DOA Panasonic DMP-BDT210 ebay purchase

"Its clearly arrived in "not as described" condition, so i cant see where you wont have a case against them.

The shipping price they charged is something i would consider reasonable, they did have to take it to the post office and effort was involved, even if its not much. If it was done properly i doubt youd complain though too."


Why is everything a matter of sliding standards these days where the consumer has to absorb extra efforts for their purchases. I want it the way it's advertised...period. Somehow we as consumers have gotten to the point where we're forced more and more into accepting defects in products and services because sellers (goods or services) make the complaint process as painful as possible hoping we'll give up.

Case in point, I had all new windows installed in my home 5 years ago. I did my research and settled on a company from my home state; to keep the money here and keep people working. They were installed in the summer and when winter rolled around we noticed moisture where the sash's meet. I called them and was told, get this,
1) It's normal for windows to leak  (huh?)
2) We would have to wipe the moisture off and if we didn't and it damaged the window or weather seal (?) the warranty would be void (again..huh?)
3) We needed to keep the humidity down in our home by not running a humidifier or excessive cooking involving steam. WTF??!!!!
I fought and fought with them. Legal representation was out due to the cost compared to eating it and having another brand installed. So...we close the f-en blinds so we don't see the f-en moisture, which in the coldest winter days with a humidifier running turns to f-en ice!

Back to the topic.

I'd have still called him on the shipping charges.

As a Seller he is bound by his agreement to charge no more than the carrier charges him...UNLESS he specifies a handling charge in the auction; which would supposedly compensate him for his time and materials. There are exceptions to this but they don't apply here.

If he can't accept what goes along with being an ebay seller such as proper packaging, tracking numbers, insurance, and getting the item off to the successful bidder; he shouldn't be a seller. Ebay dictates that in their Sellers agreement by establishing 'acceptable' percentages for infractions. After exceeding those numbers the seller risks losing star status and ultimately their Seller Agreement.
Having said that, I haven't filed with ebay or Paypal yet but rather have been trying to get it resolved with the seller first, as should be done initially.

Like it or not, he has to eat this because he didn't package the item correctly. Period. It's in the Sellers rules. Yes USPS damaged it but if the item were in a box and not a padded envelope the damage would have been hopefully confined to the packaging. I won't say everyone, but certainly those of us who routinely ship or receive anything know the handling practices of shippers. Monkeys at a zoo couldn't do more damage in too many instances so package it well, insure it, get a tracking number and minimize the chances of increased hassles and lost revenue when an item is damaged.

I got no reply back from the seller last night although he had all evening to do so. You have to strike while the iron is hot in any deal so I sent another message before going to bed at 2am letting him know that to be fair, I would give him 24 hrs from when I received the damaged item before initiating anything with Paypal and/or ebay.

Know what I got back the next morning?...this:

"Dear 2358greg,

I will call eBay this afternoon to see how to proceed. I'm a busy professional. And will get back to you

- jxxxxg"

Wait..what?!!!

What I took away from that terse reply is:

First: He has NO idea what rules and guidelines for sellers he committed to when he entered into Seller status.

Second: He holds himself and his time in higher regard than that of his customers. And why feel the need to qualify lack of interest in resolving the issue by referring to who or what he is or does for a living...I could care less. 

Third: I don't have a life? The time I continue to invest in this has no value?

Fourth: He has to CALL ebay? The Sellers resource links are plainly plastered all over every single page in a sidebar he looks at as a registered Seller.

Fifth: He'll get to this when he's damn good and ready, and if I don't like it?...wipe the moisture off the windows and deal with it.

We're not talking a lot of money here, it's the principal, and now the attitude. That I've now lost the hopeful shine of a Prospective Customer after converting to a Paying Customer says a lot about this sellers professionalism and commitment.

This isn't the first time this has happened to anyone, and won't be the last, I know. I just happened to throw the dart and hit yet another clueless Seller playing at running an e-business.

Things like this may be the modern norm but because of the ambivalence and apathy of the Sheeple who aided in the propagation of these practices I shouldn't have to choose between head or gut when consuming.

Fear not mate, i sharnt be taking any further part.

Before i leave though, DOA? How would he know if he didnt open the package?