What do you do when a bubble is damaged in transit?

I have just bought a MOC off of someone on Echo. It turned up today and the bubble has cracked. It was packed with plenty of packing and the box was solid, but the bubble was probably not adequately protected within the Star case in my opinion.

What is protocol when this sort of thing happens? Would you return it, expect a discount or accept it as posting MOCs is precarious in its very nature?

Either a substantial discount or return for full refund. It's up to the seller to get the item to you in one piece, not you to take the hit

Exactly the situation I had here. I would only consider accepting partial responsibility for this as a buyer if the seller made an attempt at protecting the bubble. Putting a fragile/yellow bubble figure in a star case is not good enough, that will not stop the figure breaking the bubble from inside. So if as you say there was no bubble protection, IMO you have every right to return it for a full refund, or if you want to keep it ask for a decent (eg 50%) discount.

Some people will say these things are fragile and there is a risk posting them, which I agree with, but that risk is on the seller IMO. It is their job to get the item to you in the same condition you bought it.

This is the MOC from the seller's photos. I bought it for £220 on Echo which I thought was a good price which is why I am super gutted.

He has offered £50 off or full refund. Here is the crack.

Sorry this has happened, must have taken a hell of a wack to do that. I would tell the seller I want 50% discount on that as it has devalued signficantly. That or full refund.

These bubbles hey. it happens .The trouble with a full refund how's it going to have faired in transit again when he receives it back and repercussions from that. If I were the seller if take it on the chin and offer 50% back and you keep the item or offer a full refund and take it from there.

lejackal said:

Either a substantial discount or return for full refund. It's up to the seller to get the item to you in one piece, not you to take the hit

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This. It happened to me with a Yoda Moc off Iain. I was gutted(for both of us) but it's the sellers loss unfortunately. If it doesn't arrive as it was it the photos on the sales post it's a refund as far as I'm concerned. It's crap, a lose lose situation :wink:

Thanks guys. Sounds like most people think 50% off.

It's tough because all my other 20/21 backs have no cracks in so if I kept it, it's more than likely a placeholder until I can upgrade (though it still displays lovely and would probably be in my collection for a while - this is the first I've been able to get my hands on in 6 months).

I'm guessing that now it's cracked it will be hard to sell on for the discount he's offering so if I accepted his offer I'd be losing out.

Firstly, sorry to see this happen, another lovely MOC damaged and one that you've been looking forward to adding to your collection.
I agree with everything that has said above, I personally would return for a full refund.
You're never be happy with it and will have trouble selling it on if you chose to do so.
Of course, ensure that it's fully protected for its return journey.
I've said it before, but there has got to be a time in the nrear future when sending these items will be too risky!

Gutted, why does this never happen when receiving a beater Klaatu in the post?

A little tip for protecting the bubble when you return it, is to put a of strip of masking tape on the side of the bubble over the crack, it will stop the cracked area from vibrating during shipping and hopefully prevent it getting any bigger.

subzero said:

Gutted, why does this never happen when receiving a beater Klaatu in the post?

A little tip for protecting the bubble when you return it, is to put a of strip of masking tape on the side of the bubble over the crack, it will stop the cracked area from vibrating during shipping and hopefully prevent it getting any bigger.

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Thanks Richard

I don't use the post much for MOC's any more as it is too stressful and some stuff is irreplaceable so even if you get a full refund you still lose. I drive almost everywhere now and pick it up in person.

Wreck-It Ralph said:

I don't use the post much for MOC's any more as it is too stressful and some stuff is irreplaceable so even if you get a full refund you still lose. I drive almost everywhere now and pick it up in person.

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Yes, reckonon the more expensive Kenner items I might do this. Can definitely see why you do that with Palitoy.

Sorry to hear this has happened. I hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

I've opted for the return. It's on its way back carefully packaged and double boxed. I'll update when all received and refunded. :|

TheJabbaWookie said:

I've opted for the return. It's on its way back carefully packaged and double boxed. I'll update when all received and refunded. :|

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I think you made the right decision. If you ever doubt it just ask yourself would you have bought it with a cracked bubble if the answer is no then you did the right thing.

Wreck-It Ralph said:

TheJabbaWookie said:

I've opted for the return. It's on its way back carefully packaged and double boxed. I'll update when all received and refunded. :|

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I think you made the right decision. If you ever doubt it just ask yourself would you have bought it with a cracked bubble if the answer is no then you did the right thing.

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Totally agree, that's the best philosophy.

Agree, when selling something I'm not sure about I always ask myself if I'd buy it for the same price. If I wouldn't pay the price the buyer is offering me, I'm happy to sell.

Got full refund. Looking to pick up a 20/21 Back to replace this one as a Christmas treat to myself