Need urgent help in composing a letter to ebay seller

[Yael]

Hey guys,

I need your help!!! I bought a desk from ebay (item number: 330259914215) on the 10th August. It was $106.50 + $120 postage (the item was extremely heavy and in 4 boxes, so i don't think that the postage was overcharged).

They said they shipped in 7 ply boxes, so i didn't bother to pay an extra $50 for insurance. Anyway, it arrived a few days after i paid, but with damage to almost every box and loose screws etc falling out.

My mum came over to help me try and get it together - open up all the boxes and no instructions - great! Email the guy (on the 17th August):

Hi,

I recieved the packages last Thursday. There was some damage to the boxes, and there were quite a lot of loose screws in the boxes. There were no instructions inside - making it impossible to put the desk together. There was also some damage to otwo panel, but without the instructions i can't tell whether this won't be noticeable once the desk is together. Can you please email me a copy of the instructions ASAP, and once it is assembled i will contact you if i have further problems. My email is

Luckily got a response that day with the instructions attached.. although I'm not sure you can call them instructions - they were the crappiest things I've ever seen. No list of what you should have, no instructions about how to put it together, just a diagram of how it should look finished.. for the drawers they sent attached photo's with a ruler showing where to attach things - and their measurements were all out.

Anyway, there was also damage to a lot of the desk parts, luckily almost all of it is in places that you can't see. I was also missing vital screws.. So i sent this message to him on the 25th August (i had to get my dad to come around and do it, as my mum and i could';t do it, and we have put together plenty of ikea furniture etc no problems)... I also included photo's of the screws in needed.:

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly with the instructions. Ok, there were a few screws missing, so i wasn't able to finish putting together the desk. If you could please arrange to post these out to me ASAP, that would be great. I have sent a copy of this message to you through my messages on ebay, but here is the message again with a photo of what I need.

1x large screw with black plastic part on it, used to put the main parts together
2x smaller gold screws that have the same function as the screw above but are used in the drawers
6x gold screws that are used to attach handles
1x castor (this isn?t pictured, but it is for the small mobile drawers)

My address is:

In regards to the damage, I didn?t have insurance on the item, so I doubt that I will get anything out of the courier company. There was some damage on many of the pieces, which luckily happen to be in places you can?t see so I?m not too fazed by it. There are only a few small bits you can see (on the corner of the top part of the desk, and also on the right hand side of the side unit), but hey, if I can get some compensation that would be nice, but if not then that?s ok also. I?m more interested in getting the screws so I can have the desk together.

If you could please email back to confirm you have received this and will send more screws, that would be great.

Get this reply on the 4th Sept (a week and a half after i requested them, with no contact to say they had received my email):

hi

can you show me a photo of the castor your referring to ?

i have the screws but i can not find the 6 screws your referring too, iam going to look again tonight thoe.

but if i can not find them, i will send other screws. i am sure you will be able to find some at the hardware store if i can not find any.

I sent this back, on the same day:

The castor are for the mobile 3 drawer unit, there are no other items with castors on it, so any castors that come with the desk would fit. The 6 screws are the ones that attach the silver bar handles to the front of the drawers. They are a particular length so they can fit through the depth of the drawer. I really don?t want to be running around to hardware stores with 2 babies in tow, and considering I?m not making a fuss about the damage to the desk, I would appreciate all the screws necessary be sent as soon as possible, as I did request these 1.5 weeks ago.

Get this reply on the 8thL

hello

can you please send me a better photo of the 6 screws you need

i have all the other parts, just can not see that one properly

I replied with another photo on the 9th.

Then i got this on the 11th:

hello

i have sent you the items requested

not 100% sure of the screws for the handles but ive asked the manufacturer
waiting to here from them

I received a package the next week, still missing the particular handles for the screws... still haven't heard back from the guy.

Ok, so my dad just came around again to help put the second part of the desk together.

The lock broke in his hands, it was a piece of junk. The instructions are rubbish and you basically can't get the thing to sit square and look non-wonky.

I have 2 days to file a claim with paypal, but i wanted to write him once more before i do. I have a splitting headache and can't think straight, so i wanted to get all your advice before it do... What would you say?

Basically the desk is junk, the instructions were rubbish, it takes ages to get a response from them, the desk does have damage to it (but i know he will blame the couriers - as i can see from his other 110 neg or neutral feedbacks), and i can't get the other screws out of him.. I just can't be arsed running around to different hardware shops at the moment TBH..

What should i write? Or am i being pathetic and i should just deal with having a shoddy looking desk, with non lockable drawers and no handles on it?

[mrsmac]

No don't put up with this Yael. write and explain how you have been very patient and non confrontational but your patience is wearing thin with his slow responses and inadequate replies with regards to the screws. Maybe mention the dept of fair trading? i am sorry i am not much help but i have a headache too and a whingy toddler on my lap!

[visitor1]

Considering the listing states 'Brand New'....why are there bits missing in the first place????

File a PayPal....thats just wrong

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

File a claim now, you don't have to follow it up if the guy has a genuine reason (mmm, I can see that happening). E-mail him and tell him why you're not satisfied and that you're going to file a report with PayPal.

Was the item in 7 ply boxes? Doesn't sound like there would be that much damage from shipping if that was the case.

Can you also alert e-bay?

[Kailani]

File a dispute claim and let them know that the desk is simply in unacceptable condition and that it does not meet the seller's description. AND never again purchase something off a person/business with that much negative feedback!!

[Yael]

Thanks so much guys.

I just did the claim. I wrote out a whole long thing, but was only allowed 500 characters (yeh, i can really detail my claim in that length - grr) - so here it is:

The locking mechanism for the mobile drawers has fallen apart during installation. There is damage on many parts of the desk (happy to provide photos), which I believe go past any damage that could have been done by a rough courier. There are missing parts which i have been requesting since 25 Aug. Am happy to provide all evidence of communication.

With slow responses and inadequate replies I have no option but to submit a claim to componsate for missing/broken parts and condition of desk

What do you guys think?