DHL lost my So Black Birkin 30 - Need advice

[poopsie]

No not really. It would be much easier to handle if she's doing this for a legit business.

Yes. But I doubt that it is their first rodeo----a LEGIT business would know better than to under insure and lie on a declaration form.
I have bought many pre-loved LV and Prada from overseas sellers. Every one of them has it stated that they will not undervalue their wares and that any customs charges incurred are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
Is this a social media seller?
It sucks that they set this up to avoid any culpability.

 

[poopsie]

Tragic decision that people seem to still take, despite the clear and flashing dangers and a million stories of this going south. Good luck to you, OP, maybe the universe will cut you a break.

Sadly most of them only find out when it happens to them.

 

[northerndancer]

yup extremely undervalued

Was there any mention of customs clearance in the DHL tracking? I wonder if it is possible that your bag is stuck in customs. Undervalued items can get stuck.

 

[880]

offering you goods (that she already has and probably can't shift) to 1/10th what you paid, costs her nothing and is a pittance

This may seem hard, but for all you know, in reality her business might be able to bear the loss better than you can.

this is heartbreaking. I am so sorry. I agree with above. I also agree with @poopsie .

I also feel that it’s possible your package may be found; it took many weeks for me to get something I ordered from Australia.

I just sent several (2 Bs, HAC, and three Ks) to professi9nal third part spa, and she has her own insurance (similar to jewelers insurance) cover replacement cost amounts. I also did not want to go to ups or fed ex and request insurance (I did not want to draw attention to my large box). I also pay using PayPal via Amex. I never use wire transfer for anything.

The downside was I did have to pack a box within a box myself, but it was more secure and discreet. i Hope your box turns up.
Hugs

 

[MiniMabel]

No not really. It would be much easier to handle if she's doing this for a legit business.

So she's selling privately? Then, if she couldn't/wouldn't provide adequate insurance, perhaps poopsie's advice re cc chargeback is the only option if the bag doesn't arrive. You must look after yourself and your hard-earned money.

There's still hope though, as other members have said, because there's a tremendous backlog in the postal systems. Are you able to get hold of any of the separate depots along the bag's journey to speak to them individually to have a look through any unforwarded parcels?

 

[880]

Every one of them has it stated that they will not undervalue their wares and that any customs charges incurred are the sole responsibility of the buyer.

+1000

 

[BeenBurned]

Worrying about your relationship with her should not even be a factor at this point
It's also not your fault that she can't afford to reimburse you the FULL amount. That's what INSURANCE is for. She's running a business

Was this a situation where the bag was undervalued?

yup extremely undervalued

Was the reseller a business?

No not really. It would be much easier to handle if she's doing this for a legit business.

I understand that you've had previous dealings with the seller and have developed a sense of trust with her but in this case, it was a BUSINESS transaction - she's the seller and you are the buyer - and when she's selling an item and has a buyer, it's a business transaction, albeit not an incorporated business.

The seller is responsible for getting the item to you and that she underinsured the package is HER problem. (Even if you'd asked her to insure for less than you were paying, she was dumb to do it.)

She should reimburse you to make you whole. (Someone suggested she might reimburse you the amount of profit over her cost, but I disagree. You bought, paid for and received nothing and should get back every cent.)


And so what if this ruins a "relationship." A real "relationship" survives good times and bad and although the loss isn't her fault, she has the ultimate responsibility in making sure you get what you paid for.

Remember also that this seller isn't your friend! She's a person who you don't know personally and have merely had some business dealings with. Is that enough of a basis to hand over thousands of dollars in cash to a total stranger? If this type of purchase were to happen again, pay extra and use Paypal or another payment service that offers protection for goods and services. (Never do friends and family unless you're actually sending payment/gift to a friend or family member.)

 

[needmoneyforbirkins]

I feel like a lot of the messages here, while direct and insightful, are a bit too straightforward. I'm sure OP already feels bad and doesn't need more tough love. Please feel better, OP!

I also had a huge package shipped from Asia to the US recently and it was stuck at the UPS worldhub in Kentucky for 2 weeks before it finally cleared and got to me. I think it was a mix of holiday package traffic & also the recent tornado that devastated that area. Perhaps Cincinnati also got hit by the same tornado? I'm crossing my fingers that your package might turn up.

 

[BeenBurned]

Was there any mention of customs clearance in the DHL tracking? I wonder if it is possible that your bag is stuck in customs. Undervalued items can get stuck.

That was going to be my next question.

 

[BeenBurned]

I feel like a lot of the messages here, while direct and insightful, are a bit too straightforward. I'm sure OP already feels bad and doesn't need more tough love. Please feel better, OP!

I also had a huge package shipped from Asia to the US recently and it was stuck at the UPS worldhub in Kentucky for 2 weeks before it finally cleared and got to me. I think it was a mix of holiday package traffic & also the recent tornado that devastated that area. Perhaps Cincinnati also got hit by the same tornado? I'm crossing my fingers that your package might turn up.

While I'm sure we all sympathize with the OP, the fact is that she did err, did extend unwarranted trust to the seller and it's not until a transaction goes south that we learn from our mistakes and do things differently.

Coddling and empathizing isn't going to get the OP her money and the OP can't coddle the seller either! Seller was wrong, careless and in this case, unlucky.

But again, the seller's bad luck shouldn't be the buyer's problem.

 

[880]

The seller is responsible for getting the item to you and that she underinsured the package is HER problem. (Even if you'd asked her to insure for less than you were paying, she was dumb to do it.)

She should reimburse you to make you whole. (Someone suggested she might reimburse you the amount of profit over her cost, but I disagree. You bought, paid for and received nothing and should get back every cent.)

This^^^ 100%

@needmoneyforbirkins, I am so glad you got your package after wait8ng two extra weeks

IMO only, these posts primarily support the idea that it is actually the right thing for her to take steps to get her hard earned funds back. In fact, if the seller were in her position, I’m sure the seller would take steps to fully recoup

 

[jellyv]

perhaps poopsie's advice re cc chargeback is the only option if the bag doesn't arrive. You must look after yourself and your hard-earned money.

No chargeback option: Wire transfer is the critical detail here, putting OP entirely at seller’s mercy.

 

[BeenBurned]

No chargeback option: Wire transfer is the critical detail here, putting OP entirely at seller’s mercy.

Wire transfer = sending cash to a stranger

There's no chargeback, no stop payment, no ability to pull back the funds.

DHL should cover the seller for whatever the insured declaration amount is and the seller should pay the buyer the balance and BOTH parties should learn from this experience.

 

[mbai]

That was going to be my next question.

@northerndancer Per the tracking, the clearance was processed already. And thank you all for the suggestions, whether it's tough love or comforting words, I appreciate you taking your time and offering me possible solutions. And I agree with all of you, I was treading on dangerous waters by doing transaction via wire transfer and it only takes one incident to sink the boat. I will figure things out with the seller and I'm sure we all learned from this unfortunate event, that you will do the exact opposite of what I did.

 

[citybaglady]

I made a purchase from Canada 12/7, and per the tracking, I was supposed to get it on 12/16. I never received the item, and tracking was then changed to “delayed”, with no further updates. I was worried because it was fairly expensive (a ysl bag, no where near the cost of a H bag). It turns out to at they were extremely backlogged, and I ended up getting my bag the first week of January, a full month after purchase. I am hoping for the same resolution for you. Postal workers are stretched thin, especially with the holidays and COVID. Hopefully your bag turns up.