posted on July 11, 2001 10:34:48 PM new
When you contact the bidders this Bozo has emailed, tell them you are sorry for the invasion of THEIR privicy. I know it is not your fault, but take the high road. Must people get enough spam, junk mail & telemarketing calls every day they do not need any more. If they see you feel bad about their being dragged into this they will like it.
posted on July 11, 2001 10:38:32 PM new
Isn't that considered auction interference? I as a buyer would not like to receive a email from someone who is irate and dissatisfied with his auction. I would consider this spam and probably report the buyer to SH. Things happen even to the well packaged items. I always mail 1st class in a bubble envelope but I put extra bubble wrap around the item. I know it will be difficult to forget but move on. Life is to short to deal with people like that. Good Luck.
posted on July 11, 2001 10:38:52 PM new
There is no better place, thats why as soon as I was having trouble, I hit the ol hotkey and came right here.
Does anyone know if [email protected] is still a valid address.
Yes, I believe it is, but sometimes timesensitive isn't any faster than safe harbor.
FYI - Notify the buyer's Internet Service Provider (ISP) of all charges and complaints filed with legal authorities,[or eBay in this case] by e-mail to support@[ISP name].[com or net] or to go seller's ISP site and find a place to e-mail the webmaster of the ISP.
posted on July 11, 2001 10:44:01 PM new
The address he is using is one for webtv. What bothers me now is that tonight might have provided enough jollies for him, and that might have been the end, but I did send the email into safeharbor, and if they do suspend him, I could be setting myself up for a bigger problem.
posted on July 11, 2001 10:59:53 PM new
I use to send all CDs and videos priority, but when they raised the rates at the beginning of the year, people just didn't want to spend $5.00 on a video and $3.50 for shipping. I went to $2.50 for shipping/handling (videos go media mail, CDs go First Class), people loved it and I started selling more than ever. Not one complaint until today, and I had to get this guy.
posted on July 11, 2001 11:08:11 PM new
I was a webtv person before I bought my computer and you send your complaints to
[email protected] I found them to be pretty strict, but they won't tell you what they will do to your buyer. You can have up to 6 user names on webtv and if you use them all then give them up you can get 6 more. They can also use Yahoo and Hotmail so I guess nobody is safe from anyone. If you think about it the buyer could have requested his cd's by priority mail or 1st class, but then he probably liked the low shipping charges.
posted on July 11, 2001 11:08:32 PM new
How is he getting your high bidders email addresses? Unless the high bidder use their email address as ebay id - that is no longer available.
Also, my postal employee sells CDs on ebay. He tells me the best way to ship them is media mail in bubble mailer. So, it sounds like your shipping method is okay. Just a random damaged shipment. Priority mail is now guarantee against damage.
Also, since he is on WEBTV - contact them and see if they will boot him. Fight back and make life hell for him.
If he ever uses an educational email address, contact the instituion and attack back.
posted on July 11, 2001 11:22:37 PM new
I just got done contacting webtv. As far as getting the email addresses, I also thought that was not possible, but I just went and tried, and you can just click on anyones ID and a form pops up asking for your ID and password, once entered, you can get anyones address. I thought you could only get it for the auction winners or it had to be at least auction related, but it isn't, I picked a few IDs at random and was able to get their emails.
posted on July 12, 2001 02:00:43 AM new
I believe that USPS accepts items up to 75lbs in weight.
Was your CD packaged in a manner that could reasonably have been expected to survive that load on it?
I often get complaints about my shipping charges, but the consumer is comparing my price with the average 'inadequately packaged' price.
I think that any reasonable person can expect that it be packaged in a safe method, regardless of amount quoted, even if it is $2.50.
Sellers that cut back on business expenses where they shouldn't are like the car company that won’t recall 100,000 cars to fix the faulty brakes, but instead continue to provide the inadequate product because it’s cost effective.
I do not usually ship CD's but usually antiques; glass, figures, porcelain vases, etc; never had a breakage.
I am in the process of preparing a CD to ship to a relative, I will be externally lining it's sleave with ply-wood.
I am sick of buyers comparing my shipping prices to those of sub-standard shippers,
OH! & I would have given a full refund!
And those that don’t want to pay MY packaging prices can go & buy from one of those CHEAPER shipping rate sellers, and keep their fingers crossed.
posted on July 12, 2001 06:01:18 AM new
They didn't remove them, I guess it just takes time for them to get caught in the cycle and show in the final tally. The negatives don't bother me so much. I do have 3100+ positives with 5 negs (2 from my wacko), I think that is good, I have alot of satisfied customers and get alot of repeat business. I use the new bubblemailers that were designed specifically for shipping 2 CD's, this was the first problem that I know of, and I would have given him a full refund if he had given me time to check my email and respond before he went on his tirade. What concerns me most is the auction interference he has already done, and what can I expect in the future. There is not much I can do to protect myself, like he said, he can register and hit me again and again. I could get a new email and ID and start over, but whats the point at working 4 hard years to get great feedback to let some college kid who has too much time on his hands, ruin it over night. Thanks to eventer, the 2nd email I sent to all my winners seems to have worked very well, many are very sympathetic and recognize this guy as a nut job, and many have forwarded the email to safeharbor.
I have not heard from safeharbor, other than the canned response, but he is still registered. I don't know what is going to happen. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this guy gets bored with my auctions real quick.
posted on July 12, 2001 06:10:31 AM new
2 CDs can go First Class for about $1.85 in a bubble envelope - and you made an extra $2.00 in profit from this guy - so I can understand him being upset.
I only send my CDs First Class in bubble envelopes and haven't received any complaints
yet. You may want to re-think your shipping methods for various products.
You also could have shipped the 2 CDs - wrapped in a sheet of newspaper in a
video box sized priority box for $3.50.
posted on July 12, 2001 06:20:50 AM new
maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I don't see how the buyer can get all your customers addys...I click a name, any name, and all I get is ebay is send a message through ebays mail system...
posted on July 12, 2001 06:57:33 AM new
I would focus on the part of this loser's email that you can quote in which he claims he can read your mind... that you never would've offered a refund. If you know you would've, you can calmly state that in any further communications you need to send out to buyers. Actualy, I'd go ahead and send a full refund even now BUT continue to pursue complaints to eBay and WebTV and his college if he surfaces harassing you from any .edu sniper's nest.
I try to have this general "business model"... list a S&H fee that is a tad over true postage expenses (make that a tad over some allowance for time and materials if you like) and state nothing about refunds or guarantees. HOWEVER, if something shows up damaged or goes AWOL, I figure I've built self-insurance into the S&H process. Given, I think this way with items in the $5-$20 range and figure postal insurance (or using UPS) becomes a better choice especially up nearing $50 or so. I also have very little damage, almost none.
You can if you like then mention to buyers who have damage, "Yeh well I build something (10c, 25c, 50c, whatever) into S&H so *instead* of the overpriced postal insurance for small amounts *I* can cover you partially but informally. How would you like to handle this, a partial cash refund or substitute items at a very low price and free shipping?"
I haven't had the nerve to say I'll self-insure if someone requests full USPS insurance and will pay extra, though... I figure you pay for some investigative documentation that way and don't have it for yourself if you don't do it the way the buyer expects.
IF I sold CD's I think I'd be inclined to ship them 1st Class so they'd on average be in with letters instead of boxes, but it'd seem pretty cheap to just refund or replace in case of damages if the buyer complains with Media rate.
posted on July 12, 2001 07:58:03 AM new
I feel your pain for running into a real loser. There have been many excellent suggestions as to what to do from the posters here. However, there are a few other things that you can do which you may wish to consider depending on just how upset you are and how much of a threat you perceive this nutcase to be. And yes...I have actually done these things even though ebay is just a hobby for me (130 auctions in the past two years). I simply refuse to be intimidated.
1st, since you shipped items to him you have his name and address. For about $50.00 you could have a local attorney draft a really nasty letter and send it to him detailing all of the unpleasant things that would happen to him for interfering with your business. I'm sure that an attorney could be very creative in this regard and most will have a few boilerplate forms in their office that would do the trick. In my case it cost me nothing since my aunt is an attorney. After the letter was sent the offender actually sent me a lengthy apology letter via the attorney apologizing for the "misunderstanding".
2nd, his first letter to you IMHO borderlines on being an actual threat. You could always contact his local police and file a complaint about sending menacing threats. Depending on the local police they may say "that's nice" and do nothing. Then again, they might send someone out to speak to him. He would probably wet his pants since it is obvious he is a complete coward. At one time I did receive an actual threat "I have your address and you had better grow eyes in the back of your head". I printed the email, called the offender's local police dept, spoke to a dectective and sent the printed email to him via FedEx. According to the detective the offender actually cried when confronted with the printout and he called me back asking if I wished to prefer charges. I declined stating to be left alone would be sufficient. Never heard from him again.
Again...these solutions may not be what is best for you nor do I wish to imply your (or anyone elses) lack of a backbone for not doing I what did (my solutions are a bit outside the norm). When all is said and done you will have to make the decision that works best for you. Just remember that there are sometimes other choices beyond the obvious ones. I wish you the best of luck in dealing with this scumbag.
posted on July 12, 2001 08:29:31 AM new
Doninpa...so sorry you found one of ebay's nightmare buyers.
You suggested maybe getting a different ID if it seems this nut is going to make you his on going target for harrassment, but you don't want to give up your feedback. Well, there is a way you can keep your cake and eat it too.
You can get a new ID and then merge it with the old ID. The old ID will have to be inactive for 90 days before the two can be merged...but once merged all the feedback from the old ID is transferred to the new.
I hope this character tires of mailing your bidders and you don't have to go this route. Maybe emailing this round of bidders was enough and he will leave you alone now.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:05:46 AM new
Probably the reason it doesn't show up on your feed back rating is that he has bought from you before and you might not have remembered. You only get a rating if the buyer is a unique buyer and I think that means a first time buyer. Whatever the software is that ebay has will screen out the repeat buyers. It will add to your feedback numbers but not the unique number. As I state before ebay doesn't like auction interference and he/she has interferred with many of your auctions. I have this question.
If you have to have a credit card in your name to join ebay how can a buyer or seller, after they have been let go, reregister.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:06:18 AM new
Great, now I am getting winners who would rather not go through with the transaction because it just is not worth it. What is that supposed to mean? Why don't people just look at my feedback record, isn't that what its intended for? A negative for every 1000 positives and some people don't want to chance it now, I am a risk. I am so frustrated and sick to my stomach. Maybe I should just end all my current auctions and call it quits for awhile.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:10:16 AM new
I got a negative last week from a newbie and although it showed up in the individual feedbacks where you can read it, it took about 24 hours to show up in the summary total at the top of the page.
I think this is what this biider is refering to by the neg not showing up.
Since it has been awhile since I got a neg I don't know if this is a glitch or the new way.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:12:11 AM new
Libra63...the feedback was added in the total this morning, last night they were showing up in the comments section, but the table still showed 0 negatives. I guess it just took some time for the feedback system to catch up, kinda like the listings take a while to show up in the search. As for the credit cards and reregistering, I can't find anything that prevents the same user from signing up with a different email address and using the same card over and over. EBay probably does not cross reference the credit cards with the name of the person NARU'ed. Thats probably part of the reason why eBay shows 29 million registered users, when we all know that number is way overinflated.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:27:13 AM new
You are dealing with an immature college student. Here's exactly what you need to do to remedy the problem.
Have a lawyer contact this individual with a certified letter indicating that the contents of his previous emails to their client are irresponsible and will be addressed with full legal recourse if not immediately retracted and stopped.
End of problem! If this mean spirited individual does not get in line after this letter, you'll at least know that you did everything you could to stop his bad actions.
You have a nut on your hands and I'm betting that this action will scare the ** out of him and will put an end to your problem.
He addressed this small problem in a very reckless, irresponsible and threatening way and it could have been easily resolved if you were dealing with a rational person. All this for $10.00.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:29:44 AM new
Silly Me - I thought ebay would be smarter than that. They NARU a seller/buyer than they let them reregister. Stupid, stupid, stupid...but then we all do stupid things in our life. If the buyer thinks this S/H is high than that buyer should go and read other auctions and see some really outreagous S/H charges. I guess the feedback is a little like the EOA's. I am still waiting for one from a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the buyer should be invited here so that he can see how other people feel. Well, I guess that would not be a good idea. Just thinking outloud....
posted on July 12, 2001 09:51:13 AM new
One thing to keep in mind for the future: if you do continue to send CD's in bubble mailers, insurance won't necessarily help.
I had a similiar situation. When the customer took the CDs and the mailer to the post office, they refused to pay the insurance because it wasn't "properly packaged" and they referred me to their recommendation that all media mail be in boxes.
posted on July 12, 2001 09:51:53 AM new
I agree with kiawok (yeah, I said that! ) that the threat about making your life hell should be enough in itself to get the attention of Safeharbor because they seem to take threatening statements, on any level, seriously...
