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Ok, it's a long story! Here's one for Willowy!
At work we do a Christmas gift giving for the County's charity nursing home. The residents say what gift they'd like, and the list is passed around the County offices. However, this year, they gave the list to us last Thursday, 12/12. My person wanted a dressy, fancy hat (not a knitted winter one, etc.). The only place I could find one was on eBay. I deal with eBay about once a week, and their shipping time estimates usually are very accurate. I needed the hat by yesterday, 12/17, and the auction (I used Buy It Now, so I'd get it immediately) stated "on or before 12/17".
Now, I know that was cutting it close, but I figured it most likely would've have arrived in plenty of time, and, if not, I could buy her something else, and just keep the hat. I really wanted that pretty hat for her, though.
The tracking info was sent to me on Sunday, 12/15, but it only showed that the electronic thing was done, i.e., someone said they were planning to send it out, and it generated a tracking number. Nothing had happened, so yesterday, I emailed the seller, asking if she had sent it out. She made some excuses, "My son disappeared a month ago, and I have some friends handling my eBay auctions". Uh-huh. Never, in any of the emails, did she offer to ask those "friends" if they knew where the hat was. I emailed her again, asking her to do that and provide proof that the hat was shipped out by 12/17; if it hadn't been shipped yet (remember, it was supposed to have arrived by then), to please cancel my order, and refund my money, as I couldn't use it (I had explained the gift thing when I bought it, so she knew why I needed it, and that I wasn't being frivolous). I also opened a case with eBay, explaining all of this.
Well, guess what she did? At 3:00 AM this morning, 12/18, she sent the package! I had twice requested that she NOT do so, if it hadn't already been sent. I think she was lying to me all along. Ok, I understand: if she had sent it out before the 17th, I'd have to just accept it late.That date is not guaranteed, and it is the Christmas season. However, she did not even attempt to send it out before that date, so I think I have every right to tell her not to send it. In fact, I once did this before with another seller (I waited 2 weeks, no communication from him), and did so with no problem.
It was suggested that I refuse delivery, and have it returned to her. I feel bad, as the Post Office shouldn't have to absorb the costs because of this jerk, but it would cost me $10 to return a $20 hat. I really have no use for it now, and I'm angry that this seller, knowing why I wanted it, now has deprived an old lady the one lousy thing she asked for at Christmas (most residents will only get our gifts; they have no family). I bought her 3 knitted hats, but that's not what she wanted, and it's too late now to get the hat to her.
Any advice? Thank you.
At work we do a Christmas gift giving for the County's charity nursing home. The residents say what gift they'd like, and the list is passed around the County offices. However, this year, they gave the list to us last Thursday, 12/12. My person wanted a dressy, fancy hat (not a knitted winter one, etc.). The only place I could find one was on eBay. I deal with eBay about once a week, and their shipping time estimates usually are very accurate. I needed the hat by yesterday, 12/17, and the auction (I used Buy It Now, so I'd get it immediately) stated "on or before 12/17".
Now, I know that was cutting it close, but I figured it most likely would've have arrived in plenty of time, and, if not, I could buy her something else, and just keep the hat. I really wanted that pretty hat for her, though.
The tracking info was sent to me on Sunday, 12/15, but it only showed that the electronic thing was done, i.e., someone said they were planning to send it out, and it generated a tracking number. Nothing had happened, so yesterday, I emailed the seller, asking if she had sent it out. She made some excuses, "My son disappeared a month ago, and I have some friends handling my eBay auctions". Uh-huh. Never, in any of the emails, did she offer to ask those "friends" if they knew where the hat was. I emailed her again, asking her to do that and provide proof that the hat was shipped out by 12/17; if it hadn't been shipped yet (remember, it was supposed to have arrived by then), to please cancel my order, and refund my money, as I couldn't use it (I had explained the gift thing when I bought it, so she knew why I needed it, and that I wasn't being frivolous). I also opened a case with eBay, explaining all of this.
Well, guess what she did? At 3:00 AM this morning, 12/18, she sent the package! I had twice requested that she NOT do so, if it hadn't already been sent. I think she was lying to me all along. Ok, I understand: if she had sent it out before the 17th, I'd have to just accept it late.That date is not guaranteed, and it is the Christmas season. However, she did not even attempt to send it out before that date, so I think I have every right to tell her not to send it. In fact, I once did this before with another seller (I waited 2 weeks, no communication from him), and did so with no problem.
It was suggested that I refuse delivery, and have it returned to her. I feel bad, as the Post Office shouldn't have to absorb the costs because of this jerk, but it would cost me $10 to return a $20 hat. I really have no use for it now, and I'm angry that this seller, knowing why I wanted it, now has deprived an old lady the one lousy thing she asked for at Christmas (most residents will only get our gifts; they have no family). I bought her 3 knitted hats, but that's not what she wanted, and it's too late now to get the hat to her.
Any advice? Thank you.