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Fellowship: Question #8 - buyer's remorse
Nov 14, 2018
2018/11/14 18:39:48 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
2018/11/14 18:39:48 (GMT) Greenwich Mean Time, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Casablanca, Monrovia
My original question planned for this was a little different from one that Jlong suggested, but I think they go well together, so: answer one or both!
(a) What's something that you paid for, received, was exactly what you expected (not defective or misdescribed), but still felt regret just because you no longer wanted it? That "what was I thinking" moment...
(b) What's been your worst purchase experience, and what all went wrong? I am sure we all have had things go horribly wrong either with the seller or with the shipping service, or the payment service, or all three (Jlong I'm looking at you). For these answers, please let's keep it anonymous for the individual(s) responsible for your anguish here in public.
(a) What's something that you paid for, received, was exactly what you expected (not defective or misdescribed), but still felt regret just because you no longer wanted it? That "what was I thinking" moment...
(b) What's been your worst purchase experience, and what all went wrong? I am sure we all have had things go horribly wrong either with the seller or with the shipping service, or the payment service, or all three (Jlong I'm looking at you). For these answers, please let's keep it anonymous for the individual(s) responsible for your anguish here in public.
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(a) There were definitely three mistakes as a novice collector I made which all involved signatures. My first mistake was I purchased a painting reprint of Tolkien that was signed--by the artist, of course, not Tolkien. The second mistake I made was buying an index card "signed" by Tolkien on eBay, and then later a paperback copy of The Hobbit "signed" by Tolkien. All of these occurred before I discovered TCG. The latter two I threw away a long time ago.
(b) I bought a 1st, 1st of Tom Bombadil on eBay. When it arrived, there was an inscription in the front that wasn't mentioned in the listing--this has happened to me more than once but aggravates me every time. At that time, eBay was set up quite differently. I messaged the seller several times to no avail. I requested her phone number and left messages to no avail. Finally, she replied to me via email with this nasty message that essentially said get over it and leave me alone. I left neutral feedback on eBay, and she retaliated and did the same. The only thing I regret is that I didn't leave negative feedback.
(b) I bought a 1st, 1st of Tom Bombadil on eBay. When it arrived, there was an inscription in the front that wasn't mentioned in the listing--this has happened to me more than once but aggravates me every time. At that time, eBay was set up quite differently. I messaged the seller several times to no avail. I requested her phone number and left messages to no avail. Finally, she replied to me via email with this nasty message that essentially said get over it and leave me alone. I left neutral feedback on eBay, and she retaliated and did the same. The only thing I regret is that I didn't leave negative feedback.
For (a): probably the purchase of signed copies of Alex Lewis & Elizabeth Currie's THE UNCHARTED REALMS OF TOLKIEN and THE FORSAKEN REALM OF TOLKIEN. I have no idea why I paid what I paid for these (from Andy at ADC Books); they're just sitting there, brand new, & I'm never going to read them. Ever. Please take them off me...
In respect to (b): I've never had any huge mishaps with anything really expensive apart from the Super Deluxe CoH. I had a quite early number (which I thought was important at the time) & the leather binding inside the front board was cut short or mis-bound; looked really scruffy. I remember being undecided what to do & asked someone for advise. They were like I'd be really unhappy with that copy, return it. So I did. HC were fantastic dealing with the courier return from my work & getting the other shipped out. Always wondered what happened to that copy, whether it was ever sold on or if it was scrapped...
In respect to (b): I've never had any huge mishaps with anything really expensive apart from the Super Deluxe CoH. I had a quite early number (which I thought was important at the time) & the leather binding inside the front board was cut short or mis-bound; looked really scruffy. I remember being undecided what to do & asked someone for advise. They were like I'd be really unhappy with that copy, return it. So I did. HC were fantastic dealing with the courier return from my work & getting the other shipped out. Always wondered what happened to that copy, whether it was ever sold on or if it was scrapped...
I did speak earlier this year to HC about the Super Deluxe editions and how many S&G copies were unsold. They have all been sold through the Folio Society, all the remaining copies went very quickly by all accounts.
I can see them producing another Super Deluxe, and I once again mentioned the obvious Super Deluxe that has not been commercially sold and the fact that Amazon are making a TV series with the same name
I can see them producing another Super Deluxe, and I once again mentioned the obvious Super Deluxe that has not been commercially sold and the fact that Amazon are making a TV series with the same name
Trotter wrote:
I did speak earlier this year to HC about the Super Deluxe editions and how many S&G copies were unsold. They have all been sold through the Folio Society, all the remaining copies went very quickly by all accounts.
I can see them producing another Super Deluxe, and I once again mentioned the obvious Super Deluxe that has not been commercially sold and the fact that Amazon are making a TV series with the same name
Yeah, they sold out through the Folio Society in a couple of weeks. I was really surprised at the stampede to buy them, given they had been available for so many years. I'd buy a Super Deluxe LOTR if they did something like the one they did for internal distribution.
My 'mistake 'buy came a few years ago when I saw a two Towers first imp for sale on our favourite auction site. I asked if the seller would do a buy now and he said he would. He offered it at a bargain price £400 as I recall and I was very pleased to accept. I stressed it must be send tracked, signed and insured especially as coming from Germany.
Sure enough less than a week later it arrived. Great
NO
I could tell straight away something was wrong as the postman handed me the box. I said should I sign for it , he said no it was only sent standard post! It was so light it was obvious nothing in it. On the bottom was a different type of tape !
I opened it and surprise no book just stuffed newspaper. I was steaming! After many many emails I was shafted well and truly. It was a private deal and paypal didn't want to know., The seller claimed it must have been stolen on route and his girlfriend forgot to get the insurance! Refused to refund !
A harsh lesson learnt for sure
Sure enough less than a week later it arrived. Great
NO
I could tell straight away something was wrong as the postman handed me the box. I said should I sign for it , he said no it was only sent standard post! It was so light it was obvious nothing in it. On the bottom was a different type of tape !
I opened it and surprise no book just stuffed newspaper. I was steaming! After many many emails I was shafted well and truly. It was a private deal and paypal didn't want to know., The seller claimed it must have been stolen on route and his girlfriend forgot to get the insurance! Refused to refund !
A harsh lesson learnt for sure
No significant buyers remorse here. An occasional "OMG did I just spend THAT much" but that is all. Never been ripped off. Occasionally something goes astray in the post, but sellers (or Amazon/Ebay/PayPal) have always refunded me.
These days it seems more risky to be a seller rather than a buyer on Ebay.
These days it seems more risky to be a seller rather than a buyer on Ebay.
(a) Certainly have had Deagol's experience of Spending way too much. The last 3 were a Tolkien lot from England, the cartage was almost equal to the cost of the lot and orders related Tolkien Maker' exhibit items and FoG, in all forms I could get in the US & UK.
(b) Prepaid for the HC boxed set of boxed deluxe volumes: H, LR, S, CoH. Waited. A couple of times the seller told me the release was delayed. I learned others had copies & contacted HC. End game: Seller went broke with my money, no books, no refund. Eventually got a set though.
(b) Prepaid for the HC boxed set of boxed deluxe volumes: H, LR, S, CoH. Waited. A couple of times the seller told me the release was delayed. I learned others had copies & contacted HC. End game: Seller went broke with my money, no books, no refund. Eventually got a set though.
a) I had pre-ordered the deluxe Maker of Middle-earth way back when it was first (erroneously) announced. Not pulling that order meant that I ended up getting it a little cheaper, but when I finally received it, I was ultimately disappointed. It was really nice - just not enough to justify the cost. I may have felt differently had I been able to attend the exhibit. I ended up returning it.
b) I've had plenty of poor experiences, but perhaps most memorable are the two times I've ended up with notices from the USPS about my package being destroyed/lost. The first time I received a partial package of a Tolkien lot I ordered on eBay. The reason for the order was a Nasmith-signed first edition illustrated Silmarillion with the less common dust jacket. That was one of the missing books. The second time was another eBay order, this time of an unsigned, but Fine copy of the same book. This time I just got a notice and no package. My theory is that there's a postal worker who is a Silmarillion fan who likes to keep on eye on my mail. I still don't have a copy of that dang book!
b) I've had plenty of poor experiences, but perhaps most memorable are the two times I've ended up with notices from the USPS about my package being destroyed/lost. The first time I received a partial package of a Tolkien lot I ordered on eBay. The reason for the order was a Nasmith-signed first edition illustrated Silmarillion with the less common dust jacket. That was one of the missing books. The second time was another eBay order, this time of an unsigned, but Fine copy of the same book. This time I just got a notice and no package. My theory is that there's a postal worker who is a Silmarillion fan who likes to keep on eye on my mail. I still don't have a copy of that dang book!
(a) Being completist means generally that i don't regret buying anything that shows up as expected. However i have (on many occassions) purchased books only to discover i already have a copy in the collection.
(b) Amazingly (considering the number of books i purchase) i have not had any drastic experiences. The worst offender (and persistant) is Amazon. Poor packing (even with expensive books) has resulted in damaged books on a regular basis and have to go through the painful effort of returning (though sometimes they send a replacement and tell me to keep the original one). I try to avoid them when it makes economic sense (i.e can get cheaper or pay a little more elsewhere).
(b) Amazingly (considering the number of books i purchase) i have not had any drastic experiences. The worst offender (and persistant) is Amazon. Poor packing (even with expensive books) has resulted in damaged books on a regular basis and have to go through the painful effort of returning (though sometimes they send a replacement and tell me to keep the original one). I try to avoid them when it makes economic sense (i.e can get cheaper or pay a little more elsewhere).