Beware the Flat Rate Box

[HedgeMom]

Having my favorite supplier right down the road sure makes things easy but it denies me the special pleasure of having things shipped. And it spares me some of the grief that I read about in other posts.

Well, I'm now "one of the crowd" when it comes to buying a pig in the poke. I ordered a "flat rate box" of wood. Since my favorite supplier was stripped clean by some car fixing, organized chin owner, I thought I'd try someone else. So I ordered a flat rate box that was supposed to be stuffed full. Hmmmm...

Well, my idea of full and their idea of full are very, very different. My box contained exactly 1 lb, 3 ounces of wood. And was about 40% empty. Ok, I get "some settling may occur during shipping". I understand that. But when I go back over prior posts and find out that most flat rate boxes of wood contain 3 to 5 lbs of sticks, I feel cheated.

And to make matters even worse, since a lb of wood lasts me less than a week and having 8 chinchillas out front picketing and calling their shop stewards and putting up signs that say "HEDGEMOM UNFAIR TO CHINCHILLAS" is just too much, Menagerie sent me some of my favorite suppliers wood (and you know I'll pay her back for this). She shipped it in a FLAT RATE ENVELOPE and it was almost twice as much wood. So 2 lbs in a 4.60 envelope vs 1lb 3 ounces shipped for 8.95. As far as I'm concerned, I got ripped for both the wood and the shipping.

Kelly, I'll never cheat on you again. Lunch is on me the next time.

Yes, I contacted the seller. The seller said it was full when it was sent. The seller also made a comment that they thought I'd be trouble. *sigh* I'm actually a pretty good buyer. Prompt pay, no bad checks. I do value my dollar and like getting a dollar's worth for every dollar I spend but I'm not cheap; I'll pay going price.

So, do you, as a buyer, normally trust other members more than you should? Or are you as skeptical of member sellers as you are any other seller?

[neekobandit]

Just one of the reasons why I stick to a select few people to get my supplies from. Thankfully between the few of them they have all of the stuff that I need for the chins.

I used to give people the benefit of the doubt. However, I have been screwed over a few times...so unfortunately I don't feel too comfortable doing that anymore. I used to be much more trusting but a few bad apples ruined it.

Buyer beware...

[daistarya]

I feel your pain. Ive recently been cheated in a sale. I dont know how these people can sleep at night.

[alli713]

I've sold flat rate boxes of twigs and normally I will tell the buyer how much the box weighs.

My question is, when shipping twigs, wouldn't they be more prone to breaking into tiny pieces in the bag? Or do they normally arrive safely? This is why I've always used the boxes, as I'm afraid the twigs will all be broken or something.

[CutePurpleStars]

Wow, I am sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing hopefully people who buy flat rate boxes of wood will ask exactly how many pounds fit in the box before ordering due to this posting. I would never have thought to ask myself either as I would assume full is full even with some settling that is crazy! When you said more fit in a flat rate envelope than in a box that totally threw me. I also have to add that comment about thinking you would be trouble to me just shows the sellers mentality not wanting to admit fault. Definately buyer beware a few bad sellers end up ruining it for everyone else which is just too bad. At least on some place like ebay you can leave bad feedback to warn other people :(

[alpayton]

If they thought you'd be trouble, looks like to me, they'd made for total sure that there was NO way whatsoever that settling would take place and stuff that box as full as possible. Instead they took the other route and apparently said, "She's trouble, I'll show her."

I think when buying something like this, maybe a weight would be a better measure of what you're getting.

[heidi55529]

I think we have all been in this situation before. I like giving people the benefit of the doubt and have bought countless flat rate boxes of wood from different people. And you are right, the definition of flat rate box full is very different from seller to seller.

I have received boxes that were overfilled and spilling out when I have opened them. And I have received flat rate boxes that were only partially full or half empty even.

And yes, I agree. I do feel cheated at times because lets face it. Flat rate boxes full of wood is not cheap. So like most of you on the forum. I do have list of people I adore and buy things from and others that I tend to stay away from.

However, as a seller on the forum as well. I have my own standards. I have sold flat rate boxes of wood in the past, both pecan and grapevine.

For me, it's not just about filling up the box and calling it flat rate box full. Because, that can be misleading since wood comes in different shapes and sizes and that effects the weight. So, when I sell boxes of wood. Each box is also weighed to make sure that they all contain the same amount of wood, which is usually over 7lbs. And once the box reaches that weight, I always throw in a little bit more just in case for settling. Of course, that's just for me because I always like to give more then is asked for. And I have always listed the weight of box when selling them.

And it just really is a bummer these days that things can be falsely advertised. It's live and learn sometimes, we have all been in that situation where we have been burned. And I'm sorry it has happened to you.

But this is a good thread and good warning for everyone when purchasing things online. Not necessarily just flat rate boxes of wood but just anything. Be sure to ask questions before making a transaction.

[daistarya]

I wish that we could share our lists of good/bad sellers and probs we have had. Kinda like eBay as someone mentioned. :(

[Incubus527]

Trouble doesn't evennnn begin to describe you, HM. :P

[alpayton]

I wish that we could share our lists of good/bad sellers and probs we have had. Kinda like eBay as someone mentioned. :(

It won't happen on this forum. That has been stated over and over again. It has to do with liability as far as slander and such with the forum owner being the one held responsible for the content that is on it.