Buyer Beware - Tokyo Anime Girl AKA Shelene

Xelloss · Post by **Xelloss** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:44 pm

I'm sticking purely to facts.

I bought this cel
http://www.rubberslug.com/user/53a6a03f ... e0124b.jpg
off of this thread
http://www.anime-beta.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=20936

I paid $100 for the cel, plus $23 for shipping, insurance, and paypal fees.

This $ was used to ship the cel in a bubblewrap envelope in a single bubblewrap layer, and sent standard first class mail.

The cel was ruined by the lack of shipping protection.

Check the (pretty big) scan to see the worst areas in her headband, headband jem, in her eyes, face by eyes, and hair -- particularly in the lower right. The paint is literally coming off the cel. Other damage exists but was not picked up my scan, the acetate is bent and deeply dented in places. The black areas in hair were unpainted, unmentioned by seller.

I tried contacting the seller, but I haven't gotten anywhere yet. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?

Thank you,

- Karen

kira · Post by **kira** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:06 pm

ouch, i'm sorry to hear about that karen.

thanks for the warning.

star-phoenix · Post by **star-phoenix** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:10 pm

Contact Paypal and launch a dispute for "significantly not as described" and start the process to claim your money back. Show all re cords and documents that shows that you requested insurance, what the condition of the cel was before they shipped and after. but, be sure to show that you have requested Insurance.

If you paid for a credit card, be sure to send the cel BACK to the person and file a dispute with yoru credit card. This is what I did when I received an item that was nothing like the advertisement. What my CC company told me is that if you send back the item, then you win the dispute. but, you have to provide proof with tracking # and a receipt that you sent the item back.

Nelia · Post by **Nelia** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:27 pm

Holy Mackeral! The cel looks totally different. o_o And I can see where the damages are..

Jeez! There was no backing or anything?

Maiko · Post by **Maiko** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:05 pm

Ugh- that totally sucks. I can't understand why fellow collectors can sometimes be so notorious for mailing out cels in such a piss-poor fashion; would THEY want any of their cels mailed like that? Would THEY like to have them arrive like that?

I think the worst situation I had was when a cel was mailed to me in a ziploc baggie. That the cel didn't entirely fit into, by the way.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you >_<x I'll second everyone's advice thus far. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!

meewchan · Post by **meewchan** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:54 pm

I hope you can get things corrected soon. It's a terrible shame for such a lovely cel to get ruined like that.

I was so sad to have missed out on one of her Shamanic Princess cels but now I'm feeling a little lucky. If I had bought it and it arrived damaged like that I would cry. A lot.

*sends you good cel karma*

Shelene · Post by **Shelene** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:01 pm

I have responded to all your emails. I can post screen shots of your emails on this board if you are denying that. I was trying to settle this dispute with you, like to suguest, the insurance placed on your cel, being filed, for any damages you were claiming. I have replied to all of them within a day - but it seemed you didn't even wish to give me that amount of time and come on here instead, to claim I have not replied.

The shipping that was sent, I charged you accordingly. Pay pal fees, shipping, package, handling and other costs.

I have sold dozens of cels in the past week, including hundreds in the past few years and I never had a problem like this before. You can easily check my Ebay feedback for cels shipped out before and I can provide references of people who have bought my cels from me personally and received them safely.

Yes, I have shipped some cels in bubbled card board envelopes and others in boxes, with bubble and hard backing. It all depends on what was paid for shipping and requested for.

Since this incident, I have changed my method of dealing with buyers and to be sure on what is agreed upon by shipping so there is no confusion.

I apologize for the way you received your cel and as I stated in the emails to you, that I was going to try and work out a way, to redeem your losses. But instead, you come on here and claim I have not done you justice. That is unappreciated. I understand you wishing to warn others, but to do so before we handle everything accordingly and even claim, I have not replied, is poor practice. You could of at least waited to deal with this personal matter between us, then put up a review. Either it was me or you that made the mistake on this transaction, or both, miscommunication, who knows. I wanted to fix it, for a personal business to make a mistake or two is going to happen. And it's not like I was ignoring you or expecting it to go away - I wanted to make it right. But it seems you are the one who did not want to even work with me.

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:23 pm

Wow - I am confused. $23 for shipping??

I just sent out some sketches that the seller
paid $800 for. I charged them $18 for shipping
and insurance including delivery confirmation.
I double packed these in cardboard for protection,
as well as sending them priority. The total
shipping charge was just a tad over $15. Ok, I
may have taken a hit on paypal fees, however,
$800 is quite a difference from $100.

Yes, I have shipped some cels in bubbled envelope and others in boxes, with bubble and hard backing. It all depends on what was paid for shipping and requested for.

For $23, you should have been able to send them
express, in a very well packaged and secured way.
I am confused. Why so much for shipping for $100 item??

Shelene · Post by **Shelene** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:26 pm

I also included Paypal fee, because the buyer wanted to use Paypal. I state on my site that I charge this fee, that if you wanted to avoid it, to use MO. That's why it's a little high. That price listed was not just for shipping.

I sent out a couple cels in the same way and it's obvious it was my mistake, some buyers want there cels shipped a certain way and I got mixed up. All other cels I shipped in boxes, with cardboard backing and bubble wrap with card board backing before and after this specific transaction. But now after this one problem is stated, I have changed the way I shipped. Other buyers in the past I never had a problem, with either shipping requests. But it just takes one to make you change up a bit.

Like I stated before, I can provide Ebay handles, names, emails, websites, etc. of other people who have purchased my cels and did not receive it damaged. I am not denying I am having a problem with this order and I am trying to make it right. But it should not detour others from purchasing other cels.

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:33 pm

I normally don't respond to situations like this... but i do understand when it comes to paypal fees which is why I am responding.

Paypal will not charge you more than $5 for a transaction. I know my personal percentage charged for how much I sell is 2.9% + $.30 per transaction. If you sell less than $3,000 a month, then the fee should have been no more than $3.20....

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/websc ... iving-fees

good luck to you both. I hope you can resolve this issue soon.

Shelene · Post by **Shelene** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:48 pm

Yes, Paypal can charge you more then $5 for a transaction, but not for this particular one. For example, I was charged $3.87 for this buyers transaction and $8.41 for another transaction. It goes higher for how much you receive. It also depends if its from your personal account or a credit card.
As you can see here http://tokyogirl.org/shelene/fee.jpg.
I also do not sell more then $3,000 a month.

But that's not the dispute anyway. The dispute is what will be done about the result of all of this. I have been contacting the buyer, but have not received a response. But I am patient, cause I know people have other agenda's then to check email every second of the day.

Xelloss · Post by **Xelloss** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:00 pm

I did wait for a reply before, and I have replied again.

Shelene · Post by **Shelene** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:51 pm

Alright, let's cut to the basis of this claim.

The point of the matter is you *were* given insurance on this parcel that was meant to cover any damage in shipment. You could easily file an insurance claim with the postal service and get your money back. You refused to do so, because as you said "I would have to give back the cel". OF COURSE you would have to give the cel back. Basically, you want to keep the merchandise, AND have your money returned to you. That is ridiculous beyond explanation. A classic example of wanting to have your cake and eat it too.

Not to mention the fact you didn't even WANT insurance to begin with. I had to inform you that I *REQUIRED* insurance on any package I mailed out just for this type of situation. I then informed you that I would refund your money if you were willing to return the cel. Of course you were fine with the idea of a refund, but only if you could KEEP the merchandise. If you return an item to a department store for a full refund, do they allow you to keep the item? I think not. Why? It's called theft.

The cel was packed in a rigid cardboard shipping envelope, bubblewrapped on BOTH sides, with two very large, easily read stamps stating "Fragile" and "Do Not Bend". The 'extra cardboard insert' you requested (after the packaged was shipped, I might add) would have done nothing to further protect the cel. The shipping charge you paid covered the actual shipping cost, the cost of the material, the handling and packaging of the actual cel, the PayPal transaction fee and transportation to the Post Office to mail it. You were informed of the breakdown before the transfer occured, and should have raised any issues or questions THEN. Not now. I have shipped many, many cells all around the world with absolutely no problems, until I decided to do business with you. For some reason, I can't seem to get the word 'Fraud' out of my head. Is this how you do business with all sellers?

And how dare you accuse me of not replying to you. All of your emails were responded to in a very timely manner, often within hours of their receipt. I have retained *timestamped* copies of everything, so let's not make accusations without proof.

Sellers, beware of this buyer. She believes it is her right to keep the merchandise she buys from you, while at the same time collecting a refund, or insurance claim. Do not do business with her.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:58 pm

That's a beautiful cel! I wanted that one, but your cel page said it was sold!

The rigid Cardboard envelope isn't thick enough Cardboard.

I know that $23 isn't alot of money for expecting thicker cardboard to be used for shipping, but you really should use thicker cardboard.

The Post Office does Insurance to make money and if you take that "rigid" cardboard envelope to complain, the post master will say that it isn't thick enough and that it is the sender's fault for packing it wrong.

What should be done is that you send the cel back and everything will be fine! You'll get a refund!

Shelene · Post by **Shelene** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:04 pm

Also, I'd like for you to point out to me the damage you're refering to. Besides a terrible scan, I can see no damage. There are air bubbles around the top of the cel, more than likely caused by bad scanner placement, or a layer of plastic between the scanner and the cel. The unpainted hair portions you refer to are *part of the cel*, not damage, and were present in the scan on my site you reviewed BEFORE buying the cel.

As I said, if you want a refund, it's yours... but you *will* return the cel to me. If you wish to file an insurance claim, that's fine too... but again, you will be required to return the cel.

Let me state this in very plain English one more time, so I know there is no misunderstanding. *If you want your money back, you will have to return the cel.* Period. You cannot keep the merchandise and expect a refund. Unfortunately, that isn't the way the world works.

Anime-Beta TNG

Buyer Beware - Tokyo Anime Girl AKA Shelene

Buyer Beware - Tokyo Anime Girl AKA Shelene

Seller Beware!