Issues with shipping stuff (Need Advice)

[collegeboy]

Please read the whole thing, then reply. Thanks.

Ok, so anyone that has bought anything from me, knows that I am a good vendor and am no crook. I am here to see what you all think I should do about a problem I am having with one customer.

Basically, the customer is in another country and b/c of this, when he bought about $500 worth of stuff from me, he had me ship it to a company in America instead of to him, then later on he would get it from them.

Anyways, that all sounds good, but first time I shipped it out, it got mailed back to me b/c of box issues lol. Whatever...no biggy, just rebox it, and mail it again.

This time however when I mail it again, I do not here back from the person for 2 months so I assumed they got it.

Just recently I got a PM from them saying the company in America never got it. I know the NSXPrime member is not lying cause he's a pretty legit person I think, but maybe the company is lying? Or maybe UPS really did loose it? I think to myself "Ok, if UPS lost it, I'll pay the guy back...no issues at all...I insured it anyways."

I get the tracking number and check it, and it says it was delived and signed for. On UPS's website however it just says the city it was delivered to, so I think...ok maybe they went to the wrong street address?

This morning I call up the UPS Store I used to ship it, and read them the correct address to use, and they double check it, and said that's the exact address where it was delivered. They even said they can prove it was delivered there to that address.

Now my question is...as an honest person who doesn't try to steal a buck from people, but also doesn't want to take an ass ramming, should I feel the need to refund the person their $500 when I did my part with UPS and they say and have proof it was delivered to where the buyer asked for it to be delivered. Or, should it be the American Company's fault for loosing the package since they signed for it at that address, so they should be refunding the buyer.

I hate to leave the guy hanging, but I also don't want to blow $500 on something that is completely not my fault or UPS's. Also, I've shipped about 1000 things with UPS and have NEVER had one issue with loosing a package.

Please fee free to reply.
Mike

 

[DocL]

This sounds like a scam. If you have shipped it to the correct address and have confirmation that is was recieved then it is no longer your problem. The customer wanted it shipped to this third party and once they recieved it they assume all responsibility for the package. I wouldn't feel the need to refund the buyer his money. He is the person who asked you to send it and you obviously followed his directions.

 

[cojones]

This sounds like a scam. If you have shipped it to the correct address and have confirmation that is was recieved then it is no longer your problem.

hmmmm...

Assuming "stuff" is a legally trade-able product", it sounds like el scammo to me too.

If not, I'd check to see if your Romulan cloaking device still works

 

[Jeff@Carbon6]

My rules for shipping goods with Credit Card (PayPal)
1.) Only ship to verified credit card address.
2.) Require a direct signature of the recipient if over $50 value (you judge what you willing to loose)
3.) if you have an questions, refer to 1 and 2.

:wink:

if the customer wants you to ship to a different address, tell them to add/change the billing address on the card to that address and verify that address upon transaction.

option 2. Cash or direct transfer (get the Swift # from your bank). No money orders or bank checks period.


I guess your best bet is to see if UPS can do a follow up and get you a signature.

 

[SilverStone05]

You did as he asked. UPS confirmed. It is out of your hands and not your responsibility anymore.

 

[Briank]

If you shipped it to where the customer wanted and it is confirmed delivered and sighed for by UPS you have done everything you can on your end. You might try and call the receiver that signed for it and see what they say but I expect you will get I don't know/WHO from them.
The next issue is how good of a customer is this do you expect repeat business from them or is it a one time deal.

 

[C-speed]

^ Agreed.. we ship tons of stuff as well.. never encountered this problem before (we've had packages go missing though via UPS).

We've done exactly what you did before too... IMO, you did what the customer asked you to do. You have proof of it, and UPS can verify that.

I wouldn't feel obligated to refund them their money.

To be quite honest... I live near the Canadian border and have many friends from Canada (used to live there). So many of them buy stuff from the US and ship it to me and they will come pick it up from my office. Same senario your customer is doing.

I used to open the packages upon delivery so they didn't take up as much space and to verify the contents for my friends (in case they got scammed or it was broken upon delivery, etc)... but one time, for some reason unknown to me, a set of cam gears disappeared off my storage shelves. It had been at least 3 months or so before my friend came to pick them up, I had totally forgotten about them and didn't realize they were missing.

Long story short, I felt responsible as the items shipped to me are in my possession. As should your customers' receiver.

So, from that point forward, I still receive packages from my friends, but I do not open the boxes anymore and they sit on the shelves until they come to pick them up and personally open the box.

That way, just in case, if I opened it and the item went missing, or got damaged, I didn't want that responsibility/liability.

Just my $0.02...

 

[collegeboy]

Thanks for th replys. I KNOW it is not a scam by the buyer (he is very well known here), but I am glad to hear your replys. I do feel that the 3rd party is to blame here as well, since I was told to deliver it there, I did, and then they even got a signature for me. Thanks for helping me make my decision you all. i can now have a clear concious.

Mike

 

[Cairo94507]

I think you have done everything you could and should do. This one is up to the buyer to track and address-unfortunately for him.