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Need advice - Ebay related problem

#22
Yep, just checked and I can ship a disassembled bass - 11 pounds - from here to Indianapolis (about 150 miles) for $8.74 via Priority Mail with online printed postage. Eleven pounds to Canada is $30.12. The $22.95 is for the flat rate box, which a bass won't fit into. The problem is going to be the length: Canada restricts packages to 46 inches...My P Bass is 45 inches long and my Lakland is 45 1/2 inches long. That doesn't leave much room for packing material. It looks like it'll have to be disassembled or face additional charges.
 
#23
cybersnyder said:
The cheapest way to ship a bass is to remove the neck and ship without a case. Then the shipment will be below the combined length and girth of X inches (which I can't remember off the top of my head) for international shipping. I was able to ship a Marcus Miller to Australia for about $90 that way. The neck *just* made it in the box. If the length/girth were just an inch or two more it would have cost me over $300 to ship. I will never ship an instrument internationally again.
Click to expand...

I'm going through the length plus girth issue now with an SVT-CL head going to Australia. Not only are the dimensions too big, it weighs too much. It's got to go in three separate packages.
 
#24
musicelectronix said:
No, that is not true. If any of you guys actually read the terms and conditions related to the second chance offers, you will see that shipping costs are not allowed to be negotiable. That simply means, shipping cost can not be included in the "Additional Terms" section of that offer. Being trigger happy solved nothing in the past and will not solve anything in the future. But judging from your tone, I don't think me saying that would even matter.
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The OP's post wasn't referring to second chance offers in which shipping costs aren't negotiable. The OP was using the Best Offer option.
 
#27
Stereo Joe said:
Here's the situation:

I put in an offer on one of those 'Best offer" auctions. My offer was $250US and in the 'Terms' section, I included this note:

ME: "I can offer $250 US if you will include shipping to Postal Code K1L 7N6 in Canada"

Well, my offer got accepted and I received a request from Ebay to pay the total (like normal).

Except that when I went to check out, there was a $22.95 shipping charge. So I emailed the seller:

ME: "Hey, thanks for agreeing to the offer. Under the 'terms' section,
I stated that my offer of $250 US would included shipping costs.
Yet I see a shipping and handling charge of $22.95. I just want
to make sure that we are in agreement for $250US total cost.
(including shipping).
Thank you! "

To which the seller responder:

SELLER: "We actually did not notice that we accepted an offer that
included shipping. Additionally, you are an international buyer
and the size of the packaging required would make it very
expensive for us to ship the guitar to you. We are trying to find
a way to include the shipping in the $250 offer but it may not
be possible for us, we will know for sure on monday, thank you."


So now I'm wondering what to do. I get the impression that they want to call off the deal. I'd really like to get this bass, but I don't want to make such a huge stink of it that they'll get pissy and send it poorly packaged or damage it or something. I never tell off a waiter at a restaurant who is about to bring me my food and this situation has a similar feel to it.

Any advice??
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Nice bass - great price...I'd add the extra $23 and call it a day. You'll still get a bargain and easily recoup your $23 should you decide to sell it.

Just because they accepted your offer does not mean they have to sell it...a negative feedback rating doesn't scare off all potential customers. However, if you are firm on the deal being what was initially agreed upon, then don't get the bass, throw down some negative feedback and try to find another deal like that one.

Good luck to you!
 
#28
cybersnyder said:
Ugh! Carrying it up the stairs is bad enough. Can't imagine shipping it to Australia. At least you're not trying to ship the 8x10!
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Yeah, let me tell you....Cartin' this thing back and forth to the post office a couple of times has been making me look a bit more seriously at the MarkBass and Genz Benz heads.

:D

Carrying it to shows, you'd at least have someone handy to help carry it it. Going to the post office you're S.O.L.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Sorry for the slight derail.
 
#29
If you look at the best offer terms:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/best-offer.html

#6 clearly states that shipping costs are non-negotiable. So you can leave bad feedback, but it will just be disputed and removed. It sucks, but you're in the wrong in this case. The seller is eating some of the shipping costs already.
 
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#30
cybersnyder said:
If you look at the best offer terms:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/best-offer.html

#6 clearly states that shipping costs are non-negotiable. So you can leave bad feedback, but it will just be disputed and removed. It sucks, but you're in the wrong in this case. The seller is eating some of the shipping costs already.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right sir. However, due to recent policy chances, now the feedback is left for life :) Under no condition eBay will remove the feedback left, unless it is degrading (i.e. racial slur) or constitutes a felony.

Ps. Yeah, I read the whole thing at least twice to know more about my rights and options :)
 
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#31
This is taken directly from the Ebay guidelines:

"Shipping costs and Best Offer

For listings where you have specified shipping costs for the item, the Best Offer price includes only the listed item. For listings where you asked buyers to contact you about shipping, buyers may choose to include shipping in their offer price."



Since the seller had specified that international buyers (ME) contact him for shipping info, I was allowed to include shipping in my offer price. Which is what I did.....

Edit: taken from this page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/best-offer.html#shipping_costs
 
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#32
Stereo Joe said:
This is taken directly from the Ebay guidelines:

"Shipping costs and Best Offer

For listings where you have specified shipping costs for the item, the Best Offer price includes only the listed item. For listings where you asked buyers to contact you about shipping, buyers may choose to include shipping in their offer price."



Since the seller had specified that international buyers (ME) contact him for shipping info, I was allowed to include shipping in my offer price. Which is what I did.....

Edit: taken from this page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/best-offer.html#shipping_costs
Click to expand...

+1

Looks pretty straight forward to me.


edit:
"Bartolini Plates" :p
 
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#34
Stereo Joe said:
This is taken directly from the Ebay guidelines:

"Shipping costs and Best Offer

For listings where you have specified shipping costs for the item, the Best Offer price includes only the listed item. For listings where you asked buyers to contact you about shipping, buyers may choose to include shipping in their offer price."



Since the seller had specified that international buyers (ME) contact him for shipping info, I was allowed to include shipping in my offer price. Which is what I did.....

Edit: taken from this page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/best-offer.html#shipping_costs
Click to expand...

Wow and lol. What a detail and what an eye for a detail :) Thanks a lot for sharing and I stand corrected!
 
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#35
Stereo Joe said:
Hehe, no kidding. I think that is a BTB 510E, which is a pretty desirable bass. They definitely didn't know what it was!

"A composite maple/pine (we believe) neck"
"Dark Maple Coloring w/ Black Knobs"

Priceless...:D
Click to expand...

Looks like a killer deal.
I hope there isn't something wrong with it.
The seller is obviously unqualified as a judge of such things.
Good luck!:bassist:
 
#37
T. B. Player said:
This makes up for buying a bass from Canada for $200, and then having to pay $100 between shipping and international tarrifs that I wasn't aware of. International shipping is a bear - I'll never do it again.

Z
Click to expand...

Yeah, International shipping sucks HARD. I've had to deal with import taxes many, many times on basses and amps and effects coming from the US.

It's too bad most of the good used stuff is always in the US!
 
#38
UPDATE:

This just in!! Ebay seller tries to screw me and back out of the deal!

This is the latest response from the Ebay seller:

"We are actually very sorry but we took the guitar to the post office today and were told because the length is greater than 42" canadian customs will actually deny the package. I really do regret to inform you and apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused-- the person who accepted your offer failed to notice the terms of the best offer and we had no idea you were an international bidder until after your first message."


To me, this looks like they are trying to back out of the deal by lying. I've NEVER had a bass refused by Canada Customs for being over 42". I've had at least 5 basses sent to me in the past few years.

Well, I told them they were being misled (even though it seems like THEY are they ones being misleading) and even offered to let them ship it to a friend of mine in the US instead.

I really want to get this bass - I've looked for one for a while and this is a killer price, but at what point does it get too risky to continue dealing with a seller who obviously has ambiguous morals when it comes to keeping a deal?

Should I cut this off and report the seller to Ebay?
 
#39
Stereo Joe said:
UPDATE:

This just in!! Ebay seller tries to screw me and back out of the deal!

This is the latest response from the Ebay seller:

"We are actually very sorry but we took the guitar to the post office today and were told because the length is greater than 42" canadian customs will actually deny the package. I really do regret to inform you and apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused-- the person who accepted your offer failed to notice the terms of the best offer and we had no idea you were an international bidder until after your first message."


To me, this looks like they are trying to back out of the deal by lying. I've NEVER had a bass refused by Canada Customs for being over 42". I've had at least 5 basses sent to me in the past few years.

Well, I told them they were being misled (even though it seems like THEY are they ones being misleading) and even offered to let them ship it to a friend of mine in the US instead.

I really want to get this bass - I've looked for one for a while and this is a killer price, but at what point does it get too risky to continue dealing with a seller who obviously has ambiguous morals when it comes to keeping a deal?

Should I cut this off and report the seller to Ebay?
Click to expand...

That's what I was gonna say, but I forgot. The deal is too good, seller may back out as they already screwed up with the shipping.

I would personally would have them ship the bass to someone at northern NY, drive there to pick it up. Way too many benefits in for you, actually even better than the initial arrangement IMO:)
 
#40
sorry to hear that. honestly when a seller accepts an offer, it does not include other arrangements besides what it says in the ad unless discussed/agreed to beforehand. they just see the offers submitted, probably before they read message you sent them, and accepted. in the future, make sure you get an answer back thru the ask seller a question option. remember, if a seller does not answer your question, the answer is usually the opposite of what you want to hear. johnny a. staind
 

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