I saw this thread a while ago, and usually I would say the GSP is fantastic, never had a problem. However my last purchase has been an absolute nightmare. I found a 5150 on ebay sn: 0130356, stock as far as I can tell. I think this is one of the very first made in '82. The images were terrible, but the seller answered all my questions, and I got it for $150. Then the seller tells me he has the original box!
So It's shipped via the GSP and as far as I can tell eBay have forcefully purchased it from me. They said it had a 'customs issue' and gave me a number to quote to customs when I rang them. Then I contacted ebay again, and they told me that number was their transcript number, so they lied. I used their live chat trying to find out where it is. First they tell me it is in customs, then later in the same conversation I found out it had never even reached customs. Their GSP in Kentucky still had it, it had never left there, and THEY had decided it had 'customs issues'.
Now I know there are no customs issues as I've bought a 5150 via the GSP before. They could not even give a reason as to what the 'customs issue' is. They then shifted blame to Pitney Bowes, then later on admitted the GSP and Pitney Bowes are the same thing. They gave me the runaround for 3 hours! They then told me the item would be liquidated. So I said I would buy the liquidated stock. They then tell me liquidated means destroyed! This is not a UK definition of liquidated.
Eventually they told me the seller would have to ask to have the item shipped back to them, so we could arrange alternative shipping. So the seller contacts them. They then tell the seller it is stuck in customs. They keep changing their story.
What can I do? Any ideas? Is this even legal?
I'm really gutted about this, trying to find an early 5150 is difficult anyway. But in the UK, you have the shipping cost, and worse the ridiculously high tax on imports!
So It's shipped via the GSP and as far as I can tell eBay have forcefully purchased it from me. They said it had a 'customs issue' and gave me a number to quote to customs when I rang them. Then I contacted ebay again, and they told me that number was their transcript number, so they lied. I used their live chat trying to find out where it is. First they tell me it is in customs, then later in the same conversation I found out it had never even reached customs. Their GSP in Kentucky still had it, it had never left there, and THEY had decided it had 'customs issues'.
Now I know there are no customs issues as I've bought a 5150 via the GSP before. They could not even give a reason as to what the 'customs issue' is. They then shifted blame to Pitney Bowes, then later on admitted the GSP and Pitney Bowes are the same thing. They gave me the runaround for 3 hours! They then told me the item would be liquidated. So I said I would buy the liquidated stock. They then tell me liquidated means destroyed! This is not a UK definition of liquidated.
Eventually they told me the seller would have to ask to have the item shipped back to them, so we could arrange alternative shipping. So the seller contacts them. They then tell the seller it is stuck in customs. They keep changing their story.
What can I do? Any ideas? Is this even legal?
I'm really gutted about this, trying to find an early 5150 is difficult anyway. But in the UK, you have the shipping cost, and worse the ridiculously high tax on imports!