Buyer Beware
I have had great experiences with Amazon's Marketplace. Even when something goes wrong with the order, the sellers have either been great about fixing it/offering a refund...or Amazon has stepped in and given me a refund. So I ordered a new DVD from entertainmenthq. It was super cheap, so I made sure that it was labeled as being new before I went with the order. The DVD arrived yesterday. The movie was unwrapped. The DVD case was damaged (there's a rip on the back that obviously didn't happen in transit). The disc was also loose in the case and had some scratches on the back. I put it in the DVD player and checked it out. When it appeared to work, I decided to not pursue a return or refund, but I was definitely going to mention that it was not new in my review. I opted to give 3 stars (neutral) rather than 2 stars (bad), because the disc did play.
*EDIT*
I added the rating that this guy gave me and the Amazon description of "New" and "Like New" items.
Here is my rating:
"The item was listed as new, but definitely was not new. Package was unwrapped and showed damage. The disc was loose in package, but appears to play fine. Shipping was fast, though."
So I check my e-mail this morning to find this from the seller:
Firstly, please remove your incorrect feedback from Amazon ... as this WAS a brand new, never played DVD and NOT used, like you falsely claim it to have been! If you are making your claim due to there being no 'factory-seal' around it, we never stated there was a factory-seal in the description; and a sealed DVD does not mean a brand new DVD anyway (as companies have self-sealing machines these days anyway!) But, we know 100% that your DVD was NEVER played or touched by human hand and 100% exactly as described on Amazon prior to your purchase ... the very same description that you read prior to purchase. And please let's not forget that you only paid $1.95 for this DVD ... a DVD that would cost you over $10.00+ in the stores! So again, please remove your middle-of-the-road (and highly incorrect feedback) as and when you can to readdress the balance of Karma, thank you. Sincerely, Mike (GS4U)
Some customer service, huh? I completely forgot that anything a stranger tells me is fact...so the disc really must have been brand new. He also didn't address that the case was damaged, but whatever. And I never said it was used...I just said it wasn't new. I wrote a cordial response and ran it past a friend to make sure I was in line:
I'm sorry if you felt that my rating was unfair, but an open package with damage is at best "like new." I agree that the price was low and that it was not listed as being factory sealed, but there is no guarantee other than your word that it had never been played. As it appears to work fine, I gave three stars instead of two...which is not negative feedback. I stick to my rating, though, as I feel I was being generous. In the future, please list open items as "like new."
And very shortly after, I get this response:
Joseph,
Sorry, but everything you have just replied with is not the governing way of Amazon and so is wrong in relation to listings ... that CD was brand new, never played and was never noted as 'factory-sealed' so it was 100% listed correctly ... and that low, low, low price you just cannot beat ... which in turn leads us to apologize for our feedback left back for you on the subject. Have a great week, be well and try to enjoy life more.
Sincerely,
Mike
GS4U
He then left this rating on my account:
1 star out of 5. "Beware of this buyer as he seems to expect something for nothing with regard purchasing extremely cheap products from Amazon!"
Date: 5/13/2008 Rated by Seller: entertainmenthq
So the bastard left me negative buyer feedback (which is funny when I've given 5 stars to 95% of my transactions). This is the second person that has given me negative buyer feedback after I called them out on their bullshit. Incidentally, buyer feedback doesn't really matter. How many people are going to turn down a transaction when the credit/debit card goes through? And I was being nice to this asshole. But I don't enjoy life, because I expect a new product to actually be new. And to top it off, he didn't even address any of my concerns. But I decided to not respond, because this would continue to go in a circle. I do not have room in my life for pointless drama.
And to put things in perspective, here are Amazon's guidelines for "New" and "Like New."
# New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened video or DVD in perfect condition in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included.
# Like New: An apparently unopened video or DVD in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box or jewel case is clean and vivid, with no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift. Source
This guy stands behind him being perfectly within the bounds, but the guidelines clearly state that he is wrong. Amusingly, his seller page states: Monty's Memorabilia is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service.
Oh yeah, I totally just reported him to Amazon after looking up their condition guidelines.
I guess this guy is related to the guy that made Automaton Transfusion...
*EDIT*
I added the rating that this guy gave me and the Amazon description of "New" and "Like New" items.
Here is my rating:
"The item was listed as new, but definitely was not new. Package was unwrapped and showed damage. The disc was loose in package, but appears to play fine. Shipping was fast, though."
So I check my e-mail this morning to find this from the seller:
Firstly, please remove your incorrect feedback from Amazon ... as this WAS a brand new, never played DVD and NOT used, like you falsely claim it to have been! If you are making your claim due to there being no 'factory-seal' around it, we never stated there was a factory-seal in the description; and a sealed DVD does not mean a brand new DVD anyway (as companies have self-sealing machines these days anyway!) But, we know 100% that your DVD was NEVER played or touched by human hand and 100% exactly as described on Amazon prior to your purchase ... the very same description that you read prior to purchase. And please let's not forget that you only paid $1.95 for this DVD ... a DVD that would cost you over $10.00+ in the stores! So again, please remove your middle-of-the-road (and highly incorrect feedback) as and when you can to readdress the balance of Karma, thank you. Sincerely, Mike (GS4U)
Some customer service, huh? I completely forgot that anything a stranger tells me is fact...so the disc really must have been brand new. He also didn't address that the case was damaged, but whatever. And I never said it was used...I just said it wasn't new. I wrote a cordial response and ran it past a friend to make sure I was in line:
I'm sorry if you felt that my rating was unfair, but an open package with damage is at best "like new." I agree that the price was low and that it was not listed as being factory sealed, but there is no guarantee other than your word that it had never been played. As it appears to work fine, I gave three stars instead of two...which is not negative feedback. I stick to my rating, though, as I feel I was being generous. In the future, please list open items as "like new."
And very shortly after, I get this response:
Joseph,
Sorry, but everything you have just replied with is not the governing way of Amazon and so is wrong in relation to listings ... that CD was brand new, never played and was never noted as 'factory-sealed' so it was 100% listed correctly ... and that low, low, low price you just cannot beat ... which in turn leads us to apologize for our feedback left back for you on the subject. Have a great week, be well and try to enjoy life more.
Sincerely,
Mike
GS4U
He then left this rating on my account:
1 star out of 5. "Beware of this buyer as he seems to expect something for nothing with regard purchasing extremely cheap products from Amazon!"
Date: 5/13/2008 Rated by Seller: entertainmenthq
So the bastard left me negative buyer feedback (which is funny when I've given 5 stars to 95% of my transactions). This is the second person that has given me negative buyer feedback after I called them out on their bullshit. Incidentally, buyer feedback doesn't really matter. How many people are going to turn down a transaction when the credit/debit card goes through? And I was being nice to this asshole. But I don't enjoy life, because I expect a new product to actually be new. And to top it off, he didn't even address any of my concerns. But I decided to not respond, because this would continue to go in a circle. I do not have room in my life for pointless drama.
And to put things in perspective, here are Amazon's guidelines for "New" and "Like New."
# New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened video or DVD in perfect condition in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included.
# Like New: An apparently unopened video or DVD in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box or jewel case is clean and vivid, with no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift. Source
This guy stands behind him being perfectly within the bounds, but the guidelines clearly state that he is wrong. Amusingly, his seller page states: Monty's Memorabilia is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service.
Oh yeah, I totally just reported him to Amazon after looking up their condition guidelines.
I guess this guy is related to the guy that made Automaton Transfusion...