
11-06-2013
10:26 AM
- last edited on
11-06-2013
03:42 PM
by
kh-leslie
Hi all,
I'm an experienced pro seller, and buy and sell a lot on ebay. I rarely have issues with buyers or sellers, but when it happens, I do anything reasonable to avoid a neg (either received or given!). My last neg given was 7mths ago, to a US seller that refused to fulfill my order since it didn't sell high enough, and wasn't even apologizing.
Anyway, here's the story. Purchased an item from a CA seller with a 98.8% fb, description stated "NEW IN THE SEALED PLASTIC PACKAGE." with even pics posted of the seals. $25 shipping seems a bit high for a small $16 item shipped in the same country, but let's see what I get. Also, he had a huge block of "shipping rules" that basically stated it's forbidden to leave him neg feedback. Funny 🙂
Got the item. Postage was around $11 and item was received unsealed (both seals clearly broken). Contents seem new though. Alright, contacted the seller and asked him politely why the item is new open box while it was sold as new, and how he justifies $14 of handling (as a pro seller, if I ever happen to charge more than $2-3 over actual postage+packaging cost, I refund the buyer of that amount). Oh, he didn't like it! 🙂 His answer started by stating I was trying to blackmail him over getting positive fb (which I did not mention) and I was an idiot not understanding he unsealed the package to ensure the contents were in good shape. Well OK, some people have anger management issues... answered him politely that his answer was very rude and condescending and that were making a not-that-good buying experience to a bad buying experience and it was his role to change this (I would have accepted an apology for rudeness and either a very good reason for such high handling costs, or a partial refund if it was a mistake). Well, he answered angrily again 🙂 He basically stated that part of the item cost are in the shipping/handling and ebay didn't care if it was there or in the actual price (hum...wrong...that's a way to avoid paying ebay fees) and that he needed me to tell him what were my positive fb worth (yeah right, I'm the bad guy blackmailing you).
Gave him a week to give a proper, polite, answer, which didn't come. Well fine, I won't open a paypal case for that since it's not worth my time, just leave him a neg with approrioate DSRs (bad comm, item desc, shipping charges, and good shipping time), and move on. Well again, he didn't like that 🙂 He answered my fb and emailed me as well accusing me again of blackmailing him, and used an alternate account (same name and physical address) to purchase an item from my store. Alright, he wants to play... I answered his email telling him I understood his game and that was a risky one (using a 7000+ fbs account to get revenge over a neg given on a 1000+ fbs account) and it was his to correct his attitude, or deal with consequences. He answered that he had no idea what I was talking about, and again, that I was an idiot not following the rules (forbidden to leave him neg, ah ah) and how I wanted him to have the terms of this blackmailing situation be solved.
So, sorry for the super long message, but that siatuation was worth a full explanation. to understand it better. Of course, I used the "report buyer" button to alert ebay. What would you do next? Expect ebay to do the right thing (not sure if I can count on that)? Open a paypal case which would lead to further escalation? Approve him terms (yeah man, I'm an blackmailing ya, gimme da money)? Go dirty and use his methods and let the war begin (nah, can't do that)?
Thanks for your opinions in advance, and hope you enjoyed that story 🙂
11-06-2013 05:11 PM
11-06-2013 09:13 PM
11-06-2013 11:22 PM
@kh-leslie wrote:Hi everyone,
This is a friendly reminder to please stay on the topic that was originally posted. Please refrain from using profanity/attempts to disguise profanity and interpersonal disputes. Thank you to everyone for helping to maintain a friendly community atmosphere!
Which guideline in that link would be about off topic posts Mr/Mrs moderator? Topics of conversation change and evolve, it's natural, that's why we have search engines in this century, most people don't read entire threads from top to bottom anymore, but search and read relevant parts.
Posts of Mr. Elmwood and Angus were topical. It is known one cannot win argument with sociopath, and Mr. Angus is entitled to his misguided, yet topical opinion, presented in civil manner, that refusal to deal with sociopaths qualifies as lack of empathy.
Next step for the OP - call Ebay and see what they recommend and ask them to protect you from this buyer in case they insist you follow-up with the sale.
11-07-2013 10:22 AM - edited 11-07-2013 10:25 AM
Thanks all - yes, aqyera, I am planning to call ebay since my report 2 days ago got no visible actions done so far (again, I'm not surprised).
I actually got another email from my nice seller this morning (while I totally ignored him after his previous email yesterday morning), stating I have to set things right (aka, remove my neg) and that "No one would benefit from further confrontation" (well, to me, the case is closed, you're the one deciding to continue the confrontation). He says that I'm threatening him (telling him I understood his game by using an alternate account and that it could have consequences, is a threat, apparently) while he did everything right and will contact ebay to act against me. He's nuts 🙂
edit: oh great, now I'm scared with every sale that happen...just did a sale to someone who lives in the same city as crazyguy, now I'm fearing he's a friend of his...
11-07-2013 10:46 AM
11-07-2013 12:00 PM
Kinda 🙂 But same city (6kms from other guy's location), both Serbian names, can't help thinking there's a good chance they know each other.
Alright, called ebay, gave all info proving what he is trying to do. Girl told me to complete the transaction anyway, and that they will investigate, maybe let me know, maybe not, and not sure when. Awesome!
11-07-2013 12:09 PM
ahhhhh actually another sale I done yesterday was to another individual with a Serbian name living in the same city..... either it's a huge coincidence, or this guy is having all his family and serbian community friends get back at me. Am I going crazy, or is this guy a total psycho??
11-07-2013 04:33 PM
What you received from Ebay is their typical tier one response. "Complete the sale and let's see what happens"
If it does go South, you have to then go through the hoops you are trying to avoid.
It's a tough spot to be in.
If you refuse the sale, you have less recourse if Ebay decides to suspend/restrict your privileges.
If you do complete the sale, you are depending on Ebay to do the right thing. My personal experience with Ebay in this regard has been positive thus far on two problem cases, so things may go fine.
Is it possible he is rounding up his family/friends? Yes, but again, you run into the same problem as above.
Personally, my choice would be to go through with all the sales, assume the others are not related, then trust Ebay to deal with any issues. Obviously I have more faith in Ebay than some sellers, at least according to what I have read about on these forums.
Keep us informed.
11-08-2013 08:57 AM
I'm not sure what I would do in that situation but if I were to go through with the transaction, I would make sure that there was delivery confirmation on the package. That doesn't prevent feedback of course but without del confirmation you would definitely lose an item not received case. With feedback, there is the possibility of having it removed.
11-08-2013 04:57 PM - edited 11-08-2013 04:59 PM
Thank you both. Haven't heard back from my nice seller since yesterday morning now. I even refunded him $3 of shipping cost on his purchase (I always do, if the calculated shipping fees are much higher than actual postage+packaging cost). Guess he's waiting to receive the package I sent him yesterday to either pretend it's not as expected (but I did a video of me packing it) or pretend it didn't arrive (then canada post will refund me). Only bad would be if he doesn't collect it, paypal would fully refund him and I'd be out of $12. Then ebay's to act, or not.
For the 2 other buyers, it's trickier. They both got $4 items, can't offer tracking in these (well, it's offered, but no ones gets a $8-$12 shipping with tracking if free postage with stamp is offered). Worst case, I'm out of a few bucks on these ones, and when/if they pretend they're not received, I'll offer them a replacement with tracking (at their expense) or refund. At least I'm being preofessional and honest all the way. Still guessing three negs are coming though, but I'd have done my best.
Found out on ServiceOntario website that guy's business registration seems to have expired several months ago (or last year) and both his website and phone numbers are not active anymore. He seems to operate his business from his home (while he told me in one of his emails that they're a large company with several employees when trying to justify his purchase with an alternate account), and he did NOT charged me GST on my purchase. There might be another lead to follow if negs come. Both ebay and CRA would be interested to find out he's operating an illegal business, should it be the case.
11-09-2013 08:58 PM
11-14-2013 01:42 PM - edited 11-14-2013 01:43 PM
Alright, according to CPost, package was delivered this morning...which is a positive thing (if he says it was never delivered, there's a warranty that covers it). Let's see what happens next. Will he try and pretend something (wrong item/broken/changed mind) or just leaves neg with no prior communication... or who knows, maybe after a week without communication, maybe he'll be honest (I don't believe it a second).
11-14-2013 02:31 PM
@bodega128 wrote:ahhhhh actually another sale I done yesterday was to another individual with a Serbian name living in the same city..... either it's a huge coincidence, or this guy is having all his family and serbian community friends get back at me. Am I going crazy, or is this guy a total psycho??
Many areas sometimes have a great deal of people with the same name.
For instance if you sold something to a person from Elmira, ON his name would either be Martin or he would be married to a Mart6in.
You are clutching at straws.
11-15-2013 10:38 AM
Wish I was just being paranoid, but I bet you I'm not. I do on average 5 sales a day (on ebay that is) and the chance of selling to 3 people all with Serbian names, all located within 6 kms from each other, just after I had an issue with one of them, is extremely slim. One, I would still believe it could be a coincidence. But that can't be. Let's see though, but I bet they'll both pretend they didn't receive the item or anything stupid like that.
11-17-2013 01:45 AM
Hope all works out for you .. The only names I worry about on her are zing,zang,yang,wang etc... Nothing against the culture that carries those names but I always get a case filed anytime I see that name.. Right now it is happening to me on amazon.. Happened on here 100% of the time I have ab uyer with those names ...
This thread was hilarious to read ..
Thanks for all the laughs guys
11-27-2013 08:08 PM
Alright, it took a little while, but as expected, one of his friends just opened a paypal dispute stating he didn't received his order. No, he didn't try to contact me before, of course 🙂
Still think it's a coincidence ? Well, even before opening his dispute, he left the following feedback: "I have never received the item. No tracking number, no seller response. Horrible"
Alright, I guess it's time to call eBay back (tomorrow) and say that I told them it would happen.
That's awesome to see how some people have no life...
11-27-2013 11:34 PM
...and a few hours later, the other "friend" opens a dispute as well, pretending I'm unresponsive and item wasn't received. For those who still had a doubt...
11-27-2013 11:43 PM
and the neg follwed immediately after. Similar to the other one: "Bad seller. I have not got the item and he does not respond to my messages".
11-28-2013 11:29 AM
@bodega128 wrote:
Hi all,
I'm an experienced pro seller, and buy and sell a lot on ebay. I rarely have issues with buyers or sellers, but when it happens, I do anything reasonable to avoid a neg (either received or given!). My last neg given was 7mths ago, to a US seller that refused to fulfill my order since it didn't sell high enough, and wasn't even apologizing.
Anyway, here's the story. Purchased an item from a CA seller with a 98.8% fb, description stated "NEW IN THE SEALED PLASTIC PACKAGE." with even pics posted of the seals. $25 shipping seems a bit high for a small $16 item shipped in the same country, but let's see what I get. Also, he had a huge block of "shipping rules" that basically stated it's forbidden to leave him neg feedback. Funny 🙂
Got the item. Postage was around $11 and item was received unsealed (both seals clearly broken). Contents seem new though. Alright, contacted the seller and asked him politely why the item is new open box while it was sold as new, and how he justifies $14 of handling (as a pro seller, if I ever happen to charge more than $2-3 over actual postage+packaging cost, I refund the buyer of that amount). Oh, he didn't like it! 🙂 His answer started by stating I was trying to blackmail him over getting positive fb (which I did not mention) and I was an idiot not understanding he unsealed the package to ensure the contents were in good shape. Well OK, some people have anger management issues... answered him politely that his answer was very rude and condescending and that were making a not-that-good buying experience to a bad buying experience and it was his role to change this (I would have accepted an apology for rudeness and either a very good reason for such high handling costs, or a partial refund if it was a mistake). Well, he answered angrily again 🙂 He basically stated that part of the item cost are in the shipping/handling and ebay didn't care if it was there or in the actual price (hum...wrong...that's a way to avoid paying ebay fees) and that he needed me to tell him what were my positive fb worth (yeah right, I'm the bad guy blackmailing you).
Gave him a week to give a proper, polite, answer, which didn't come. Well fine, I won't open a paypal case for that since it's not worth my time, just leave him a neg with approrioate DSRs (bad comm, item desc, shipping charges, and good shipping time), and move on. Well again, he didn't like that 🙂 He answered my fb and emailed me as well accusing me again of blackmailing him, and used an alternate account (same name and physical address) to purchase an item from my store. Alright, he wants to play... I answered his email telling him I understood his game and that was a risky one (using a 7000+ fbs account to get revenge over a neg given on a 1000+ fbs account) and it was his to correct his attitude, or deal with consequences. He answered that he had no idea what I was talking about, and again, that I was an idiot not following the rules (forbidden to leave him neg, ah ah) and how I wanted him to have the terms of this blackmailing situation be solved.
So, sorry for the super long message, but that siatuation was worth a full explanation. to understand it better. Of course, I used the "report buyer" button to alert ebay. What would you do next? Expect ebay to do the right thing (not sure if I can count on that)? Open a paypal case which would lead to further escalation? Approve him terms (yeah man, I'm an blackmailing ya, gimme da money)? Go dirty and use his methods and let the war begin (nah, can't do that)?
Thanks for your opinions in advance, and hope you enjoyed that story 🙂
Hi bodega128,
I've sent an email to Trust and Safety on this to see what they recommend - they should be in touch shortly. For these "I need advice" sort of situations, feel free to drop me an email in the future & we'll make sure to get you to the right place.
Thanks,
11-28-2013 02:52 PM
Thank you very much Kalvin, I'll make sure to do it should I struggle finding a resolution. I'm on the phone with Trust and Safety right now.
I also reported the guy's business to CRA since I was confirmed he has no business licence and clearly does tax evasion. Not sure eBay cares about that specific point though.