posted on April 21, 2001 12:32:18 PM new
Hello,
I sold an item on Ebay "as is". I stated in my description that there were no refunds.
The item was an invalid H-Card. I stated that when the card was inserted the system stated to "insert a valid H-card".
Well, the auction ended. I shipped the item. Then the guy wanted his money back. Well, I told him "to bad" that my decription stated that there were no refunds. Well, now he is threatning me. I tried to tell Ebay but they said that it was a personal matter and they would not get involved. What can I do to let this guy know that I will not take it.
He has my physical address. If he were a true physco who knows what extremes he may go to.
Here is some of the things that he sent me:
<p>
No , I just won't f****** go away now !!!
You never know I might just show up at your house personally to bring
your
sh** back to you .
Hey Do you have eyes on the back of your head as you should be on the
look
out for me you d*** !!!<p>
> >Oh you will be dealing with me for a while you b****** !!!!!!
> >F*** You !!!!!!!<p>
> >
> >
> >> >
> >> >So then take the crap back & refund my money ja** a**.
> >> >You won't because you know its sh** your selling .
<p>
Please don't email anymore as the only thing I will
respond to is a
refund
or a swap .<p>
Oh , have a nice weekend . I will !!!!!!!
Will you knowing you ripped off people !!!!!!
> >> >Maybe confession would help you too !!!!!!!<p>
> >> >Oh forgot Jews don't confess sins !!!!!!!!!!
> >> >> >Your full of it as you would at least swap it
if you where a man
but
>
> >> >don't
> >> >> >worry God knows & you will be punished .
> >> >> >Why swap something that you know doesn't work
you say to yourself .
> >> >> >The equipment is crap & the card doesn't work .
> >> >> >I'm relisting for sale as is now !!!!! I will
complain to paypal &
> >also
> >>
leave you accordingly
Oh yeah I'm going to put your email so that
people with questions
are going
to ask you about it ....
posted on April 21, 2001 12:47:29 PM new
I think if you receive feedback that displays your email address you can have it removed. Unless I'm mistaken, you can have feedback removed if it includes any of your personal information.
posted on April 21, 2001 12:48:08 PM new
Send those emails to Safeharbor (again if you have sent them already). This is way beyond a bidder/seller conflict.
posted on April 21, 2001 01:08:47 PM new
Heck with Safeharbor, I'd contact the police. Sounds like a hate crime waiting to happen. YIKES!
And, please get a post office box at your earliest convenience. Don't give your home address out to the world. Yes, most people are nice, but it only takes one crazy.....
Oh, and my apologies to Redskinfan. I seriously thought you started this thread! Had to look twice. LOL.
posted on April 21, 2001 01:20:55 PM new
Contact the police in his town. This is over the line. Do not let it go, and don't expect SafeHarbor to take care of it. I would not hesitate to contact the police if someone were writing me e-mails like that. Good luck - hope it works out OK for you.
posted on April 21, 2001 02:30:47 PM new
Very strange.
An H-card is a card that you insert into a home satelitte television system to activate the channels you pay for etc. Sort of like the SIM card in a cell phone that contains all your info. If you buy a new phone, you can remove the SIM card from the old phone, put it in the new phone and you're good to go.
What's very strange is that there many of these Invalid H-cards for sale on ebay. I hardly think the buyer didn't know what he was getting. One seller who is selling an invalid card says something like: Comes with an invalid H-card but a XXXX will take care of that.
Sounds like these invalid cards are not on the level, but I don't know.
If this buyer is indeed sending you those messages, you should definitely contact the police, and forward copies if the threatening e-mails to their ISP. Such threats should not be taken lightly.
posted on April 23, 2001 02:55:49 AM new
The police will only make a report about it...which is ok at least it is reported. They will do nothing about it unless the person writes "I am coming to your house and I am going to burn it down" or "I am going to do bodily injury to you". They wont act on a "I know where you live...watch your back" or "I know what kind of car you drive...think about that when you start the engine" both being not a detailed exact threat. They will instruct you to file for a TPO (temporary restraining order) and that has to be renewed every 30 days. I learned this from a personal experience which I will not get into. GET A PO BOX and CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDY to prevent this from happening again and make it harder to contact you. "Crazys" are a dime a dozen on the internet.
posted on April 23, 2001 04:09:55 AM new
Wow, I would suggest forwarding his threatening emails to his ISP (usually something like [email protected]). He can likely get his internet service cancelled for harassment.
posted on April 23, 2001 05:25:16 AM new
EG is right on the money. Send it to his ISP but he is probably not using his main one, more likely MSN or hotmail. How did he get your address? I guess this is why we have an unlisted number. I also can't believe ebay wouldn't stand behind you. Those are horrible emails and I hope you are saving them, printing them and I would file a police report in your home town and his. Does he live close to you? Good Luck
posted on April 23, 2001 05:25:27 AM new
Questions - Why sell something that isn't of any use for anybody? Who actually needs these
invalid "H" cards? Are they even "collectable"? What is the point of them?
posted on April 23, 2001 05:28:11 AM new
Give him his money back.
Forward his threatening eMails with full headers to his ISP, eBay's SafeHarbor Departmnt and your local law enforcement.
This isn't about who is right and who is wrong anymore.... he is obviously aggitated beyond reason and if he knows where you live, you are putting yourself and loved ones in danger by "standing on your laurels" over an invalid H-card (whatever that is).
Go run around the block 10 times or something, if you feel like you've gotta prove how tough you are.
WHATEVER... just give this guy his money back, quietly turn over the threatening evidence to authorities and be DONE with him.
GOOD LUCK to you.
- Dottie
[ edited by dottie on Apr 23, 2001 05:29 AM ]
posted on April 23, 2001 05:55:07 AM new
Wow
I agree with those suggeting contacting local police. I would however REFUND HIS MONEY immediatley he obviosly is not playing with a full deck and why take chances.
Refund his money relist he item and go on with life.
posted on April 23, 2001 06:18:12 AM new
I would do as other suggest about getting a PO box, rather than giving out your home address. I started selling with my home address and then decided it was safer to get a PO box, when I received a few emails similar to what you recieved, only the one I got, actually threatened my life, and what was bad was the buyer left positive feedback after sending the threatening messages, and no it wasn't a positive with a negative comment, it was all positive, "nice item, great service". Think she was off her meds that day, she has been NARU'd for the threats by the way.
Now, since I have also sold many of these items, I would say that I don't know what the guy was thinking he was getting. It is obvious to me that you were accurate in your description, Invalid H card and describing that it says "please insert valid card". I would know right away that the card is not valid and that it must be programmed in order to work. SO I have to agree that AS IS is AS IS, NO REFUNDS.
I would offer to allow him to use the picture and for him to resell it himself, as it will bring close to if not more than what he paid you for the item. These things go in spurts and I have had them close for as much as $575, even with an invalid card. My highest system sold for $650 although the card was virgin and that system was new. I haven't sold one in about 6 months but the last one did fetch close to $300 with an invalid card.
Are you for real? The Description is EVERYTHING! Go buy a car and tell them you didn't read the fine print about the 20% interest (Nobody does, right?) See how you make out.
Also, whether he paid a dollar or a thousand makes no difference.
H cards are the customer and billing info for satellite recvrs. Even "invalid" ones have value because they are erased and reprogrammed to allow access to all channels. This is apparently legal in Canada. Since they are usable and you can't exactly get them at the local drugstore, even "invalid ones go for big bucks.
posted on April 23, 2001 02:25:48 PM new
H-Cards are very valuable. Many people are taking them over to Canada and have all the channels programmed into them and coming back to America and getting the SAT service you want for free.
Illegal, yes.
Selling the H-Card, no.
Market for the item? Yes, big one.
Also, the title description is NOT the only factor in selling, as the title could have been:
H-CARD
Now, the description would give further details as to its condition. You can't possible summarize every product in the world in a single line, that is why we have descriptions.
A few years back I sold an item that in the description had "optional audio cable".
Well I sold 257 of these items, and ONE guy decides that the cable should have been included. I told him it was optional. He said it wasn't since it was required to make something of his work. I said no, he said yes. NEEDLESS to say, 3 months of threatening e-mails EACH DAY, negative feedback, and constantly contacting my customers. All for a cable he could buy at a local store for $3.00. I would have sent him a cable, but I didn't have any, and after awhile it became a moral issue. We delivered what was advertised.
There are pyschos out there and I would DEFINITELY suggest never giving your home address or phone. Use a post office (or equivalent) and a voice mail line. Both perfectly acceptable to eBay.
