BUYER BEWARE - Justin, N7ILA
Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:03 pm
Last Sunday I responded to an ad as stated below...
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Excellent condition QRP transceiver - 100% functionally perfect and 9/10 cosmetically. Comes with all original packaging and accessories, but also with the W4RT 2300mAH internal battery, which lasts about twice as long as the stock. I will also include a carrying case and if you would like, a 20m dipole.
73,
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I have omitted names as the seller has not yet responded to my last inquiry and I'm not into giving someone a bad name they don't deserve. I'm no saint, and I'm not perfect, but I would like some feedback if I'm off-base here.
I paid last Sunday, 3/12, the full asking price. I did not try to bargain, as I felt it was a good bargain already, never questioned the price. Seller advised he would ship Monday and e-mail me or call me with tracking numbers, he even called Monday morning to confirm my shipping address.
However, no additional call or contact on Monday with tracking, and no information on Tuesday either. On Wednesday, I called to inquire about tracking information, received no answer so I left a voicemail. No response on Wednesday. I call on Thursday, another voicemail. Thursday night I try again, the seller answers. It is obvious there is an upset child in the background, and the seller says the tracking slips are in his car, asks if my cell phone will accept a text message. I said sure, just text them when you can. (I have a 3 year old and I felt for the guy, I know how it can be.)
No text message comes. Friday I call 3 times, all voicemails. My voicemails have all been very polite requests for the tracking information. Probably some concern in my tone on the late voicemail Friday night, but nonetheless, remaining positive and trying to be understanding.
Saturday morning I awake to find a text message from the seller from 12:16AM Saturday morning with the following:
"I am at work and cant take phone calls, sorry about that. expect your two packages monday or tuesday. i dont have the dc number here 73"
I texted the following back at 8:16am Saturday morning:
"SELLERNAME I need the DC numbers. I don't think that's asking too much at this point. You were going to call with the info after you shipped, never called. Then you were going to text me with the numbers because they were in your car, never did. You answered the phone every time I called before the purchase, now it seems I can't reach you. The DC numbers should not be this difficult to communicate. I would like the numbers by the end of today. Thanks, Brian."
At 12:51p I receive this response (another text message):
"Ok we have spoken twice since the purchase. again, your items were shipped. i just dont care to think about it now since i probably sold it all for too little."
And then at 12:53p (2 minutes later) I receive this:
"Like I said, i was working when you called, and previously had my hands full with a four month old. dont make this something its not. 03043490xxxxxxxxxx"
That last bit was one of the DC numbers. However, it didn't really matter because the radio was delivered already that morning.
The shipping concerned me as soon as I received the packages. The FT-817ND box had only been wrapped in brown paper (that did not cover the entire box either) with my address written on it, no packing material whatsoever. There was one smaller box with the "carrying case" in it all scrunched up into the smallest box possible. No insurance was purchased on the shipment at all.
On with the only issue remaining... two of the "original accessories" that come with the FT-817ND are not there. The original FNB-85 battery, and the E-DC-6 power cable. The additional item listed, the 20m dipole, is also not there.
I do not remember specifically asking for the 20m dipole, so if I didn't receive it, that's fine, I can live with that.
However, I don't feel the seller has lived up to the deal. All original accessories were NOT included, and contact issues aside, I don't feel that seller's remorse is a good reason for not communicating with the buyer.
I have sent the seller one final e-mail regarding the power cable and battery, as of yet with no response.
Am I off base here? I still feel as though I got a decent deal, even without the items included. Certainly not AS good as I thought, but still not bad. I will keep the radio regardless of whether I receive the battery and power cable, but I'm just trying to guage if I should just let this go and chalk it up to a learning experience, or pursue the missing items ?
I don't feel I should have to list every original accessory and ask if each is included if the ad says that all original accessories are included, if I were the seller I would feel insulted if I said all were and someone went through each individually. As if I were immediately the dishonest one who was going to try and keep a few accessories.
Anyways, entirely too long post... am I off-base? Should I let it go? I feel the other contact issues and the sellers remorse is making me more apt to pursue the missing items.
73's, happy buying.
-------------------------------------
Excellent condition QRP transceiver - 100% functionally perfect and 9/10 cosmetically. Comes with all original packaging and accessories, but also with the W4RT 2300mAH internal battery, which lasts about twice as long as the stock. I will also include a carrying case and if you would like, a 20m dipole.
73,
-------------------------------------
I have omitted names as the seller has not yet responded to my last inquiry and I'm not into giving someone a bad name they don't deserve. I'm no saint, and I'm not perfect, but I would like some feedback if I'm off-base here.
I paid last Sunday, 3/12, the full asking price. I did not try to bargain, as I felt it was a good bargain already, never questioned the price. Seller advised he would ship Monday and e-mail me or call me with tracking numbers, he even called Monday morning to confirm my shipping address.
However, no additional call or contact on Monday with tracking, and no information on Tuesday either. On Wednesday, I called to inquire about tracking information, received no answer so I left a voicemail. No response on Wednesday. I call on Thursday, another voicemail. Thursday night I try again, the seller answers. It is obvious there is an upset child in the background, and the seller says the tracking slips are in his car, asks if my cell phone will accept a text message. I said sure, just text them when you can. (I have a 3 year old and I felt for the guy, I know how it can be.)
No text message comes. Friday I call 3 times, all voicemails. My voicemails have all been very polite requests for the tracking information. Probably some concern in my tone on the late voicemail Friday night, but nonetheless, remaining positive and trying to be understanding.
Saturday morning I awake to find a text message from the seller from 12:16AM Saturday morning with the following:
"I am at work and cant take phone calls, sorry about that. expect your two packages monday or tuesday. i dont have the dc number here 73"
I texted the following back at 8:16am Saturday morning:
"SELLERNAME I need the DC numbers. I don't think that's asking too much at this point. You were going to call with the info after you shipped, never called. Then you were going to text me with the numbers because they were in your car, never did. You answered the phone every time I called before the purchase, now it seems I can't reach you. The DC numbers should not be this difficult to communicate. I would like the numbers by the end of today. Thanks, Brian."
At 12:51p I receive this response (another text message):
"Ok we have spoken twice since the purchase. again, your items were shipped. i just dont care to think about it now since i probably sold it all for too little."
And then at 12:53p (2 minutes later) I receive this:
"Like I said, i was working when you called, and previously had my hands full with a four month old. dont make this something its not. 03043490xxxxxxxxxx"
That last bit was one of the DC numbers. However, it didn't really matter because the radio was delivered already that morning.
The shipping concerned me as soon as I received the packages. The FT-817ND box had only been wrapped in brown paper (that did not cover the entire box either) with my address written on it, no packing material whatsoever. There was one smaller box with the "carrying case" in it all scrunched up into the smallest box possible. No insurance was purchased on the shipment at all.
On with the only issue remaining... two of the "original accessories" that come with the FT-817ND are not there. The original FNB-85 battery, and the E-DC-6 power cable. The additional item listed, the 20m dipole, is also not there.
I do not remember specifically asking for the 20m dipole, so if I didn't receive it, that's fine, I can live with that.
However, I don't feel the seller has lived up to the deal. All original accessories were NOT included, and contact issues aside, I don't feel that seller's remorse is a good reason for not communicating with the buyer.
I have sent the seller one final e-mail regarding the power cable and battery, as of yet with no response.
Am I off base here? I still feel as though I got a decent deal, even without the items included. Certainly not AS good as I thought, but still not bad. I will keep the radio regardless of whether I receive the battery and power cable, but I'm just trying to guage if I should just let this go and chalk it up to a learning experience, or pursue the missing items ?
I don't feel I should have to list every original accessory and ask if each is included if the ad says that all original accessories are included, if I were the seller I would feel insulted if I said all were and someone went through each individually. As if I were immediately the dishonest one who was going to try and keep a few accessories.
Anyways, entirely too long post... am I off-base? Should I let it go? I feel the other contact issues and the sellers remorse is making me more apt to pursue the missing items.
73's, happy buying.
