What to do with odd sellers

I bought two watches from a seller. I went to check out and each item had a shipping charge of $6.95. The seller advertised a $2 fee for any additonal watches bought from the at the same time. So, for a $4 and $35 watch, the shipping charge was $13.

I wrote the seller and explained that shipping was for shipping not a profit to the seller. I received a reply saying that I should cut the patronizing attitude. The seller conveyed a strong track record and said he/she had been in the eBay business a long time. She refunded $4.95 of my payment the next morning.

I received the watches rolled in news paper and the bands were just throw in the envelope. The postage on the envelope was $2.25 first class, not Priority Mail. I received two non-working watches. I got one 430 movement to run but not in the case.  The watches didn't look like the ones in the pictures.

He/she advertised as a watchmaker whose hands had started to shake, ending his/her career. I went to look into the feedback and past purchases involved thin cut or petite jeans and other clothing. I won't guess if the purchases were made by the seller for a daughter, grand daughter, girl friend or so forth. If the purchases were for the seller then I wondered if the advertisement as a watchmaker with the nips was the seller.accurate.

I had some problems with the seller. The great track record didn't look so great. Buyers gave poor scores for shipping - around 4.0.

I had two watches I considered poorly packaged, merchandise different than what he/she shipped, lousy communication, an overcharge for shipping and suspicious representation of the seller.

I didn't think the seller deserved negative feedback because something WAS delivered. The issues lacked complete loss and the total dollars were small. So, I went with neutral.

I felt funny leaving any feedback, but I wanted to warn potential bidders of my experience.

I hope I did.

Tom Adelstein