Sunday, June 19, 2011 – I had a close encounter of the eBay kind this weekend … remember the guy who sold me the Vibroplex Champion? The one that arrived damaged due to his poor packing? Well, he’s fit to be tied.
The key was damaged due to his poor packing. That’s it, end of story. It really, really is that simple. I’m not making this up. I posted the photos as proof (and even sent them to him); as much as I love bugs, I sure as hell wouldn’t damage one of my lovelies on purpose!
I was leaving feedback en mass late last week, and I realized I never left Mr. Poor Packing Skills any feedback. I did so on purpose, and actually considered not leaving him any (following my mother’s maxim “If you can’t say something nice, its better to say nothing.”). After finding the auction in my listing archive I thought it over. All I wanted was the $17 for the finger and thumb piece, but he insisted I return it for a refund. As I wrote earlier about this mess, I decided “to heck with it,” and dropped it. I wanted the key, I didn’t want to send it back.
The guy’s attitude pissed me off, for starters. Now I’ll admit that I wasn’t going to hand this guy a “please kind sir, could you honor me with a credit for this unfortunate mishap?” No, the damage was caused by poor packing, it happens to lots of people who ship bugs (unfortunately).
So here I am, with feedback in mind … hmm … what to give the guy?
I decided that negative feedback was inappropriate; he wanted to give me a full refund (that I didn’t want). He made this offer (well, demand) because it was clear he did not believe my claim that the key was damaged in shipment. When they start in on you with “I’ve shipped items to the four corners of the globe, uphill both ways, ad nauseum infinitum …” you know you’ve hit a dead end.
Positive feedback? Well, he DID offer a refund, despite the fact I did not want a full refund. He gave every indication that he believed I was out to scam him or something. I even looked him up and e-mailed him my photos as proof. Not convinced, apparently.
So I left neutral feedback. I stated simply the item was damaged in shipment, he offered full refund when I wanted parts to fix — which was exactly what happened.
Today I get something via eBay I’ve never received before — an official request to “reconsider feedback left for a transaction.” So “Mr. I-Don’t-Believe-You” lays out his case — He said I “claimed” the key was damaged in shipment (quotations his) — which couldn’t be possible in his mind because he’s shipped things properly around the world! He knows what he’s doing! How dare you give me neutral feedback?
At this point, he’s fortunate he received a neutral feedback. I wanted to tell him if I change my feedback it would not be to his liking (insert maniacal laugh here).
On my official eBay response, one of my choices was to explain to him the situation — which I already done in feedback. I chose the selection ‘The feedback given was accurate.” There’s nothing more to say about it (despite that truth, I keep saying it, lol!).
We’ll see what that brings back from the guy. All I wanted was to replace the finger and thumb pieces — and he’s making a federal case out of it. Sheesh!!
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