Hi, I am new here, but not new to watches collection. I recently purchased a speedmaster pro limited edition from a supposed reputable eBay and forum seller named Ashley Steadman, from Sydney, Melbourne. A full time IT sales consultant. The watch was listed as mint, and paid with PayPal. I had a previous dealing with this seller. It was uncomplicated. As I received the watch this time, clearly it was not as described. 30 minutes chrono hand fallen off the dial, and centre chrono hand broken. It appeared the parcel may have been dropped. Dial scratched. I informed Ash (seller) soon opened the parcel. Seller soon established he sent the watch in perfect condition, and it is not his fault nor responsibility other than redirect me ( based on his online research from Australian post web site) to my local postal service to lodge claim myself. Obviously further conversation did not go well. I was told by seller, it was an unfortunately event,it is not his responsibility to ensure the watch arrive to buyers hand safely,the buyer should sort out the issue himself. As far as I can see, there was no proof of insurance was in place either. I was told by Australian post, I will need to leave the damaged good with it to investigate, which hesitated. I now left with a damaged watch which seller refused to take back, and refund. Nor he offers compensation to resolve dispute.
Ashley Steadman washed his hands, and acted unprofessionally and unfairly. As far as I can see, he could have dropped the parcel during the transit himself.
I do not endorse this seller. Any potential buyers should deal with him with cautions. His eBay Id: ash-s.

 

[emoji22] Sorry to hear that...

 

Thanks Danny for providing an open forum for everyone to discuss this. Let's hear the other side of the story shall we?

I sent the watch in perfect condition and I sent it with insurance (note that the buyer didn't pay anything for shipping nor insurance - I covered this). Neither the box, nor the watch were damaged when I posted it.

When the buyer received his watch, it was damaged. I called him as soon as I received his text to say how sorry I was that this had occurred and that I would do what I could to help. I also promised to look into the process to get things straightened out (I've never had a watch damaged in transit before).

After researching the Australia Post website, the process is to take the watch (which the buyer has possession of, not me) to an Australia Post outlet and show them the item and packaging to start a claims process.

The buyer flat-out refused to do this and said that it was my responsibility (despite me not having possession of the watch) to take it to the post office and make the claim for him. He said that as a "Medical Professional" his time was far too important to deal with such things (and more important than mine).

He accused me of breaking the item before it was given to Australia Post, he threatened me with police and legal action, now he's taken to open forums to sledge me and put the blame on me for something that a carrier has done.

I've sold over 50 watches in the last 8 months and never dealt with such an aggressive, unreasonable buyer. My positive feedback on Omega Forums reflects this, and it's a shame that Danny has chosen to air his grievances when a simple insurance claim is all that's required to fix this situation (it's worth noting that he went to Australia Post today but didn't lodge a claim).

I am completely at a loss as to why this situation has escalated like this, when I have insured the watch to avoid anyone losing out in the event of damage or loss due to a third party (Australia Post). His reluctance to make a claim on insurance baffles me.

 

Madness. Zero sum the whole thing. Looks like Australia Post should be wearing this one, even if not resolution never comes from antagonism. Put the toys back in the pram and get each other on the phone.

 

I can see the community can be bias towards to its long term member. End of the day, it is seller responsibility to ensure product delivered as describe. This seller wAshed his hands early, and takes no responsibility to the issue. I expect the seller to resolve issue with all effort. End of the day, I paid, all I wAnt is the watch as described, and it is not. He took the money, left me with not as described product and uncertainty. Was it dropped? Who dropped? How do you prove Australian post did it? Could it be the seller? You guess is as good as my. Good faith here will not go far, as end of the day, seller declined the return of the good and responsibility. Yes, I will escalate the dispute with PayPal and credit union. But I should not be hold responsible for the outcome of it. I did what a buyer needed to do - I paid. What about seller? He sent me a not as described product. Is it fair?

 

Not trying to pick sides since the only information is what we have in this thread, but I don't think Ashley is trying to lead you on.

Items received damaged or missing contents

• Present the damaged item and the packaging at a post office for a damage report to be completed. Please note that not all of our post offices are able to complete damage reports. Please ask at your local outlet or look for post offices listed as Post Shops or Business Hubs in our locations and hours tool.
• Complete a Customer Service Complaint form (available in-store) and leave the form, the item and all packaging with our retail staff for processing.
• Provide supporting documentation as requested. This may include proof of identity, statutory declaration, postage or point of sale receipts and item details.

Below is the link:

http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/compensation.html

 

Hi DannyChen,

Its funny you say you don't have time to go to the Post Office who by the way are the ones responsible and who the insurance is with but yet have enough time to go to the Police Station which I'm pretty sure would take a lot longer and have virtually no chance of getting the watch fixed under an Insurance claim this makes no sense at all.

We all know things happen that are not under ours or the sellers control sometimes hence the need to insure things properly really you should be grateful that it was sent to you with Insurance as this way you at least have recourse over the situation. Just what you expect the seller to do when the watch is in your possession and its you that needs to file the Insurance claim as it was damaged in transit really is beyond me. Plus if you really did go to the Post Office why in the world would you fail to make a claim? as that would be the easiest and fastest route to make things right. Again you claim your too busy and important to deal with going to the Post Office but now seem prepared to take the most combative and lengthy process to get the issue resolved which again makes very little if any sense.

I have never bought or sold a watch from your seller and only know of him from his posts on this forum but from his reputation it does not seem likely to be anything other than one of those unfortunate instances where it has been damaged in transit and if handled properly would of been nothing more than a minor inconvenience and easily fixed. I will bear in mind if I'm ever selling a watch to make sure not to sell to you at any price.

Marc

 

Perhaps this better deal with by seller himself? He can take the watch back, and lodge the claim, end of the day, he paid for it. It is a claim under his name. Right? I can't see why he can not take the watch back. It is well established watch isn't as described.

 

Because @DannyChen as-per Australia Post's guidelines...

Items received damaged or missing contents

• All claims must be made by the recipient of the item.

 

The matter is now in the hands of PayPal. I am frustrated by seller washing his hands, and will not acknowledge his responsibility. There are two sides of view. But the point here is, as a buyer: seller sent a defect product, not as described, inadequately insured, and denied responsibility. Future buyers need to be aware of this seller attitude. So called reputation / I sold 50 watches this month does not equate to honesty, and pride of seller.

 

Once again, you deliberately shift the responsibility back to the buyer. No remorse, no insight, lack of professionalism, lack of reassurance ( you could have dropped or damaged it prior package as far as I can see ). Your responsibility end once the watch arrive safely in buyers hand. I have already been to local postal service per our discussion before. I asked you what will be the ideal solution if Australian post did not agree with the claim, you told me to suck it up, nothing to do with you. if you were me, what will you do? Suck it up? Bad luck? I don't think do. Not in anyway you have attempt to come up alternate solution.

Btw, a new set of hands cost au 200. Local watch maker replaces hand and assesses watch cost at least au 150-250. The watch is not longer mint. Replacement of dial.. I can't imaging the cost here... It's a huge ask to the buyer to suck it up.. Why don't you just take the watch back? Be a responsible honest honourable seller? Don't keep shift the blame to me.. I am a victim here, not abuse or fuss creator. I paid! I get nothing here.

 

Will you take the watch back and refund all the money if Australian post rejects the claim?

 

Why would Australia Post reject the claim Danny? The parcel was insured and the item has been damaged in transit. Unless there is further information that you have withheld from me there is no reason for them to reject it.

If you wish to discuss further we can do so over the phone.

 

You are trying to create confusion again, and not taking any responsibility. Where is the honesty ? The watch condition now is how i received. Exactly as in the photos I sent to you within minutes I opened the parcel. We already had a few unproductive, blame shifting, heated phone discussions, and I can not see how further phone calls will make any difference.
You are avoiding to answer my question in public arena. Will you take the watch back and refund if the claim was rejected by Australia post ( I guess if so, then it means Australia post does not believe the parcel was dropped or damaged or mis handled in anyway during the transit, then means to me, the watch was already faulty / defective - why someone sent a damaged / not as described goods - beyond my imagination) If you agree, I will then fill in a customer complain form, and leave the watch with Australia post to assess/investigate. The seller ( you) is liable to its outcome, not me. I submit the claim on behalf of the sender/seller whom paid the cost of the shipping. All I want is the right watch in condition described, or full amount money back. I am not asking for more, certainly not less.

This is not only about me anymore, I am sure future buyers like to know how you handle this matter appropriately. It guides them about buying in confidence from you in the future. It's customer service. It's about honesty. It's about responsibility and reliability. Experience tells, life is never smooth. Having good dealings in the past do not exclude you from the bad. This dealing is certainly bad for me. I never met such difficult, lack of understanding unprofessional seller like you. People don't make noises if dispute is handled appropriately. I am sure you can do better.

 

Just a minor point but how could the damage have been caused by the seller?

If Australia Post accepted the package with obvious signs of damage, they would not have provided insurance without wanting to see that the contents were not also damaged.

To the OP: To claim that your time is more valuable than that of any other member here is arrogance beyond belief and genuinely insulting to everybody on this site.

 

Pretty sure after this temper tantrum there isn't a member on this forum that would ever sell a watch to the OP in the future!

 

If the package was sent to a post office box as I believe I read in one of the messages that were posted between seller and buyer, would the buyer have not had to pick it up from a post office? If so, and he saw that the box was damaged, it should have been reported on the spot, and the package opened in front of a postal employee.

The fact that the buyer won't simply follow through and submit the claim as any reasonable person would do is telling for me...

 

Btw, I gather many of your dealings involve in Bank wire transfer / direct bank deposit. No buyers protection when deal goes wrong with you. I am so glad I did it with PayPal instead, per my insistence. I have a chance.