posted on August 23, 2001 01:58:27 AMThis was the ASK RATDOG nationally syndicated column that appeared in last Sunday's newspaper, which really bashes online auction sellers unfairly:
Net auction scams becoming common (the headline)
Dear Rat Dog: A couple of months ago, I was helping a friend out at her garage sale. I brought over some things to sell along with hers, including my grandmother's antique beaded purse, for which I wanted $15.
My friend's friend, Stephie, was very interested in the purse. She insisted I could get far more at an Internet auction and that she would handle the entire sale if I would give her 50 percent. I agreed and handed over the purse.
A week later, Stephie called saying a potential buyer was really curious as to the history of the purse. She asked that I write up a little something and email it off to the potential buyer. I spent an hour on this.
A couple weeks went by and I heard nothing. When I finally got hold of Stephie, she said, yes, she'd sold the purse, but unfortunately, it had only brought $7.50. She promised to send me my $3.25 but never did.
Now my original friend (of garage sale fame) has agreed to sell her entire coffee shop business to Stephie, for which Stephie will supposedly pay her in installments.
I tried to argue that a woman who would stiff one "friend" for $3.50 will stiff another for $300,000, but I can't get through to her. Perhaps if she sees this in the paper, she might get the message.
Signed, Ruthie, Dallas
ANSWER:
Dear Ruthie: I think you got "stiffed" far more than even you realize.
I can't imagine that Stephie went through all these shenanigans for a mere $3.50. This is what I think actually happened: *****(note how EXTREME this hypothesis is)
Stephie is a frequent Internet auctioneer. Her business plan: attend garage sales, picking up antique beaded purses and the like, for which she pays merely the promise of big bucks in future auction profits.
Stephie then places the item up for bid. Since auctions ask for a minimum bid, and you and Stephie agreed to split, it is unlikely this was less than $30.
If warranted, Stephie even gets the item's owner to provide a detailed and colorful description which will run beside the item. Stephie sells the antique purse or whatever, pocketing the $100 or more that she originally appraised the item for when she first saw it.
She never sends the purse---why should she? And even goes so far as to contact the disappointed bidders, offering them a second antique purse she just happened to discover in granny's attic.
She never ships any of these items, instead, taking her antique beaded purse (and accumulated profits) on next week's round of flea-market junkets. (Although what she needs money for when she gets everything for free, I do not know.)
And when the original owner protests? Stephie insists the item sold for a mere pittance---which, of course, cannot be proved one way or the other. The owner drops the subject, since their half is hardly worth the writing and mailing of the check.
If you had contacted me while the auction was going on, I might have slipped in a low bid and proven my theory, but alas, it's a bit late now.
Show your friend (of garage sale fame) this. It may make little more impression on her than your very astute warning, but at least we tried.
(Publisher's note) Fay Faron owns the Rat Dog Dick detective agency in San Francisco and is the author of "A Private Eye's Guide to Collecting a Bad Debt". While she cannot answer individual letters, she incorporates them into her column when possible. Readers can write her at P.O. Box 470862, San Francisco, CA 94147. [email protected]
[ edited by granee on Aug 23, 2001 02:16 AM ]
posted on August 23, 2001 02:45:58 AM
So that's how it is supposed to work! Man, I've been doing it all wrong...paying for my inventory, writing my own descriptions, actually shipping the items. Thanks for setting me straight, Rat Dog.
posted on August 23, 2001 08:24:22 AM
I've been doing it wrong too!!
And all you garage salers are making offers to sell on consignment, not actually purchasing those things for a buck or two? Wonder where Stephie garage sales that has sellers who will agree to her paying them "merely the promise of big bucks in future auction profits."
"Stephie then places the item up for bid. Since auctions ask for a minimum bid, and you and Stephie agreed to split, it is unlikely this was less than $30."
And why should Stephie worry about starting the item at $30 since her business plan is to defraud the consigner and the buyer?
What a hoot!!
I think Rat Dog should go back to detective school. She needs a refresher course badly!
posted on August 23, 2001 08:44:18 AM
Rat Dog needs to get a clue.
That was the most outlandish story..and with no evidence, just Ratdog's rampent phantisies! Jeesh! I hope her paying clients don't pay for this sort of fiction...Might explain why she has time to write a 'Dear Abby' column.
posted on August 23, 2001 08:50:27 AM
Duh! Ruthie, Ruthie's friend and Rat Dog. Why didn't you check the auction site the seller used on the internet? Why didn't you ask the seller her user name and while you're at it, the auction's number for the purse? Did the purse really go for $7.50? CLUELESS sounds like a better name for you guys.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:12:03 AM
This RATDOG person is obviously clueless about how internet auctions work. It would be easy to scam the "friend" because they probably wouldn't make a fuss, but she would have to actually ship the item to the buyer if she wanted to keep the scam going for any length of time.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:21:11 AM
The modern reporter - writing about a subject they are completely unfamiliar with and making the facts up off the top of their head as they go.
That's why I don't believe anything in my local paper.
posted on August 23, 2001 11:36:54 AM
(Publisher's note) Fay Faron owns the Rat Dog Dick detective agency in San Francisco and is the author of "A Private Eye's Guide to Collecting a Bad Debt". While she cannot answer individual letters, she incorporates them into her column when possible. Readers can write her at P.O. Box 470862, San Francisco, CA 94147. [email protected]
if you take out:
(Publisher's note) Fay Faron owns the Rat
and
and is the author of "A Private Eye's Guide to Collecting a Bad Debt". While she cannot answer individual letters, she incorporates them into her column when possible. Readers can write her at P.O. Box 470862, San Francisco, CA 94147. [email protected]
I think you have a better approximation at what services they really provide.
posted on August 23, 2001 04:56:47 PM
Anyone who feels inclined to give detective/columnist Fay Faron (a.k.a. Rat Dog) a piece of his mind, I would encourage you to write her at [email protected]. I hope she's SWAMPED with critical letters from all over the country.
