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Seller is responsible to get item to you, intact. yes? or no?

Is the seller responsible for packing and shipping? or not? Should the seller insist on a safe form of shipping? (and if the seller does insist, can he make the buyer pay for air, or 2-day?) or can the buyer say ship cheap (even though the seller eats the shipping fail?) ((And DOES the buyer eat the broken equipment cost?))                  
Who should be worried about insurance... the buyer? or the seller? Since it it is lost or broken, the buyer can get his/her money back. (usually)  
My 'take' is that the person AT RISK for loss is the SELLER. And the SELLER should certainly be needing the insurance. (Notice the seller is the person who has to collect insurance, NOT the buyer)... So IMO the Seller should be including the cost of insurance IN THE ASKING PRICE. Since the seller is the one 'needing' the insurance.                   
The other side is why should the buyer PAY for insurance when the seller is the one being protected by insurance?            
I have asked this before long ago, and the main answer seems to be FURY on the part of (mainly) sellers claiming they have no part in any shipping fail, that they say it is 100% on the buyer. (to which I just laugh)Where I would say the shipping packing, and burden of surety is 100% on the seller/person shipping.So what's your thoughts on it today...(like I said, I asked this years ago, and got a LOT of flack for even claiming the seller is the bad guy, and is responsible 100% of the time for the insurance and proper packing and insurance against loss.) So I thought it was a pertinent question. and wonder what all you folks think, today?

elizabeth
wlutke
294 posts
 
It's on the seller.  Imagine the increase in already broken products being shipped if it were otherwise.  
UPS does allow either the buyer or seller to make a claim.  As a buyer I won't.  A rejected claim could become my problem in the sellers eyes.
teo_audio
932 posts
 
Yes, you the end point, making the claim is actually you taking possession. It's a contracted bargaining scenario. Making the claim means you've got skin in the game, and the seller's position is reduced in the potential for incurring costs and involvement.
ebm
5,165 posts
 
Wow thats a tough one ill get back to you asap.
elizabeth OP
6,726 posts
 
So far, all the seller is responsible. Amazing change from this same sort of question fifteen years ago! If I had the time I would find it so you could see the opposite attitude back them, when the money changed hand without recourse way more often. PayPal has changed the game.(And I think rightly so, even back then I argued it was the seller's responsibility and onus, and got numerous attacks for even saying it out loud. Today, as mentioned, some folks want cash only, no PayPal, probably for this very reason. They want no responsibility for shipping problems. And if you go back and read early PayPal problems, (aside from fraud) most were about the seller angry for 'getting cheated;' because the item was damaged in shipping and PayPal sided with the buyer, thus the account blocked..
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
779 posts
 
As an example of an experience I had. I bought a CD player some years ago. Player was advertised as used but in functional condition. The seller agreed to pack well and send the manual. A $300 price and the seller stated he can take it back in 3 days if there was a problem. He said he sold many audio pieces and I should not be worried. When the player came, the CD drawer would not work. A quick look in the manual stated the CD player must be shipped with a screw that keeps the drawer in place. Since the shipper did not double box the player, did not put the screw into the drawer and did not provide enough packing, the drawer had broken. When finding out the cost of repairs was more than the cost of the CD player I wanted to ship it back. He took it back reluctantly (after I told him about the screw and lack of proper packing) and I paid for shipping. These kinds of stories are more numerous than one might think. So who was at fault here, and whose time was wasted? It should be noted the seller wanted me to file a claim, even after I pointed out he was to lazy to do a quick research and find out how to properly ship a CD player.
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