I bought a new wrought iron coffee mug stand on Ebay. It was about $24 with free shipping. Since it was a wrought iron product (Longaberger) and not fragile and not particularly expensive, I didn't opt for any insurance on it.
It arrived with a large USPS tape on it saying "Received in Damaged Condition." The box had been very damaged and one part of the mug stand was sticking out a big hole in the side. I opened it and the stand is bent somehow and it won't stand straight and it wobbles alot. The seller shipped it in a thin, single wall corrugated box...it was very thin cardboard and not what I'd consider a shipping box at all. There were two crumpled pieces of paper inside the box.
I contacted the seller, offering to send photos of the whole box, even a video of how it wobbles. The seller responded via Ebay but hasn't given me their e-mail to send photos or video. After a couple of messages back and forth, during which the seller told me I didn't opt for the insurance and that he's shipped 3 of these every week since the beginning of the year and this is the first problem. Initially, he wanted me to pay for shipment of a new one and insurance for the new one too. I told him I shouldn't pay any more to receive an acceptable product. He's shipping a new one, no insurance, and my fingers are crossed.
What do you all think? I'm not pleased that he made me feel defensive about requesting some resolution to this. My only mistake was not choosing insurance, but how could I know he would choose such sub-standard packaging? I hope like heck I get the new one in okay condition...it's a little birthday gift for someone. I'll take the other one to Goodwill....maybe someone who is good with iron work can fix it somehow...

hi , i am a long long top seller on ebay .

first ebay rules are .... the seller is RESPONSIBLE to get the item to you
in the condition you bought it.

second ebay rule .... a seller can NOT require shipping insurance as a
seperate expense. they may include it in handleing.

now this just happens to be business. not great for the seller
but that is business.

so sellers loss if the post office damages it regardless of packing.

however ebay will MAKE the buyer return the original item to the
seller at the BUYERS expense.

so you seem to have gotten away with that part.

keep in mind that fair is fair and that the seller is loosing in this matter also
so try to stay on the high road.

good luck
katt