posted on March 4, 2003 03:54:00 PM new
I had a bidder win an item back in January. We shipped and forget all about him. I guess he started winning some of my auctions under other names and said he had made numerous paypal payments under many names... I saw only the original one and told him so.
He says he was afraid of that and that he would get back to me. Tells me not to sell any of the items he claims to have won. (none I have ever sold...)
Now I get the following email form someone I don't know, but all the emails names are ones he claimed he sent me. He does seem very spooky and I have had a bad feeling about him since his recent emails make mention of things I don't sell.
Anyway, here is the email:
"WATCH OUT for XXXXXXXX.
This guy was kicked off ebay five times in the last five weeks. Two days ago XXXXX(jewish slur). Before that As XXXXXXX (a weapon), as XXXXX( a bodily function) as XXXXXXX! (another word for I'll kill you) etc.
Worse news: he bid on one of YOUR items.
With names like XXXXX and XXXXXX, do you get the picture? Documented: If he doesn't like what a seller has sent, the seller gets death threats. And worse. "Jewish Slur" also means what it says. If he finds out a seller is Jewish, it's even worse.
If he wins, DO NOT DEAL WITH HIM. IGNORE HIM. He'll be suspended within 48 hours and you'll be spared.
I am NOT kidding.
Remember, ebay has KICKED HIM OFF for GOOD REASON over FIVE TIMES recently. And if he comes back with a new (0) DON'T SELL TO HIM. REPORT HIM, INSTEAD.
This guy has hurt a lot of sellers. He's pulling a Saddam these days. He tries to PAYPAL and quickly get a few positives...but he's crazy and he starts in with the death threats. New York dealers know, because he's closest to them. He didn't like one dealer's 78 rpm records...and that dealer had his windshield broken the day after this guy left an eBay negative. No coincidence. This guy is BAD BAD BAD NEWS.
Again, ignore him if he wins. He'll be a NARU soon, thank God.
A lot of sellers are now looking out for him and we are ALL trying to discourage him by calling him, e-mailing him, and outbidding him to make SURE that he does NOT keep coming back. If eBay was a little faster to suspend this jerk and block him coming back, we wouldn't have to do all this. But right now, this is war. This guy has been like Al Queda. He has not only threatened, he has been violent.
We hope that eBay will find a way to keep him off permanently like they are supposed to. Meanwhile we're looking out for innocent sellers like you who haven't yet encountered someone as nasty as this.
Bottom line, ignore (0) bidders on this item, and if there's a real bidder, sell to that person."
So, if I have made any sense at all... suggestions? This guy does have my home address...
posted on March 4, 2003 04:11:44 PM new
I'm no expert in the area, but block all his bidding IDs you know, don't answer any more of his emails, block his email address. I would block the person's emails as well that sent you the warning. There's no need for you to get involved in their drama. And it might even nbe him under another email address.
I'm not sure if it's auction interference if he says you are not to sell things he wants. I'd likely report it to Ebay anyway, plus the data on the person who sent you the other email.
Do you live in the New York area as well? If he's made any specific threats, contact local law enforcement.
In this case, cancelling zero feedback bids for a while might be a good idea. But put in your TOS that you don't take bids from users with less than 20 feed back - or something to that effect.
If he gets a new email address and sends more mail, just continue to block his mail newly each time. Never respond again, This is a crazy. The idea is to have "no contact".
posted on March 4, 2003 05:45:19 PM new
Are these auctions still running? If so, this is auction interference and I've run into that already this week on Ebay. It seems all the commercials are attracting are nuts. I'd contact Ebay. We pay too much in fees to put up with any of this nonsense!
posted on March 4, 2003 06:11:20 PM new
One of the items is still up. This man was the high bidder. I canceled his bid as well as two other bids by newbies who just signed up today. The item is a Jewish item.
It closes tomorrow and I'm just going to watch it closely. I thought about pulling it but decided to let it go. I'm not going to let this stop my auctions. I just never thought that selling something so innocent can bring such hate.
posted on March 4, 2003 07:03:56 PM new
Please, please get a post office box and use it for your online business transactions.
Most people are honest and great to deal with, but it only takes ONE nut with your home address to ruin your life. I'm even careful when I pick up my mail from my PO box. If anyone is lurking about, I wait until they move on before approaching my box. You don't have to be paranoid...just practice simple safety routines to make yourself less of an easy target.
Patty has given you some good suggestions. You'll have to be vigilant for a while until he tires of the game. You also have his name and address, so reporting him to eBay and to law enforcement (if threats were made) is a good idea.
