I'd consider a lathe to be 'complex goods', so he'd also have to wait while you turned a few table legs :D
This story has 'buyer's scam' writ large all over it. He wants a free lathe. May even be a fence who takes orders for stuff. Seems pretty fucking confident to both sign for it AND submit photos of obvious damage. Nope, this is a scam.
Here you have to note visible damage to the package when you sign, if you expect to collect anything. Otherwise the shipping co. just says it wasn't packed correctly (which is often true). Wet? Torn open? Fuggedaboutit.
well, if that's the case he has been planning it for a long time, there is no indication anywhere in his eBay feedback that he has tried anything dodgy with anyone else
and, I don't see what he could gain by smashing it up
He may have one with broken parts he intends to swap in from yours? It fell over in a wet basement? I dunno. just smells real fishy.
Perhaps you see it differently, but once a shipper accepts a package, it is their responsibility to see that it gets delivered with no damage. Ever seen package handling at a hub?
A buyer who buys an item needs to have it shipped. If bought from eBay, buyer acknowledges what the shipping terms are or can ask for alternate shipping. It doesn't matter who "picks" the shipping company, they are a contractor. As such, they were contracted to deliver a package and it is assumed that the package will be delivered damage - fee.
In the shipping and receiving business, it is the receiver of the goods who reports damage, not the shipper; it is called a bailment situation. The package was in the delivery company's care, custody and control. Once delivered, it is in the receiver's CCC. If the receiver noted no damage to a delivered package and signed for it in the presence of the deliverer as being accepted Delivered in Good Condition, the receiver accepts all loss at that point. The only exception is concealed damage, such as a box being partially crushed but the container remains otherwise intact. At that point, the receiver should either open the package in the presence of the deliverer, or sign for the package, noting damage. Same applies with a package that has burst.
This isn't that difficult, guys. Stop reading more into it than necessary, eBay be damned.
>> ~~~ Why would anyone sign for this ? ~~~ <<
Answer that, and problem solved. Does it make sense? No.
So why is the Buyer contacting the Seller?
eBay/paypal has the money so they get to make the rules
>> So why is the Buyer contacting the Seller? <<
because that is his easiest option, eBay has my money, if I don't fix this they will just give it back to him
Glad I don't buy/sell stuff through ebay.