homeatmospheres
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:12:55 AM
Ok, here is a good one for ya.
I have a friend/acquaintance that I found out sells on ebay as well. We have been going to auctions together once in a while and a couple of weeks ago went to a real good one and ended up buying a huge lot of things together and split the next day. I was a little annoyed because I paid $2200 to the auction co. and then she said she couldn't pay her half for a week or so. That was my rent money at the time. Well I said ok and we have both been listing these things non-stop and are both doing very well from them.
Here's the kicker. She says on her auctions that 1/2 of her selling price goes to a charity to help a child that has a terminal illness. Ok, sounds nice but the girl is her daughter and she doesn't actually have a legal charity. I don't really care what others do. I try and mind my own business but she keeps rubbing it in that people are bidding on her auctions because they feel sorry for the little girl.  Trying to make me feel bad because I send auto WBN's etc.
She gives all these bogus facts about the kid. like how much money it takes for meds each month BUT they have insurance.
Part of me wants to turn her in for giving sellers a bad rap then the other part says to keep my nose out of it.
Suggestions...
I am sure I am gonna hear some great remarks..so please let me know what you think. She has been doing this for a year or so and keeps telling me she is going to fill out the paperwork and get it legit but I don't see it happening.
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Zazzie
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:22:32 AM
Fink
Walk Like a Diva
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patscouch
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:30:05 AM
so who will you whine to??????
how does she know she is getting more for that reason? are the bidders emailing to say "i feel sorry for you so i am bidding more than i normally would" .......i think not. sounds to me like you are jealous. you should examine your true motives.
better watch out the karma gods don't bite you.........[
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patscouch
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:31:49 AM
"turn he in for giving sellers a bad rap"........how is she doing that and where in ebays rules is that stated?????
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dubyasdaman
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:36:41 AM
Friend or fink? Only you can answer that question.
Let's see, would a friend turn in a friend for something of this nature or would she try to help the friend with a little advice and counsel?
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vargas
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:42:59 AM
Sounds like it's just time to find a new friend.
Walk away.
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shaani
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posted on June 10, 2001 11:49:53 AM
If she is a true friend maybe talk to her and let her know that her business ethics are a bit upsetting to you. But also remember that she has the right to conduct her business the way she wishes to and she will have to live with the consequences.
I know lots of things and I see lots of things and I keep many secrets. I mostly learned not to get involved and to mind my own business unless it is hurting me.
Do you feel sorry for the people being "taken" by her or are you jealous of her tactics? Who are you going to tell?
What if she is reading this board?
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homeatmospheres
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posted on June 10, 2001 12:48:28 PM
Thanks for the responses. And, she doesn't read message boards so no biggie there.
No I am not jealous, I am sick of her telling me that YES, people do contact her and say they bid higher on her item because of her daughter (she has a hughe pic of the girl on each page) and some even send her extra money. Jealousy isn't the problem, I sell approx 4 times the amount than her and am a bit more successful. I am just sick and tired of everyone trying to act like they have this hardship case (can't send my payment because I was in the hospital, etc) and then by her saying she is giving money to a charity and there isn't a charity makes me sick.
I always thought that if you donate money or puchase something from a charity that it has to be a non-profit, etc. I know when I donate to Make a Wish, etc that the money is for that charity.
She even prints bogus charity receipts for customers saying the % was donated to XXX.
So, please understand I am not jealous, just sick of hearing about her practices.
Yeah, probably being a bit petty today. Thanks for making that clear.
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barrelracer
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posted on June 10, 2001 01:25:07 PM
If I was a winning bidder I would feel taken advantage of by this seller's tactics.
I would have one of my friends bid and win one of her "charity" auctions, and somewhere in the transaction say they did some checking and are going to file fraud charges on her, because there is no legal charity.
To me she is preying on other's sympathy and good will. Fine to say the auction winnings help an ill child, but don't say they are going to charity.
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
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heygrape
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posted on June 10, 2001 01:27:42 PM
From now on, she doesn't get her 1/2 of the loot until she has paid you what she owes you for it!
And stop kicking yourself for picking up this person for a friend. I too have a tendency to make friends and trust people, only to find out later what lowlifes they actually are.
[ edited by heygrape on Jun 10, 2001 02:04 PM ]
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shaani
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posted on June 10, 2001 01:50:37 PM
Thanks for your reply, homeatmospheres.
No, I don't think you are being at all petty as I think I understand how you feel about this. I think I would feel the same as you.
The fact that she uses her own daughter for her gain and then also prints bogus charity receipts is lower than low.
I would find it difficult to remain a friend with someone like that. I don't like to see kind hearted bidders getting scammed either. Would I fink? Hmmm....depends on my mood and also on how much of a friend she really was to me.
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mcjane
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posted on June 10, 2001 02:00:16 PM
Some friend, one telling the other, "I'm doing better than you" I would be annoyed too, specially if I knew the truth as to why.
Why on earth would she go autioning with you for that amount of money & not have her half. Next time I would make sure she was prepared to pay her share. You are talking a lot of money & I suppose she went home with her half of the unpaid loot too.
You are a good friend & deserve better. I understand how you must feel. I don't know what you could do other than to say, I know you are doing better & we both know why and let's just leave it there.
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gk4495
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posted on June 10, 2001 02:20:01 PM
Wouldn't printing up bogus charity receipts expose the buyer to potential problems with the IRS should they ever get audited? I can see this having a domino effect if the IRS finds out the receipts are bogus, especially if she has repeat customers. Just a thought.
edited because I cain't spel. 
[ edited by gk4495 on Jun 10, 2001 02:21 PM ]
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justntyme
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posted on June 10, 2001 02:43:58 PM
I have to tell you, when I read this, I cried for 20 minutes. I am the friend this person is referring to. I am the mother who is trying to keep her head above water due to a preexisting clause we had for the last year.
First I want to say that we spoke on the phone just yesterday like old friends. She never said a word about her feelings. If she had, she may have heard the whole story and understood that the information in the descriptions of my auction are infect very accurate.
I would like to address a few things that have been said about me that I feel are not true.
1) The first think that is mentioned is the auction where we decided to buy ornaments together and split both the items and the cost. We met the day after the auction to split the ornaments and settle the bill. I wrote her a check for the full amount that day and told her she was free to cash it the fallowing day after 3PM. It DID Clear! She chose not to cash it for 3 days. I had the money there, no problem. I did not stiff her at all and I am very hurt she feels I did.
2) I do have a legal charity registered with the state of Kansas and in the process of being registered with the Federal Government. I started this process in Sep of last year. It takes up to 9 months to complete the process of getting this set up. I have to be investigated and so forth. She has never taken the time to ask or show any interest in what I am doing to set up this foundation. I am also helping other people locally who are unable to get meds due to preexisting conditions. She calls herself a friend, but doesn't care enough to ask before she accuses.
3) She has a brother with a medical disability. She should know what it takes to deal with medical issues. I have dyslexia and yet she still makes fun of my spelling.
4) As far as Allison’s picture on my auctions, she is the reason I am doing this. If she were normal, we would not have back medical bills to pay and future ones looming over our heads. I think she is a beautiful girl and I have never asked anyone to feel sorry for her or me. I love her very much as well as my other kids and all I have ever wanted to do is give them the world. I have not said anything that is untrue on my auctions. I have reread my auction descriptions to make sure they are as accurate as possable as a result of this. In the past, I didn't make it known this was my daughter for the very reason of not wanting people to feel sorry for me. I have made some great friends through these auctions who also suffer from illnesses and I have helped some as well. I have NEVER solicited or accepted extra money, and I have NEVER given a receipt for charity. This is illegal and I don't know why she would accuse me of this.
5) I have never felt so betrayed in my life. I have confided in this person about many personal things and I can't believe she would post something like this about my family and me. As far as turning me in, I don't know whom she would turn me in to. I cannot register with eBay as a charity until I get the charity tax ID number I am now waiting for. I am not doing anything wrong. I bend over backwards to make people happy. I have never put her down for using an auto responder. All I said was that I didn't think it would work in my case. Kind of ironic, the only reason I saw this posting is because of her advice to use auction watch. I was just setting it up today and was thinking about how she has told me everyone here is so negative about eBay. I never expected to see her bashing me. I don't understand why she didn't just talk to me about this. She knows I am not a dishonest person and I frown on bad business. She tells me about how she gets people kicked off of eBay all the time. She has merchandise she sells that's not exactly legit, but I don't say anything. I just never thought her wrath would be aimed at me. I trusted her.....Friends talk to friends....
[ edited by justntyme on Jun 10, 2001 05:13 PM ]
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patscouch
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posted on June 10, 2001 02:50:35 PM
hmmmm what an intersting turn.....could this be a prankster claiming to be the accused?could it be that htis whole post was a way formsomeone to pass the time on a boring sunday, could the poster and the accused be the same person......OR maybe its all true and the poster has been busted.personally i vote for the latter becasue then the poster is getting their just desserts and as my grand ma ma used to say "it ain't pie sonny"
[ edited by patscouch on Jun 10, 2001 02:51 PM ]
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shaani
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posted on June 10, 2001 03:03:32 PM
Friends talk to friends....
.....who talk to strangers on message boards.....who offer advice.......never knowing who to believe......friends fink on friends.....whatever.
Back to work for me and good luck to both of you.
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justntyme
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posted on June 10, 2001 04:38:53 PM
I had the board up to read any responces I might get and Allison read what this person wrote. Allison has met her and lookes at her as a roll moddle. Allison admires the way she is single, has a nice place to life, a great dog and appears to have plenty of money. This person has a very bubbly personality (if you catch her on the right day) and Allison was really drawen to that. I felt sooo bad when I found out she had read what this person wrote. She came to me in tears and asked me to post a picture of her when she was in the hospital last month. I hope you read this and see the fruits of your wicked labor!!! Not only have you lost someone who would have supported you through thick and thin, but you have broke the heart of an 11 yr old who really cared for and looked up to you. Please don't contact me.
[ edited by justntyme on Jun 10, 2001 05:07 PM ]
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tomwiii
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posted on June 10, 2001 04:46:22 PM
do trolls now travel in twos?
Food for thought!
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vargas
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posted on June 10, 2001 04:53:54 PM
tomwii
You bet they do! How else could one explain Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen?
Those kids always looked like twin trolls to me.
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tomwiii
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posted on June 10, 2001 04:57:18 PM
eeweeeeh! they were gruesome!
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gk4495
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:07:09 PM
Call me silly, but part of this checks out. I don't think we are dealing with trolls.
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justntyme
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:14:50 PM
gk, what is a troll?
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handmade5
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:15:42 PM
Homeatmospheres: Your friend's daughter is DYING.
Sure that would be real nice if you would turn her in. Begrudging a woman who is losing her little girl?
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gk4495
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:22:53 PM
In a nutshell, a troll is someone who posts something just to rock the boat and get people going. They get their jollies out of causing arguments or discord on message boards.
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Zazzie
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:27:49 PM
I think this is a case for Dr. Phil
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cartoonglassfreak
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:34:27 PM
I think we are definitely dealing with a troll. A troll with two AW identities. First her friend says <i>And, she doesn't read message boards so no biggie there</i> and then six posts later her "friend" posts her feelings? This is definitely a troll's work!
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tomwiii
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:41:04 PM
a treachley troll to boot!
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marble
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posted on June 10, 2001 05:50:39 PM
Next up: Mrs. Howell, the neighbor across the street. Film at eleven.
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heygrape
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posted on June 10, 2001 06:29:23 PM
I find it hard to believe that homeatmospheres could make up something like the bogus receipts. That is just not something people dream up. I believe her.
Also, I think telling half truths to get more money from the sympathy effect is shameful, not to mention, it could be bad carma for the kid. I think telling the truth would get you far more help for that sweet little girl than trying to ploy people with a less than truthful story.
The one whos being hurt here is that Beautiful Little Girl.
I'm outta here. Allison, hang in there. I wish you only the very best.
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MichelleG
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posted on June 10, 2001 06:30:48 PM
justntyme
Welcome to AuctionWatch. I have deleted your last post because it contained the eBay ID of the originator of this thread and the Community Guidelines do not permit the disclosure of identifying information.
You are welcome to post your own ID but you cannot post information that will identify anyone else.
Community Guidelines
Michelle
[email protected]
[ edited by MichelleG on Jun 10, 2001 06:32 PM ]
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