Re: VERY BAD EXPERIENCE with 'bhwollen'
I've sold lasers that haven't worked when they've arrived. I have a laser return right now that I'm waiting for in the mail. It happens.
You never know for sure what has happened. Did something during in transit? Did I do a poor job of packing it? Did customs do a poor job of re-packing it? Did customs perhaps even damage it during inspection? Did the buyer do something stupid and damage it after receipt? Did temperature and humidity issues affect the diode life? Did the diode hit the end of its life prematurely? Did I do a $#!% job and build a bad laser? Was I somehow careless?
Again, you never know for sure what has happened. If a laser has been opened or tampered with in ANY way, then all bets are off. But otherwise, your only option is to suck it up, pay for their return shipping, replace it, and pay to return the replacement back. It doesn't matter what you, as a seller, *think* happened. You protect your reputation, and make sure the buyer is happy. If you can't keep enough parts on hand to repair or replace an item, and you don't have enough wiggle room on your credit card to send over a Paypal refund if it becomes necessary, then you have no business withdrawing a buyer's payment from your Paypal account until you know the item has arrived, in working condition.
As far as I'm concerned, anyone, can be excused for a bad product, even 4 bad products, if it was an honest mistake that they rectify at no cost to the buyer.