Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Those of you who have read some of my posts are aware that, besides guitars, I also collect and play vintage combo organs.

I've got a problem...

I purchased a MINT CRUMAR 61, on July 5, on Ebay. Paid only a couple hun for the
keyboard, and $240.00 (!!!) in advance for shipping. Used Paypal.

The organ and pedals, legs, were shipped via UPS in two packages. The pedals and legs
arrived safely here in San Fran only a few days after auction end.

The organ is MIA since July 7th. UPS will not give me any information except that it is
"lost". They tell me that the seller is the person who must deal with them re: tracking and recovery. The seller will not refund my money. Sadly, I've lost a lot of time and have given him many chances to track this and he has merely responded that he's checking into it. Now I find that I'm beyond filing a complaint with either UPS (60 days) or Paypal (45 days).

Both have sent me the typical boilerplate form letters.

How on earth a 40" X 20" X 15", 150 pound package could be "lost" is beyond me.

Has anyone had a similar experience, and does anyone have any tips on recovery or proceeding against the seller?

We've once lost a friend in a train. Actually, we've just forgotten that he was there, sleeping ('twas 6 am), and left the train, and it went further, and he was very surprised to find himself in Belgorod instead of Kursk... And he's almost 6 feet tall, and coupla hundreds pounds of weight!
Seriously, though - something is strange about that story.

So, you're saying that my organ is in Belgorod?

'My Organ Is In Belgorod' by Burt Bachrach and Lemmy Kilmeister

Paul: I am sorry to hear about this loss. The very good news is that the organ coming to you was not a heart. I suspect it will show up, but situations like this are added stressors that we don't need.

Hmm. I dunno. Could be. But i'd read the auction text more carefully to make sure there's no chance the seller wasn't selling legs and pedals only and alone, and, frankly, i could have severe doubts the organ itself was shipped.

It must have been shipped if UPS says that it was. I take it the seller is an individual and not a store or business?

Get an attorney to lean on him, to provide bona-fide proof that he's checked into it. Sometimes I wish I was a lottery winner for I'd litigate UPS into the ground. You're right. How can you lose a package that big? There needs to be accountability.

Other bad suggestions: it could have been shipped, but, due to some mistake, returned to sender. Or: shipped, damaged while shipping, and "lost". I can imagine that a relatively big package could be lost, though.

There was a thread at the Dudepit a year or so ago - a Gibson bass was lost somewhere in transit - I think he called the UPS locations where it had been, and it was actually found! Apparently the shipping label was sheared off at some point, and it just ended up sitting there until the buyer spoke to someone at that location. If you still have the tracking info, maybe you can contact the places where it has been?

if it went UPS Ground there probably isn't a station by station log for you to check-up on.

Did you use a CC in PayPutz? Then stop payment until you get an answer you like.

Document EVERYTHING, emails, phone calls.

Godd luck!

Of course it was sent. I have tracking info for the package showing weight and route until it hit S. Dakota.

Paul, many credit cards provide insurance for loss on certain types of transactions. Perhaps give your CC company and ask them if they will cover you for this loss.

I am sure that you would rather have the organ rather than your money though.

I agree with Brian. It's been my experience that whenever "chargeback" is mentioned amongst Paypal, ebay, or whatever that things certainly start progressing and situations get fixed.

FedEx lost a flight case for me once. (I was the seller.) Eventually I was refunded the amount that I insured it for, but it was a bit of work to get it happening.