posted on January 29, 2006 03:35:47 PM
I sold a lens & case to this guy. He maintains that the clasp is broken, presumably through shipping, because it was fine when I shipped it.
He's threatening to report me to the FBI (who cares?), and filing suit with small claims court (a headache). Best of all, he claims that I could photograph this item without ever having it in my possession, so I want more respect on this forum -- I can take psychic photos
I broke a few of my own rules for how to handle a difficult customer, but I've had 3 of these kinds of people lately, and I was just fed up with these clowns.
Here's the email chain for your entertainment (I turned it right-side up for your convenience):
----- Original Message -----
From: "eBay Member: scotts732" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 17:34:11 -0800
Subject: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #7582439493
i received today---the clasp on the case is torn and thereby making the case useless.there is no front cap which usually comes with the lens---how did you protect the fron element. the glass looks clean - i now have to order a case which is not a cheap item--please advise how you want to handle.
==========
The clasp was most definitely NOT torn when I shipped it. I used the case to store the lens while it was in my possession, and it worked without a problem. It is hard for me to imagine that it would have been damaged in shipping, but on the off chance, was the shipping container damaged in any way?
I did not mention a front cap; if I had had one, I would have included it in a photo. My auctions always state that if you don't see something mentioned in the description or photos, not to assume that it is included; if you have any doubts, you should email and ask
Can you please send me a photo of the case?
Best regards,
Claude
========
----- Original Message -----
From: scott shaw
To: Cash In Your Closet
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #7582439493
here are pictures---please credit for new case or send me new cl-42
thx s shaw
=========
Can you send me one that's well lit and in focus?
Best regards,
Claude
===========
the pictures are clear enough-tthis is a waste of my time--you have one of 2 choices--find me a replacement case and ship it in the shape you advertised or we can go to small claims court--you and i operate in the same state---let me know how we should proceed.
===============
I looked at the photo in PhotoShop. There is no way that shipping or packing could have damaged the case I sent that way. Perhaps you have confused the case I sent you with one of the other ones in your inventory.
I will absolutely not be sending you a replacement case. If you want to waste time going to small claims court over this, go ahead, this is America, and anyone is free to be a fool.
Claude
==================
i am not an idiot--the case is dmamged--if you can not live up to advertisement then ou are a fraud. as i said the lens is as advertised-the case is not...........i expect you to live up to your word as a vendor
=====================
My feedback speaks for itself; I do live up to my word as a vendor. If you hadn't threatened me, which I don't respond favorably to, I would have discussed this with the UPS Store packers who packed this for me to see if there is any way that the damage could have been caused by packing or shipping given that the shipping box was undamaged. I think that there's no way that leather could have been ripped that way by packing; it must have been very damaged to begin with for it to tear. The reason I wanted a shot in better focus was to discuss it with them and the owner of the case. I have also compared it with an enlarged photo of the case that I sent you, and there were NO signs of wear on the clasp.
If you want to go to small claims court, both of them would be witnesses for me, as would the photographs of the case prior to it being shipped.
I'm obviously not new to selling on eBay, or having claims made about the items I've sent. I usually have a small, hard-to-find proof of whether a return is legit or not. You might have gotten further if you had been courteous and respectful, as I believe that I was throughout.
This is also a waste of my time, not just yours. Why don't you see if item #7582716304 is still available? That was the highest priced CL-42 I could find on eBay for the past 60 days. I don't owe you a nickel, but I would be willing to send you the $15 for that case if you promise to end this transaction and go away.
Best regards,
Claude
====================
first of all 15 doesnt cover it and internet fraud is a felony----the FBI will be nofied--thank you for being a professional--and after reading this email below it is obvious you never even had the lens in your physical possession --therfore you cant support anyof your sstat,ments
===================
Listen, this is really bothersome, apparently for both of us. Why don't you just go your way through life, and I will go mine. If you want to contact the FBI, go right ahead.
posted on January 29, 2006 03:48:31 PM
And I thought I was having a bad day - I had a report of a broken item as well - but at least my bidder isn't a nut "case" (sorry I couldn't help myself)!!!!
posted on January 29, 2006 03:56:32 PM
Idiots and thieves seem to be coming out of the woodwork. I have a customer claiming that when he recieved his shipment of three items it only included one and that one was the wrong color. I'm not adverse to bleieving I made a mistake but then I realized the the piece he says he recieved is a style/color combination I have been out of for three months.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on January 29, 2006 04:02:38 PM
I just got a neg today from a jerk that claimed pre-existing damage to an item. He never emailed me first. I negged him back and expect to lock horns with him later tonight. Claude, maybe you me and Ladyjewels should meet somewhere later for a bottle of two buck chuck. I'll buy
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on January 29, 2006 04:07:37 PM
McJane, I did give him the line, just worded differently.
I think that's one of the reasons that he's threatening; if he went the PayPal or buySafe route (which he never pursued), he would be found out, plus he has no desire for a full refund, as the lens was very good for the money.
Sparkz, I'd be pleased to meet with you and ladyjewels for a drink, but I mostly stick to iced tea now.
edited to add: I forgot to answer the question about the $15. If he would go away, it would save me $15 in aspirin.
[ edited by cashinyourcloset on Jan 29, 2006 04:08 PM ]
posted on January 29, 2006 04:33:32 PM
I got an email today that of the two ads purchases, one was missing. What could I do about it. I remember this package particularly because the woman's last name was the same as the product.
I thought Oh No, here is a charge back. However, I did ask her to check her package as we put the little ad behind the big one.
She emailed back that she found it. Had not opened the backing board package because she was taking it to the framers.
So, sometimes it works out and sometimes not. Good luck with this creep!
posted on January 29, 2006 04:48:27 PMBe glad you don't live in New Jersey
I'm always glad I don't live in New Jersey.
But I would also be glad to see this pest go away. Sounds like a switcheroo to me too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. ~
posted on January 29, 2006 11:00:58 PM
The guy is an idiot, but it has nothing to do with NJ. There are guys like this in every state!
___________________________________
If you build it, he will come........
posted on January 31, 2006 02:33:26 AM
Wow! These nuts seem to be coming out of the woodwork these days. (Fluffy...you have made me phobic about using !!)!
posted on January 31, 2006 09:49:30 AM
This nutcase is also a seller of used Nikon accessories.
I would be willing to bet that the damaged case is not the one he got from you, but one he had in his "to sell" pile and is trying to pull the old Switch-er-ooo.
Having seen and handled what I sent him, and having seen the photo he sent me, and knowing that a solid leather strap won't come apart inside a well-packed box, I think it's a moral certainty that he's trying to harvest the auction.
That's what makes me think he won't be taking me to small claims court, unless he figures that I'll settle just to avoid the waste of time in going.
Looks suspiciously like your buyer is pulling the "switcheroo" so chances are he's tried it with other eBay camera purchases too. Check through his buying (& feedback) history and ask those buyers if they had the same "damaged in transit story". If so, point them to the USPS Postal Inspectors and urge them to file Mail Fraud reports. Repeated attempts to "obtain goods by deception" = more jail time especially under Federal minimum sentencing guideline. Oh, and if enough sellers file with eBay for buyer fraud he'll eventually he kicked off eBay too.
posted on February 3, 2006 08:10:59 PM
I think your mistake was in attempting or even being willing to "adjust" this purchase.
I simply say send it back at your expense and if I determine its the same item I shipped I'll reimburse the cost of the item. If it's a switch (its happened a few times) I dont reimburse.
If something is damaged in transit a claim should be filed with the carrier.
You're right; I generally offer a binary choice: be satisfied, or return it.
In this case (pun intended), I suspected a switch, and wanted to deter a return, as proving a switch is tough to do, and PayPal will generally refund if they can prove that they have returned the item. I don't know of anyone who has succeeded in refuting a switch with PP, and I myself failed once.
The $15 offer was to get him out of my life, as it bothered me, and wasn't worth the effort.
