Help! How to go about a shady transaction...

[Eric L.]

A long USPS tracking number like that is going to be slow snail mail, and the tracking will not update. That said, you can guess how long it will take to send a first class package across the country (usually no more than 5 days), so if you do not have the package within 5 days, you know something is amiss. When I sell watches, I always take a few quick pictures of the packing process, address label, etc.. with my cell phone to wet the buyer's appetite (and as a show of confidence). It is also a quick way for me to send them the tracking number without me having to type it out (which knowing me, I'll type the wrong numbers).

[Dragoon]

Are u located in Canada? And the watch is being mailed first class from florida?

It could take 3-4 weeks to get to you or conceivably longer. I have had priority mail from Ohio to Western Canada take 3 plus weeks. Add Customs and first class mail service into the mix and you have a wait. No way, imo, will you have this parcel in Alberta Canada in 5 days

[Eric L.]

Are u located in Canada? And the watch is being mailed first class from florida?

It could take 3-4 weeks to get to you or conceivably longer. I have had priority mail from Ohio to Western Canada take 3 plus weeks. Add Customs and first class mail service into the mix and you have a wait. No way, imo, will you have this parcel in Alberta Canada in 5 days

Missed the part about Canada. Yeah it will take a while to get there if it even shipped. When selling to international buyers, I usually insist they pay for USPS Express Global Mail, which usually even to places halfway around the planet takes no longer than 10-14 days (usually within a week). Anything else (even "priority" mail) is basically hurry up and wait without any reliable means of tracking.

[supawabb]

Here is a little update, if we can call it such. I have contacted USPS on 2 occasions now, the first on June 22nd, they informed me that a parcel was indeed shipped out. I then contact them again on June 25th as there was still no update on USPS site. The lady I started with transfered me to someone in international tracking??? and this gentlemen informed that the 22 digit tracking number is a domestic tracking number... within the US ONLY! I am now shaking my head, so I ask where it is being shipped to and the international tracking guy tells me it is going to Las Vegas, zip code 89113. At this point I have a huge WTF going on in my head. I thank the USPS guy and pm the seller.

Originally Posted by supawabb
Good day Adam

I have been in contact with USPS on two different occasions now. The first was on Friday June 22, and now today on Monday June 25th. I was dispatched through to the USPS international mailing/tracking department. The gentleman I spoke to informed me that the parcel with tracking number (I removed tracking number) is going to Las Vegas, zip code 89113. I was also informed that the tracking number is a US tracking number only, not to be tracked into Canada. I am not too sure what is going on here, but I would appreciate some updated and correct info right away. This transaction is leaving a mighty foul taste in my mouth, and having completed dozens of transactions with forum members all over the world I am yet to experience something like this. I await your reply.

Christopher


Originally Posted by gshocknut

Hi Christopher,

I'm really not too sure what to make of what you just sent me. The tracking info that I provided was for the package that I sent you. I did mail out several (7) packages that same day, so while there is always a possibility that I for some reason transposed one of the tracking numbers, if the international numbers are different, I am quite certain that I would have caught that. I will call USPS myself today as well. I'm sorry that this is leaving a foul taste in your mouth - not my intention at all. If you search under "watch deals," you will see that several of the other watches that I sold at the same time and sent out at the same time arrived late last week in the states with positive results. I only tell you that to reassure you that I am a reputable seller, and that since they just arrived within the US Thursday and Friday of last week that I am not surprised that it is not there in Canada yet. I will follow up and see what is up with the tracking number, but I assure you that I will sort it all out for you. There's not a negative review about my transactions in the bunch, and I sincerely apologize for the delay, inconvenience, and possible miscommunication with the tracking number.

-Adam


Ok, so upon receiving his reply that he will call USPS today (that was on the 25th at around 9:30 am) I am yet to receive a reply. As per his "I only tell you that to reassure you that I am a reputable seller" and "There's not a negative review about my transactions in the bunch" there is now another member attempting to get ahold of this seller with no luck.

So, do I contact mastercard tomorrow?

[RTea]

When shipping priority or first class within the US its the long number. All of my packages (even priority and first class with tracking) that have gone out if the country have been in the AA111111111US format. USPS tracking does not update as slow as everyone make it out to be, I've had 40+ watch shipments and had no problem tracking and they have always shipped fast. If it was mailed via registered mail, then it takes forever, literally. The last watch I shipped to Canada was delivered in 5 days and I used priority mail (express is faster and global guaranteed is the fastest).

This doesn't sound good, I would file a dispute.

[supawabb]

RTea, the tracking is all #'s. From all the transactions I've completed, tracking has 2 letters in the front and 2 at the end. *slumps down in chair*

[toph]

My advice. File a claim. I think he is just playing for time. Cheers

[tsaojam]

Does the seller's claim actually check out? As in does he have positive feedback and is the feedback legit (from forum members who have been around for awhile)? I gotta say while I would give a seller the benefit of the doubt initially this has really dragged on too long. I'm based out in Asia and my transactions have never taken this long to Europe or in the States - in fact I've been following this thread and in the period that this has been going on I've already sold a watch and the watch arrived in Spain a few days ago.

I certainly hope it's just been a mix up but if you don't hear anything within a few hours you should file the claim. Good luck and keep us updated!

[marcb515]

It's not too hard to figure out if a tracking number was transposed. If "several" of the 7 watches he mailed out that day arrived in the USA, there cant be more than a couple of international shipping numbers, and he has the stamped receipts, so providing you a valid number should not be a problem.

Why don't you ask him to send you a scan of the international postal receipt with the tracking number on it.

He claims to be a reputable seller, but from what he's providing you, I'd never deal with him.

I think I would also send him the link to this thread, and tell him you are going to post his name, etc. Not as a threat, but that would at least give him the opportunity to respond with his side of the story.

If he's not a reputable seller, I'd think we'd all like to know.

[DEMO111]

Supawabb, the more I read about this saga the more I am convinced the seller is anything but a "reputable" seller. He might have been reputable in the past but it surely doesn't sound it for this deal. There are too many red flags at this point. The last red flag was his statement that he would call USPS on the 25th for you to find out about the package..... did you ever hear back from him? If not, that is a big problem at this point. By now he knows that you are extremely concerned with this shipment and for him to blow you off and not clearly communicate with you is TOTAL BS and it clearly shows he is not a responsible and reputable seller. I know that if I shipped a watch as a seller and the buyer was concerned he had not received it yet, I would be doing everything I could to find that package and communicate with the buyer every step of the way.

How many chances do you have to give this guy?

IMO it is time to file a claim and let us all know who this deadbeat is so we can avoid him. I know I would not want to do business with him in the future.