Invasion of the crazy eBay freak from hell
This is an exchange I've had with a woman who contacted me about a recently purchased eBay item. It was purchased two days ago, and the item description clearly stated I would mail it within 5 business days. and also had a cheaper shipping option for those who wanted a Priority Mail envelope instead of a box (less padding possible, but cheaper).
Her (2 days ago: please let me know when you ship also tracking and insurance info
Me: [Didn't respond yet, was busy. My bad.]
Her: please inform me about shipping info ASAP. i don't understand why you are not
contacting me. please don't keep me waiting. i need this software for my daughter's
computer for school. the delay is a real problem for her.
Me: I work during the day when the post office is open, and I am
having a very busy week. I also sold 8 items on eBay at the same
time, so I will be going to the post office when I have received
payment for all 8. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I really
don't have time to make two or three trips to the post office right
now.
Her: so i have to wait for other auctions to pay you? you got ten buks for shipping my one item and that's
the best excuss you can come up with. look you can have the post office pick up the item at your
door (you don't even have to be there) when you buy postage online and that includes tracking for
free. it's the 21st century now you don't need to drive to the post office anymore. we are all busy
that's why the post is online. either ship the item or refund my money. it's not my fault if sold 7
other items that have not paid you. i paid fast and 10 bucks for shipping (way too much) i don't want
to wait for everyone to pay. my dauther's new hard drive needs OS for her school work she's busy
too! PLEASE DON'T MAKE US WAIT BECAUSE YOUR WAITING FOR EVERYONE TOO PAY, THAT'S JUST
NOT FAIR.
Me: While I understand your situation, my auction was very clear that items would be shipped within 5 business days. Notice that it did NOT say "I will ship your items immediately OMG OMG". While I'm sure your advice on how to ship is well-meant, I have neither boxes nor packing materials at my home, and leaving packages on my doorstep for pickup would probably result in (a) my roommate tripping over them when he goes to work, and (b) the packages being stolen before they're mailed. If you needed immediate shipping or thought my shipping charges were unreasonable, the thing to do would have been to *mention it* before bidding, rather than making assumptions and then freaking out when my very well stated policies don't conform to them.
In short, I have five business days from the time of your payment to ship your item. I will do my best to get it out as soon as possible, but as long as it's shipped within the five-business-day time frame, you have no right to get upset, complain, or leave me bad feedback.
Her: i don't think you do understand my situation and don't tell me what to do. i will leave you the feedback you deserve. just because your room
mate is unable to walk out a door with tripping over a package doesn't mean you should hold my package until every one of the 7 other winners
pays up (a). the letter carrier leaves and takes packages here in detroit, the most dangerous city in the country, without a problem so don't claim
it's not safe to mail a package from your home (b). does follow ring a bell as how reasonable the shipping rate is? Q: This disc and manuals
would fit in the standard priority mail hard envelope, so why are you charging $10 for shipping? I know from all my buying and shipping that this
could be shipped for $5.00. I would be more willing to bid if your shipping was more reasonable as would a lot of people... you need to mail the
item i paid for now not in days because it's right thing to do. that's the way it's done in our eBay community. eBay member since 4-1997
Me: you seem to think it's perfectly okay to tell me what to do, knowing nothing about my work schedule or anything else beyond what I made the mistake of telling you. and had you actually used your eyes and checked on the shipping section of the auction where it says "more services", you could have seen that I did in fact have the option of a $5.00 envelope instead of a $10.00 box. Someone else suggested it and I thought it was a good idea. Had you been polite instead of rude, I would have offered to refund your $5.00, but as it is I have no interest in rewarding you for complaining about something that I didn't even do. There were two shipping options. You picked the wrong one and then blamed me for your own choice. Take some responsibility, go back and look at the auction and you will see it. A screen shot is attached.
I will be sending out the items of those who have paid already tomorrow after work at a private shipping store. I look forward to never speaking to you again. Next time, try treating your seller like a person.
Her: you seem to be very angry jason. but i am glad you mentioned responsibility because it's your responsibility to provide fair value in shipping but you failed to do that. i never asked for 5 bucks back that you dangle like a carrot. you can have the five bucks you overcharge for shipping if you just deliver the item timely. but because you are angry you don't see any reason to give me the value i paid so rapidly for. everybody in this world is busy and has work to do. you took on the responsibility of being a seller on eBay. why did you do that if you are too busy to ship the items you sell? nowhere in the auction copy does it say you had to wait for every other auction paid their bill. you can ship the item now not later but you chose to delay. i think that's an unintelligent choice you are making due to your anger. you seem to make me out to be the bad guy because i want my item sooner than later. but when i check your feedback from the 3 other buyers you have had that left feedback 33.3 % (that's 1 in 3) say your shipping is slow. now if you add me into the mix that's 2 in 4 or 50%. and that's not counting the comment i referenced in my e-mail below who says you charge too much for shipping. i hope you can see the pattern here. i am asking you to ship my item and take responsibility to be a good seller on eBay or expect the karma that is due you.
Me: I have already notified you of when I will be shopping your item. There is no reason for us to communicate any further unless you don't receive it. Please stop harassing me or I will have no choice but to file an abuse claim with eBay and AOL.
Her: go right ahead you don't scare me
Me: eBay only investigates threats of physical harm, not verbal harassment, so no luck there. But AOL's terms of service are much more stringent. Please look forward to hearing from them.
Just to summarize this conversation, so that I can better understand exactly what it is you want from me:
1. I offered the shipping option you wanted ($5 for a Priority Mail envelope), and you didn't read it or didn't select it, but somehow you have decided this is my fault.
2. I deliberately selected "5 business days" (not 1 or 2 or even 3 business days) for my auction, so that I would be able to ship within the amount of time I had promised without it interfering with my work schedule. You didn't read this either, or thought that 5 somehow equaled 1 or 2. This is also somehow my fault, according to you.
3. I notified you when I'd be shipping the item, and politely asked that you stop contacting me because I have not enjoyed our conversation. You refused and said "you don't scare me", which is about the most childish response I could possibly expect.
So now I'm left with this question: What exactly is it that you still want from me? What is your objective in contacting me again? Do you want something specific, or are you just looking for a punching bag?
Her: 'm not looking for a punching bag. i am non-violent vegetarian and have been for 35 years. but it does sound like you are trying make me out to be an aggressor and/or baiting me for some goal you have. as for not understanding me that's your issue. i have been clear and you may want to re-read our correspondence for the purport. i have been on ebay for more than a dozen years and had made well over 1000 trades and i must say you are a rare bread most people are quite nice. as for my remark that you don't scare me, it's what i say to most bullies. you may want try to be a child once in while it a nice way to be. i feel the need to block further e-mails.
yours, [username] eBay member for a very long time
Her (2 days ago: please let me know when you ship also tracking and insurance info
Me: [Didn't respond yet, was busy. My bad.]
Her: please inform me about shipping info ASAP. i don't understand why you are not
contacting me. please don't keep me waiting. i need this software for my daughter's
computer for school. the delay is a real problem for her.
Me: I work during the day when the post office is open, and I am
having a very busy week. I also sold 8 items on eBay at the same
time, so I will be going to the post office when I have received
payment for all 8. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I really
don't have time to make two or three trips to the post office right
now.
Her: so i have to wait for other auctions to pay you? you got ten buks for shipping my one item and that's
the best excuss you can come up with. look you can have the post office pick up the item at your
door (you don't even have to be there) when you buy postage online and that includes tracking for
free. it's the 21st century now you don't need to drive to the post office anymore. we are all busy
that's why the post is online. either ship the item or refund my money. it's not my fault if sold 7
other items that have not paid you. i paid fast and 10 bucks for shipping (way too much) i don't want
to wait for everyone to pay. my dauther's new hard drive needs OS for her school work she's busy
too! PLEASE DON'T MAKE US WAIT BECAUSE YOUR WAITING FOR EVERYONE TOO PAY, THAT'S JUST
NOT FAIR.
Me: While I understand your situation, my auction was very clear that items would be shipped within 5 business days. Notice that it did NOT say "I will ship your items immediately OMG OMG". While I'm sure your advice on how to ship is well-meant, I have neither boxes nor packing materials at my home, and leaving packages on my doorstep for pickup would probably result in (a) my roommate tripping over them when he goes to work, and (b) the packages being stolen before they're mailed. If you needed immediate shipping or thought my shipping charges were unreasonable, the thing to do would have been to *mention it* before bidding, rather than making assumptions and then freaking out when my very well stated policies don't conform to them.
In short, I have five business days from the time of your payment to ship your item. I will do my best to get it out as soon as possible, but as long as it's shipped within the five-business-day time frame, you have no right to get upset, complain, or leave me bad feedback.
Her: i don't think you do understand my situation and don't tell me what to do. i will leave you the feedback you deserve. just because your room
mate is unable to walk out a door with tripping over a package doesn't mean you should hold my package until every one of the 7 other winners
pays up (a). the letter carrier leaves and takes packages here in detroit, the most dangerous city in the country, without a problem so don't claim
it's not safe to mail a package from your home (b). does follow ring a bell as how reasonable the shipping rate is? Q: This disc and manuals
would fit in the standard priority mail hard envelope, so why are you charging $10 for shipping? I know from all my buying and shipping that this
could be shipped for $5.00. I would be more willing to bid if your shipping was more reasonable as would a lot of people... you need to mail the
item i paid for now not in days because it's right thing to do. that's the way it's done in our eBay community. eBay member since 4-1997
Me: you seem to think it's perfectly okay to tell me what to do, knowing nothing about my work schedule or anything else beyond what I made the mistake of telling you. and had you actually used your eyes and checked on the shipping section of the auction where it says "more services", you could have seen that I did in fact have the option of a $5.00 envelope instead of a $10.00 box. Someone else suggested it and I thought it was a good idea. Had you been polite instead of rude, I would have offered to refund your $5.00, but as it is I have no interest in rewarding you for complaining about something that I didn't even do. There were two shipping options. You picked the wrong one and then blamed me for your own choice. Take some responsibility, go back and look at the auction and you will see it. A screen shot is attached.
I will be sending out the items of those who have paid already tomorrow after work at a private shipping store. I look forward to never speaking to you again. Next time, try treating your seller like a person.
Her: you seem to be very angry jason. but i am glad you mentioned responsibility because it's your responsibility to provide fair value in shipping but you failed to do that. i never asked for 5 bucks back that you dangle like a carrot. you can have the five bucks you overcharge for shipping if you just deliver the item timely. but because you are angry you don't see any reason to give me the value i paid so rapidly for. everybody in this world is busy and has work to do. you took on the responsibility of being a seller on eBay. why did you do that if you are too busy to ship the items you sell? nowhere in the auction copy does it say you had to wait for every other auction paid their bill. you can ship the item now not later but you chose to delay. i think that's an unintelligent choice you are making due to your anger. you seem to make me out to be the bad guy because i want my item sooner than later. but when i check your feedback from the 3 other buyers you have had that left feedback 33.3 % (that's 1 in 3) say your shipping is slow. now if you add me into the mix that's 2 in 4 or 50%. and that's not counting the comment i referenced in my e-mail below who says you charge too much for shipping. i hope you can see the pattern here. i am asking you to ship my item and take responsibility to be a good seller on eBay or expect the karma that is due you.
Me: I have already notified you of when I will be shopping your item. There is no reason for us to communicate any further unless you don't receive it. Please stop harassing me or I will have no choice but to file an abuse claim with eBay and AOL.
Her: go right ahead you don't scare me
Me: eBay only investigates threats of physical harm, not verbal harassment, so no luck there. But AOL's terms of service are much more stringent. Please look forward to hearing from them.
Just to summarize this conversation, so that I can better understand exactly what it is you want from me:
1. I offered the shipping option you wanted ($5 for a Priority Mail envelope), and you didn't read it or didn't select it, but somehow you have decided this is my fault.
2. I deliberately selected "5 business days" (not 1 or 2 or even 3 business days) for my auction, so that I would be able to ship within the amount of time I had promised without it interfering with my work schedule. You didn't read this either, or thought that 5 somehow equaled 1 or 2. This is also somehow my fault, according to you.
3. I notified you when I'd be shipping the item, and politely asked that you stop contacting me because I have not enjoyed our conversation. You refused and said "you don't scare me", which is about the most childish response I could possibly expect.
So now I'm left with this question: What exactly is it that you still want from me? What is your objective in contacting me again? Do you want something specific, or are you just looking for a punching bag?
Her: 'm not looking for a punching bag. i am non-violent vegetarian and have been for 35 years. but it does sound like you are trying make me out to be an aggressor and/or baiting me for some goal you have. as for not understanding me that's your issue. i have been clear and you may want to re-read our correspondence for the purport. i have been on ebay for more than a dozen years and had made well over 1000 trades and i must say you are a rare bread most people are quite nice. as for my remark that you don't scare me, it's what i say to most bullies. you may want try to be a child once in while it a nice way to be. i feel the need to block further e-mails.
yours, [username] eBay member for a very long time