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Infested eBay plant

Discussion in 'Orchid Vendor FYI' started by TheKellylove, Nov 30, 2015.

  1. Nov 30, 2015 #1
    TheKellylove

    TheKellylove Active Member

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    I received a plant from eBay today that was infested with scale bugs and some mealy bugs. Kelly W asked me to post here to tell you all the sellers name and offer updates on how the seller dealt with it. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448937701.196599.jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448937712.433580.jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448937822.055337.jpg

    I asked for a refund.

    The sellers handle is earladrian.
     
  2. Nov 30, 2015 #2
    TheKellylove

    TheKellylove Active Member

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    Hmm... Here's his response
    I'm pretty sure he shouldn't be selling a plant that has EVER had scale, treated or not.

    "Hello Kelly. I regret you are not happy with the plant. I inspected and treated the plant several weeks prior to packing it. In particular the scale was treated with a systemic and prior to packing, I inspected and used a soft toothbrush with alcohol to remove the dead scale from the plant. There was no living scale on the plant. However, I understand that you really don't want the plant. So by all means return it to me in the same condition as you received it and I will make the refund. As I stated in my conditions of sale, which surely you read: "all sales are final". So I'll meet you half way. Send it back to me Priority Mail tomorrow, when there is a window of opportunity in terms of nighttime temperatures in my location, at your own expense, and I will refund your purchase price once I have inspected the plant and determined it is in the same condition as when sent. If you cannot send it tomorrow, then we will have to coordinate for another date relative to the weather forecast in my area. Again, I regret you are not happy. Will you kindly respond this evening if you can, to let me know if you are able to post it tomorrow? Earl Hatleberg"
     
  3. Nov 30, 2015 #3
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Kelly, here is my take on this. Scale/mealybug/etc. can be a problem in any greenhouse. A plant that has been treat at some point in the past and has proven over time to no longer have an infestation seems fine to me to sell. "Some point in the past" is not "prior to packing". You need several months to be sure that an infestation has been alleviated. Some pests can have a resistance to a particular pesticide, so treating once without follow up with other types of pesticide is folly.

    He is asking you to pay postage both ways for a plant that is not clean and should not have been shipped. I don't think expecting the customer to pay for his lack of professionalism would be acceptable to me. Had you not been vigilant you might have put this with your other plants and potentially spread live pests to your clean plants.

    I think he should pay for his bad business practice which would include postage both ways.
     
    PhalGal likes this.
  4. Nov 30, 2015 #4
    TheKellylove

    TheKellylove Active Member

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    So eBays return policy is this " If you're returning an item because it isn't as described in the listing, the seller is responsible for return shipping charges, regardless of the seller's return policy. "
    Is this item not as described? I don't think I should pay return shipping. That's absurd
     
  5. Nov 30, 2015 #5
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I looked at another one of his listings and I didn't see any mention on the health of the plant. So technically he could argue that he never said it would be healthy or free of disease, but that really isn't going to fly. I would tell him his offer isn't acceptable and you want a full refund including postage as well as a return label that he generates and emails to you. There is also a concern about weather since he is in the northeast so you need to need to be careful it doesn't freeze in transit. Don't leave feed back until you are completely satisfied with the outcome. I hate it when vendors don't accept responsibility for their errors.
     
    Boytjie likes this.
  6. Dec 1, 2015 #6
    TheKellylove

    TheKellylove Active Member

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    Yeah, you're right Marni. What a turd
     
    Marni likes this.
  7. Dec 2, 2015 #7
    DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately, for sellers eBay and PayPal usually side with the buyer. That's a benefit for you in this case. Explain you understand his treatment for pests but it is not acceptable. Do what Marni advised, full refund and email a shipping label. Otherwise, start a case with eBay.