cpapauction experience

I'm wondering if I have the wrong expectations from cpapauction sellers, and wanted some feedback.

I purchased a mask a few months ago and it showed up new and in packaging just as it was listed. I was very pleased. I bought a second mask several days ago, this time used. It was listed as "used momentarily" and "repackaged" in "standard local provider packaging". What I got was a mask in no packaging, not even in some bubble wrap, and it was covered in some sticky dusty stuff and just shoved into a small mailer. I'm really surprised it wasn't broken in the mail, but it was definitely bent up a bit. After soaking the mask overnight in vinegar and water the dents in the rubber bits came out, and while it cleaned up, I could tell there was more than "momentary" wear on the mask and strap.

Anyhow, the seller won't respond to my emails (of course), and cpapauction says I'm out of luck unless I paid by credit card, which I didn't. Also, this seller has gotten 2 feedback from buyers in the last couple of days and they have left positive reviews.

So I'm wondering, was I expecting too much thinking the packaging would be sent with the mask, for expecting it to be mailed in a more sturdy manner, and for a cleaner mask? Or is this pretty much how all used masks are sold? I'm honestly asking here, I don't want to escalate this if this is a typical experience.

personally i think it sounds like the item was misrepresented to a degree.
id be upset too.

I would be inclined to do the following

1) Send another email to the seller saying that you inten posting neutral or negative feedback & give your reasons. Say you will wait 5 days before you post it in case they (seller) want to explain
2) If after 5 days you have no response, post the feedback - just make it brief & to the point

You can't do much more

Good luck

DSM

I think "used momentarily" means it should be in like-new condition. If you paid with paypal you can make a complaint with them and they might be able to get the money back for you, but I wouldn't count on it. I agree with DSM too, you can leave a negative feedback, but just be prepared for retaliation feedback.

If you paid using Paypal -- try them first by filing a claim as "not as advertised" (or something similar don't remember the exact wording).

I have had very good luck in purchasing my many masks from them. Only once did I get a mask that was questionable -- but at the price I paid couldn't complain as the parts were worth much more than I paid.

Like any auction -- it is buyer beware as not all sellers are honest unfortunately.

That is one reason unless the price is right I with only those sellers with great feedback (although this isn't foolproof).

Reading feedback is helpful, but as has been said, not always foolproof.

I would never give up on cpapauction for one bad seller.

I have bought several items there (maybe 12). Only once have I had a problem. It was new seller. I paid through PayPal and never received the mask. I put in a complaint through PayPal with no guarantee and got nothing back. The seller would not respond to any emails.
Since that experience I have been very cautious about reading feedback.

I am in Canada so always conact the seller to see if they will ship to Canada via USPS and ask how much they would charge for shipping. If they will ship to Canada, but want a lot for shipping I don't bid. Sometimes a seller will say they ship to Canada and give the cost of shipping right with the item.

Just last week I bid on and won another mask. Never used and a great price! I was quoted a shipping cost of $11.00 USD. That's quite reasonable in my experience for shipping masks from the US. The same day the parcel arrived, there was a letter in the snail mail too, with a return address the same as the one on the parcel. It had $4.00 in it and a note explaining the situation. The seller said, in the note, that when they went to mail it to me the post office only charged $6.60 USD for shipping. I was reimbursed the difference!!

I couldn't believe it!! The $11.00 quote was quite good but, to be reimbursed for the actual difference is above and beyond!

Boy, did I give that seller great feedback!!!!!

On auction sites it is "buyer beware" but, except for one incident, cpapauction has been great for me - especially this latest transaction. The mask was new and packaged as well!

Wow, Hawthorne, that was a great experience! Care to say here who it was?

I've purchased a few things there, but most were from DME's (one actually in my area), and I've had no complaints so far. I went and picked up a purchase from them once and they deducted the shipping. It is hard to give negative feedback because then you risk the retaliation negative feedback.

Pam

I've won 5 auctions so far...and all my experiences have been good. Though so far I've only bid on 'never used' items.

Though now that I've tried a few items, I wonder what to do with them.

Years ago, I did sell a few things on eBay...but now that I don't live a couple blocks from the main post office (like I did back then)... the matter of being able to timely ship something is a barrier.

The Dreamer.

Since it was such a good experience and the seller is quite new -- and may want to sell again, I think they would be glad of the publicity.

The Username is "monoclone".

The definition of "momentarily" is quite clear on their site. But, the dirty filth will say anything in order to make a sale. My "used momentarily" spare maching has 100 hours on it, so I guess the seller was Rip Van Winkle. I know if I got toally screwed on an auction, I'd do what it takes to get to the sellers house and get my money back, if it didnt happen through normal channels

Thanks for the Paypal idea, sleepycarol, I assumed that since I didn't use a credit card I was stuck. I opened a Paypal claim and let the seller know. I may not have been clear enough in the first email I sent him that I wanted to return the mask for a refund, so I sent him a second email. But I did ask him questions in that first email and he didn't reply, so I don't think he intended to reply at all.

The seller's feedback was good, 3 positives, but all from a long time ago. And like I said, the guy now has 2 more positives, which is why I started thinking that maybe this was just me being unreasonable.

I have purchased some "NEW" masks there that arrived resealed to look like the original seal but I have bought the same mask before in different sizes and knew something wasn't right. The bag is usually cut real straight and resealed at an angle(the melted seals are always straight from factory) or not melted at all but stapled or something else instead. Also some masks come with a melted together seal and have a perf. that you tear open and then a ziplock. You can see the perfed piece of the bag is gone but the edge of the bag shows there was a perf.. If you never bought a new one you wouldn't know. They usually have a very slight yellow to them and that odor of being breathed in and not cleaned or the odor of a cleaner. I have a message to sellers: We are not stupid and you may rip us off once but you will run out of people to rip off because we will not continue to buy from you. So why not tell the truth and sell a little cheaper.

I am sorry to say I left these liers positive feedback for fear of retaliation and damage to my feedback.

I have sold several things as used momentarily and they were just tried on for maybe minutes and fiddled with and I just couldn't get a good fit or seal. That is what used momentarily is.

TheDreamer wrote:I've won 5 auctions so far...and all my experiences have been good. Though so far I've only bid on 'never used' items.

Though now that I've tried a few items, I wonder what to do with them.

Years ago, I did sell a few things on eBay...but now that I don't live a couple blocks from the main post office (like I did back then)... the matter of being able to timely ship something is a barrier.

The Dreamer.

If you ship with USPS, you don't have to take anything to the post office. You can print out shipping labels using USPS Click N Ship https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do or if you are using Paypal for receiving payments, you can print labels there. Just click on the link that says "Print Shipping Label" in Paypal next to the Payment. If the item is too large to fit in the mailbox, use free Carrier Pickup https://carrierpickup.usps.com/cgi-bin/ ... Pickup.woa. As long as you have at least 1 item that is Priority Mail, they will pick up your packages for free at your door or wherever you tell them you will leave them. You don't even need to be home although you will need to be home if you are mailing internationally (which you can also do using Click N Ship). Priority Mail is for items larger than 13oz. If it is less than 13oz, you can use 1st Class Mail which is cheaper.

Just an update, if anyone is curious: I filed a Paypal claim and the seller finally responded. He agreed to accept a return and refund the purchase price only, so I'm out $15 shipping while he made $5 on the deal (he charged $10 but only cost him $4.80 to send). No apology, he just says he's taking it back because I'm "not happy". Not because it was covered in sticky dust or anything. I don't have the refund yet so I guess it's all still up in the air, but I am relatively confident he'll refund the purchase price.

I'm sure he's going to sell it again. I won't be buying used items from cpapauction again, though, after this experience I really don't want to risk getting another gross CPAP mask. Only new from now on.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I appreciate it.

MrSandman wrote:
I am sorry to say I left these liers positive feedback for fear of retaliation and damage to my feedback.

Seriously? Bad feedback from a seller is kind of a non-event. I know I ignore it...