Topic: Amazon.com sent me the wrong Playstation.

[Quemaqua]

Well, it was one of the zsellers.  I'm miffed.  Here's what I emailed him, which explains the problem rather concisely:

Okay, I'm a bit miffed here. I don't want to jump down your throat provided we may yet resolve this, but as of now things aren't too rosy.

I ordered a Sony "PSOne" console and you sent me an original Playstation. The PSOne was a newer, smaller version of the Playstation, so you listed this item improperly first and foremost, which led me to pay more money than I'd have paid for this thing otherwise. $25 - $30 is what one would pay for a used Playstation, not close to $40. Secondly, the thing wasn't properly shipped. There was a little bit of home-spun padding (paper in a bag), but it looks like you forgot to fill the bottom half of the box with it, leaving lots of room for the thing to rattle around. Buying a used Playstation is already a risk, and that kind of mistake just makes the risk a lot worse. These aren't strong.

I'm more than happy to talk about this, but the only way I can avoid shipping this back to you for a refund is if I get a good chunk of my money back.

I'm fucking pissed.  And Julia's twice as pissed.  In fact, she was having a really bad day, and when I brought this stupid thing home, I think I just made her depressed.

[ren]

A lot of people called the original playstation a PSOne. Popular terminology, but not the correct kind. Why do you need a PSOne and not a PSX? For the LCD screen addon?

[Quemaqua]

Well, I don't need one, but I figure the manufacture date is later, so if the thing is in decent shape it has a chance at a longer life.  My PS2 no longer plays PS1 disks and my attempts at fixing it haven't worked.  I'd have just dealt with it if I didn't pay more money than the average used Playstation goes for, but $40 is too much for one that isn't in all that great shape.  Not to mention he didn't package it properly, so I wouldn't accept it either way at this point unless he sends me a check.

Also, PSOne isn't really popular terminology.  You don't see it called that very often, or at least not spelled that way.  PS1 is more common, and that's not the actual name of the item, hence no confusion.  Besides that, there are separate listings for PSOne and Playstation (original) on Amazon.com.  There's no excuse.

[sirean_syan]

And here I was hoping someone sent you a PS2 by mistake.

That sucks. This whole deal seems to have turned into a little mess, no? Are you able to try the thing without making it look like you did?

Maybe the dude can at least refund you a some money and just call it even if the guy works, you know? You paid with credit, they can just put some money back on the card.

[Quemaqua]

That's what I'm sort of hoping for at this point.  If he takes off twenty bucks, no big deal.  Otherwise... eh.  But yeah, I can easily try to use it.  I mean, it was just sitting there in the box.  Chords are wrapped with tape.  Just scotch tape.

[Quemaqua]

Well, fuck.  The thing doesn't even work.  The guy emailed me back and said I could send it back and he'd refund it, but he wouldn't drop the price.  So I check the thing out to see if it even works, and it doesn't even work.

My next email:

Bob Jr.,

At your suggestion, I tried the item.  It doesn't work.  The disk refuses to spin and it makes a buzzing noise.  I suppose I should have checked first before sending you the previous email, but I didn't want to use a product that I didn't plan on keeping.  But at this point, I have to demand a refund because the thing doesn't even work, despite the fact that it wasn't what I ordered in the first place.  It turns on, but the drive is apparently broken.

Aside from this, you can see easily by looking at Amazon.com under the two links at the end of this email that you asked far too much for this product, as your competition (had the item been listed under the proper product description) would beat you consistently by more than 50%.  I'm going to have to ask you to arrange for return shipping as I have no intention of paying anything for a product I didn't order that doesn't even work.  I'm sorry to have to be difficult about this, but I hope you can see that clearly I am in no error here.

I hope we can resolve this amicably.

 - M

The links I spoke of -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000K6TOK6/ref=pd_bbs_olp_2/103-4206125-5246256?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1179981800&sr=8-2 http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00004XOWT/ref=pd_bbs_olp_1/103-4206125-5246256?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1179981800&sr=8-1

And now Julia and I got into a huge fight because she's psychotic and can't stand when things go wrong because she feels guilty that I have to deal with it.  So instead of just letting it go, she beats me over the head with it.  Fuck if I don't hate women sometimes.

[idolminds]

I should check if this cheapass PSX I bought works and send it to you. I really don't have any intention of hooking it up myself, and its just taking up space in my room for no reason. All I'd ask is shipping cost.

[Ghandi]

You know what this thread needs?



A cute little kitten.

[Quemaqua]

Awww.  Something I finally don't feel like choking to death.

Anyway, that's really nice of you idol, but why don't you intend to hook it up?  You must have purchased it for a reason.

[idolminds]

I purchased it for the games that came with it. I've got a PS2 that plays PS1 games just fine.  I'll probably run into another one eventually at a garage sale and can buy it if I feel I need one sometime down the road.

Plus I've got enough shit hooked up to my TV already, and I'd hook my DC back up before the PS1 when I get more room.

[Pugnate]

Well if he doesn't refund, you could chargeback?

[Quemaqua]

I hear you, idol.  The only reason we're getting this is because Julia wants to play FFVII (which we're currently borrowing from Sy... which is stupid since we can't play it...) and Chrono Cross.  Tried emulating it, but that doesn't work very well for FF, and I know for a fact most people still can't finish the PC version (which I own) on an XP PC.  So... yeah.

And I know he'll refund because he said he would, the question now is if he expects me to pay for shipping.  I sure as hell don't plan on it, so he'd better pony up to have it shipped back to him if he wants it.  Of course, it doesn't work so that'd be a giant waste of money, but... regardless, I don't plan on giving him a dime.

Also, what's chargeback?

EDIT - So the guy doesn't want to pay for shipping, it seems.  I'm going to politely point out to him the following, directly from Amazon.com:

Please note that if you refuse to accept the return of an item that is less than $300 and Amazon.com determines that it is materially different, you may be held responsible for any Guarantee claim or charge dispute filed for the transaction.

In cases where you are not responsible for the return, the return shipping costs should be borne by the buyer. Upon receipt, please issue a refund to your buyer using the instructions below.

Well guess what jackass, *you're* responsible!  And if you don't want to pay it, then I guess Amazon.com is going to have to determine that you're responsible for the fact that I'm not paying you a red fucking cent.

[Pugnate]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback

[Cobra951]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback

Yes, that's the best reason to use credit cards.  If you contest a charge, the credit card company in effect takes the money right out of the seller's account and freezes it until the matter is resolved.  I hope this all works out.  If all else fails, you can play FF VII on the PC with ePSXe.   

Edit:  With the right tweaks, ePSXe should work OK.  I tried it once, and it seems to work fine.  I played for a few days, but didn't stick with it after that.

[shock]

I would only contest the transaction to your credit card company if the guy is being a real ass.  It sounds like he will refund it, and will probably be convinced to pay the shipping charges once he sees the Amazon contract about it.  I would try and handle it through Amazon, first.  Inevitably, stuff with credit card companies gets fucking complicated REAL quick.

[Quemaqua]

Yeah, I've dealt with them before.  And yeah, he's being a real ass about it.  He claims he has no idea what it is I'm talking about, when I stated it very clearly about 7 dozen times.  I'm getting reeeal close to fed up.

As for ePSXe, I did get it running, just not very well.  I mean, it works, but it's got too many little glitches.  It wouldn't bother you or me, but if Julia's going to spend that many hours with a game, she wants it to work the way it's supposed to.  Unnecessary hitching and a funky fake PS1 PC controller aren't going to do it for her.

[scottws]

I could send you my Dual Shock > USB adapter.  I have no use for it anymore since I got the Xbox 360 wireless thingy.

[Quemaqua]

I appreciate it, but don't sweat it.  It's mostly the glitches.  She could probably deal with the controller if I got everything else working right, but no combo of plugins seems to get it smooth and without errors.

[idolminds]

I hooked up my PSX today, seems to work fine. MGS no problems, and then did some FF7. While it glitched at first (not glitched...the videos stuttered), I cleaned the CDs and then it worked fine. I'll look for a box and some packing stuff.

Uh..do you have dual shocks? This thing only came with the regular plain controllers. Not sure if the FF games make use of rumble or anything, but I felt naked playing MGS with no rumble.

[Quemaqua]

I'll totally pay you for it too man.  I can't find one of these fucking things anywhere in good shape.

And I don't think FF7 had rumble or anything.  I don't have a dual shock, but that'd be easy to get.

[sirean_syan]

FFVII was released before Duel Shock if I remember correctly because I bought the PS1 for the game and I don't remember having the Duel Shock when Resident Evil 2 came out to use it... I think. I had the rumbleless analog for Metal Gear I think... I think. Damn it's been a while.

[TheOtherBelmont]

FFVII was released before Duel Shock if I remember correctly because I bought the PS1 for the game and I don't remember having the Duel Shock when Resident Evil 2 came out to use it... I think. I had the rumbleless analog for Metal Gear I think... I think. Damn it's been a while.

Mostly correct.  FFVII was indeed released before Dual Shock.  There were two versions of RE2 released though a Dual Shock and a non Dual Shock version.  Also, Metal Gear Solid was released in the US after Dual Shock came to the US and Dual Shock had been out in Japan almost a year prior.

[sirean_syan]

Oh yeah, I remember now. I'm suprised I forgot.

I actually went to Japan that year when Duel Shock came out and the special version of RE2 was jsut released there. To celebrate, some place we went to visit had one of those Haunted House mazes a the Resident Evil theme.

[Quemaqua]

Well, finally some satisfaction.  I contacted Amazon.com and they really came through.  I sent them a fairly simple email stating the problem and that this guy was a jerk, and they got back to me within mere hours (no kidding... the first email said they'd get back to me within two weeks... but I sent the complaint at like 7-something and the return email with a resolution offer is from about 10:30).  They said they'll refund me the full price and while they can't really enforce the shipping thing and would prefer that I send him the item back, they'll give me $5 off the next purchase in an attempt to compensate.  That'll put me out like 4 bucks and I can deal with that since I have to get something else shipped later anyway.  I'd rather not be put out at all, but they got back to me so fast and didn't ask any questions, so it's the least I can do to just end this ordeal.  Overall, not bad.  Truly they should make him pay for all the shipping and not put *themselves* out even five bucks, but when you're ordering stuff online there's only so much you can do I guess.  At least I got to give the guy my first negative feedback ever, and it was quite satisfying.  It wasn't decking him one, but I'll just give his punch to the jackass downstairs.

[sirean_syan]

Does Amazon do anything to bad sellers for stuff like this other than enforcing their policies? Maybe after a couple bad transactions they kick them out or something?

[Quemaqua]

I would certainly hope so, though I honestly don't have a clue.