OT (sort of) Oh the fun begins, filing a FedEx claim Options

[GaroldShaffer]

So I sold this Saratoga Top on ebay for $421. Shipped it FedEx Ground to RI. Arrived cracked. The top was wrapped in a moving blanket, then placed in side a box and that box was then put in a bigger box with more packing around the smaller box.

They buyer is cool, he wants to keep the top, but would like some $$ refunded. I'm cool with that because it is the right thing to do. I have never had to file a claim for damage. I don't expect this to be a fun or easy process. Any words of advice before I start? Thanks

[GaroldShaffer]

More info, I'm still pissed that he want more $$. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

Ebay Auction LINK

Email's in the order recieved from hom and sent by me.

Email #1 from Bob

Hi Gerald!

Received the Saratoga top and it was broke and cracked and had a chip. I am hoping we can work this out. Still want the top but one corner is broken. You did not pack it good enough as I told you Fedex and other shippers are very abusive up here. As you will see from the pictures the box was dented in one corner. As you can see from the pics it resulted in a broken top.
I am hoping we can work this out - don't want to file a grievance or a negative.

Please get back to me right away and we can work out how much you can refund to me as this was almost $500 with shipping. If not, I will go for it all.

P.S. I'm easy to work with. I know we can work something out ($)

My response

Bob it was wrapped in a moving blanket, inside a box
and inside another box full of packing material. Not
sure how much better you can pack it. With that being
said what do you want for I refund?

Garold

Then I sent this follow up email

Bob, also can I see two more pictures please. I would
like to see pictures of complete top, both sides.

Thank you - Garold

Response #2 from Bob
Garold you should have filled the box with peanuts I use to work in a
shipping department at a company and there were not enough peanuts in
the box but with that being said the shipper FedEx should have treated it
with care and once again they beat it to hell. so I welcome you to go after
these people, but as far as money you will be getting all your money back so
how about you refund 250. I think this is fair

Response #3 from Bob

Here are the pictures you requested of both sides. Can't really see the
crack and chip since they are full far away pictures. You already have
those pictures. Hope this helps. Let me know what we are going to do
about the refund.


My response to that email

Bob, It was full of peanuts, if it had a hole in the
box like you one picture shows then the came out.

You paid $466.44 total for the top & shipping so I
will offer half ($234) of that as a refund. Let me
know and I can get you paypal refund today.

Garold

Response #4 from Bob

Thanks for the quick response. $234 sounds fair. Please credit my
paypal
account for the $234.

Bob

At this point we were not home the rest of the night. Ended up at my inlaws when we got home today, here is the email from Bob

Response #5 from Bob

did not see anything in my pay pal so whats up Garold?


My response when I got home and read his email

Easy there mister. Sorry, we were out of town over
night. You have your refund.

Now I might have been a I little short in my response, but I was still not 100% sure the pictures he sent me was the top I sent him I will post these pictures.

Response #6 from Bob

Paypal charged some $7.09 fee from the $234 you owe me. I do not care
what the fee is. We agreed on $234 that is what I want. Please send
another $7.09 and whatever fee is necessary to make it $234 as we agreed upon.
Thanks in advance.

Bob

P.S. Now that you're home please make that happen today. Appreciate it.

My next two responses:

Nope, same fee they charged me.
Then I followed up with this

One more thing, I think I have been more than fair.
You got a refund and you get to keep the top, what
more do you want? If you are not happy with this, then
send the top back to me and I will refund the rest of
your money minus the return shipping costs. That is my
final offer.

To be honest I feel the top was very well packed, and
in good faith I have given you a refund. From your full
length pictures I can't tell if it is the top I sent
you or not. There are some very disticnt marks on the
top I sent you, which I don't see in the complete top
photos. So as far as I am concerned we are done. Do
what you feel you have to do, but I feel you have
gotten a fair deal.

Here are the pictures he sent me.





Pictures showing damage to OUTER BOX. Note there was at least 3 inches of packing peanuts between the inside of this box and the box that was inside it with the top.




Complete top pictures he sent me. I can not see the deep scratch marks that are on the top I sent him (see ebay pictures) this is why I feel it might be a different top.