[valkyrie]

My worst fear came true. After nearly 3 weeks of waiting, my SU-27UBK finally arrived. Even before I opened the box, I saw that it was delivered via First Class Mail International when I had paid more than US$30 for Priority Mail International to ship from USA to Singapore. Then when I opened it, another shock. I had requested for adequate cushioning materials but there was NONE except for a piece of thin tracing paper on one side. The worse is a plane with nose cone that came off, missiles that dropped off and/or broken, fins broken, stabilizers broken, etc. I have written to the eBay seller to request for a full refund and I really hope to get a positive response. I have purchased many times from overseas and this has been my first such experience. Didn't expect it to happen to my most expensive purchase to date at US$88 including shipping.

[STARMAN 352ND]

That is such a sad sight to see for any collector...Sorry it came to you like that...I hope the seller will work with you.You had insurance on it i hope..
You know Flying Mule has these in stock as well and they pack really great too.I give them a try .
JP

[valkyrie]

Hi JP, I am really hoping to receive a response from the seller soon. Unfortunately, Flying Mule does not ship to Singapore. But I have purchased from a number of US online stores and eBay sellers, and it has never taken so long to reach me and there were at least be bubble wrap, peanuts or at least newspapers inside the box to protect the items.

[Cruver Collecter]

Seller really needs to make right on this model for you. Have you opened a dispute on this item? Shipping charges should also be refunded too (Had a similar issue and seller did do right by me.).

[valkyrie]

Hi Cruver Collecter, this is the first time I encountered such a situation. I have emailed the seller. He replied an hour ago to a query I sent last night on the shipping method used and I am still waiting for his reply. It is nearly 1 am here in Singapore and I really hope to hear from him soon. As for the dispute, is it done through eBay? Where can I find it?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Hi Cruver Collecter, this is the first time I encountered such a situation. I have emailed the seller. He replied an hour ago to a query I sent last night on the shipping method used and I am still waiting for his reply. It is nearly 1 am here in Singapore and I really hope to hear from him soon. As for the dispute, is it done through eBay? Where can I find it?

Hello valkyrie,
Well you started off right by contacting the seller to give him/ or her a chance to make right on the auction. (Keep the shipping containor/ Box). If seller does not respond, next option would be to open a dispute on item. On your My eBay home page in the left column under the My Account section should be Disput Console. Just click on this and it should walk you through pretty much step by step. In your case you might consider going with item item not received or not as described (Your case would be not as described). Also mention that the method by which you paid for the item to be shipped was not followed. Hopefully the seller will do right by you though.

[valkyrie]

Got the following reply from the seller:

"So it finally showed up but the Postal service mistreated the item. The plane is already packed in a secure box, we put it in another box for safety reasons, if they had handled it correctly it should have made it ok. We get these in boxs of 6 with no cushioning as you refer to since the planes are securely boxed at the factory. You will need to make a claim on your end with the Postal Service, we have shipped more than 6 of these overseas and all made it ok except yours? If you took the added insurance I would be able to replace the item after a claim is made and paid. Let me know what the Postal service on your end offers to do?"

In the first place, if the item was shipped via First Class Mail International because it was less than 4 pounds even though I have chosen Priority Mail, insurance will not be an option. Also, I had requested for adequate cushioning and the seller replied "will do". All diecast planes come packed in a secure box and I don't think this is a valid reason for not adding any cushioning materials. I think I will not be able to get any refund. Really upset and disappointed.

[b-huj]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Got the following reply from the seller:

"So it finally showed up but the Postal service mistreated the item. The plane is already packed in a secure box, we put it in another box for safety reasons, if they had handled it correctly it should have made it ok. We get these in boxs of 6 with no cushioning as you refer to since the planes are securely boxed at the factory. You will need to make a claim on your end with the Postal Service, we have shipped more than 6 of these overseas and all made it ok except yours? If you took the added insurance I would be able to replace the item after a claim is made and paid. Let me know what the Postal service on your end offers to do?"

In the first place, if the item was shipped via First Class Mail International because it was less than 4 pounds even though I have chosen Priority Mail, insurance will not be an option. Also, I had requested for adequate cushioning and the seller replied "will do". All diecast planes come packed in a secure box and I don't think this is a valid reason for not adding any cushioning materials. I think I will not be able to get any refund. Really upset and disappointed.

You learned the lesson man, next time hold your horses, wait for the next chance...find a trustworthy retailer who does ship to Singapore (or go to Guangzhou where there are plenty of defective items, but are cheap cheap cheap), now you have to keep fighting with this (obviously) not very decent ebayer...there is no reason to believe the postal service did this to it, maybe he got it like that and shipped it to you and now he's laughing his pants off...the sucker.

That reply is lacking sincerity, and I know of another case where the model was CRACKED and paint was gone, bare metal and gaping crack in sight, and the seller blamed it on the postal service too (too much exposure to heat)! it was in fact a generalized manufacturing isse and the guy consciously sent the defective item to a buyer, but played dead after that.

Look on the bright side, it was a lesson worth less than US$100, and you will now be more cautious as to where you do your shopping.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Got the following reply from the seller:

"So it finally showed up but the Postal service mistreated the item. The plane is already packed in a secure box, we put it in another box for safety reasons, if they had handled it correctly it should have made it ok. We get these in boxs of 6 with no cushioning as you refer to since the planes are securely boxed at the factory. You will need to make a claim on your end with the Postal Service, we have shipped more than 6 of these overseas and all made it ok except yours? If you took the added insurance I would be able to replace the item after a claim is made and paid. Let me know what the Postal service on your end offers to do?"

In the first place, if the item was shipped via First Class Mail International because it was less than 4 pounds even though I have chosen Priority Mail, insurance will not be an option. Also, I had requested for adequate cushioning and the seller replied "will do". All diecast planes come packed in a secure box and I don't think this is a valid reason for not adding any cushioning materials. I think I will not be able to get any refund. Really upset and disappointed.

Have you considered opening a dispute on this auction?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Have you considered opening a dispute on this auction?

I was thinking the same thing.....Only problem is Pay Pal is a little funny about oversea transactions i heard.
JP