posted on December 5, 2000 06:41:44 AM
Yep, she says it is chipped. However, she says I shipped it that way. She says she is notifying me so that I can be more careful in the future.
Gag, choke, sputter..
The thing was pristine. Utterly perfect, flawless etc.
She claims not one but two chips in a place not pictured in the auction photo.
Little does she know I have not one but two pics of the "damaged area" that I snapped and put up on a website for id purposes. I did not put the additional photos in the auction because there was NO flaw to see and I wanted fast loading..
I wrote her back that it was shipped in perfect condition and that I had photos, suggesting that it must have been damaged in shipment and offering to send her insurance receipt.
posted on December 5, 2000 07:41:52 AM
Is it possible that the buyer already had one of the items? With chips?
Here's the deal: Buyer has widget A that is defective. He finds widget B on auction that is just like his but in better condition but he doesn't really want to lay out the cash for it. Upon receipt of item, he contacts the seller claiming that widget B has been damaged in transit, or is not as described. He now has two options, 1) collect the insurance and give up widget A to the insuracne co., or 2) return widget A to the seller and get their money back. The buyer gets off with the widget in the best shape and is out only some time.
I've thought about this kind of scam before, although it would be a pain to pull off. But then again, if the item is valuable, it would be worth it, i.e., if you didn't have any ethics.
Is this a likely situation, or am I just becoming an overly paranoid seller?
"You're just jealous because the voices only speak to me."
posted on December 5, 2000 07:48:18 AM
Iswanson,
Very likely scenario - that is why a lot of sellers use those invisible markers so that when a light is shown on the item they know if a 'swap' took place.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:56:50 AM
lol cdnbooks!
lswanson - I dunno but the pottery was perfect and I can prove it twice.
My husband was foaming at the mouth this morning, having take inordinate care to double box the pristine thing after I gave him a heads up. Feeble people are so tiresome.
I await both her response and my feedback, but could care less about either.
posted on December 5, 2000 09:28:27 AM
I had a VERY high feedback ebayer try to pull a switcheroo on me, until I mentioned "my mark" on the bottom of the piece. She sputtered away into oblivion, and even left me a great positive feedback! Ya just never know..............
posted on December 5, 2000 09:58:31 AM
I had a similar situation. I sold a vintage child's record palyer. The customer wasn't satified, long story, I agreed to a refund. I received the record palyer and it has been destroyed!! I have the pictures still listed on the auction page. This record player was in excellent physical condition. Why would a person purposely destroy something?? It was not insured in either direction, although this damage could not have been incurred in transit. I have not heard back, but I cannot resell the item, it is trash. Meredith
Ask her to email you pictures of the damage. Then once she does this send her a picture of the same area without any damage. This might make her go away...
Just a thought.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Dec 5, 2000 10:46 AM ]
posted on December 5, 2000 10:55:39 AM
outoftheblue - I did not because I was steamed, wanted to answer right away, but in a hurry because it is car pool duty day. I did verify that I still had them though, and my post did not sound like I was mixed up, believe me.
It is good to be good at what you do and this gal is not. If she were skilled I would not have seen this coming from the first post she sent. Not only that, but she is claiming it is broken but not asking for anything. I think she is expecting me to fall all over her apologizing for my oversight and offering some consideration. I say if you want to pull this type of thing, rule one is "know who you're dealing with" and she has missed this mark by a mile.
Anyway, you make a good point and if she posts back I will refer her to the Red Wing site where her pottery is prominently posted and discussed in full.......
posted on December 5, 2000 11:03:54 AM
I had something else to add regarding people who do this.
Can you imagine having a collection of stuff that you got free or cheap by lying, conniving and just basically being a dishonest jerk? To live in the middle of all this stuff, bad blood dripping from it - I gotta say that is punishment enough right there. I's take one step into a house like that, seize up, and run screaming for the door.
posted on December 5, 2000 11:18:30 AMTo live in the middle of all this stuff, bad blood dripping from it - I gotta say that is punishment enough right there. I'd take one step into a house like that, seize up, and run screaming for the door.
Good point, but you obviously have a Conscience. Personally, I don't think that these people lose any sleep over it. They've been taught that "greed is good".
posted on December 5, 2000 11:37:15 AM
It really does pay to invest in a black light and invisible marker. I mark every piece I sell and I put a note in with my item that if the buyer is not pleased to email me and that the item is marked with my sticker and mark. I tell them if they are satisfied to remove the sticker with a little soap and warm water (they are easily removed) and if there is any problem to email and leave piece as is for a return. I do this to protect myself after having been duped on a switch of cruet stoppers on a pair of cruets that sold for over 200.00. I always guarantee my items and this way it protects myself from unscrupulous bidders.
A black light and pen can be purchased on line for under 25.00.
I have a professional black light and it is also very good when buying to detect repairs, repros etc. Well worth the investment.
posted on December 5, 2000 12:03:19 PM
There is one other thing you might try to bring closure to the situation. In your next email to this person, carbon copy Safeharbor (or Yahoo depending on the venue). Let the person know that you are doing this, just in case she isn't smart enough to figure it out on her own. Also include the entire email string at the bottom of the message.
This is just a bluff tactic, since they probably won't get involved, but it might save you from having to eat a neg...
[ edited by outoftheblue on Dec 5, 2000 12:04 PM ]
posted on December 5, 2000 04:36:26 PM
Gotta add another "Yup" to the affirmation about telling bidders who want to return a "damaged" item that it's marked. I believe it's saved my behind at least once: The buyer of an enamel ware piece claimed that it had rust and chips not mentioned in the auction listing (it didn't). When I told him that we don't do partial refunds and that we'd be very happy to do a complete refund plus return shipping, once we'd examined the piece to be sure our mark was there, he suddenly decided that he REALLY liked this piece, and since he didn't have any others (uh huh), he would keep it (he bought just ONE piece of collectible enamel dinnerware?). Oh, and he couldn't find my mark..... Was I supposed to tell him what and where it was so he could duplicate it on the damaged piece he wanted to return??
posted on December 5, 2000 07:18:04 PM
I bought a black light, pen included for 11.20 on eBay & that price includes postage.
I have seen the exact same light elsewhere for 25.00 + 4.95 for the pen + postage.
Email me for information if you like.
[email protected] (after Dec 18th I will be [email protected]) Bought a computer & giving up webtv
P.S. No I'm not selling them, I just like to pass on a very good deal.
