posted on May 31, 2001 03:17:32 PM new
I'm a casual seller who is disposing of relatives 'stuff' and some of my own. I have 325 positive feedbacks, no neutrals or negs, and I've run into my first lunatic. He was the high bidder (0 feedback, new signup) on an 1879 book, asked questions AFTER the sale. He received item and wrote back that I had ripped him off and how could I do this to him. He said pages were missing, but I seriously doubt it. I was nothing but nice, though, and offered to refund his money after I received the book back in the condition it was sent. He "swore on his children's graves that I would not get away with this" for all the grief I caused him, and that I must think he was stupid to trust me to send him the money after he sent the item back. He said he would turn me over to the "appropriate cybercrime jurisdictions".
He then informed me that he had searched the state Chamber of Commerce and that I had failed to file a tax form for my company (which I don't have). He mentioned the IRS.
I quit responding to him after he turned the offer down for a refund upon return. It makes me want to change my ebay ID and get lost from him. I saw the posting that was blocked about ruining sellers reputations by multiple negs, so I just want to RUN!
What can I do? If I change my ID, will my feedback follow me? Could he still find me? This has been a nightmare! Thanks for all advice!
posted on May 31, 2001 03:24:33 PM new
I think what I would do in this situtation is I would send him one final email. CC it to safeharbor. In it I would mention that (politely) that you will refund his money after recieving the book in same condition sent. Explain that if he chooses not to accept your offer that you will have no further communication with him. I would also mention in the note that I was sending a copy to ebay.
I wouldn't change my id. I am betting that when he sees you have sent it to ebay (better if you can even include copies of previous emails) he will back down.
Good luck in any case!
posted on May 31, 2001 03:31:18 PM new
Hey there,
I had something kinda similar happen to me about a week ago. Someone bought a clothing item from me, and when they received it, they said there was a hole. I told them I would refund their money. They said they could not trust me (I have 1900+ positives) and that I would have to refund them the money first and then they would send item. They also said they were going to file a complaint with the postal service for mail fraud. After consulting with the folks here at AW, my reply to her was simply that when I get the merchandise back, I will refund your money. You can't walk into Sears and ask for money first without returning the item.
And I told her to go ahead and file for mail faud, if she wished, as I had done nothing wrong, and frankly was more nice than I needed to be in my opinion. Well, after this she came to her senses and sent the item back, and I have refunded her. Have not received feedback from her. I also put her on my blocked bidder list as she was a major pain and I don't want to do business with her again.
If this freakazoid ends up giving you a neg, just respond to it factually, and unemotionally. And don't worry about it--- your first neg, is tough, but everyone has them, it happens. Just be calm, and don't let this geek freak you out!!
If he continues you can also contact [email protected] and they may be able to assist you.
posted on May 31, 2001 03:32:34 PM new
What ashlandtrader said, exactly!
By all means, send copies of ALL the correspondence you've received from him to SafeHarbor, and in a very professional way tell him you have done that. I had a similar situation once and the guy was suspended.
Don't worry about one negative, if he does give you one - you will be able to respond to it, and your good feedback far outweighs what this person can do.
Yes, your feedback will follow you and yes, he can still find you because all of your old listings will have your new user name in them. (Just changed mine to my company name).
I would tell this ignoramous that you don't have a company because you're just selling some family stuff, that all of your income will be reported to the IRS if you meet the $400 minimum for reporting, and that he should go to lawoffice.com and read up on the penalties for libel.
Don't know if he'll actually find anything there, but it got my lunatic buyer to back right off.
Forward his threats to ebay, too. You can block him from bidding on the Items I'm selling page at ebay. It's under selling related links.
[ edited by pwolf on May 31, 2001 03:48 PM ]
posted on May 31, 2001 07:39:25 PM new
Searching any chamber of commerce site would tell him nothing about whether you have a state tax license. This is also called a retail license in some states. This tells me he is just writing whatever he thinks will scare you.
Write him again and tell him you will refund upon reciept of the product and you have verified by your hidden marks that it is the product you shipped him.
Definatly do the safeharbour thing. After that I would not coraspond with him again until your product is recieved
posted on May 31, 2001 07:51:01 PM new
". He said pages were missing, but I seriously doubt it."
Whenever I put a collectible or rare book up for auction, I always verify that at least all the illustrations / prints are there, so I can say "complete" and also so no one can win it, remove a print, then say one was missing. Well, they can say it, but I'll know it's a lie.
posted on May 31, 2001 10:30:28 PM new
Simply avoid the whacko! They're not worth the return/problem. Do not email him/her back. They go away after awhile. Save the emails though.
