Ya'll warned me... I didn't listen... what now?

[Anonymous]

Well, I heard back from him today... two emails no less.... he felt that my email (which is reprinted entirely about the 5th post on this thread) was 'attacking' him, and he even threatened to leave ME negative feedback 'before giving him a chance to resolve the matter'. His first email tells me just to ship them back, but almost immediatly afterwards, he sends ANOTHER email completely attacking ME. Just to let ya'll know I'm not just flaming him, here's copies (cut/pasted, no edits except for names) of both of his emails to me. This guy is turning out to be a REAL jerk.

FIRST EMAIL FROM HIM

Just return them all and I will refund all your money including two way shipping. The pictures on the listing were very clear and it stated they were used.

I apologize for having a heart attact I should have waited until after I shipped your switches.

SECOND EMAIL FROM HIM (Before I get a chance to respond to the first one)

By the way. I sent those to you on the 18th Priority Mail you should had them at least three days ago. maybe you should go off on the post office too.

As far as feedbacks are concern, I learnt a long time ago if you leave FBs first the buyers never leave it. When I first started waiting until the buyer does it, my FB's doubled. If you really want one now I can leave you a negative

You write and go off on me with out me even giving me a chance to do anything about it. I said they were in good used but, usable condition. I sold them to you for less then I would have listed them for. Maybe you can't use them I could. No problem I will completely refund your money. Send them all back. I was ill before I had the Heart attack when I sold them to you and I mix up a couple of orders. When you wrote wanting to know if they had been shipped I told you I had been ill and I was running behind. Why if you needed so fast didn't you ask for a refund them??? You could have canceled the deal and I wouldn't be stuck with the shipping. On the 18th I shipped 47 packages more then I have ever sent at one time. That is how far behind I was. Out of the 47 I shipped you are the only one who couldn't understand a person can get sick.

Just remember " you reap what you sow".

END OF HIS EMAIL

MY RESPONSE EMAIL

For starters, I don't feel that I in any way 'went off on you'. I read and reread my email to you several times, and I don't see how "I'd just like to know what, 'if anything,' you'd like to do about the situation" can be construed as going off on you. Since you got my payment on time, and I haven't left any feedback as of yet on ebay regarding the new
switches, I don't see how on earth you can possibly leave me negative feedback, when I did everything I was supposed to. When someone misrepresents the product they're shipping, it would annoy anybody. Now, as I said in previous emails, I am sorry you were ill, that was a situation beyond either of our control, and for that, I have no problems with the slow shipping. I received the switches on Friday, Jan 20th, but because I wasn't home and they needed me to sign for it, it was returned to the post office, where I had to pick it up Monday (I worked Saturday).

I have no problems at all with the switches that are in useable conditions, I was just saddened by the fact that you sent 7 Snap Switches, instead of the #4's you said you'd send. Again, I don't feel I went off on you in any way, and I simply wanted to know your side of the story before anything else happened.

I am very sorry if you thought I was attacking you, that was never my intention. Rather than go through the hassle of re-shipping the switches, since I can use at least 10 of the #4's, I'll keep what you sent me. I simply wanted to know if you were willing to
offer a slight refund on the Snap Switches, since I never would've paid $4.99 for used Snap Switches. I might've paid $2.99 for them, but not $4.99.

I'm going to leave you positive feedback on the 6 brand new switches, since they were perfectly okay, and since the other switches weren't an ebay auction, I'll leave them out of my replies. I'm sorry again, if you felt I was attacking you, that was never my intention.

END OF MY EMAIL TO HIM

His last email simple says "Then send back the Snap Switches" At this point, I'm through with the whole mess. I'll continue shopping on ebay, but I won't buy from him again. If I shipped back the Snap Switches, I'd still have to wait for him to refund the money, and 'hope' he refuned the correct ammount, plus shipping, as he claims he would. I'd rather take the loss as a lesson learned and go on with life. I've changed my mind since I emailed him my response, regarding feedback on Ebay. I'm just not going to leave him any feedback at all, and be done with it.

After reading more of his feedback, apparently this same situation has happened before, but he's bullied other's into leaving positive feedback, and they often sneak in "but it took a month to get shipped" or "seller always claims to be 'ill' " somewhere in the positives. He's gotten tons of neutrals in the last few years.

sigh...

Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

what are snap switches?

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jshrade

Well, I heard back from him today... two emails no less.... he felt that my email (which is reprinted entirely about the 5th post on this thread) was 'attacking' him, and he even threatened to leave ME negative feedback 'before giving him a chance to resolve the matter'. His first email tells me just to ship them back, but almost immediatly afterwards, he sends ANOTHER email completely attacking ME. Just to let ya'll know I'm not just flaming him, here's copies (cut/pasted, no edits except for names) of both of his emails to me. This guy is turning out to be a REAL jerk.


sigh...

Lesson learned.

This guy is a BS artist drama queen. I've dealt with enough of them in the past to recognize the rhetoric. If your C&P is complete, I'm convinced that he knew what he was sending you, set out to unload some junk, and is now turning it around.. I'll bet if you wrote some of the other bidders who complained, similar reasons for the delays were given. DID he have any ebay activity While you were waiting for your purchase?? I don't remember from your original thread, Who started the transaction (over and above the auction) but if it was you, let it be a lesson.. Sadly, if it were me, the layout wouldn't look as sweet with the sour taste of the transaction still hanging around. I'm not an advocate of leaving feedback on outside ebay transactions but do what you feel you have to.

Takes all kinds I guess.. Unfortunately, there are A$$holes in every crowd.

Good luck either way,
Jeff

[Anonymous]

To answer a couple of your questions Jeff... I did a complete cut/paste of both mine and his emails, no edits except for mine and his real names at the beginning and end of the emails (which I deleted from the cut/paste).

He did in fact have other ebay activity going on at the same time I was waiting on him to send me the switches. He was getting new feedback nearly every day from other buyers, since the day I won the new switches and paid for both the new and used ones. No one as of yet has left Neutral or Negative feedback regarding any slow shipping since Dec 29th. I seem to be the only one complaining, out of the '47 other auctions' he claims to have had to ship out the day he shipped mine.

The original transaction for the used switches (the off-ebay sale) was started, I guess you could say, when I asked if he had any new #4 switches. He replied that he had 19 used #4's in 'excellent condition' and sent two pictures of them basically piled on top of one another, but fanned out like a deck of cards. From the pictures they looked good, and, I've seen both older #4's with the blackened metal frogs and others with the shiny metal frogs, so when I saw both in the pictures, they all appeard to be the same size and shape, and in the 'excellent condition' he described, I agreed to buy them at the price he offered. He specifically told me he had 9 #4 RH, and 10 #4 LH. I asked him to set up a Buy It Now ebay auction in one of my original emails, but he claimed it would save both of us time, if I just sent the payment for the used ones with the new switches I bought from him on Ebay.

I posted a few questions on here, and got about a 50/50 'go for it' and 'don't ever buy used track' from the responses here. Going on a gut feeling, thinking I was getting a great deal, having seen the pictures, and seeing he had a great feedback rating, I thought it would be an okay deal. Little did I know I wouldn't recieve the items I bought for 3 weeks, and then when I get them, they're not what I paid for.

To follow up, I'm not leaving him any feedback at all, on the new or the used switches, because of the way this situation has played out, and because he threatened to leave me negative feedback simply after I emailed him the first time asking why I didn't get what I paid for, even though I paid the same day the sale was made. I've decided never to do business with him again after all this.

[Anonymous]

Alexander13,

Snap Switches are generally regarded as a lower grade 'toy train' track switch made by Atlas, in which the diverging route is curved to an 18" radius, and has a slightly curved frog. Atlas "Custom Line" switches are typically regarded as layout quality switches, #4's having a much straighter frog, and a diverging route curved to approximately a 30" radius, which is more suitable to larger locomotives and rolling stock. #6's are much longer and have a much larger radius diverging route. The numbered switches, #4's, #6's and the like, are regarded as much more desireable in layout building than snap switches because they can handle many more types of locomotives and rolling stock than snap switches, and because they are designed much more like the prototype.

The big deal here is, that the seller said he was sending #4's (the ones I needed and wanted for my layout) but instead, sent half the number of #4's he said he would, and replaced the other half with Snap Switches.

[cass_shay]

I think that you should at least post the E_bay name of this guy. As you say feed back really dosen't work because too many people are affraid of what they get in return. Word of mouth is the best guage of a transaction, be it e-bay or in the real world. If it's against the board policy to post the name e-mail those who would like to know. I don't buy to often on e-bay, but would like to know who to avoid. Thank........

Robert

[Anonymous]

The only reason I haven't posted his name is simply because I don't know what this forum's policy on naming names is, and I wouldn't feel it fair of me to. Plus, since he sells 90% railroad related stuff and model railroading supplies, he may well be a member on this forum, and I don't want to start anything with him here on the forum. If anybody wants me to email them with his name and/or copies of my correspondance with him since day 1 of this ordeal, I'd be more than happy to. My email address is [e-mail], just put in the subject "Ebay Seller's Name?" and I'll give you all the information.

[ICRR1964]

The old "I was ill game", Ive heard that one many times over the years. Why don't they just tell you, "I'm just lazy, got my money, and you will get your items sooner or later!"
Some sellers get in way over their head and then cannot manage their products, this happens allot with a one man team seller. The invoices roll in, emails, and questions. Then the next thing they know, there forgeting to mail items, sending wrong items, or just sit there in frustration trying to figure out how to get things going. I did this once years ago when I started selling, had 30 auctions all end at the same time, and had to have my wife help me get things done, never again! Now I just do 8 auctions a week, much easier to manage.

The way I see it this guy seems scared of you, and thats why he is getting mad, I would just go along with your plan and leave the good feedback and move on from there.

It was a few years back, but there was a seller who had a huge lot of BB Athearn engines about 30 of them. These were all taken apart and in parts condition in the photo's. He had a buy it now for $40. The auction was about 20 minutes old when I found it, I did the buy it now and paid with paypal. Got the items real fast, and was very happy. I spent the next weekend rebuilding, cleaning and reapiring all the loco's, then took pictures and listed them in single sales, for like $15 each. The auction was about 2 days old when I got an email from the seller where I got all these loco's, telling me he knows what I did and felt he had been ripped off for what I paid him for the loco's. I had already done his feedback but never got one from him, so you can guess what he tried to pull then with leaving me feedback. He started to threaten me with leaving me bad feedback for a deal that went smooth as silk, and wanted a cut on all the sales of all the loco's, or else he would leave bad feedback. I was mad as a hornet, that this guy was going to threaten me over this so ignored his emails all together, thought to myself, you put the auction up, I won, and then you have second thoughts.

Well the auctions came and went made a good little chunk of coin out of it. Then he started sending me emails again wanting 70% of the profit. So I sent him an email stating that I agrred to his terms. Sent him a letter in the mail with $250 enclosed. The letter read as follows?

Dear Blackmailer,

Here is $250 enclosed for your cut on the sales of all the Athearn loco's that I purchased from you, I thank you for letting me share some of the money with you and would never say a word to ebay about what you are trying to do, and feel greatfull helping you out in anyway I can. Sorry if you feel I took advantage of you, that was not my intentions at all, so enjoy the money and hope to do more bussiness with you.

thanks again, Jeff
P.S. Either leave me good feedback or I will turn all your emails over to Ebay, with copy's of the auction I won of yours, and your intent of trying to extort money out of me over feedback. You want to play the game, be prepared to lose this one.

The money I left in the letter to him was Monopoly money guys! My feed back was done in five days, and I turned everything over to Ebay then. He was kicked off soon after because he was trying to do this to other people.

This is a growing problem on Ebay, and is getting worse! Bad sellers and buyers go hand in hand. Allot of people think that feedback for the buyer and seller means nothing, it tells a story of each person and how they are looked at. I always go and look at ones feedback if they are buying or selling to see what kind of person they are. I have had allot of good buys and sales on Ebay, but there is that 2% that leave a bad taste in your mouth that can turn you away from it. You just got to know how to deal with them when they pop up. And everyone will run into one sooner or later, its just a matter of time though.

[Anonymous]

I have had excellent transactions on Ebay never a problem but I take some pretty extreme measures to ensure my safety and satisfaction. I only deal with folks who have been with ebay for a long time and have good history a few negitives will cause me to email the seller for an explaination and once I emailed the buyer and both replies were very similar so I felt the seller was honest. I will also email the seller about the item for more information if they care enough they reply rather quickly. I also send my payment via the fastest method. I know I am one of those pain in the rear buyers but I want the transaction to be good for me and them. I once bought several items on different auction with the same seller and I sent payment via Next day Priority mail and the seller scolded me for getting him payment too fast he said after the first auction he trusted me but I didnt listen I still did it he rewarded me for my honesty and sent me an addidional item for free. He was a great seller. But I quit collecting 1/43 scale police cars and now I dont buy from him too bad he is not in to trains.One of these days I have to sell that collection to finance more Locomotive stuff.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jshrade

To answer a couple of your questions Jeff... I asked him to set up a Buy It Now ebay auction in one of my original emails, but he claimed it would save both of us time, if I just sent the payment for the used ones with the new switches I bought from him on Ebay.

I remember the thread and the answers and to be honest, it's just a crap shoot.. Buying used track sight unseen is a risky business. 6 months ago, I sold a lot of used track and switches but I described exactly what the buyer would recieve, including the ones with missing points (If I ever run across them, I'll send them to the buyer). Tell people exactly what they'll get, and in general, I've found anyway, they're happy with the purchase. Just for the record, I do believe you tried to deal in good faith.. I don't need names, your description of his feedback file is good enough for me as I always check before buying.

As to his response on your request for a buy it now and for future reference, NOT True. It takes all of about a minute and one can even pre-name a list or a single approved bidder(s). No one else outside of that list can bid the auction and may not even see it (I don't remember if those types of auctions are excluded from the general listings). What it Saved was money, for him, in the way of listing and comission fees to ebay.. That's the only reason for refusing the request. This is the Main reason ebay frowns on the practice.. Secondary is the risk to the buyer involved.

Show us the layout when you have things in place..

Good luck,
Jeff

[slotracer]

I have only had a few negative experiences on ebay but many many positives. All my negative experiences have been with buyers, not sellers to date, although I had a few "neutral" experiences with sellers. (I left no feedback on them). My neutrals were with people with whom I made email contact and sent payment but they were delayed in teh mail a little, they left non payment actions on me 7 days after end of auction even though I was in contact with them. What impatient dolts ! All those folks ended up reseiving payment in 10-14 days after auction end (Checks dated within days of the end of auction) and sent the items but the manner they dealt with customers did not inspire me to bother with feedback.
I had one *** for brains leave neutral feedback on me 6 years ago when I was selling off my HO trains. I had atherarn blue box assembled cars going in auction lots. This clown wins 3 of the lots, all described as used but in nice shape, minimal work needed to have cars fully operational, minor parts missing on a car or two. He gets the cars, probably 20 or so (3 lots) and witout eamiling me or anything leave neutrals on all 3 auctions. I contact him and he claims the cars were not well represnted, "they needed work".....I asked what work and he says a couple cars had couplers installed upside down, a couple brake wheels missing, wheels out of gauge and a few parts needed to be reglued. I pointed out how my auction was worded and this was all clear, he never responded any longer and never modified the feedback.
Another Dolt won a blueprint of one of the origanl drawings of the central terminal in Buffalo NY, he was fine with the auction until he saw I had more of these original prints of the original drawings up for auction a week or so after he got his print. He claimed misrepresentation and a host of other BS that I ignored as I was on rock solid ground, his beef was more likely that if I had listed all copies of teh drawings at once it would have dilluted teh bidder pool and he would have gotten his items cheaper. He was such a knothead I was not about to reward his noxious behavior, but after several MONTHS of his childish carrying on, I suggested he jsut resell them, he did, he made a profit and amended his negative feedback, but what a jerk.
Recently I had a guy win an auction and I kept reminding him for 6 weeks to send payment, finally I warned him he ahd a week to either communicate of pay or negative feedback was coming, I wait 10 days, leave the negative but within one day he responds to that with his own negative retaliation. What an absolute moron.
Otherwise I have had nothing but good to say about ebay. Some of it's users however need to have a serious****whippin laid on them however.

[dbduck]

don't know how true this is ....but was told by a friend that if you pay for e-bay purchases with a US Postal Service money order & have the buyer ship the item thru the US mail...then it falls under "mail fraud" if not what was promised