On 04/06/04 I found two French Louis XVI Bronze Ormolu & Sienna Marble Urns on this gentleman's impressive website. I emailed him to inquire about availability and price. He replied the same day advising me they were available and that the best price he could offer was $7500.00.
The next day I called the number listed on the website and spoke with him in person and told him I would like to purchase the urns. He emailed me wiring instructions, and said as soon as the wire was received he would ship the urns - we had agreed on using FedEx Next Day Air. On the 7th I wired him $7675.00 for the urns including shipping. The same day he emailed me to say the wire had arrived, and that the urns were in the process of being packed for shipping (he also indicated that they would arrive in two separate boxes). We never discussed insuring the packages since his website said "all objects are expertly packed and all items are sent insured". Mr. Reese emailed me the FedEx tracking numbers as soon as the boxes had been shipped.
The boxes were delivered on 04/12/04 in the morning. When I arrived home later that day, I picked up one of the boxes and was surprised that I could feel the urn moving at the bottom of the box. When I opened the box it was clear that while the urn itself had been carefully wrapped in numerous layers of tissue paper, the actual packing material around it was insufficient - consisting of foam peanuts and one folded piece of cardboard covering the urn. When I took the urn out of the box, I could feel the base was loose. I cut through the tissue paper and saw the narrow part of the base of the urn was cracked through - I did not unwrap the urn further, nor did I open the 2nd box.
I immediately emailed Mr. Reese telling him of the situation. He replied this had never happened to him before, and that he would contact FedEx - but, that he was not responsible for items after they left his possession or damage incurred during shipping. He never replied to any subsequent emails or phone calls from me or my attorney. I also contacted FedEx who said no call or claim had never been made on either tracking number. FedEx also stated they would not have insured the urns because it exceeded their value limitation, the shipper would have to have used a separate company to insure them. My attorney sent a letter via FedEx (which Mr. Reese refused to accept) requesting an immediate refund.
We filed suit in Philadelphia since shipping laws state that the shipper is fully responsible until the items arrive, plus the fact that he had not insured the urns as specified in his website, nor had the urns been "expertly" packed. The lawsuit was served to him in person and he failed to respond by the 06/22/04 court deadline. We are currently asking for a default judgment from the court for costs, damages, and attorney's fees. However, even if we receive the judgment, collecting will be difficult despite filing liens against his personal property.
This gentleman is still selling items through a very attractive website, but potential buyers should be aware that when I had a problem with a major purchase, he refused to have any further contact with me - despite the fact he did not live up to the promises stated on his website.
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