[meteorite-list] Disappointing meteorite purchases

From: Michael L Blood <mlblood_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:34:23 -0700
Message-ID: <C22EA3AF.347CE%mlblood_at_cox.net>

Hi Bill,
        You most definitely should have filed a negative feedback
(after warning the dealer you would do so if the situation were
not resolved in a forthright manor).
        (I never mail a package I cannot literally toss across my office
and bounce off the wall without worry, as you can be sure some P.O.
nut WILL DO EXACTLY THAT).
        The only difference in an eBay deal should be a no return
policy, as the buyer is "taking" the sale from other would be buyers.
However, the seller is still obligated to provide the item in the photo,
legitimacy of type described, accurate weight and secure shipping.
(some even DO accept returns, even though it is an auction. All
the dealers worth their salt that I know will always return a normal
purchase for any reason the customer is not satisfied. I even let some
guy send back a huge order "because" his furnace broke [after the purchase]
and he needed the money to fix it. I don't know if I would go that far
again - dealers are not pawn shops, but certainly if a buyer is dissatisfied
for any reason, any sensible dealer WANTS to take a return - what
kind of dealer would want a dissatisfied customer? That doesn't make
any sense.
        However, an auction is an entirely different set of circumstances.
The high bidder is taking the sale from another buyer.
Returns should be limited to breakage or misrepresentation.
        I am not certain of eBay feedback requirements, but I suspect
if you did not leave feedback from that particular purchase, you may
be able to do so no matter how long it has been. However, if your
intent is to get treated fairly, you might want to email the dealer
and inform him of your intention if he does not respond within a
limited time frame - or you might just want to hurt him for
mistreating you. You can't have it both ways.
        You asked for stories of bad experiences, so, here goes...
        The only time I had a bad experience was many years ago
when a young, obnoxious "dealer" offered a large specimen. He
stated that it retailed for $3.50/gram with an opening bid of $1/g for a
700g main mass. He owned the entire fall/find, so, I thought that
after saw loss, this would still be a good investment for resale.
I bid and within 24 hrs he offered the remainder of the
material (in small partslices) on the list at $1.65/g. I emialed him
and told him I was withdrawing my bid as he misrepresented the
piece and by the time I had cut loss would make no money at all,
given he had undercut the retail price by over 50% what he advertised
in the auction. I also left phone messages he would not return and I was
unaware at the time that you can withdraw a bid (I do not think
withdrawing a bid is ever acceptable UNLESS the item offered is
misrepresented, which, in this case it was).
        In any case, he refused to respond, allowing the auction to run
its course and then comically "demanded" payment "or else."
        Of course I wouldn't give him the time of day and he filed a
negative feedback (my only one in all my years on eBay) and, after he
did so, I responded in kind. However, nothing will ever make that one
negative feedback go away. It will always be on my eBay record.
        (BTW, that "dealer" was finally drummed out of the meteorite
arena entirely about a year later when it came out on the list how
many people he had been ripping off. He has never been heard from
again.... what a shame)
        So, before giving negative feedback, give the other guy a chance
to make things right (unless you would rather hurt him that get your
money's worth).
        Best wishes, Michael



on 3/27/07 2:37 AM, Bill at glixard at inbox.com wrote:

> The subject says it all. I can't help myself though. One of my first purchases
> was a slice Of Vaca sent in a soft packet. It was crumbled into Bessey specks
> when it arrived. I immediately contacted the seller, a prominent met-list
> member and dealer, with a minor complaint that was totally ignored. I was
> pretty surprised that a person that was so seemingly well respected would
> ignore my complaint. As time went by and I learned more about the met-buddy
> dealer system I understood.
>
> Has anyone else had a bad experience with renowned dealers? Small
> discrepencies preferred.
>
> Bill
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list

--
"What fits your busy schedule better, exercising one hour a day
or being dead 24 hours a day?"
----Anon
--
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
---Graffito: The Bayou, Baton Rouge , LO
--
  

Received on Tue 27 Mar 2007 01:34:23 PM PDT