[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Louie

I recently won a Carousel 1 Messerschmitt 109E Adolf Galland 1940 on E-bay. The seller sent it in it's display box covered with brown kraft paper and a thin layer of bubble wrap 1 layer thick to be exact. As expected the USPS did the rest.....
The box arrived damaged with the clear cellophane window bashed in. Had he included the original protective sleeve that could have been avoided. the model is intact but the box is trashed. He charged me $2.98 over actual shipping and i am sort of o.k with that. I got the model for a song $19.95 and some would think why complain but c,mon you waste the value of a $70 model because you don't want to add shipping weight on a model you sell?...?
I could probably send it back but let's face it you really end up paying for something you don't get wether shipping is $5 or $15. I e-mailed the seller and let him know how I feel.
Should I rejoice at owning a great model for $32 invested with an f'd up box?
Do I return it and wait for another miraculous deal?
What do you guys think?

I'd keep the plane -- you're not going to beat that deal and leave 'em neutral feedback, probably, that explains why. I recently had a similar experience where I bought a rare speccast p-40 that was shipped to me with just a mailing label slapped on the box Luckliy it arrived intact but the packaging, albeit plain and probably not a big deal, is forever marred. The seller just told me paid top dollar, more than I paid him for shipping (which I doubt since I paid $15 and these models are small), so he was disappointed... he was disappointed? And the shipping charge on the box was half what I paid, and he didn't offer to refund that amount even. Oh well. I'm still chewing on my feedback for that one.

[trex0770]

Louie, you got a great deal! Be happy and enjoy the model and if you want to flip it there seem to be enough people here who'll take it off your hands.

Besides, boxes are overrated! I'm sick of them myself. I'll send you one.....it'll help my cleanup effort

[STARMAN 352ND]

Wow....You have got alot of boxes Trex.....
Time for a storage shed....
JP

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by trex0770

Louie, you got a great deal! Be happy and enjoy the model and if you want to flip it there seem to be enough people here who'll take it off your hands.

Besides, boxes are overrated! I'm sick of them myself. I'll send you one.....it'll help my cleanup effort

It looks like you have a warehouse there.

[tripoli]

If you are in the hobby because its an investment or you might HAVE to sell it down the road, then look for the return or sell it here as is as there are buyers posting.

Frankly, I like to be in the habit of buying because I like the item. If you see it more for the investment than that you like the item, then maybe you might think of looking at better investment potentials out there. It is nice that some models do retain and grow in value but as buying for the hobby, you should be purchasing it because you like the item, not because it may bring a return one day. The line between collectibles and for the hobby is a thin one. You need to really think about why you are making the purchase.

[firefighterpilot1]

Originally Posted by PappyB

I'd keep the plane -- you're not going to beat that deal and leave 'em neutral feedback, probably, that explains why. I recently had a similar experience where I bought a rare speccast p-40 that was shipped to me with just a mailing label slapped on the box Luckliy it arrived intact but the packaging, albeit plain and probably not a big deal, is forever marred. The seller just told me paid top dollar, more than I paid him for shipping (which I doubt since I paid $15 and these models are small), so he was disappointed... he was disappointed? And the shipping charge on the box was half what I paid, and he didn't offer to refund that amount even. Oh well. I'm still chewing on my feedback for that one.

I'd go a step further and leave him a negative feedback. Apparently E-bay has a new policy that buyers can't be given negative feedback which means you can leave an honest review (IE a negative) and not receive one in retaliation. I think this policy is great, now there should be added pressure on sellers to do it right or their reputation will suffer.

Louie,

I would accept the model, as at least that is in good condition, but I would also leave him a negative feedback (though honest). Buyers need to know about these types of practices and sellers need to earn their good reputations.

[tripoli]

I agree with that. If the eBay auction listed and pictured it as new, you should receive it as it was listed and pictured. The shipper does need to keep in mind that it should arrive as listed.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by firefighterpilot1

I'd go a step further and leave him a negative feedback. Apparently E-bay has a new policy that buyers can't be given negative feedback which means you can leave an honest review (IE a negative) and not receive one in retaliation. I think this policy is great, now there should be added pressure on sellers to do it right or their reputation will suffer.

Louie,

I would accept the model, as at least that is in good condition, but I would also leave him a negative feedback (though honest). Buyers need to know about these types of practices and sellers need to earn their good reputations.

Yeah, I'm curious about that new system -- seems unfair to the seller, but I don't know how you solve the issue. I mean I can't leave negative feedback about a deadbeat buyer? That doesn't seem right. But there was a big problem with power sellers and their "feedback robots" that simply returned the kind of feedback they were given. So you could buy a model, pay for it immediately, and get negative feedback. Say what..?

You should use the feedback system Louie, and keep your score, as it's still well worth what you have into it.

(BTW: THanks trex for those pics, I'm going to print them out and submit them as "could be worse" evidence when my wife complains about the state of my office ... :-) )

[skydriver]

Originally Posted by trex0770

Louie, you got a great deal! Be happy and enjoy the model and if you want to flip it there seem to be enough people here who'll take it off your hands.

Besides, boxes are overrated! I'm sick of them myself. I'll send you one.....it'll help my cleanup effort

Trex, nice offer of a box. I could use the one that is upside down on the fourth row from the left, 8th box down, and on its side.

[skidmarksdiecast]

I think that for $19.95 + $12.00 shipping for a $69.99 model, you got an outstanding deal even considering the bashed up box. I'd also have to say that, for the seller to be willing to let it go that cheap, the box likely had significant issues even before it was shipped out. I strongly disagree about leaving negative feedback for the seller, however. Paying $32.00, for a damaged-box $70.00 item, is a very fair deal. As a side note: the dealer wholesale cost, of a Carousel 1 airplane, in considerably more than $32.00. You got a killer deal on a killer plane. Enjoy it!