Steven
02-04-2005, 06:51 PM
Note: not sure if it belongs here per se but since it deals with video games and I'm sure I am not the only one here who has experienced something like this, I decided to post it here.
OK. I made a FS post on a different board. I was offering a game for 20 shipped.
Bob emailed me on 1/6/05 and agreed to buy it.
I mentioned some other games I wanted to sell and see if maybe he was interested.
He wanted to buy more. The total came out to $120 even.
A few days later, he emailed me telling me he'll just take the $20 game as money is a bit tight and he shouldn't be spending too much money on games at once.
I replied "Sure, no problem. Please let me know when you send out payment."
He asked me if cash was acceptable?
I said sure, as long as it's well concealed. (I have sent cash a lot in the past)
About 6 days later I emailed him for an update. He told me "Oh I'm sorry. My mom keeps borrowing my money. But I will get a 20 tonight and send it off tomorrow!"
Obviously, my assumption that this was some 16 year old-ish kid -- those percentages rose a little. His emails did seem like a teenager had written them.
I said "fine, but please be more professional and contact me earlier" and whatnot.
He finally emails me back on 1/21 and claimed the payment was shipped.
I had a bad feeling.
The days passed one by one.
After 5 days I told him it hadn't arrived yet. He said it must be the post office's fault.
After 7 days or so that it hadn't come, I emailed him:
"Hey, still no payment. I have your game all wrapped up ready to go, with your address on the front even. I hope to see payment soon so I can ship this off and we can finally finish a transaction that should have been finished weeks ago."
I think the fact that I had his address scared him. He gave it to me in the very beginning but we then engaged in a long series of email where he MIGHT HAVE forgotten that he gave me his address. Also, instead of calling him by his username this time I finally used his real name which I wouldn't have known other than his shipping address.
Sure enough he emails me this last Saturday.
"Steve, I talked to someone and he told me these delays happen. You should get the payment no later than this Monday."
At this point I knew what had happened. I figured he got scared and finally sent out the money... ON THAT DAY. That explains the "it'll be there by Monday" quote.
But of course, sending Saturday meant it would come Tuesday, which it did.
I emailed him on 2/2 after receiving payment
----
Bob, it finally came today.
I will mail the game out within the next 3 days.
On the envelope, it said that it went out on January 29, 2005. I thought you said you sent it January 21, 2005?
The front of the envelope clearly states you sent it out this past Saturday, January the 29th.
I just ask for one thing from my buyers: honesty.
Just tell me straight up: did you send the money this past Saturday? Or did you send it back on January 21st?
I'm glad the money came, that's all I want, but speed and honesty I also value.
In the future, whether with me or other members on the site, please act more professional. You're lucky I'm an easy going guy. Many people are not as patient/friendly as I am.
I just don't want you to get into trouble or get others into trouble, OK?
-Steve
PS- I'll email you your delivery confirmation number so we can both track the progress of the game once I send it out.
----
His reply
----
I swear to God that I (well, my mom actually) sent it out on January 21. I keep a Word Document record that shows all the transactions with people I have dealt with; it has the date, the user's name, and the items. The date said January 21, and I swear to you that it was sent on that date. I even saw her put it in the mail box, and I just talked to her to confirm that she did indeed place it in the mail box.
I just want you to know that I am incredibly grateful how patient you have been, and that I want you to know that even though I had you wait for a coupla days that this long delay is not my fault - it has to be the Post Office's, and I hope to never have the Post Office mess up like this ever again.
Steve, thanks for being so great. Hell, in fact I was going to mail another $20 this morning...divine intervention musta stopped me.
I will tell you when the package arrives.
-Bob
---
What do you guys think? A major pet peeve of mine are buyers like this. I had another buyer like him, but at least Bob paid.
Also, I can give him feedback.
Does he deserve a positive, neutral or negative?
Negative is too harsh in this case. I'm thinking either neutral or positive with a special "Caution" note in the comment.
I'm trying to give this kid the benefit of the doubt but I really doubt the validity of his story. I smell BS, quite frankly. Thoughts, comments, related stories all welcomed.
OK. I made a FS post on a different board. I was offering a game for 20 shipped.
Bob emailed me on 1/6/05 and agreed to buy it.
I mentioned some other games I wanted to sell and see if maybe he was interested.
He wanted to buy more. The total came out to $120 even.
A few days later, he emailed me telling me he'll just take the $20 game as money is a bit tight and he shouldn't be spending too much money on games at once.
I replied "Sure, no problem. Please let me know when you send out payment."
He asked me if cash was acceptable?
I said sure, as long as it's well concealed. (I have sent cash a lot in the past)
About 6 days later I emailed him for an update. He told me "Oh I'm sorry. My mom keeps borrowing my money. But I will get a 20 tonight and send it off tomorrow!"
Obviously, my assumption that this was some 16 year old-ish kid -- those percentages rose a little. His emails did seem like a teenager had written them.
I said "fine, but please be more professional and contact me earlier" and whatnot.
He finally emails me back on 1/21 and claimed the payment was shipped.
I had a bad feeling.
The days passed one by one.
After 5 days I told him it hadn't arrived yet. He said it must be the post office's fault.
After 7 days or so that it hadn't come, I emailed him:
"Hey, still no payment. I have your game all wrapped up ready to go, with your address on the front even. I hope to see payment soon so I can ship this off and we can finally finish a transaction that should have been finished weeks ago."
I think the fact that I had his address scared him. He gave it to me in the very beginning but we then engaged in a long series of email where he MIGHT HAVE forgotten that he gave me his address. Also, instead of calling him by his username this time I finally used his real name which I wouldn't have known other than his shipping address.
Sure enough he emails me this last Saturday.
"Steve, I talked to someone and he told me these delays happen. You should get the payment no later than this Monday."
At this point I knew what had happened. I figured he got scared and finally sent out the money... ON THAT DAY. That explains the "it'll be there by Monday" quote.
But of course, sending Saturday meant it would come Tuesday, which it did.
I emailed him on 2/2 after receiving payment
----
Bob, it finally came today.
I will mail the game out within the next 3 days.
On the envelope, it said that it went out on January 29, 2005. I thought you said you sent it January 21, 2005?
The front of the envelope clearly states you sent it out this past Saturday, January the 29th.
I just ask for one thing from my buyers: honesty.
Just tell me straight up: did you send the money this past Saturday? Or did you send it back on January 21st?
I'm glad the money came, that's all I want, but speed and honesty I also value.
In the future, whether with me or other members on the site, please act more professional. You're lucky I'm an easy going guy. Many people are not as patient/friendly as I am.
I just don't want you to get into trouble or get others into trouble, OK?
-Steve
PS- I'll email you your delivery confirmation number so we can both track the progress of the game once I send it out.
----
His reply
----
I swear to God that I (well, my mom actually) sent it out on January 21. I keep a Word Document record that shows all the transactions with people I have dealt with; it has the date, the user's name, and the items. The date said January 21, and I swear to you that it was sent on that date. I even saw her put it in the mail box, and I just talked to her to confirm that she did indeed place it in the mail box.
I just want you to know that I am incredibly grateful how patient you have been, and that I want you to know that even though I had you wait for a coupla days that this long delay is not my fault - it has to be the Post Office's, and I hope to never have the Post Office mess up like this ever again.
Steve, thanks for being so great. Hell, in fact I was going to mail another $20 this morning...divine intervention musta stopped me.
I will tell you when the package arrives.
-Bob
---
What do you guys think? A major pet peeve of mine are buyers like this. I had another buyer like him, but at least Bob paid.
Also, I can give him feedback.
Does he deserve a positive, neutral or negative?
Negative is too harsh in this case. I'm thinking either neutral or positive with a special "Caution" note in the comment.
I'm trying to give this kid the benefit of the doubt but I really doubt the validity of his story. I smell BS, quite frankly. Thoughts, comments, related stories all welcomed.