Advice on receiving a broken AEG from Can. Post

[jtf2-phalanx]

Hey guys,

I have a little bit of an issue here that I'd like some advice on. I traded an P90 for an EBR M14. The trade itself went well and the communications between us was really open. We shipped the guns at the same time and when I received the M14, it looked like it was dropped by CP. (The receiver had broken in two spots and the selector switch falls off). So I spoke to the original owner and he filed an insurance claim with CP. He told me that CP was being difficult about the claim as they wanted the gun as proof of damage. The claimant thought he could make the claim without giving the gun so I agreed because I didn't feel like shipping it out again. Eventually he had argued with them enough that he told me that CP had given up on wanting the gun and would refund the amount to fix it. That was started in November of 2011. The last contact I had with the original owner was in February and he told me he was waiting to hear back from CP for the full $300 for the gun. I had waited and still nothing back so I finally decided to email the owner saying, I just wanted the gun fixed so I'd take $100 for the price of a new receiver and he could take the rest of whatever CP was going to give as all I wanted was a usable AEG. Does that sound reasonable? Anyways, I haven't heard back from him since and from what he tells me, he's been busy (which I understand). I'm not looking to get this guy at all as he's been pleasant so far, but I'm wondering what my next steps would be to get a working and aesthetically decent looking AEG. Ideas?

[MaciekA]

Originally Posted by jtf2-phalanx

from what he tells me, he's been busy (which I understand). I'm not looking to get this guy at all as he's been pleasant so far, but I'm wondering what my next steps would be to get a working and aesthetically decent looking AEG. Ideas?

I think you got jacked. Perhaps the best course of action is to figure out the selector plate and repair the receiver with JB Weld. You said you wanted $100 from the guy, but I would be amazed if you could find the receiver for any AEG for under $100 (that wasn't smuggled), and so that $100 wouldn't help you at all towards this gun except perhaps as reparations.

JB Weld is a fraction of the cost of a receiver and represents a real path towards some kind of resolution -- if you find a receiver down the road, or if CP ever coughs up the money, you can always swap it out. In the meantime, I'd personally focus on getting the gun working, and all that takes is some quality time with the gun.

[Grizzly0679]

Being busy is no excuse. We're all busy but everyone has at least 10 mins to send an email. It's all about what the priority is.

That said, you should cover yourself by asking for copies of all his conversations with CP. Tell him you think it'll add to the weight of the case if you get involved too, and that it'll help validate your claim if you show proof that it is in fact CP's issue.

Handle the issue maturely and like a gentleman - no need to accuse anyone just yet - but call his bluff. If he stonewalls you on that, you can be sure he's trying to screw you over. Sorry to be blunt. Keep pursuing the issue since it's a large amount of money we're talking about. If it gets ugly, threaten him with getting the law involved. Usually that motivates people pretty quickly. The police and detectives are paid to help with matters like this and since there's electronic footprints of your interactions with him, gathering "proof" won't be very hard.

that's my advice

[Curo]

$300 dollars while not pocket change, is not a large amount of money, none the less it is enough to pursue this claim. You seem more than patient and forgiving of him, i'm interested to read his take.

[jtf2-phalanx]

Thanks guys... I think I'll email him again and get some more info. If anyone has any other advice that might help.

[jtf2-phalanx]

So, apparently, CP won't talk to the receiver at all. The sender has to have the only communication with them. FFS.

[jordan7831]

This whole thing stinks to me. Are you sure the gun was working just fine before he shipped it out? Its easy to ship a broken gun and "claim" that its CP's fault. For instance, if the gun was nicely packaged and secure when shipped and it still broke. That raises some flags. If the gun was poorly packaged and broke well then thats the sellers fault.

Another question. Did you actually see these emails sent to this guy? Or it this all second hand information. Ie did he forward you the emails he received.

[kalnaren]

Originally Posted by jtf2-phalanx

So, apparently, CP won't talk to the receiver at all. The sender has to have the only communication with them. FFS.

This I can vouch for.

Had a lost parcel claim (as the recipient) a while back, CP wouldn't even talk to me.

[jtf2-phalanx]

The gun in the pictures looked alright. The gun wasn't packaged very well though.

He sent me the last email he received from CP which is asking for proof of purchase (but there is none since he bought it second hand himself), and proof of damage, which I forwarded the pictures to the guy.

Originally Posted by jordan7831

This whole thing stinks to me. Are you sure the gun was working just fine before he shipped it out? Its easy to ship a broken gun and "claim" that its CP's fault. For instance, if the gun was nicely packaged and secure when shipped and it still broke. That raises some flags. If the gun was poorly packaged and broke well then thats the sellers fault.

Another question. Did you actually see these emails sent to this guy? Or it this all second hand information. Ie did he forward you the emails he received.

[jordan7831]

If the gun wasnt packaged very well then perhaps it's HIS FAULT and not canada post. I mean c'mon people (not just this guy but in general)! It grinds my gears when people dont make an attempt to package things safely and securely.

I cant help but think that this could have been avoided all together if the seller just took a minute and crumpled some newspaper or wrapped some bubble wrap or something.

When is the last time this guy was online?

EDIT: Misunderstanding. The way things were worded I took it as if the seller was being a bit dishonest. Sorry.

[jtf2-phalanx]

Oh, he's been online and responded to my last request for the information from CP. He's not avoiding me (as far as I can tell) but I think it's more that he's not really getting anywhere with CP so there's nothing really to tell. It just depends on how hard he's willing to fight for it.

Originally Posted by jordan7831

If the gun wasnt packaged very well then perhaps it's HIS FAULT and not canada post. I mean c'mon people (not just this guy but in general)! It grinds my gears when people dont make an attempt to package things safely and securely.

I cant help but think that this could have been avoided all together if the seller just took a minute and crumpled some newspaper or wrapped some bubble wrap or something.

When is the last time this guy was online?

[jordan7831]

Okay I understand now. The way things were worded sounded to me as if the fellow was avoiding you and didnt care about your problem. I retract my statement from above.

[jtf2-phalanx]

So, I've sent a message to the person and he's not responding at all. Would I be considered out of line by leaving at least a neutral feedback or negative feedback since it doesn't look like he's willing to get in contact with CP anymore?

[mmmken]

Originally Posted by jtf2-phalanx

So, I've sent a message to the person and he's not responding at all. Would I be considered out of line by leaving at least a neutral feedback or negative feedback since it doesn't look like he's willing to get in contact with CP anymore?

Give him an ultimatum (a week) to respond. If he doesn't respond by then, then the negative feedback would be well deserved. Don't bother with the neutral since there is definitely fault here.

Just a caveat though, leaving any negative feedback will probably cease any resolution or communication from him. Honestly though, if a problem like this takes months to resolve (just to get $100), I wouldn't count on getting any compensation from him.

What's his username? Maybe an admin could help out?

[HackD]

Originally Posted by MaciekA

I think you got jacked. Perhaps the best course of action is to figure out the selector plate and repair the receiver with JB Weld. You said you wanted $100 from the guy, but I would be amazed if you could find the receiver for any AEG for under $100 (that wasn't smuggled), and so that $100 wouldn't help you at all towards this gun except perhaps as reparations.

JB Weld is a fraction of the cost of a receiver and represents a real path towards some kind of resolution -- if you find a receiver down the road, or if CP ever coughs up the money, you can always swap it out. In the meantime, I'd personally focus on getting the gun working, and all that takes is some quality time with the gun.

There is a limit as to what you can do with the M14 receiver with JB weld.

I imagine what happened at some point with CP's package-ball sports-team, is that the gun was dropped inside the box and/or bent from the barrel tip by having other boxes loaded on top of it, while in transit. Especially if there was no packing-filler in there to cushion it/keep the box rigid.

If the receiver is broken at the point of the air seal, it's from the barrel being torqued, causing the very thin receiver at that point to fracture. There just isn't that much pot metal to JB weld back together there, and it'll be under continued stress with even a minor amount of the barrel flexing through normal use. It also keeps the hop up unit aligned and back-stopped at this point, so if the receiver has failed at this point, you are then pretty much screwed.

I can't see it breaking at the rear too easily, unless it's a pot metal fracture from a HARD impact.

IMHO, anyway. Good luck to the OP.