Very unusual for eBay.
So much running around to fix seller's mistake, and now no communication forthcoming, and definitely no refund.
Case is now being reviewed by PayPal.
AVOID SELLER.

My understanding of a " pop - up shop " is one that rents a vacant premises, trades from makeshift shop fittings such as trestle tables etc. for a few weeks and then closes down again, sometimes " popping up " somewhere else. ( see link below )

Your claim that an established courier company would have a contract with such a transient business to act as a freight depot for receival and handling of parcels just doesn't smell right. And two more pop up shops just across the road, both of which also act as freight depots for the same established company ? That's an awful lot of " pop-up shops " acting as freight depots for a major courier company ????

I smell porky pies.

https://www.thestorefront.com/mag/what-exactly-is-a-pop-up-shop/

I think they might mean POPSTATIONS or POPSHOPS appear to be similar service to parcel point and parcel lockers

http://www.couriersplease.com.au/

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

bluebudgies — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 02:05:48 GMT

Who'd know what the OP means. There's a lot of missing information and the best anyone can do is guess what really happened.

Re: eBay store - Buyer Beware!

countessalmirena — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:37:19 GMT

gutterpunkz, thank goodness for your post!

I was metaphorically scratching my head, wondering why a pop-up shop would be the collection point for a missed courier delivery. After checking the CouriersPlease site, a light has POPped up for me.

Couriers Please POPPoints

POPStation

What is a POPStation?

POPStation is a new way to collect your parcels when and where you choose. POPStation Parcel Lockers are conveniently located and most are accessible 24/7. It is a free to use service brought to you by Couriers Please.

How to use a CouriersPlease POPStation

If our CouriersPlease Franchisee is unable to complete your delivery, your parcel may be delivered to a POPStation closest to your address. You will receive a Delivery Advice Notification (card and/or email or SMS) with instructions on how to find the location of your parcel and how to use the POPStation. Please follow these instructions carefully. Once you have confirmed the location of your parcel, please proceed to your designated POPStation taking your Delivery Advice Notification and your mobile phone.

[...]

When can I collect my parcel from the POPStation?

You will receive the Delivery Advice Notification (card and/or email, SMS) to pick up your parcel from the designated POPStation for your area.

You will need to collect your parcel within 7 calendar days from receipt of the Delivery Advice Notification. If you don’t collect your article from the designated POPStation within 7 calendar days, it will be returned to sender.

How to retrieve my parcel from the POPStation?

Follow the instructions on the Delivery Advice Notification to retrieve your parcel. Please remember to bring your mobile phone along with the Delivery Advice Notification to retrieve your parcel.

How long do I have to collect my parcel from the POPStation?

You will have 7 calendar days from the time you receive the Delivery Advice Notification to pick up your parcel from the designated POPStation.

Can another person collect my parcel from the POPStation on my behalf?

Yes. The person you have authorised to collect on your behalf will need the Delivery Advice Notification and their mobile phone. Please note that you bear full responsibility for supplying the collection pin and locker number to a third party collecting the parcel on your behalf.

Can I have my goods delivered to a Parcel Locker operated by another logistics provider?

CouriersPlease can only deliver to its own branded dark blue POPStation Parcel Lockers.

@hecate_2007, please note...

CouriersPlease aren't able to deliver to just any POPStation Parcel Lockers; they will only deliver to their "own branded dark blue" ones. I suspect that the two POPStations "across the road" are not CouriersPlease branded dark blue POPStations. That's one issue explained for you (and anyone else who is having something delivered by CouriersPlease).
The Delivery Advice Notification contains instructions on how to collect, from where to collect, and - very importantly - that you only have "7 calendar days" to collect your parcel. It even explains "If you don’t collect your article from the designated POPStation within 7 calendar days, it will be returned to sender". That makes it clear, OP, that you were informed about the timeframe.
Yes, you can certainly authorise a third party to collect the parcel on your behalf. You would simply give that person the Delivery Advice Notification (which could be a card and/or email or SMS), and tell them that they must have their mobile phone with them. Why on earth didn't you ask someone to collect the parcel on your behalf, hecate_2007? It would have been such an easy and suitable solution, given that you were suffering a broken toe.

Oh well... If you have a similar situation next time, you'll know what to do.