I got scammed BIG time... · 5:06pm Jan 31st, 2021
I have been trying to sell my guitars before I moved back home because I both needed the extra free space and the money. One of these guitars happens to be one of the most collectible and increasingly sought after Fender Jag-Stangs. Mine was from the last run, so it makes it more special.
The guy I'm selling it to lives internationally and I never ship outside of the UK because of the hassle involved, and this story is a prime example that can't explain any better why I do not deal in overseas shipping. That and the pain which is customs. Nobody likes customs.
Well, it went like this; the guy is Canadian, the one buying my guitar. We had a chat for a bit and negotiated a price to ship it. Once it was worked out, I went ahead and took some measurements and put them into the delivery service called Hermes International. Recently, Hermes has been careless. Tossing packages in random 'safe places', not leaving cards to say the package is there, never leaving a contact if the person misses delivery, etc.
In one instance, that happened to me. I had ordered something from Amazon for about £20 I think the price was, and it had been left outside for THREE DAYS in a cardboard box while it was heavy rain and incredibly windy. It was also glass, which made it worse. Three of the six items inside were damaged and the seals were broken. I didn't get much of an apology, but did get my money back. This in mind, sending a guitar overseas when it was worth well over £1000 had me paranoid and nervous.
So, like I said, we negotiated a price, settled down on something suitable and then with the measurements I took, I got a quote for shipping costs. I read everything carefully because I'm paranoid like that, going through it countless times. Once I was happy with it, I entered my details and paid for it. I printed the label, concealed customs documents and then I took it to the shop when my dad gave me a lift. Unfortunately, this is where it all went wrong.
The label wouldn't be accepted. The shop owner scanned the barcode multiple times and it didn't accept it. The label on the address I printed said it wasn't valid, and I didn't really take much notice because I've had a lot on my mind trying to get everything sorted. I had to take it back home and tell the guy about it. That wasn't exactly professional, and the whole ordeal had pissed me off quite a bit when I was already very stressed and angry over a lot of things.
This to me isn't right because the label said the code was 'expired'' despite the fact that I had literally paid for the label not even a half hour ago. How exactly can something be expired when it was newly purchased? Explain that to me, oh, glorious Mirza from Hermes. That makes NO sense. So, I had just spent just under £200 on shipping for a label claimed to be expired despite being newly purchased and then it wouldn't let me renew it. I seriously was not given an option to get a full refund, and that is extremely aggravating when I don't even have any money. That's why I'm selling this guitar in the first place!
As it sits, I'm out £200, I won't be receiving payment from my buyer overseas, no answers have been given to me yet on why this has happened and I'm still sat here waiting to get my money back that I desperately need. I contacted Hermes International and they said they are handling it. I have yet to see any positive outcome.
Hermes have been notorious during this pandemic for doing whatever they please without any regard, so if this doesn't get handled, I don't know what I'll do next. If it comes down to it, I may have to get the authorities involved, but I really hope that isn't necessary. They have been quite dodgy and it's not exactly settling my nerves.
For the love of all that is holy, STAY AWAY from Hermes as a delivery service. Pick somebody else you know is reliable and punctual, and you may at least get your money back if something does end up going wrong. Hermes can't get away with this like they have so many times before. This isn't right. I'm not handing over my guitar at all to them after this incident. I'll either find somebody else to ship it at a bigger cost (at least I know it'll be in good hands) or I'll decide to keep my guitar.
I'm still pissed off about this whole ordeal, as I've mentioned above. This shouldn't happen to anybody else, so head my warning and be very careful who you entrust a package to.
I'll see y'all around.
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- FireRain
This makes no sense.
The label was "used" between the time you paid for it and the time you went to use it?
I would ask if the seller used that shipping label like someone would use an iTunes gift card, but he seems to have a vested interest in the guitar.
Try using DHL. They are a global shipping brand. And they have better service than overrated FedEx.
You are entitled to a refund due to an error outside of your control, may I be so bold to say.
5445153
The label wasn't used. That's what I don't get. It was new and they only have a singular use. Even though I paid just under £200 out of my own pocket to cover shipping, it said it was expired despite the fact that I had just bought it. That makes no sense at all.
The postage cost was supposed to be included within the final price, but because I don't get paid until I send off the guitar (part of the policy for the site I sell my stuff on, a place called Reverb) it looks like I'm going to lose that money. The seller knows about this and asked me to keep him updated once I know what's going on. Until then, I can't do anything but wait. It's very annoying, I assure you.
Might just go to Royal Mail. At least they know what they're doing and don't pride themselves on ripping people off for money they can barely afford to spend in the first place. FedEx don't exist over here, thank christ. A guy I knew, an author, likes to write on typewriters. He bought the same type used in Misery by Stephen King and it was pristine for its age, but he got it damaged, chipped and broken.
5445159
The company I work for uses a site called Stamps.com to ship internationally, maybe it'll work for you?
5446484
No, after this is over, I think I'm never going to ship internationally ever again. I'll sort it out and only this once will I try and find somebody else to ship it off with. I don't want to deal with this unnecessary, time-wasting hassle again after this delivery can finally be finished.