2. amps-preamps
  3. 127539-13093

NEED ADVISE ON AN AMPLIFIER TRANSACTION

I am hoping you folks can give me some opinions on what you would do in my current situation/transaction.
I listed an integrated amplifier here on Agon, a gentleman purchased it and I boxed the unit as absolutely bombproof as possible. From looking at the buyers other transactions it seems he is somewhere in South or Central America as he has a shipping agent in Miami that receives his shipments, and then sends packages on from there. It took quite a while to get to him and I received an email from him saying that the unit was not working. When I sent the unit it was in perfect working order. There is a little bit of a different turn on process with this amplifier as it has a power switch on the back that you turn on first, then you push the button on the front panel which puts the unit into standby mode. You then push that same button again to get it going into warm up mode which takes 9 seconds. I have explained this to him and the buyer says it is still not working. I then sent the instructions which I found online at the manufacturers website to make sure he understands. I don't know if there is a language barrier or not but I asked if the boxed was damaged and have not heard anything back. I would assume the buyer would have notified me if it was damaged as soon as he got the amplifier. What would you folks do in my situation? I have perfect feedback as I would never try to scam anybody and I over describe whatever I sell...I also package everything as bombproof as possible. So if the unit was working and there is no damage to the package what would you do? Refund his money and hope I get the unit back? Thanks for your insights and opinions.
sean34
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
So if you shipped it to Miami and his shipping address is listed as Miami you have fulfilled your obligation in Paypal eyes i believe . I did this type of transaction before myself . I was sure to explain my obligations to the buyer through communications on Agon thinking it would help my cause if i could prove the buyer accepted my obligation was done once the package arrived at his designated delivery address .
mb1audio02
188 posts
 
" Ahh, but Sean did make a mistake, he agreed to sell to a buyer in South America. 

I have shipped many items all over the world, but I have never shipped electronics or speakers out of North America. I'll ship cables, cords, fuses, outlets, phono cartridges, etc., anywhere. When YOU put yourself in a difficult position, YOU should assume some responsibility.

That is my take, though I see that it is unpopular here. It seems there are some shady sellers here. "

First, the OP made no mistake. He didn't make an international sale.  He made an agreement with someone, took payment on the amp and shipped it to Miami. You're letting the story cloud your judgment as to what really happened. 

What the buyer did with the amp once it got to Miami has nothing to do with anything. How could the sellers liability go beyond that in any way? The story is irrelevant. Only what took place is. What if some college kids father in Canada bought an amp listed on AG in California and shipped it to his son at the University of Miami for his birthday? The same exact thing took place even though the story sounds different. Either way it doesn't qualify as an international sale. That's the whole reason the buyer had the amp sent to Miami in the first place. He didn't want to make an international sale with someone he didn't know. Better to send it to a friend or family member in Miami that knows the rules for whatever country it was sent to.

This has absolutely nothing with my opinion or your opinion. Only the facts matter. The story has nothing to do with anything. Also, I know you mean well, but when you quoted AG's policy, you mislabeled it. If you read the quote, AG says they're tips. Tips are not policy, and policy may not be law. So if the OP decides not to refund the sellers money first, he disregarded a tip from AG, and nothing more.
aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
Never refund until item is back in your hands. Screw anyone telling you otherwise. I’ve been scammed twice on eBay with US buyers. Both opened a dispute with PayPal. Both times I waited for returned item ( one cellphone and an audio interface) before I sent refund. Both items got returned with different serial numbers ( I always snap pic before shipping). I informed PayPal with evidence and both times disputecwas cleared. With the smaller items, these scammers probably get a 75% success rate. I'm not saying yours was a scammer, however keep your cash until you receive product and verify

sean34 OP
95 posts
 
Again, thanks for everybody's opinions. I respect everybody on this forum because you guys have answered my question with your opinions and insight. I have not heard back as of yet so at this point I believe he's probably figured out how to turn it on. If I hear back later(as in a week) then I don't think I am obligated to return his money as I have no picture of the box with damage, and as several of you have said, I shipped it to Miami. I have no control over the shipping after Miami. 
sean34 OP
95 posts
 
Thinking about it further-if the buyer was to send me pictures of the box that was sent from Miami and the unit, without damage on either, I would then refund him the money once tracking was established. I think that is reasonable.

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