Bartertown.com

I went to their site and found that they bought magic cards. I had sold or traded a lot here but was happy to find that they bought in bulk. So I went to their site and set up to sell them over $200 worth of cards. I sent them out 15 days ago and when I look on their site, it shows that they have not gotten them yet. They should have gotten them 5 or more days ago. Earlier today, I called them and was brushed off and they have also not returned my e-mails.
Has anyone else dealt with them and had any similer experiences?
Iknow they wont give me the over $200 my cards are valued at (even with their grading process) but I would expect at least a little over $100 because I expect to get ripped off in ggrading. But even that $100 might help me keep my house and I need it.

Unsure if this helps but I used to buy singles from them years ago (like 2001-2003) and I never had a problem. I know you sold to them which is different. but when my friends and I used to order from them we never had any problems. Perhaps they are under new management?

I apologize if this was of little help to you. But I saw that no one posted and wanted to attempt to make you feel better.

Did you put any sort of Delivery Confirmation or tracking on the package?

No, I had expected them to be honest as a company. Had I realized they were going to just steal them without paying me for them, I would have gotten confirmation or tracking.
They have also not returned any of the e-mails I sent.

I'm not going to edit that last post but, from here on out, any posts accusing them of wrong-doing will be edited to remove all accusations.
Don't get me wrong. I think it sucks HORRIBLY that this happened. Bartertown rules are pretty clear on it, though. Making those accusations puts the post clearly in the realm of "Bad Trader Report." Since (a) Card Kingdom is not an advertiser here and (b) it was not a trade/sale initiated from our site, the deal doesn't qualify for a BTR.

You're welcome to discuss the specifics. Once you hit the "accusation" part, though, we need you to hit the "Stop" button, please.

Thanks.

Eric

EVIL INC wrote:No, I had expected them to be honest as a company. Had I realized they were going to just steal them without paying me for them, I would have gotten confirmation or tracking.
They have also not returned any of the e-mails I sent.

Well, how do you know they received them? The cards could have gotten mangled or lost in the postal system.

That's a good point.

The sudden lack of email response is suspect, of course... but that IS a good point.


Eric

EVIL INC wrote:No, I had expected them to be honest as a company. Had I realized they were going to just steal them without paying me for them, I would have gotten confirmation or tracking.
They have also not returned any of the e-mails I sent.

You need to ALWAYS use Dc/tracking. They can simply say they never got it. How can you prove they did?
Tracking is about 50 cents.

True, I should have used the tracking so that I could have proven that they arrived. That was my mistake (and one I wont make again).
I would not have been suspicious if they had not acted the way they did when I called and then cut off all communications.
The overall value was $227 if they were new. Going by their grading standards, I should have gotten $150. Thats an electric bill plus a little food shopping. You may think my financial plight is funny but trust me, every little bit counts when you are down to eating pasta and peanut butter and worrying where the house payment is coming from before you lose your home. So I'm sorry if I was snippy in posting.

This is for everyone who ships, not just to OP..and by no means is this meant to berate or attack him in any way.


ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use some form of delivery confirmation or tracking, and insure what ever you ship, unless it costs more to ship than the item worth.

There are too many things that can and do happen with all shippers; USPS, UPS, FedEx. Things get lost, damaged, stolen by/from all 3. Planes crash or land on water. Trains get derailed. Trucks get into accidents. Other things in other packages can break and damage your item. I've seen a bottle of wine break open and damage/destroy other packages. [no, wine isn't shippable via USPS, but it was. It came from overseas and was listed as food stuffs on the customs label.]

When you insure a package, and then later have a problem with a recipient; either claiming they didn't receive it, or it was broken or broken open; the shipping company then gets involved to pay or deny a claim. If the OP shipped it with insurance, using any of the main 3 companies, he could now file a claim for a lost package. If the it was delivered, then he has grounds to file for theft. If it wasn't delivered, well he could get his $ back for the insured amount.

Again, this isn't a slam at the OP; just his problem should be a sign to others to learn from his problem.
A smart man learns from his mistakes.
An intelligent man learns from others mistakes.

EVIL INC wrote:True, I should have used the tracking so that I could have proven that they arrived. That was my mistake (and one I wont make again).
I would not have been suspicious if they had not acted the way they did when I called and then cut off all communications.
The overall value was $227 if they were new. Going by their grading standards, I should have gotten $150. Thats an electric bill plus a little food shopping. You may think my financial plight is funny but trust me, every little bit counts when you are down to eating pasta and peanut butter and worrying where the house payment is coming from before you lose your home. So I'm sorry if I was snippy in posting.

E.I., One thing I think I can say comfortably is that NOBODY thinks it's funny. Nobody who matters, anyway.
In this economy, most of us are feeling the pinch of the recession. I'm sure there are many members here who are concerned about the longevity of their own jobs. To laugh at your misfortune would be to tempt fate... and Karma is a b*tch!

I've been at that point in my life where we had money for groceries, the mortgage and not a lot else. I'd imagine many of us here have. It's not a fun place.

That said, I don't think anything you posted previously was snippy. You're fine.

Eric

EVIL INC wrote:True, I should have used the tracking so that I could have proven that they arrived. That was my mistake (and one I wont make again).
I would not have been suspicious if they had not acted the way they did when I called and then cut off all communications.
The overall value was $227 if they were new. Going by their grading standards, I should have gotten $150. Thats an electric bill plus a little food shopping. You may think my financial plight is funny but trust me, every little bit counts when you are down to eating pasta and peanut butter and worrying where the house payment is coming from before you lose your home. So I'm sorry if I was snippy in posting.

Well, you could look at it from their perspective. How many calls a day/week do they get inquiries like your's? Could be they haven't received nothing and thought you were just another scammer trying to get money out of them. I'm sure it has happened to them.

However, on the flipside, you could be totally dead on; and they could have done what you said.

How big of a company are they? What kind of credentials do they have? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself before buying from an online store.

Out of curiosity, what did you ship the cards in?

Not sure how big the company is.
I wrapped the cards in plastic wrap. Then again in aluminum foil and again in plastic. I then took the stack and custom cut a box so that it fit the stack snug all around. I then used more plastic wrap and tape to hold it. Outside of everything, I wrapped th entire package in a double layer of white paper and clearly addressed it both to and from. Then I took packing tape and completely wrapped the entire outter package with it.
It was tighter then Fort Knox and clearly addressed in such a way that no weather or accidental spilling would have affected it.

Holy crap! Hell, maybe they did get it and decided, "WTF? It ain't worth opening this. Just throw it out and forget it ever arrived."

Never wrap boxes in paper.
1st the paper can rip and the address is lost. Also if the paper rips the box's intregity has been comprimised. [contents will spill out]

Always put a packing slip, with both full names and addresses, along with a list of contents, inside the box. IE: 500 Magic: The Gathering collectible cards.

Also always use heavy cardboard, not shoe boxes or that type of cardboard. Use the corrugated, multiple layer type. It's not all of it is the same. The type that holds large light items, like toilet paper or Christmas bulbs is alot thinner and weaker, has a lower stress rating, than the boxes that contain books, car parts or other heavy things.

I really hate to say it, but if the paper ripped, and there was no address inside. the box is probably sitting somewhere waiting to get thrown away, if it hasn't already.

I don't want to sound like I'm slamming you, but your packing method, although sounds though, is more of a recipe for disaster.

Packing the indiviudual bundles seperately was a good idea, too bad what you wrapped them in was worthless. It would have been better to use the wrapping paper to wrap them ad completely enclose them in clear packing tape. Clear wrap and foil are thin. The clear wrap might keep the mositure out, but that's it and then only if completely sealed.

Then put the bundles in a box with packing, like stryofoam peanuts, loose in the box. If the box was packed tight, like you describe, the 1st time it's dropped, it splits open. It can split along a seam or corner as well as the flat sides. If possible double box them. Put them in a ccg box, tape it closed, over-wrapping it with tape, not just taping the edges, have the addresses on the outside of that also. Then pack that entire box inside the shipping box, that has bubble wrap or foam surrounding the inner box.

Picture the box splitting like the Pilsbury dough tubes/rolls. One side gets hit and SPLIT, it's open.

Since everything shipped UPS & FedEx automaticlly has a number, it sounds like you used USPS. Bad news is, that without any number, even d/c, under the new USPS rules, it won't even be looked for. It might turn up, but that's a long shot. The new automated parcel sorters are huge, multi-story and powerful. Your box could easily have been crushed by other mail, the paper ripped off or obscured by grease, and thus undeliverable. The machines can easily rip magazines in half in seconds if the plastic bundle they're in rips. The transport belts that feed the mail on the 'small' machines in my building weigh several tons each. [the ground shakes when they lower. The can, and have, easily broken or crushed a limb if caught in them.]

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