I posted earlier about a few scams I had been sent via email as a seller. This, however, is on the buyer side.
I was searching craiglist and found a local posting for a flute (yes, I know but its beside the point) for $50. Decent instrument for a great price...so I jumped on it. I initially emailed the seller on July 13th asking if it was still available. I was contacted almost immediately and we started talking about whether we were going to meet or have it delivered. She lives about 30 minutes away and did not know the area well so I decided I might as well have it shipped. My schedule was kind of hectic at the time anyways. Then, she let me know that she had a higher end flute available for 20 dollars more but it would need some fixing up. She offered to do that for an extra cost, which I agreed to. The final cost came out to $105 shipped. More than what I thought initially but it was ok.
I payed right away, which my paypal account says was July 16th. She told me it may take some time to fix the flute up, which I expected but she would let me know when it is done. She then told me she received the payment (on the 17th). I contacted her on the 19th and the 20th wondering what the status of the flute was and when she expected it would be sent. She replied saying she had not been around her computer much but she would give me the tracking number the next day. I told her it wasn't a problem, I just wanted to make sure my emails went through. Six days later I emailed her asking if I could get a refund because I had not heard from her, wasn't given a tracking number and my funds were getting a little tight as it was. It didn't expect her to say yes, but it was worth a shot.
She replied that same day (July 26th) saying that she had dropped it off at the post office "earlier the other day" and I "should be receiving it shortly". I was supposed to let her know when it came. Ok, I thought well at least its on its way. On August 3rd I emailed her that I had seen no sign of the flute. I asked for the shipping address that she sent it to, even though my paypal address matches my home. She responded saying her computer had crashed and she didn't know if her emails would be available since she was using Outlook, or something to that affect. I then asked for a tracking number and yesterday let her known that I had still not received the flute. No response from her yet.
I'm royally ticked off right now. I understood that it would take some time to fix up the instrument but it should not take almost two weeks to ship locally. Not to mention, she runs a business http://www.foreverwoodwinds.com/
What should be my next step? Do I wait for a response or file a dispute? I have also checked her ebay feedback and there are several negative feedbacks stating they never received the instrument or it was sent late after they filed a claim. Only problem is I didn't purchase through ebay...I am mad and lost right now...I just want my money back at this point.
I was searching craiglist and found a local posting for a flute (yes, I know but its beside the point) for $50. Decent instrument for a great price...so I jumped on it. I initially emailed the seller on July 13th asking if it was still available. I was contacted almost immediately and we started talking about whether we were going to meet or have it delivered. She lives about 30 minutes away and did not know the area well so I decided I might as well have it shipped. My schedule was kind of hectic at the time anyways. Then, she let me know that she had a higher end flute available for 20 dollars more but it would need some fixing up. She offered to do that for an extra cost, which I agreed to. The final cost came out to $105 shipped. More than what I thought initially but it was ok.
I payed right away, which my paypal account says was July 16th. She told me it may take some time to fix the flute up, which I expected but she would let me know when it is done. She then told me she received the payment (on the 17th). I contacted her on the 19th and the 20th wondering what the status of the flute was and when she expected it would be sent. She replied saying she had not been around her computer much but she would give me the tracking number the next day. I told her it wasn't a problem, I just wanted to make sure my emails went through. Six days later I emailed her asking if I could get a refund because I had not heard from her, wasn't given a tracking number and my funds were getting a little tight as it was. It didn't expect her to say yes, but it was worth a shot.
She replied that same day (July 26th) saying that she had dropped it off at the post office "earlier the other day" and I "should be receiving it shortly". I was supposed to let her know when it came. Ok, I thought well at least its on its way. On August 3rd I emailed her that I had seen no sign of the flute. I asked for the shipping address that she sent it to, even though my paypal address matches my home. She responded saying her computer had crashed and she didn't know if her emails would be available since she was using Outlook, or something to that affect. I then asked for a tracking number and yesterday let her known that I had still not received the flute. No response from her yet.
I'm royally ticked off right now. I understood that it would take some time to fix up the instrument but it should not take almost two weeks to ship locally. Not to mention, she runs a business http://www.foreverwoodwinds.com/
What should be my next step? Do I wait for a response or file a dispute? I have also checked her ebay feedback and there are several negative feedbacks stating they never received the instrument or it was sent late after they filed a claim. Only problem is I didn't purchase through ebay...I am mad and lost right now...I just want my money back at this point.
