need some help. Usually just lurk here, but have encountered a very hostile buyer and need some help. I've been selling on ebay for over three years, have a very good reputation, but have never encountered anything quite like this.
A little background: Buyer bids and wins item, total bid $4.00. I send it out, it never arrives. Others like it sent to other buyers on same day arrive fine, only his turns up missing. As stated in my ad, purchases uninsured are mailed at buyers risk. Regardless, Before I can conceivably send him a refund or take any other action, he leaves a negative feedback. Then he sends this email.
I don't know why you have treated me like you have, all I did was bid in good faith. But, you owe me some money. I belong to a motor cycle club with members in *******(my hometown deleted for privacy).
You can either send Me the money or they could collect.
Your choice.
I intend reporting this to safe harbor, but everytime I try to use their link I get an endless loop. I've cleared my cache, cleared cookies and restarted my computer,etc, and still it just loops back to the safe harbor home page. Anyone out there have the email address for safe harbor investigations? Please post here if you do.
Thanks
[ edited by Tcells on Feb 25, 2002 09:43 AM ]
posted on February 25, 2002 10:07:55 AM new
I would send him a note back with a copy also going to safeharbor ([email protected] by the way). In it I would explain that you would be glad to fill out a missing package report with the post office, but that his threats are being reported to the proper authorities. I think I might even report a threat like that to my police and his. Wouldn't hurt-- he is probably just all air, but people need to learn to think before they type.
Good luck. I'm sure you'll get more good advice here.
posted on February 25, 2002 10:48:46 AM new
Do what i have done on many occassions, just send the email with headers to "[email protected]", or you can send it to "abuse@whatevertheguys server is, they'll take him off, i also suggest you send a copy to the IfCC, they don't take kindly to threats over the net.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:34:17 AM new
Sounds like this pathetic loser has you rattled, over $4.00! CHRIST neg this child and move on.
Don't play his mind games, avoid all correspondence with him. He is only trying to extort some cash from you! Keep all his emails and send them to safeharbor.
Disclaimer: If you end up in hospital over this issue .. I will personally set up a trust fund in your name.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:42:22 AM new
He's going to spend a great deal more for his friends to come and collect his 4.00. Bikers don't do anything for nothing. Forget this guy-he's blowing smoke. I would forward his email to safeharbor and his ISP. Then I would go on with life and ignore the hell out of this guy. How do you know he didn't receive the merchandise? He probably did.
posted on February 25, 2002 11:44:29 AM new
Tell him that your "sister" (Miss Bubba Butch Motocycle Diesel Damsel) will be more than happen to bring some of HER friends to discuss the SITUALTION with some of HIS friends
posted on February 25, 2002 12:19:50 PM new
The buyer sounds like a kid or an emotionally unstable immature young adult. He's probbaly lying about not getting the item too!
MEOW
thank you all for your remarks, and the safeharbor email address. I'm pretty sure he's an adult. If it was a child I was dealing with, I could possibly ignore him. I'm not so much afraid of a biker gang showing up on my doorstep, as that HE might show up on my doorstep. I did a search for him on the internet, and I found that he lives about three hours from me, home is in his name, phone in his name, etc. Thats a little too close for comfort.
He is not a newbie either, 100+ feedback. When I looked at his feedback, I found that this is not the first time he's threatened someone. I did contact another seller already, and it was pretty much the same thing. His biker gang is coming to visit. Apparently he keeps on -and on, with ever more threatening emails and phone calls, the situation esculating until the other seller threatened to call the police.
I don't intend to let it go that far. I appreciate the offer of a trust fund being set up, I think, that idea somehow isn't so comforting :0). I keep thinking about older sellers being threatened, and being terrified of leaving their homes because all they know of bikers is what they've seen in movies or tv. Possibly giving him back his money, he keeps the item. I also wonder how many people he's done this to who are afraid to even leave him negative feedback. Just do want he wants so he'll go away.
Thank you all again, I'm not here to start some controversy, or arguments. Just needed the email address, and some good advice from all of you.
Thanks again!!
[ edited by Tcells on Feb 25, 2002 12:52 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2002 01:04:49 PM new
PULLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!!!!!
It's $4.00, mail him a refund if you are so afriad of him!!!
Some people can threaten and people like you jump through hoops out of fear. That's exactly why they keep doing it.
Personally, I would block his email and move on. If he wants to waist gas money trying to collect $4.00 he needs to get a life. I wouldn't worry about.
Like you said in your title, he is a lunatic! Ignore him.
[ edited by rarriffle on Feb 25, 2002 01:23 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2002 01:25:27 PM new
Why do you think he has me jumping through hoops? If he had me doing what he wanted, I'd have already emailed him with a your check is in the mail notice. Its a whopping $4.00, mentioned because I couldn't believe someone would make such a threat over that amount. Refunding isn't the problem, the implied threat he made is. I intend to notify ebay, and his isp. Thats jumping through hoops?
People like this keep doing it because they get away with it. Anyone else think I should just refund his money, put him on ignore, and let him be your problem next time?
I'm outta here, will check back later.
[ edited by Tcells on Feb 25, 2002 02:27 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2002 02:59:31 PM new
Tcells, what I am saying is, as long as this man can scare people with his threats then he will keep on threatening.
I did not put my full thought out as always, sorry.
Before I put him on ignore and went on, I would email safeharbour, call my local sheriff, and email him with copies of what I sent safeharbour and inform him what I had done and say GOODBYE. Then I would block his email and go on with my life.
