Dealing with an unreasonable seller?

[chihawk19]

I found a website that was selling a set of cards I was interested in. It was a rather low-tech website and I had to email the owner to get some more information. The set was advertised for $250. I had to provide my zip code to the seller to get a quote for shipping. I was told shipping (including insurance) would run $42.50. Additionally, the only accepted forms of payment were bank money order, postal money order, or Western Union. This was going to be a hassle to take care of, but I was interested in the set and was going to overlook it.

I sent another email to the seller (who is in Canada) to confirm whether the price was in USD or CAD. I was told the $250 for the set was in USD and shipping was $42.50 CAD. I punched the numbers into google’s calculator and determined shipping would be just about $35 USD. I contacted the seller again to confirm that I should send $285 USD via international postal money order. I was instructed that the $42.50 portion of the bill should be sent in Canadian funds because “by the time*it arrives here I very well might get less on the*exchange*... The Canadian $ is going up”. At this point I think I’m done with the deal. There is no way I’m going to get 2 different money orders to complete this deal.

Am I off base in finding these payment parameters utterly ridiculous?

 

[30ranfordfan]

If you're willing to go get a single money order (when thinking about how I'd pay) I would assume that:

1. You really, really, really, want this set
2. You're a lot more patient than I am

Quite honestly, I have no desire to send any non electronic payment for a purchase I made online ever again.. and finding out that's how I was required to pay would likely turn me off of even making the purchase.

Want to charge separate currencies for the item and shipping? Seller must not care about his own time either.

I'm guessing there's a service for having the money order done up.... and the currency conversion. Could offer up an extra $5 to combine them into one? If that saves you a couple of bucks in service fees, it's probably worth it.... and if the seller suggests that the Canadian Dollar might rise enough that the extra $5 wouldn't cover it, he's much more optimistic about our economy than I am.

 

[frankiefives]

You must really want this set. There's no way I'd send anyone I don't know a money order these days. Plus, this seller sounds like a real douche. Exchange rate on $35? Really?

 

[Triple B]

You must really want this set. There's no way I'd send anyone I don't know a money order these days. Plus, this seller sounds like a real douche. Exchange rate on $35? Really?

Agreed. No way in HELL would I send an MO to someone I don't know. I cringe at how much I did it back in the late 90s.

 

[quincy]

I have no issue with money order...drawn on a bank.

That said: where is the seller? Maybe we of HI can sort this out?

 

[sjw241]

Sounds somewhat shady to me. If the set is so cheap it is likely too good to be true. Who only accepts non internet based payments on a website. Doesn't add up to me.

 

[cburt]

Seems unreasonable to me. Where in Canada is? He should just keep the currency consistent. Doesn't make sense to do that. Paying by money order is legit to me, but you don't have any buyer protection if the deal goes south, or north depending on where you live. LOL.

 

[chihawk19]

It's not that the set is being sold at a "too good to be true" price. The set is serially numbered to 2000, and the seller has the one particular serial number I would be interested in. This was the only reason I was even considering getting a money order for him. Like Ryan mentioned though, it was something I did fairly commonly back in the 90s, but in the PayPal era I just can't be bothered.

I have no doubt that he is a reputable dealer, so I am not concerned about him taking the money and not sending what I ordered. Besides, he would need to show ID to cash the postal money order and would be subject to mail fraud charges if he tried to rip me off.

Since I didn't respond to him immediately he was nice enough to give me the option of sending the $42.50 in cash (no coins).

He's located in Mississauga, for those who were wondering.

 

[walter5o9]

It's not that the set is being sold at a "too good to be true" price. The set is serially numbered to 2000, and the seller has the one particular serial number I would be interested in. This was the only reason I was even considering getting a money order for him. Like Ryan mentioned though, it was something I did fairly commonly back in the 90s, but in the PayPal era I just can't be bothered.

I have no doubt that he is a reputable dealer, so I am not concerned about him taking the money and not sending what I ordered. Besides, he would need to show ID to cash the postal money order and would be subject to mail fraud charges if he tried to rip me off.

Since I didn't respond to him immediately he was nice enough to give me the option of sending the $42.50 in cash (no coins).

He's located in Mississauga, for those who were wondering.

Impossible! You cant send him that money in cash without the use of coin!


One a side note this guy really seems like a piece of work. Sounds like he is going to be difficult the entire way through the process. And should something happen during shipping to the set I think you are just going to be ripping your hair out through the process. Though he has the set you want there are a lot or red flags going up.

Why dont you see if you can get him to list the set on ebay and have it ship through the eBay Global program? This may be away around the whole shipping thing.

 

[trekrun]

He's located in Mississauga, for those who were wondering.

Ask him if he is setting up at Expo or will be attending it this November.
Maybe one of those attending can make the connection for you!

 

[uvic99]

Maybe ask him what he thinks the equivalent in USD *could potentially be* by the time he receives your money order. The difference is probably like $2?

He is being odd about this, but I once had a seller argue for a difference of 1 or 2 cents on the dollar for a $20 purchase. I just don't buy from them again.

 

[Justcards]

Tell him you will send him a CDN MO, for the entire purchase at the PP rate lol

BTW I am in Sauga... I will pay him a visit lol

 

[chihawk19]

Ask him if he is setting up at Expo or will be attending it this November.
Maybe one of those attending can make the connection for you!

Unfortunately, he will not be attending the Expo.

Maybe ask him what he thinks the equivalent in USD *could potentially be* by the time he receives your money order. The difference is probably like $2?

He is being odd about this, but I once had a seller argue for a difference of 1 or 2 cents on the dollar for a $20 purchase. I just don't buy from them again.

I have a couple of other big ticket items on my radar right now, so I am probably going to just pass on dealing with this seller for now. Maybe I'll reach out to him again the next time the Canadian dollar is on the decline. :devil: