posted on October 29, 2001 12:07:51 PM new
I was sorry to hear about the new messageboard/CC arrangement sought by the fine people at AW. As a result, I will no longer be able to ask important questions regarding problems that occasionally come up. However, I figured I may as well ask about this one while there is still time:
On September 25th I received the following e-mail from a bidder in my “piggy-back frog lamp” (one frog giving the other a piggyback ride) auction.
i am intrested in a bid on the frog lamp but want to know a few things…
--how much for actual postage to zip code xxxxx --are there cracks/scratches in lamp? --is this the only one you have?
let me know asap
It wasn’t the friendliest or most articulate e-mail I’d received, but here was my response:
Hello,
1.) Postage will be $12.00, not including insurance (based on final bid price). 2.) There is a small abrasion near the lower frog’s left eye. 3.) Yes, this is the only one I have.
Thanks, Jerry
This bidder ends up winning the auction 4 days later for $122.01. Payment is sent by check. Ten days after the check cleared, around October 14th, I sent the lamp. The buyer confirmed receipt on the 19th. One week later, on the 26th, I get this e-mail:
hi i anm the one who bought the frog lamp from you last month. i would like a full refund for the lamp and the 18 dollars postage. i am sending it back.
p.s. you said you only had one and I saw you listed another in better condition.
please answer this asap Xxxxxxxx
First of all, I only charged $12 for postage and made up the difference myself, yet this person wants the extra $6 that I put in!
Secondly, I did not have a second one (and why care if you want to return it), but this buyer was referring to a “piggyback otter lamp” I had listed—similar at a glance, but clearly a different item, and clearly a different animal. Thirdly, I asked why they wanted to return it, and this was the response:
hi again,
i want to get rid of this because you didn’t give an honest description of the lamp. it is a lamp of 2 frogs humping. I bought it for my daughters room, and i’ll be dammed if I’m going to put a lamp of 2 frogs humping onn her nightstand. I am also notifying ebay about this abuse.
send the money back asap or i will make legal charges and bad feedback on you.
I was shocked at this allegation, and to make matters worse, I received this notice from Ebay yesterday;
Dear XXXXXX,
It has come to our attention that you are in violation of our listing policy governing adult materials.
We have received a complaint about the following listing:
XXXXXXXXXX
After conducting an investigation of this matter, we have determined that the complaint does have merit, since the item in question seems to cater to a sexual fetish. As a result, in accordance with Ebay policy, your current listings have been terminated and your user privileges have been suspended indefinitely. Please do not register under another I.D. or your suspension will become permanent.
If you have any questions, please contact customer service.
Regards, Xxxxxx Ebay Customer Service
I don’t know what to do. Perhaps if I refund the bidders money, including the $18 for shipping, I will have a better shot at being reinstated by Ebay. Still, I cannot believe that even if I am reinstated on Ebay, I will now have to sell all of my wildlife piggyback items in the adult section! To be honest, I didn’t do especially well in high school biology, but I don’t even think frogs mate in that fashion, it’s just a frogs-playing-piggyback lamp.
posted on October 29, 2001 12:20:50 PM new
Jerry12,
First question.... Do you use pictures in your descriptions? If so... the bidder would have seen the item and should have known what they were getting. If not... why not? Anything that sells for over $100.00 certainly merits a quick JPEG. (digital cameras are cheap and easy to use!)
Second question... have you forwarded this bidders correspondance to ebay? Her messages border on feedback extortion and do contain some vulgar language. If eBay has that information on file, it may make it easier for you to plead your case.
Finally... If your description truly didn't describe the subject matter well, perhaps you should take responsibility and issue a refund. Without seeing your description, it's a hard judgement call to make.
posted on October 29, 2001 12:26:52 PM new
Leapin Lizards...errr frogs, this is life, humping, bumping, jumping...tell her to get real and buy a book to go with the lamp it will save a lot of explaining later when the tadpole (hers) is old enough to question...are you married Jerry12? I certainly hope you understand the difference betweein jumping and <blush> oh, you know?
posted on October 29, 2001 12:28:28 PM new
Unfortunately there was no picture. But here is my description:
Here we have a beautiful piggyback frog lamp! Boy, do they look like they're having fun! This is a fine piece of craftsmanship that anyone would be proud to have and display. Perfect for the den or a child's bedroom. Shipping is $12.00. Checks and money orders only.
posted on October 29, 2001 12:35:06 PM new
Hi Jerry, I guess you could have toad him off, or offered him the otter one. Thanks for your posts, they certainly gave me a hearty laugh.
Reenie
posted on October 29, 2001 12:54:31 PM new
A suggestion for you on your remaining lamp inventory. Sell them in the religious category. Explain that they are part of the Noah's Ark collection and that it was very crowded on the ark.
posted on October 29, 2001 12:55:07 PM new
Tell him you'll refund his money when frogs fly. Of course, if frogs could fly, they wouldn't bump their ass when they jump.
posted on October 29, 2001 01:20:30 PM new
Hop to it & send that guys money back.
eBay will reinstate you if you put the other lamps in A4A.
Thanks for coming back, I kinda felt you would. Now tell your fans where your going. We will follow.
posted on October 29, 2001 01:54:01 PM new
Quote: To be honest, I didn’t do especially well in high school biology, but I don’t even think frogs mate in that fashion, it’s just a frogs-playing-piggyback lamp.
Ignorance is no excuse Jerry! Trying to foist off an Amplexus frog lamp as a child's bedroom accessory is terrible. An immediate refund is in order.
