... you don't like excessive shipping and handling charges:

Gene Finz aka irResistibleStuf@aol.com

On July 18, I won four chips from him (four separate eBay auctions). I was bidding in a hurry just before leaving for Tennessee and didn't fully read the auction descriptions. Therefore, did not notice that shipping on two of the lots was $3.50 each and on the other two $5.00 each.

After receiving his winning bid notifications, I wrote to ask if he would either combine shipping or accept a pre-paid mailer. He said no to both, indicating that he used an outside service and therefore could not combine lots for shipping. He offered to reduce the two $5.00 charges to $3.50 each if I would promise to give him positive feedback. I declined that offer and on August 8th sent payment in full, including $17.00 for shipping and handling.

Received the chips on August 28th. Each chip was in a 2x2 plastic zip lock bag. Two were in a 3x5 envelope; the other two in another 3x5 envelope along with a "gift" (one Sacajawea dollar). These two envelopes were in a SINGLE regular #10 business envelope. There was no other padding or protection for the chips. The postage on the envelope was 77 cents. That's what I got in the way of shipping for my $17.

The fact that I paid $17 postage for 4 chips was my own fault, as the postage/handling charges were clearly disclosed and I simply overlooked them. Therefore, if the chips had arrived in four separate, well-protected or padded packages, I would have just bit my tongue and let it go. (No way this guy was getting positive feedback, but I wouldn't have neg'd him either.)

However, after thinking it over for about three weeks, I decided that the packaging he used, after charging $17 for shipping and handling, warranted negative feedback -- so I left him four of them (one for each auction), which told a continuous story of what happened.

Needless to say, I got retaliatory negatives (surprisingly, only three with one neutral).

Before he shipped the chips, I told this seller that I would never again bid on one of his auctions. He sent me an email today saying he would cancel any bids I ever placed on one of his auctions. Stalemate, I guess. I intend to avoid him like the plague. Anyone who wants can view the exchange of bad blood by checking our respective feedbacks (his user ID is same as email; ditto mine). Or, if anyone wants, I will forward a copy of our complete email exchange.

BTW, Michael Par, I emailed this seller earlier today to advise that I was going to post on this board regarding this problem and gave him a link to the board. Just thought you'd like to know. <g>

----- jim o\-S