Warning: Don't deal with Chris Sucic (csucic@aol.com)
Short version:
I bought a printer on Ebay from Chris Sucic of Huntsville Alabama.
His email address is csucic@aol.com, and his user name on Ebay is
Hempy3. The printer arrived broken because of inadequate packaging.
I returned the printer. UPS will not pay any insurance claim because
of the improper packaging. I returned the printer to Chris (at my
expense). Chris has refused to even respond to my repeated
requests for a refund.
So don't deal with him. You'll likely get ripped off.
Longer version:
Chris put up the printer for auction (item number 1326970621),
but I didn't complete the purchase of the printer via an Ebay auciton.
What happened was that I emailed him a quesiton about the printer
during the auciton, and he answered. Then after the auction ended
(with the reserve not yet met), we exchanged email and I said I was
still interested in buying the printer from him.
So I paid him the money via paypal and he sent me the printer.
Unfortunately the printer arrived broken. It was clear that the
packaging that Chris had used was totally inadequate. The box was too
small and too flimsy, and did not meet UPS's own specifications for
packaging. I informed him of this fact, and explained that I felt it
was his fault, because of the improper packaging.
Chris requested that USP pay for the damage. There followed several
weeks of delays, during which UPS first interviewed me over the phone,
then came out and inspected the package. The UPS man offered to
return the printer to the sender, and I accepted that offer.
At this point Chris has stopped responding to my emails. Because the
auction was not actually consumated on Ebay, I am not eligible to
report my dissatisfaction with this transaction. So I put up this web
page instead.
Below I have included some of the email we exchanged. The bottom line
is that I would not recommend having any dealings with this guy.
Daniel Sleator
Professor of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
Phones: 412-268-7563, 412-422-5377
Email: sleator@cmu.edu
Daniel Sleator, PhD
President of Chessclub.com
Phones: 412-422-5377, 412-654-9585
Email: sleator@chessclub.com
Email Correspondence:
From: CSucic@aol.com
Message-ID: <38.22936777.298f5b0e@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 22:33:34 EST
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
To: sleator+@cs.cmu.edu
The auction ended with no winner. If you are still interested, let me know.
I'm going out of town in a few days and don't really have an interest in
relisting. Thanks, Chris
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 12:42:24 -0500
Message-ID: <4817.1012844544@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
Yes, I'm interested. My offer of $100 ($125 including shipping) is
still open for the next day or so. Can we discuss details of payment
on the phone? 412-268-7563. Thanks.
Daniel Sleator
Professor of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
Phones: 412-268-7563, 412-422-5377
Email: sleator@cmu.edu
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 10:57:26 -0500
Message-ID: <19539.1013097446@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
I just did a transfer to your account via paypal.
I used the "bank transfer" option, since to put the
money into my paypal account would have taken 4 days.
Let me know if you got the money, and are shipping
the printer. Here's my address:
Danny Sleator
5515 Darlington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-422-5377
Thanks. --Danny
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From: CSucic@aol.com
Message-ID: <106.ce6bcc5.2995cee0@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 20:01:20 EST
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
To: sleator+@cs.cmu.edu
Just wanted to let you know that the printer went out today UPS. The tracking
number 1ZA9V9760300016702. It should be there Tues. or Wed. Thanks, Chris
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 19:36:06 -0500
Message-ID: <11124.1013560566@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
> Just wanted to let you know that the printer went out today UPS. The
> tracking number 1ZA9V9760300016702. It should be there Tues. or
> Wed. Thanks, Chris
I got it today. Unfortunately, the top door on the printer is broken.
It was open when I opened the box, and I can't close it. The hinges
seem to be broken internally. What do we do now? Did you get any
insurance on the shipping? :-(
Danny
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 00:07:42 -0500
Message-ID: <2741.1014008862@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
Dear Chris,
I'd like to send the printer back to you. And I'd like you to give me
a refund. Here's my thinking.
The printer is not working, and there are internal parts that are
broken. It must have broken during shipping. I think you need to
take responsibility for this, for several reasons. First of all, if
there's an insurance claim to be filed, you'll have to file it.
(http://www.ups.com/using/custserv/genfaq/faq.html#claims explains
the procedure you'll have to follow.)
Secondly, the printer was really not packaged very well. The box was
just too small. The printer was within about 1/2 inch of the box on
several sides, and within 1 inch on all 6 sides. This was not enough
space.
UPS has a packaging guideline
(http://www.ups.com/using/services/packaging/guidline.html). They
recommend a gap of 2 inches on all sides between the article and the
box. Here's the relevant passage:
> 2. Provide internal protection.
>
> It's important to cushion the contents of your package properly.
>
> Wrap each item separately. Fragile articles need both suitable
> separation from each other and clearance from the corners and sides of
> the box. Each item should be surrounded by at least two inches of
> cushioning and be placed at least two inches away from the walls of
> the box. This will prevent product-against-product damage and protect
> the contents from shock and vibration, which can pass from the outside
> of the box to the contents.
I've already put the printer (in your original packaging) into a big
strong box, with lots of space on all sides. I'm ready to send it
back. I'll need your address.
I'm disappointed that this didn't work out. And I'm sure you're not
happy about this development either. But the events are pretty
clear-cut, and what I'm proposing here seems the only fair way to
proceed. If it's any consolation, I'm willing to eat the shipping
costs (both ways). Feel free to call me if you want to discuss this
any further. Thanks.
Danny Sleator
Phones: 412-268-7563, 412-422-5377
Email: sleator@cmu.edu
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From: CSucic@aol.com
Message-ID: <17a.3d95490.29a3d863@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 11:33:39 EST
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
To: sleator+@cs.cmu.edu
I just spoke with UPS and they said that they would call you to come check
out the damage. They said they would contact me after seeing the damage, then
we can arrange for the return. Chris
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 12:28:56 -0500
Message-ID: <27918.1016386136@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
Somebody from UPS finally came by on Friday. He inspected it. He's
going to ship it back to Staples. I don't know if they're planning to
pay an insurance claim. There was a broken part that was inside the
printer when it arrived, which I put into an envelope and taped to
the top of the printer.
Danny
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From: CSucic@aol.com
Message-ID:
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 14:23:43 EST
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
To: sleator+@cs.cmu.edu
Thanks, I'll let you know. Chris
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 12:07:14 -0500
Message-ID: <14805.1016903234@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
The packabge must have arrived at Staples by now.
What's left to resolve? What's the current hold-up
in resolving it?
Danny
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From: Danny Sleator
To: CSucic@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #1326970621
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 23:30:27 -0500
Message-ID: <933.1017289827@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: Daniel_Sleator@hyper.link.cs.cmu.edu
You should have gotten the printer back by now, so it's time
for you to refund my money. As I offered before, I'm
prepared to compromise and not ask for a refund for the $25
shipping that I paid for. Just go ahead and refund $100
into my PayPal account -- the one I used to make my payment
to you. The account email is sleator+paypal@cs.cmu.edu
Thanks.
Daniel Sleator
Phones: 412-268-7563, 412-422-5377
Email: sleator@cmu.edu
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Daniel Sleator
Last modified: Sun Nov 17 15:15:07 EST 2002