eBay experience - truth is more amusing than fiction

[Phil_S]

I bought something the other day that cost a little more than I usually spend and not really sufficiently discounted from new. It was a ~$100 retail for $77 shipped. I mention this for perspective -- no one likes to risk $77, but it won't prevent me from paying the mortgage either. The seller had 0 feedback, so I knew there was risk and assumed it was a first time seller. I wanted the item. It was a good price. eBay backs the purchase. I figure what the heck. I never imagined...

About 10 days go by. No package, no communication. So, I write to him through eBay to let him know I haven't heard from him and don't have the item. I try to be as nice as possible. I figure, you get more files with honey than vinegar. An exchange ensues. His first response:

Hey, thank you very much for contacting me, this is my first sale, I’m having trouble figuring the shipping payment, do I pay at the place and then get reimbursed?
Thanks for understanding

After regaining control of my wits, I peel myself off the floor and I write back, explaining how there is no reimbursement, all the while trying to keep a straight face and not insult this poor fellow because I want what I paid for. Here's the second reply.

But how does usps know it’s been paid for,

and then a short while later, this,

Disregard that last question, I got it now I’ll get it shipped soon

and finally, this,

Thanks again for your patience and sorry for the delay. I’ve a baby due this week and a high risk pregnancy. New job. Things have been hectic. Sorry again, thanks

Great time to start selling stuff on eBay, don't ya think? What makes people tick?

A person couldn't make this stuff up. This, I had to tell someone. Thanks for listening. Oh, and I did get email from eBay that a the item had been shipped. <sigh> Wait until he figures out Pay Pal and eBay each take a bite out of the $77 and that eBay doesn't care how it splits between sale price and shipping -- they just tax the amount remitted by the buyer. I wish I could be a fly on the wall.

[xtian]

Even stranger to me is that now men are having babies!

[Phil_S]

LMAO! That explains the high risk pregnancy and why it's so hectic.

[jam-mill]

You just can't make this stuff up. Glad it worked out for you in the end.

[Phil_S]

He actually shipped it PDQ once he realized he'd been paid. The thing is, he used a perfectly good sweatshirt to wrap the thing in addition to wadded newspaper. Picture <man shaking head in disbelief>

So, do I put the sweatshirt in the laundry and wear it? What would you do? And how do I explain it to my wife -- this being an XL and I wear a S? (Please, no need to answer this bit of rhetorical humor. It's going in the rag bin.)