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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
elizabeth OP
6,726 posts
 
My worst CD player shipping story was for one of my favorite (typical $40) eBay five disc changer.                                  
The five disc player was wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper. (no box, nothing else, just paper.) Lots of extra tape though. Apparently the unit was returned to the seller by USPS, most likely the paper ripped off.    Oh, yeah the rear feet were also ripped loose, but taped back in place.  Plus the drawer was shattered (it did open, but then the bottom would fall away...) After a short excuse filled email from the seller,(he said he was away, his 'no longer working for him' employee did it, The unit was tested fully etc) he said ship it back for a refund. naturally this would exclude the $35 shipping he 'after the fact' charged me instead of the listed $22..
I never sent it back. I can use some of the parts since I own several of the similar model. Others same thing sent in bulletproof boxes, lots of protection. I will never forget the paper only one though. eBay, who would ever think??? (SARCASM, for those with no sarcasm gene)
tooblue
787 posts
 
@2psyop , +1, add the cost and sell the product.
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
779 posts
 
Elizabeth. I sympathize with you. Just cannot understand why someone does these crazy things. I am a firm believer in this policy. If you made a mistake in selling me something, that is fine we can work it out. But if you just screwed me over by blatantly not giving a sh*t. I will give feedback that the seller will NOT like. And I will always tell truth about what happened. Your dirty laundry will be put out there...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
There’s a Catch 22. Even though the seller insures the item for full value you can still lose. The shippers, as one might expect, are rather reluctant these days to pay off on claims. The judgement of fault is determined by, guess who? The shipper. Hel-loo! What’s Catch 22? It’s if the item was damaged during shipping the seller didn’t pack it well enough. Hel-loo! 😬 I bet you thought USPS paid off all claims.
elizabeth OP
6,726 posts
 
I think anyone reading any audio forums has realized shippers never want to pay, and they always blame the packaging.
I tell folks pack it so you can comfortably drop the package on a corner from ten feet up. And no problem.
As mentioned it is the cushioning inside the box that matters. The more weight, the denser and thicker the foam needed.
But IMO the drop from ten feet is to be EXPECTED.
My favorite horror story UPS style: I was at the main depot terminal UPS off Bluemound Rd near the Milwaukee County border with Waukesha County(not some store) and as I waited in line, A UPS employee pushed open a swinging door with a skid on wheels, carrying a very large box. The box was WIDER than the door.. However the employee refused to accept it would not fit. And began to pull back, and try to bang the box HARD ... into submission, over and over, As I and half a dozen customers watched. finally after about ten tries to force the box through the too small opening. The owner of the item walked in and started yelling. (by then my need to stay was no more,and I left. Not knowing what finally happened. I do think if the box had been rotated 90 degrees... it would have fit through the door. UPS....ups..
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