Kill Me Now

[momcqueen]

I knew it was coming but I got sucked into the vortex anyway.

It's that time of the year when I start getting random hate mail from rookie ebayers who are under the impression I should be giving my items away for free and then delivering them myself to their house on a silver platter, free of charge. With peeled grapes and, I don't know, maybe a complimentary foot massage. 

Last night, I opened a Message from a buyer who wanted to know if I would split my one-of-a-kind set for one of the one-of-a-kind pieces in it, not currently available anywhere else on ebay. 

I considered it and then named the price that would make it worth my while. In hindsight, this was Mistake One. Entertaining the offer.

Mistake Two was replying to the tirade that followed when they buyer decided they didn't like those terms.

Mistake Three was engaging the perpetrator in it. 

Until this morning, I have always taken the High Road with these kind of ignorant people. I ignore their offensive, curse-laden messages and call ebay to lodge a complaint against that member instead. I don't know what came over me today since I do know better but it must have been a moment of weakness. I said (almost) what was on my mind. 

I have now been called every name in the book by this person and also received more rude gestures in the form of emoticons (who knew such things existed?!) BUT I am pleased to report that I have also blocked all three very similar accounts that this buyer uses. 

What a mistake it was to start this.

Don't engage with these people. We all know that, and I do know better.

Anyone who could use a laugh I know would love to see this exchange but, unfortunately, I cannot share it. The obscene emoticons are quite lovely and inventive. This person must have more time on their hands than do I.

[ricarmic]

I fairly often get them for my bulk lots too, where the person wants me to let them know if I would break apart a 200 item lot because they really want one of the items.

The items are worth on average 50c each, so they'd never entertain the price (it would be minimum $10) I would charge to do that (few people understand that for some people this is a full time job and making 45c an hour in North America is somewhat below the poverty line).

I always just respond that: "I'm sorry but I do not break down the bulk lots", thank them and wish them a great day....

You are right though sometimes we do get sucked into the vortex, and once you start spinning around there's no stopping!

Tomorrow will be a better day......

[momcqueen]

That's certainly what I'll do next time. Decline outright.

This was not worth the effort. I've been told to 'go pleasure myself' at least eight times now as well as been called sleeze, scumbag, pathetic, and crook.

Also, this person is under the impression that I'm 'a little man' which is somewhat confusing since I did reply with the signature Maureen.

[i.am.vivian]

Its a funny story to hear but I know it wasn't fun to receive.   I don't know if it would help to put something in your listings like "This is an exceptional set and collectors and enthusiasts alike will be pleased to hear it will not be split up (pieces sold separately) for any reason."  Something like that.  It probably won't make any difference.  Nobody reads. 

With time I hope you are able to laugh at it.  Also to feel sorry for the person.  What must their life be like?  Someone like that doesn't exhibit proper behavior because they were never taught it.  To lash out at a stranger that way, they must be full of pain inside.  Life can be all uphill for people who never learned proper social skills.  I haven't had anything quite that bad but there is no shortage of people who turn nasty when not given their own way.  I can't for the life of me get how so many people believe that offering less than half of a seller's listed price (when there is no BO on it) is not only reasonable but should be accepted. 

And there is something really hilarious about a kid having a tantrum of filthy swear words when he doesn't get a toy he wants!

[ricarmic]

Yes I've had people threatening to report me to ebay for charging too much!

(My very most favourite was an item (bulk lot) that sold the same day the person threatened to report me for charging too much for junk!!! It selling at the same time made me smile - I almost jumped into the vortex to let them know someone else thought the price was fine, but fortunately I resisted.)

[lucitabby]

I often think that some people, when they use social media whether it is email, or any of the other sites, feel it is acceptable to be rude, vulgar, cursing, etc.  Almost as if it is not real because they are not speaking it out loud.

I am not on FB but sometimes I read some of the posts on my husbands FB page and I really can't believe what people post.

I can only say that people need a brain filter.

Maureen, I am sorry you encountered this  - you know what to do next time

[i.am.vivian]

---

@ricarmic wrote:
(My very most favourite was an item (bulk lot) that sold the same day the person threatened to report me for charging too much for junk!!! It selling at the same time made me smile - I almost jumped into the vortex to let them know someone else thought the price was fine, but fortunately I resisted.)

---

That's like a camera set we sold recently.  The set belonged to DH and was in immaculate condition, rarely used, fully operational, and priced below the rest of its kind here.  No BO on the listing, no mention of the word "asking" or "offers".  We got the usual lowball offers anyway but there's always one.   He offers 10% of the list price and tells us we don't know the meaning of "fair market value".  He said he only wanted it for a display piece and that he gets these sets all the time for 10 and 20 bucks.  He said he's used to getting a lot more for a lot less.  They always say that, don't they.  Fine, we let him have the last word, let him think he really put us in our place. 

A couple days later a local guy wants to come and see it.  When he got here he was almost breathless with enthusiasm, he was practically shaking as he examined the pieces and said he's been looking a long time and had never seen one of these in such excellent condition before.  He quickly paid without argument and I think he was afraid we might change our minds before he got out the door with it.   

[sylviebee]

Well, that makes me feel a little better.

A few days ago I received one of the rudest emails ever about an item I had listed.

I guess it happens to everyone, but some "experts" really like to lord it over others who aren't as knowledgeable as they are in their chosen field.

No one can be an expert at everything.

[cumos55]

Although none of my listings have a Best Offer Option... I do get the occasional offer.

My response depends on what the price of the Item is on eBay.

My usual answer is a reduction price is only considered  if the price is in the range of $50 to $75 and higher.

------------------------------------------

My most interesting situation occurred a few years back.

An offer of $45 was received on a book priced at $95.  This was Monday morning.  This person knew others that had bought this book at this $45 price

My response was that $95 will stay as the price  because I have sold several copies of this book at that $95 price

On Tuesday an offer of $60 was received....  I was in a hurry and did not respond.  I was going to respond on Wednesday.

On Wednesday the offer was $60 including shipping.... Shipping was about $25

My response was as an apology.   The book sold at $95 this morning.....that was Wednesday morning

-------------------------------------------------

I have many books... local histories... selling in the $65 to $95 range.  Few were published... maybe  no more than approximately 600 books.  People buy these books and  they serve as family histories... a source of family genealogy.  Once bought they stay in the family

I have had two people say that there is a limited market and I should sell these book for less.... a lot less

My response  is the fact that I sell about 12 to 15 local histories each year... Their offer was not realistic..

These people come back  and ask  for a reduction in price... again...  There is no reduction with a second offer.... definitely no reduction..

and they are blocked......

[cumos55]

One last comment about that $95 book

The person making the offers lived in Maine, USA... Buyer was blocked on Monday morning

The Wednesday morning buyer also lived in Maine.

Coincidence... Maybe... Maybe not... Maine is not a big state

[momcqueen]

In the years that I've been fielding messages like this as a seller, through all the messages that I've ignored, I lived under the impression there would be some kind of satisfaction to be gained by stooping to the level of the person sending them and letting loose a few zingers of my own.

But there isn't. I just cannot bring myself to go so slow as the person flinging this offal at me so I'm still left to stifle my words and there is simply no satisfaction whatsoever to be gained in it. At least now I know that. By replying, I only served to fuel this madwoman's fire and, without being enough of the kind of person to say what really deserved to be said, found no joy in it at all. I suppose that is another thing I have learned from this. 

That and I learned there are obscene emoticons. That's interesting. 

One day it will seem amusing as well.

[silverpinups]

One important point to be aware of..... the ignorant buyer could have friends with ebay I.D's!!

Always proceed with caution when communicating with a problematic buyer. He could seek out "revenge" for not complying with his delusional wishes in the form of a Negative Feedback for a transaction with a different buyer.

I've had a few problems with difficult buyers for which I had to block them for that reason. Then all of sudden, I get another offer on the same item less than 24hrs later from a very friendly buyer. Could it be a possible set-up?

You never know but having another similar offer on the same item within 24hrs is just too much of a coincidence

Be on guard for the next week or so.....

[momcqueen]

Absolutely. Even if I had not succumbed to the temptation to argue with this uncouth person, I was still cognizant of the danger they posed in their fit of anger at not having their way with it. And, yes, let's not forget these are children's toys we're speaking of here. This was not a top-end adult collectible at stake. 

When I subsequently searched their ID, I was presented with three extremely similar ones, each ID being merely one character away from the other and two located in the same town in England with the last in Ireland. All three IDs are now blocked.

If this item sells tomorrow to someone in the UK, I will be wary but what can a seller do? If someone were to buy the complete set and pay for it, all I can do is ship it in good faith and hope for the best.

Or I could block all buyers in England for a brief period of time but that's no guarantee it would thwart any revenge attempts, and would instead alienate actual paying customers. 

Do you have advice for what else a seller can do in a situation like this that you could share? Other than be aware?

[silverpinups]

Do you have advice for what else a seller can do in a situation like this that you could share? Other than be aware?

The only thing I can say is never engage the person... Always be nice even though the situation doesn't warrant it.

We as sellers are all open to attack from malicious buyers so the only thing we can do is conduct ourselves in a professional manner 24/7. 

Mr. and Ms. Negative are sitting on the shoulders of every seller and it's just a matter of time before we all get one... that's the reality of selling on eBay unfortunately....      

[momcqueen]

'Don't poke the bear' may still end with the stick-holder eaten, though. Engaging this person did not help but they were off the rails before I came along.

But, yes.

[maximus7001]

When we get ridiculous messages we just block them and move on. You don't want that type of an idiot being allowed to bid on or buy your stuff. There is no point in replying.