That's terrible news Beak. I'd love to see photos if you don't mind because the level of destruction you described is incredible. I also just received an eBay typewriter, a portable that was shipped in its case with nothing more than two layers of bubble wrap around it! I expected the worst, but luckily the only damage was the machine's case was whacked out of aligmnet, something that I've already fixed.

However, I've also received machines in the past that were nearly completely destroyed during shipment. Here for example is the horror I faced when I opened the case of a Torpedo I bought on eBay. The story is even more frustrating when you add in the seller's account of what happened. She claimed that her husband had really packed it well, but when she took it to the post office its weight was in a higher cost category than she had quoted me, so she took out enough packing material to bring the weight back down. In the end she shipped it with nothing but a few pieces of newspaper and some flat plastic bags to protect it. Even the machine's travel case had holes blown through it from the carriage that was bouncing around inside of it after it had been ripped right off of the machine.




 


The bottom line is that you have to blame the seller. If a machine is properly packed - and labelled with dozens of FRAGILE stickers - it should arrive in good condition. I sometimes warn sellers to pack the machine well, and have provided links to packaging tips online, but a lot of the advice out there isn't very good. I'll eventually put together a comprehensive photo set here for packing a typewriter that can be understood internationally, and by typewriter-ignorant sellers.  

In your case you need to contact the eBay seller and get your money back. Good luck!

 

It's awful when you get a smashed up machine in the post
My eBay buying days for typewriters are basically over unless I see something special in my immediate area which I can view first and collect myself.  Or from people who know about typewriters. And I look in charity shops all the time, just in case
I've had typewriters arrive in all sorts of packaging and be fine, though. One was in a jiffy bag (?!)  and only had a slight dent to the case. Another, which was for a friend, arrived loose in a box with some brown paper strewn in, perhaps as decoration? But the typewriter was in excellent health. Weird. Admittedly these were all shipped within the UK so didn't have to suffer the rigours of international typewriter travel. It's strange sometimes how people (who don't know anything about them) decide to package typewriters. My last, a Corona Sterling arrived really well packed on the outside of the case, but was left rattling about inside, with the carriage unlocked/unsecured so had some damage I had to ask for help in getting fixed. Waiting with baited breath and crossed fingers for this one, it's my last of the season, so to speak.
 

As a matter of interest, how many portable typewriters have you received upside-down in their carry cases ?  I find this happens surprisingly often from people who obviously know nothing about typewriters !

And on we go...
Just talking to seller about another unusual SG1, this time in America.  Asked them to remove and pack carriage separately, explaining how simple this was to do, and they replied that this was impossible since they can only sell 'working machines', and if they take the carriage off it is no longer working (!)

Imagine the state of this  monster typer when it arrives at its destination with the carriage attached - or what's left of it.  Actually, don't; it's too horrible to think about.