What a day...you might grab a beverage before reading :)

Well, I ended up spending just shy of $200 just for meeting a new friend, I guess.  The well pump guy arrived this afternoon and of course "couldn't replicate the problem".  Oh yes, the pump fired right up for him when he plugged it in.  Of course, I'm not complaining about not spending money I didn't have anyways, but I know something's wrong with it!  Apparently the several times over the last 6 weeks when I turn on a faucet and nothing comes out and the water pump doesn't kick on were just hallucinations.  Of course he said they'll waive the call fee I paid today if they need to come back out in the next few days, but figure the odds of that happening - it will be a solid month before it happens so I can pay the service fee again.  
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But... I'm already over that, and have moved on to another issue that has me FUMING!
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I'll warn you now that if you don't want to hear a rant that has absolutely nothing to do with gardening/homesteading and the like, "x" out now!


Switching gears...  (I want to say right away that eBay customer service rocks!)


3 weeks ago I won an auction on eBay for a little sewing machine charm, cost $9.99 + $6.40 shipping.  Here's a photo: 

10 days later I receive a plain white envelope in the mail, a hole ripped in the side of it, containing nothing.  I didn't even realize it was supposed to contain the item since the return address was from an apparent real estate company in NJ and I just assumed that it was some mortgage refi solicitation since we get those all the time.  Fast forward a few days and I log onto eBay to see where the heck my charm is and I click on "Seller's info" and find the same company title!  So now I know that the envelope must have contained the charm and somewhere along the way someone either ripped it out or it was torn in a postal sorter.  I email the seller explaining how the item arrived and asked for a refund, since I didn't think a plain white envelope was sufficient packaging, and the postal and eBay rules dictate the the shipper is responsible for adequate packaging, not the buyer.  I phrased it all quite politely and even asked if she had another of the same item, since I didn't really want the refund, I wanted the item!  Well, she ignored 2 of my emails in the past week, so I opened a customer service case with eBay.  Here is my email to eBay describing the problem, remember by this time the seller has ignored twice my attempt to resolve it directly with her:

"I received an empty envelope with a hole torn in the side of it. The item was a metal charm and packaging appeared to be very inadequate as it was not wrapped in anything other than a standard letter envelope. I emailed the seller and notified them of the situation and offered photos of the envelope and requested a refund. Seller did not offer a refund and expressed disbelief that the postal service would deliver an empty envelope. I replied back that the postal service is required to deliver all addressed mail regardless of what it contained and that it is the shippers responsibility to provide adequate packaging. It has been a week now with no response from seller. I would accept an identical item if seller had one, but otherwise need a refund."

Apparently eBay first sends the case to the seller for their input, and instead of trying to resolve the issue, this is what I got in return from the seller:

"Buyer is lieing. I Asked if she got in touch with mail carrier and post office. Item was sealed in envelope with clear tape. I NOTIFIED MY POST OFFICE AND THEY TOLD ME, "IF THERE WERE SOME PROBLEM WITH ARTICLE, THERE WOULD BE A NOTE FROM POST OFFICE AND IT WOULD BE ATTACHED WITH CLEAR TAPE". JUST SEND ME THAT PROOF. CHECK BUYER'S NEW FEEDBACK. IN ALL MY YEAR'S ON EBAY, THIS HAS NEVER EVER HAPPENED. SEND ME THE NOTE FROM POST OFFICE ALONG WITH ENVELOPE AND REFUND WILL BE GIVEN. THANK YOU."

Let's tackle this response bit by bit, LOL... first off, she really should learn how to spell and punctuate correctly.  Then we have a harassing accusation, followed by "shouting" at me in all caps.  Some random crazy person rant about looking at my feedback.  Feedback?  I've purchased way more valuable things on eBay than a metal charm and paid immediately and have glowing comments from the 5 sellers I've dealt with, nothing negative (although I'm sure there is by now if she's gotten on there yet).  Oh yes, the post office... they certainly do attach a note of apologies with damaged mail, that is IF they notice it and even then they seal it in a post office plastic bag and deliver it.  The final straw however, is when I noticed that she did charge me $6.40 shipping and there is an .88 cent stamp on the plain white envelope... busted!

I saw the above email from the seller as I was leaving music lessons this evening, after stewing on it the whole ride home I immediately replied directly to eBay choosing the option "escalate the case" and wrote this:

Your message to eBay Customer Support:

"The most recent email I have received from the seller I view as harassment and no longer wish to communicate directly with seller. While correct in that the post office will attach a letter stating item was damaged IF they notice the damage, it is not attached with tape, it is put into a post office plastic bag and delivered that way stating apologies. No such bag or note arrived but the post office does not always notice damage, such as the hole in the side of the envelope that arrived. I prefer to stick to the facts, and the fact is that the seller was negligent in both packing the item securely and charging for secure shipping which did not happen. The seller mailed a lumpy metal jewelry item in a plain white letter envelope instead of in a padded mailer or similar, and also charged $6.40 shipping when the plain envelope arrived with standard .88 stamp. If eBay would like to see the photo of the .88 stamp and envelope I would be happy to provide that to a customer service representative. If you look at my history you will see that I have purchased much more valuable things than this item and paid immediately and have positive feedback. Thank You."

Get this... eBay has 48 hours to respond, yet I received an email in less than 5 minutes stating the full price plus shipping had been refunded to my PayPal account!  I was prepared to spend the evening nursing my blood pressure but instead I stuck to my guns and now I'm dumping it all on you so I can "move on" LOL.  Hey, I'm a Type A, it's difficult to move on sometimes!

In short, BOO... to the seller "XYZ"  (I actually would love to name her, but I don't want retribution and stoop to her level)...  and YAY! to eBay customer service!

Sorry for unloading all this on you, but it was really eating at me!  Don't say I didn't warn you :)

Hell hath no fury like a blogger wronged!  :)