What would you do?

[SoCaliReefin]

Hey everyone, got a stuation I need some opinions on.
So if you purchased some corals from a vendor and paid for them and had a ship date scheduled. Then you see a new piece from them you want. You ask how much it would be to add it to the corals already purchased and have them shipped together. We agree on a price and I get an invoice. I ended up not being able to afford it anymore so I never paid the invoice. I figured I would get my corals I paid for and not the one I had asked about and wanted to add. To my surprise it was sent. Then I get an email saying pay now. I kindly replied that it was a mistake on their part and it shouldnt have been sent in the first place since I never paid for coral through the invoice. I said I did not want it and would send it back.
Then I get a response and Im being accused of trying to pull a scam. I honestly did not expect to receive the unpaid coral. I dont think any vendor would send out unpaid corals.
I know its a first for me. Its not like I said " yeah, send it to me and I will pay you later", I never paid for the item.
Do you guys think thats ethical? Just put it in the bag and charge the customer later?
I thought a sale wasnt final until payment is made. Well the vendor decided for me I was going to keep it and went ahead and somehow pulled up my credit card info. Weird because I used paypal to pay for the first items. And charged me anyway like they said they would.
I spoke to someone on the phone and got cussed out pretty nasty! It was unbeleivable! A nightmare to deal with.
Anyway I called the bank and opened a claim. Got my money coming back but the bank says I can press charges for credit card fraud if I want.
What do you guys think? Should I press charges or just be happy with my money back?

 

[swannyson7]

It sounds like a lack of communication on the part of both parties involved. On your part for not telling the vendor that you were no longer able to afford the piece, and on the vendor's part for not speaking with you prior to selling. It sounds like the vendor gave you the benfit of the doubt based on positive transactions in the past, but telling him that he's beat after a mistake was made seems morally wrong. I'd say that a compromise needs to be made because you shouldn't have to pay out of pocket to ship it back, but even if the vendor covered these costs, shipping back and forth will be hard on the coral and it will likely perish. I personally feel that you should be responsible for at least part of the cost if you keep the coral, but I agree that having your card charged without your authorization isn't right either. Before resorting to pressing charges or demanding a full refund, I would speak to the vendor once things have cooled off a bit to come to an agreement.

 

[_sludgefactory]

Don't order things you can't pay for. It's your fault as much as the vendor. He shouldn't have shipped them unpaid for tho. That's kinda shady. It's like when my friend and I bought stuff from one of those knife collector shows and they sent us double and tried top charge for both.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

 

[SoCaliReefin]

It sounds like a lack of communication on the part of both parties involved. On your part for not telling the vendor that you were no longer able to afford the piece, and on the vendor's part for not speaking with you prior to selling. It sounds like the vendor gave you the benfit of the doubt based on positive transactions in the past, but telling him that he's beat after a mistake was made seems morally wrong. I'd say that a compromise needs to be made because you shouldn't have to pay out of pocket to ship it back, but even if the vendor covered these costs, shipping back and forth will be hard on the coral and it will likely perish. I personally feel that you should be responsible for at least part of the cost if you keep the coral, but I agree that having your card charged without your authorization isn't right either. Before resorting to pressing charges or demanding a full refund, I would speak to the vendor once things have cooled off a bit to come to an agreement.

I never said anyone was beat. I said I didnt want it and offered to send it back. I didnt get any compromise. It was " pay up now or I charge your card anyway!" . Like I said, my intentions were not to scam anyone. I should have.been contacted prior to shipping to make things clear. Then now I am being forced to buy it. Im not trying ti keep it for free, if thats what your implying.

 

[SoCaliReefin]

Don't order things you can't pay for. It's your fault as much as the vendor. He shouldn't have shipped them unpaid for tho. That's kinda shady. It's like when my friend and I bought stuff from one of those knife collector shows and they sent us double and tried top charge for both.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Yes, very shady!

 

[swannyson7]

I'm not implying that you're trying to keep it for free at all. But you have to look at things from the vendor's point of view. You said that you wanted the coral and then backed out, so they were only trying to please a customer in a no win situation. If they held the corals that were schedule to ship while waiting for payment, then you'd be unhappy. If they shipped the ones you had already payed for and then you sent payment for the additional coral, you'd have to pay for shipping again which wouldn't be good either. As I said, I think the blame falls on both of you, and you need to come to an agreement that works for both of you.

 

[SoCaliReefin]

I see your point, but I tried and only got accusations of being a con artist running an elaborate scam to get a free coral. And when I wanted to work out returning it since I didnt pay for it, all I got was "pay me now, pay me now!". and then an unauthorized charge. Then a nasty phone call and threats.
Anyway thats not the question.
Question is should I press charges? Or just let it go?
I feel this person need to be taught a life lesson on how to treat people.

 

[swannyson7]

I don't think that you should press charges until you've exhausted all options of reaching a conclusion that is fair to both of you. Based on the actions of the vendor, I'm guessing that you've had past experiences with them and that they were positive enough for you to do business with them again, so why burn bridges. If you wanted the coral and you just couldn't afford it, then why not work with the vendor and pay what you can now, followed by the rest later. If you never intended on buying the piece or claim that you no longer want it do to the actions of the vendor, then work along with the vendor to arrange transporting the piece back. It seems like both of you are too eager to "win" the fight based on principle instead of coming to a compromise.

 

[florida reef]

Sounds to me like a misunderstanding and imo the vendor should not ship to people on their word, and if he/she does and ends up not getting paid I think that is the cost of doing business. Why don't you pay for the coral eventually? You wanted it in the first place, right? I don't think the vendor should have made an unauthorized charge. That can end up hurting him pretty bad. This is a tough situation and I think both of you sound like reasonable people. I'm sure you can come up with a reasonable compromise.

 

[Salty Dog]

honestly I wouldnt go to crazy over this, If you didnt pay it was there fault, if you dont have the money sell it on the board and then payback the vendor

 

[cparka23]

honestly I wouldnt go to crazy over this, If you didnt pay it was there fault, if you dont have the money sell it on the board and then payback the vendor

Selling something that you didn't pay for is the last thing I'd do. Explaining to a business that you're not scamming them, but then selling their merchandise IS a scam. Paying for it, then selling it to recoup the cost is a different story.

It's too bad that the vendor didn't handle things better, but I understand why they're not anxious to take coral back. They're in the business to move inventory, not to take it back after it has been in another person's care. If they take it back, they'll likely have to quarantine it and wait for it to color up before posting it for sale again. That's a lot of time spent taking up space. But more importantly, agreeing on a price is akin to authorizing them to charge your card. Nobody orders merchandise on the phone and says, "I authorize you." They just "agree on a price" and the vendor charges it. If you agree on a price over email or whatever, the same principle applies in my book.

I don't doubt your intentions, but talk of pressing charges and teaching life lessons is only going to make things worse. swannyson has given some good advice on this matter, and I suggest you try to follow it until the vendor refuses to communicate with you.

 

[SoCaliReefin]

Thanks for the input everyone. Swannyson, I tried talking to them but getting no progress.
Any vendor input on this matter?
I was treated very badly, thats why I am so upset. Theres never a point when its ok for a vendor/business to speak to a customer in a dergatory manner no matter how frustrating the situation. This person did not handle the matter in a professional manner. He was talking like hes from the mafia or something.

I buy from many vendors, we wheel and deal on diff prices and pieces until we come up with a price. Sometime it takes me a few days to make payment but no items are sent until I pay in full.
Then everything I paid for is shipped. Note, I did not buy everything we talked about and got a price on.
Sale is final when payment is made.
Im sure im not the only one to ask how much is this? I will take it! Then something happens and you cannot finish the deal. But is it ok for the vendor to send what you asked about and wanted anyway? Then drmamd payment! And charge me anyway against my will. Right or wrong?

 

[SoCaliReefin]

Also, I could have bren contacted before shipping to confirm if I wanted it.
Instead it was shipped anyway, unpaid for, then I was contacted afterwards and told about the situation.
When I said I didnt want it anymore just what I paid for they said they would stip the package. I said thats fine just reship what I ordered. Well the package came anyway and I was charged anyway!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

This has gone far enough. I am sorry you have had the problems in dealing with a vendor. There are going to be two options for you both from this point forward on R2R. We are not a place to air dirty laundry or work out issues. So here are your options.

1. Work out the problem via email or PM and let it be done.
2. Leave a negative feedback topic via the vendor feedback forum. You will only be allowed to leave feedback one time and the vendor will also be allowed to leave feedback. Other members of the forum will not be allowed to participate.

Lastly I want to say that we are not going referee this issue anymore so please do not post about it anymore except how I mentioned previously. Again I am sorry you have had a bad dealing but please understand our stance in this matter. Thank you.