I had a return in the works for a KitchenAid stand mixer. A very heavy sucker, that was shipped from NC to Iowa. 26lbs heavy. I tissue wrapped, bubble wrapped, boxed and double boxed the little puppy. I wanted it to get there in one piece.
Of course I get the dreaded return request. She did email me directly, thank goodness. It was making an awful noise and must have been dropped in shipping. Well, it was hard to hear that noise in an email so I decided to have her send it back. In retrospect, I probably should have called her and had her turn on the mixer, but I didn't want to get "up close and personal' with the customer. I had her do a return request thru ebay so I could just send a label that way. Done and done......until I get the package back yesterday.
Not a good signThe bottom of the box was split. Well no wonder with only the four little flaps of cardboard and several pieces of tape to hold 26lbs in check.
I don't know how this did not just fall out.
This is the cover that goes over the place on the front of the mixer where you put the attachments. Loose in the bottom of the box. How in the heck did that "fall" out of the place it was?
Maybe this ding on the side? See the screw, it is so loose that I can pull it out with my fingers. When it was shipped that screw was so tight I didn't think it would ever come out.I know because I contemplated removing the screw so I could loosen the cover to clean the grime from the crack. I decided not to because the screw was in so tight.
This is exactly how I pulled the mixer out of the box. Nothing wrapped around the mixer, no extra box or padding. Some plastic bags were in the box on top of the mixer, but nothing to keep it from shifting from side to side in the box. No double box.The head was not locked in place so it was free to move, and the bowl had been beating up against the back of the mixer and scraped paint off.What were these shippers thinking? (well, not thinking) That since they decided it was broken, they didn't want the mixer and they didn't care how it arrived back to me? Maybe, or maybe they just didn't care. I don't know which it was but I want to think that they don't have any experience in packing heavy items. I do think the post office handled this badly and caused the damage. But it would not have been as bad had it been packed well.
Ebay does have full coverage on return items so I'm hoping insurance will cover the damage. I filed a claim so time will tell.
Oh, and bless the lady who purchased a skirt and had the courage to tell me it didn't fit and she was returning it. About time for a good customer.
I'm sorry :( In talking to people I honestly don't think the average person has experience packing.....although they should have known once they saw how you packed it. I got a return yesterday....but the slippers ran small and they were ok with no original shipping back and paying return shipping....but honestly honest buyers are 1 in a million :/
ReplyDeleteEven members of my family who know I sell on ebay think it's a breeze to list and sell stuff. Some ask where I find such nice things because the things they see in thrift stores are "filthy dirty". I don't know what they would do if they had to ship some of the odd ball things I have shipped. Probably results like my returned package.
DeleteI got a "return" yesterday because someone didn't put the correct address on their eBay account, and their package bounced around the country and was eventually returned to me. And of course it was a buyer who wanted their item ASAP because it was a gift. Waiting to hear if they want me to re-send, or if they'd rather have a refund. Oh, the joys of eBay. :-) Luckily they tend to be few and far between.
ReplyDeleteI've had several buyers with old addresses in their paypal account. I had only one item returned and they paid extra for me to ship again. I should be thankful and not complain because, like you, things like this are few and far between. But my mind is still boggled by stuff like this.
DeleteUgg what an awful headache. So sorry to hear about it. Hopefully this will be the last return, and terribly packaged return, you'll have to deal with for a very long time.
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