How do I approach this situation?

[daveymark]

Here's the situation:
someone in the forums was selling two hard drives and a cpu for $30 a piece. Total for $90

I offered $80 and he said no problem.

I get a notification form fedex today saying I'm getting an overnight package tomorrow from him, and I'm thinking, gee, that's great, nice and quick.

Five minutes later I get the following email from said seller:

"You should receive the hard drives tomorrow. There is a spot of bad news, though. I sold the 1900+ on the assumption that the machine I had everything in wouldn’t POST because of a bad mainboard. Upon removing the HSF to plop the 1900+ into it’s plastic case, I noticed a huge scorch mark on it. I fried it. So now I owe you $20. I have to transfer the money back from my account to PayPal which takes about 3-4 business days. Hopefully I will get more than $20 PayPal’d to me over the weekend and I can refund you ASAP, but if not, it will be Wednesday or Thursday when I can PayPal you the refund. What I will also do is ‘credit’ you $10 toward another purchase from me as well. Hopefully I can knock $10 off that third 20GB if my roommate decides to sell it. Regards, and my sincerest apologies about the 1900+"

So here's the problem. I understand if a cpu is burnt out. But shouldn't the seller then contact me BEFORE any package is sent to let me know of the situation?

Then there's the matter of the money. How convenient that the cpu was the item he took it upon himself to give the $10 discount for. So now I'm paying thirty a piece for 2x20gb deathstars.

So what are my options? I could always not accept the package tomorrow, I suppose. Suffice it to say I'd rather not take him up on his $10 credit if he's got a "ship first, ask questions later" mentality. But if I don't at least get the hard drives, I could be out even more money.

Help!

[RicheemxX]

I have to transfer the money back from my account to PayPal which takes about 3-4 business days.

well first off thats wrong he can pay you directly from his account the 3-4 days is sending money to your bank not recieving it from

So here's the problem. I understand if a cpu is burnt out. But shouldn't the seller then contact me BEFORE any package is sent to let me know of the situation?

yes thats 100%bs you never ship items or a partial order to anyone especially in a situation like this one. You always contact the buyer and let them know before you ship and give them options before hand. As for what to do thats up to you. Personally I'd refuse the items and ask for a full refund wich he should had offered you to begin with.

edit: I'm not sure who you dealt with on this forum{if it was on this one} but most all of the traders here are really good people and normally are very respectable I'd talk it over with them and discuss the option they are willing to explore.

[daveymark]

it wasn't on this forum, but on the forum it was in, the user had 700 posts, so I'm hoping something can be worked out. I sent an email with an option of either me getting a fulll refund and returning the drives, or me getting $30. I think those two options are reasonable

[butch81385]

hmmm.. only see one reply.... i bet after i post this it will come up..

EDIT: there it is.... yes, i think that it is reasonable to ask for that...

[Omardeth]

ya it was a lame trader . post count don't mean nothing . don't know who it was but i have an idea ..

[daveymark]

I decided I just want all of my money back and sent the offender an email staing such. I repeated how I was disapointed with the lack of communication regarding the shipment without the cpu.

I've never left anything other than a positive feedback, and I've also never had a problem like this. I was wondering under what circumstance I should leave certain feedback?

For instance:

Positive - seller agress to refund the full amount and pay for return shipping
Neutral - Seller only gives $20 refund and $10 credit towards next purchase OR seller gives $30 refund for cpu OR seller refunds full amount but doesn't pay for return shipping
Negative - Seller doesn't respond

[RicheemxX]

Originally posted by daveymark
it wasn't on this forum, but on the forum it was in, the user had 700 posts, so I'm hoping something can be worked out. I sent an email with an option of either me getting a fulll refund and returning the drives, or me getting $30. I think those two options are reasonable

as omar has said post count doesn't count for much, people can spam 700 posts in record time. You always want to get refferences trading on forums usually is a llittle safer and better than ebay or some other auction site but its still not fool proof.If he didn't take the time to check the cpu before selling it then it sounds as though he's not the greatest or most reliable trader anyways. I'd strongly suggest getting a full refund if possible if not make 100% sure the drives you've bought are working to your satisfaction and hopefully he gave you some sort of warranty on that?

hope everything works out for you

[daveymark]

Well he also had 26-0-0 on heatware, and the people who gave him heat had decent heat. I've kind of come to realize that Hardforums have become a pain anyway. This is the last time I'm going through those forums to make a purchase. It seems as though there's way too many threadcrappers/immature kids/trolls on those boards. I'll be satisfied if I get working hard drives.

[SiliconJon]

How did it go?