RED SEA s500 ELECTRONICS DRAWER / eBay

[erics210]

Hello All,
I purchased a used Red Sea s500 over a year ago.
While the electronics drawer is cool, the design allows for potential water damage when the drawer is exposed.
This is probably what happened prior to my ownership. Some of the outlets or switches weren't working properly.
Was just leading to uncertainty in the use.

So I ordered a New Unused one off of eBay. Was just want I wanted, AND about half the price of the Red Sea replacement drawer from a retailer.
Sadly, the seller did NOT use any packing material other than used plastic soda bottles to secure some of the components in the drawer and fill dead space at the top of the box.
To his own admission, he messaged me and said he used plastic bottles, I thought to fill some dead space in addition to ACTUAL PACKING MATERIAL.
The drawer is particle board and not real wood so it arrives today.

 

[erics210]

Action was $225 or Best Offer, which is less than HALF of a new unit.
It looks new unused in the auction photos and is unused upon arrival. NEW? Not so much.
Paid $175.00
Plus $60 shipping and another $15+ in Taxes on ebay.

I just sent pictures to the seller via eBay.
I did not include all the pics with the Mountain Dew bottles as the only form of packaging yet.
Waiting to see how he responds.

This is one of those things that I would like, but feel like a chooch if I keep it as is without complaining and getting something in return.

How would YOU handle this if it were you?

 

[erics210]

I have the older style with timers for T5s, but the new one is similar to the one of the right.JUST DAMAGED.

 

[lo7100]

this is horrible packaging. I still see liquid inside the bottles. nasty

 

[Wilson]

That's crazy! I've never seen anything packed with bottles. Anybody whose bought anything from me knows I pack the crap out of things to ensure it arrives safely. I guess I don't shop eBay enough.

I guess the question is are you willing to settle on keeping it? It's severely discounted, but I would not call that new unused condition. I personally would demand a refund. If eBay or the seller requires you to ship it back, so be it, good riddance, but it better be on their dime. If you get the refund, and they don't ask you to ship it back, chop shop, TLC, make yourself something nice.

 

[erics210]

So before I bashed him through eBay for his negligence. I figured I would send him the pictures. Waiting to see what he says.

I personally would have bubble wrapped the main console in the original box..
THEN I would have taken the shelf brackets that were basically lose inside and taped them to the outside of the primary box.
Then I would have shrink wrapped the box with the taped brackets and the plastic covers on the opposite side.
AND Placed the shrink wrapped box inside ANOTHER box with peanuts.
But thats just me...(and Wilson) I guess.

Maybe he can do an insurance claim? Doubt it. But Maybe as the package was pierced in multiple locations. So even if packed better would possibly be damaged just due to weight.
If so I can get the refund except shipping which would be fair, and get to keep the item to mash up with my old cabinet to make a usable product.
We will see.


Stay Tuned.

 

[reefsandrotts]

Speechless.....
Hope everything works out for you.

 

[Salted]

Watching to see what happens. Eric, if things don't work out, maybe you could bring that here and we could get some correct thickness plywood and make some new panels on my table saw.

 

[erics210]

Sooooo. I wrote:"Hello, was so excited. It really was Christmas morning, as my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told her I needed new pumps and a new electronics drawer for my Red Sea s500. So I didn't get many gifts on Christmas day. This was it!
And....I wanna cry."
Hoped to leave the door open for him to do the right thing.

Well, the shipper replied. Sent me pics of his prepacked item, showing it new unused.
Same pics also show a bunch of used drinking bottles during a pandemic used for shipping.




His responses:
"Oh my gosh, looks like the shipping of this did not go very well with ups. let me check and see if you purchased insurance when you checked out your shipping options. I will do that when I get home which will be about 45 minutes to an hour. I also have great pictures of it completely intact which will help you with the insurance claim to UPS."

"It does look like you chose included coverage up to $50. Of insurance. With the pictures that you have before shipping and what you have after should help you with your claim to USPS."

"Luckily, but no excuse at all for USPS a lot of the damage is inside and not able to be seen when the drawer is in the aquarium. But those complete and total jerks did really screw that up."

 

[erics210]

So my response to his short blurbs:

"Actually, from my understanding, insurance is obtained by the shipper through the carrier.
Your shipping price seemed high but since you came down on the auction price, I didn't complain about it. The package could have been shipped via UPS or FedEx for half the price of USPS.
Very disappointed with the shipping packaging, especially knowing how well I try to pack items myself.
I prefer USPS myself, because there aren't local offices to ship from for FedEx or UPS.
I try to insure my expensive items or items I cannot easily replace, and now with the theft of packages, I have been adding adult signature required at delivery for items over $100.00 instead of just delivery confirmation scanning to ensure someone physically received the item.
I called the post office and while either party can file the claim, I ask that you file the claim, as shipping receipt and proof of purchase or value of goods sold need to be included in the claim.
And while I do agree the post office could have handled the package better, the packaging was sadly lacking.
I am including the other photos I had taken as ai was unpacking in case you want to use them for the claim.
In regards to handling this damaged product, I really do not feel comfortable accepting just the $50 refund.
This is a high end aquarium system, and was really paying for a new replacement unit.
I am gonna ask that you refund half of my $260 payment. The neglect to use any real packaging padding directly led to the damage that resulted from shipping.
Additionally, you included used soda bottles during a pandemic.
I was so excited to win and receive the item.
I would still like to keep it so hope you will refund the $130.00.
If not, I will follow the eBay course of action and open a claim to initiate a return, which the seller pays, and a full refund."

I think I am being reasonable.
He netted $143.00 approximately from the sale.
The new item arrived in significantly damaged condition.
He will be able to claim $50 from insurance for the shipping insurance.
So basically I am asking for that $50, and about half of his profits from the item, which is damaged due to his poor shipping.

If not.
I file the claim.
He pays return shipping, he refunds the entire amount. All $260.
And gets backed the damaged item but is out $138.00 in shipping fees.
So even if he is able to resell it for the same amount, he makes $5.00

Dummy shoulda bought full insurance.if he knew he was.shippkng like ****!

 

[erics210]

Soooo. He responded.
"As you said I did come down quite a bit on the auction price by $75.
And as you can also see by the shipping label that it is what the buyer selected. You did have an opportunity of selecting any other shipping methods but that is the one you chose. all we do is put in the dimensions of the box and the weight. You guys as the buyers get to choose the rest. What I can do for you is I can refund your shipping plus $25. So $75 total. Which would make the total amount that you have received back on this unit $150 under asking price. Definitely well within the price point of a used item."

He wants to give me $25 plus the $50 insurance money.
He charged me $68.00 shipping.
But actual shipping was just $55.00.
Maybe if he actually used packing material he could call it shipping and handling.
He should have used some of that $13 of over charged shipping to pay for insurance and this would all be a mute point.

So guess I will be doing a claim.
Arrrrr.

 

[erics210]

 

[Salted]

Maybe he thinks you're going to make money recycling the used bottles. Screw him, file a claim and send it back. Might take you a little while to find another one but in the long run you'll be happier getting one in new condition. Sorry for you Eric.

 

[DEL]

wwwwttttffffff...stuff like this pissss me off.. when I ship watches, I actually buy bubble wrap to make sure it doesn't get damaged. I myself would file a claim on ebay for my money back. who the hell ships used bottles as packaging?

 

[erics210]

wwwwttttffffff...stuff like this pissss me off.. when I ship watches, I actually buy bubble wrap to make sure it doesn't get damaged. I myself would file a claim on ebay for my money back. who the hell ships used bottles as packaging?

IF he owned the issue more, maybe I wouldnt be as angry.
Blammed the JERK USPS shipping guys. Then Blamed ME for not purchasing Insurance
Takes no blame for using empty soda bottles for packing material...

I just packed up 10 hammer/axes I sold on ebay today for shipping.
Was asking $19.99 each.
PLus $10 shipping and an extra $1 shipping for each.
Buyer offered 150 for 10. I accepted. Shipping charged was $19.00.
They way a pound+ each, so flate rate shipping would be ideal, and they fit in the large flate rate box.
I tape carboard around each of the blade sections, then bubble wrap the head and secure each with tape.
Then a layer of bubble wrap between pair of hammer/axes.
With the extra padding filled the box perfectly. Taped the box up real real well due to extra weight.
I honestly feel I could drop it off my roof, and while the box may get damaged the contents would be in decent shape.

 

[erics210]

Maybe he thinks you're going to make money recycling the used bottles. Screw him, file a claim and send it back. Might take you a little while to find another one but in the long run you'll be happier getting one in new condition. Sorry for you Eric.

What stinks is you are limited on characters on the claim.
Went with:
Purchased item sold as NEW. Seller pre-warned on 12/30, "Forgive the packing". Item came 1/11. Box corners & edges damaged(pic2,3,4). Opened box, found deflated bottles as packing. Pic 6 shows damage to front of drawers. Picks 7&8 show inside drawer damage. 9&10 are his photos shared. Notified Seller. He blamed USPS. "Those complete and total jerks did really screw that up.", and ME for not buying more insurance. I asked for Half Refund. He offered just $25 more than insurance payout of $50. Looking to return.

 

[erics210]

Item sold for $175, plus $68.85 Shipping.(actual Shipping was $55.) He should have used some of that $13 towards INSURANCE!

I figure he made $143 on the sale and another $13.00 on the shipping he over charged me!
It arrived damaged in shipping, so he can claim $50 insurance, making his total $143+$13+50, or $206.00.
The Seller didn't pack it well! The Seller didn't buy insurance! Was damaged due to his negligence.

So I asked for half refund of my $260 payment, $130.
Which would have left him with +$76.00, and considering his crap packing lucky to get that.

But Nooo.
Offered just $75. So the claim has been filed!

He has 8 days to accept the return, if he doesn't respond. I ask eBay to step in.
If he accepts the return he pays the shipping to return and once received I will get a complete refund including initial shipping.
He pays both shipping to and from me for the return, but will be able to relist the damaged drawer once returned to him.
Even if he sells the damaged drawer for the same $175 price, he nets $143, minus the shipping charges from my auction, he makes like $10-$20, plus the $50 insurance money.

So he would make the SAME EXACT AMOUNT as refunding me $130.00!

Alot of work but at this point I am on a mission....

 

[MadReefer]

That sucks. I cannot believe he is so arrogant to blame USPS when he packaged it so horrible.
My wife sends stuff and she has so much bubble wrap and foam she packs with.
Hope you get your money back.

 

[Mark_C]

This has been a lesson to me.
I'm planning to sell some frags this week.
Was going to put them in the watertight specimen bottles, then a waterproof bag, then in a box with peanuts and packing.
Now I know I can just send them in an envelope and save myself the trouble.

 

[erics210]

This has been a lesson to me.
I'm planning to sell some frags this week.
Was going to put them in the watertight specimen bottles, then a waterproof bag, then in a box with peanuts and packing.
Now I know I can just send them in an envelope and save myself the trouble.

HAHAHA
Right?
When I sold a handsized GSP rock for $20 a few years back, we agreed to ship priority mail. I secured it to a rack, secured the rack to a deli container with coated wire mesh, inserted that container inside another. filled fully with water taped shut, inside a box with paper and bubble wrap and warmers, inside the priority box. successful transaction!

Mark, but there are times when less is more.

I sell those Vintage stamped custom coins online.
If someone orders 10 or more, it makes sense to ship in a box.
But when someone buys a single coin for a few bucks, I stamp it, insert a paper folded up, tape the coin to the paper and mail with a stamp for 55cents with no tracking.
The difference is, I have thousands of these to replace it if lost or damaged.