posted on November 27, 2000 10:00:37 PM new
You ever feel like the guy in the cartoon with the rain cloud over his head that follows him wherever he goes? Back in September, I had a buyer who won an auction at $2.99. She asked for it to be shipped as cheaply as possible, and refused insurance or delivery confirmation. She took her time about sending a personal check, and then e-mailed me on almost a daily basis wanting to know when her item was going to be sent. A week after I sent it, she e-mailed that she had not received it and wanted a refund. I told her that we would have to let the post office trace the package, which they would not do until it had been missing for 30 days. She immediately left negative feedback and filed a fraud report with eBay. Of course she didn't get anywhere with it.
Well, in October, I had major problems with my e-mail server, and had to change my e-mail address. I tried to notify everyone, but for some reason, a bunch of people didn't get the message. Unfortunately, someone who did sent me a computer virus, and wiped out a lot of my eBay records. I had someone who paid me through Paypal, but I didn't get the notice because of my e-mail problems, and didn't realize she had paid. She contacted me for the status of the item, and when I found out she had paid, I asked for her address so I could mail the item. She did not send me her address, but left me negative feedback and filed a fraud report with eBay. I did manage to get her address by pulling her contact information, and using an internet directory with her telephone number, so I sent the package certified mail. She has received it, because I have the signed receipt card. But she and the buyer from September have somehow gotten together, and apparently will settle for nothing short of my head on a plate. They have e-mailed everyone that has done business with me, and told them that if they have not sent money to me yet to not send it. If the buyer has sent the money to me and does not have the item yet, they should immediately leave negative feedback and file a fraud report, to help get me run off eBay. I have racked up 26 negative feedbacks from this, and 4 fraud reports. I have people who did not pay me that are demanding their items be sent under threat of negative feedback and a fraud report. Obviously, this user name at eBay is ruined, and my two years of building up over 700+ positive feedback is shot to you know where. I have had several people who have let me know what these two women were doing, but no one wants to get involved. One person did forward me a copy of one e-mail, but no one will attach the headers, which is what eBay requires to investigate. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can get these two crazy people to leave me alone, is there anything I can do to keep them from doing this to anyone else, and is there any prayer eBay is going to help me out here? Thanks
posted on November 27, 2000 10:23:31 PM new
I have empathy ! It seems that although Ebay can have technical difficulties and take longer then 3 days to respond, etc, that a seller is considered a fraud - and a bidder declared a deadbeat if you happen to have a computer glich, a death in the family, an illness of your own, or get distracted by a full-time profession. With all the mistrust, threats and accusations made by both sellers and bidders - the greed of both I expect - I wonder when it will all erupt. Many will disagree, but feedback really means diddly - unless it's -3 so I expect you'll sell just as well as you did before. Just don't ever look back at your previous feedback rating - or you'll never get over the frustration. Good Luck !
posted on November 27, 2000 10:27:45 PM new
P.S. I would complete the fraud reports honestly and quickly and unless it is apparent that you did not send the item - you should be just fine.
posted on November 27, 2000 10:49:12 PM newbusterblues96: we too have had soem of these folks do the same thing to us in the time period that you mentioned. Can you please e-mail me their names and e-mail addresses so we can make a comparison? Here's my e-mail: [email protected]
posted on November 28, 2000 02:20:56 AM new
Have a friend bid on some of your auctions - not as a shill but to get the mail from these people these copies will have the full headers on them.
This is worth going after them in court.
EBay may help you or not. They are very inconsistant.
Start a second ID and work on it so you have a retreat.
posted on November 28, 2000 02:23:50 AM new
I've had similar problems, though not to the same degree. One disgruntled customer contacted everyone who ever left a complaint or neutral feedback. They were copying me on their emails for a while, and I made the mistake of putting my two cents in. Then I got emails like "I bought something from you three years ago and I didn't like it. I hope you rot in hell, etc." Nobody ever claimed that the items didn't arrive or were misdescribed, broken, etc. It was pretty pathetic, but of course that doesn't stop some folks from crying fraud anyway.
I feel sorry that this happened to you. Try again to get copies of the emails forwarded to you. If you've got the means, contact a lawyer.
posted on November 28, 2000 03:29:14 AM new
Buster -
Have a trusted friend cerate a new buyer ID at one of the SMALL free web email sites and bid on one or two of your auctions. When you get the email, send it to eBay, WITH the headers.
