One of an ongoing series of dodgy characters.
Note: personal details like email addresses and addresses have been elided, along with message headers, quoted text, some expired URLs and automatic message footers. Emails timestamped PST were sent via eBay's "Ask seller a question" mechanism.
To: Earle Martin <earle@xxxxxxxxxx> From: Ian Dolan <i_dolan@xxxxxxxxxx> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 14:28:20 PST Subject: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 hi wud u be willin to accept 80 gbp inc shippin to ireland? -------------------- Question from: laptop_gamer Title of item: Samsung A800 Mobile Phone, Perfect Condition Seller: jabbatheduck Starts: Feb-26-04 13:06:04 PST Ends: Mar-04-04 13:06:04 PST Price: Currently GBP 43.00 To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3081102105
I got this message, and naively thought that what it suggested was allowed, so I replied.
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 On Mon, Mar 01, 2004 at 02:28:20PM -0800, you wrote: > hi wud u be willin to accept 80 gbp inc shippin to ireland? Hello, Yes, I would. However I'm unaware of any way to end end the auction early. If you know any different, I'd be happy to hear how. Sincerely, Earle.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 23:16:54 +0000 well u can change the auction to buy it now or i can bid for the phone and u can just end the auction early
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 00:29:55 +0000 On Mon, Mar 01, 2004 at 11:16:54PM +0000, Ian Dolan wrote: well u can change the auction to buy it now or i can bid for the phone and u can just end the auction early Ah, I see! I can't do Buy It Now yet, so yes, make a bid and I'll end the auction early. Drop me another email when you've bid.... Thanks! Earle.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 10:51:32 +0000 ok earle ive bidded 75 and ill add 5 for postage so let me know wen u endd it
From: [a robot] @ebay.co.uk
To: Earle Martin
Subject: eBay - Item Purchase: Samsung A800 Mobile Phone, Perfect Condition (Item
#3081102105)
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 03:37:10 -0800
Please note that this is a system generated email. Please do not
reply to this email. If you have questions, please click the following link
or paste it in your browser.
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/basics/select-support.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations jabbatheduck!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear jabbatheduck,
laptop_gamer (I Dolan - marino d, dublin Ireland) has agreed to purchase
the following eBay item on 02-Mar-04 11:37:03 GMT:
The buyer has been asked to pay for this item via accepted payment
methods. If you want, you may send information to the buyer at [URL].
-----------------------------------------------------------------
LISTING DETAILS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Item name: Samsung A800 Mobile Phone, Perfect Condition
Item number: 3081102105
End date: 02-Mar-04 11:37:03 GMT
Number of bids: 19
Seller: jabbatheduck: <earle@xxxxxxxxxx>
Buyer: laptop_gamer: <i_dolan@xxxxxxxxxx>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PAYMENT DETAILS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Item price: £47.00
Quantity: 1
Subtotal: £47.00*
* Not including postage charges
Your payment instructions to buyer:
Postage costs to be arranged after item sale.
You may also contact the buyer via email to complete the sale at
i_dolan@xxxxxxxxxx. If contacting the buyer directly, please do so within
3 business days.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 11:45:35 +0000 im just thinkin g80 seems a bit steep... thats nearly 130 euro can u do any better?
First inklings of suspicion that there's something wrong with this guy.
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 12:31:15 +0000 I'm afraid it's a bit late to change your mind, since you agreed with me on the price of 80 pounds. Please submit payment by any of the methods I mentioned in my earlier email.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 12:31:24 +0000 lol ok i was just chancin my arm... just have to wait for paypal to let me pay
So... where's the payment?
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 10:04:57 +0000 I'm still waiting to hear from you, Mr. Dolan.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 11:15:38 +0000 im tryin to clear my cc
Getting dodgier by the moment.
From: Ian Dolan
To: Earle Martin
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 05:50:28 -0800
Subject: Item Number 3081102105 - Notification of an Instant Payment Received
from laptop_gamer (i_dolan@xxxxxxxxxx)
Dear Earle Martin,
This email confirms that you have received an eBay Instant Payment for
80.00 GBP from laptop_gamer (mailto:i_dolan@xxxxxxxxxx)
View the details of this transaction online at:
[URL]
------------------------------
Item Information for laptop_gamer
------------------------------
Item Title: Samsung A800 Mobile Phone, Perfect Condition
Quantity: 1
Item URL: [URL]
Item Number: 3081102105
Price: 47.00 GBP
_____________________
Subtotal 47.00 GBP
Postage & Packaging: 33.00 GBP
Postal Insurance: --
VAT: 0.00 GBP_________________________
Total Amount: 80.00 GBP
Note: hey sorry about the delay
OK, cool. At least, it would have been if it was actually allowed under eBay's rules, which it wasn't - although I didn't know that yet. Also - £47 + £33 for postage? What happened to £75 + £5 for postage?
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 16:57:17 +0000 Hello Ian, Your item is in the post as of this morning. You can't miss it - it's the silver one that looks like a Christmas present (I realised this morning I was out of brown parcel paper). Cheers, Earle.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 00:16:56 +0000 ha ha thx earl just hope customs dont notice it.
Why is he worried about Customs?
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 06:02:08 PST did u send the phone?
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 14:18:01 +0000 Yes, like I said, it's been in the post since yesterday.
Slow post is annoying.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 14:17:26 +0000 i dint get it in today post.. well probably monday so
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 12:01:44 PST i still have not received the phone
Starting to get another bad feeling. Kicking myself for not sending it registered.
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 12:16:31 +0000 Has it arrived yet?
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Wed, Mar 10, 2004 04:29:19AM -0800 hi todays post came and there is still no sign of the phone, u gota check up on it because i received 2 others from the uk aswell
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Question for seller -- Item #3081102105 Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 15:21:03 +0000 This is very strange. If it hasn't arrived by Monday then I guess I'll have to give you a refund (directly by PayPal). Of course, if I did that and it then *did* arrive I would hope that you would re-pay me, if you see what I mean. Thanks Earle
Great, maybe the post ate it. Since I didn't send it registered, I might have to take a loss on this one. Dammit.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 07:07:58 PST any news on the phone? tracking number or anything?
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 05:36:40 PST hi earle, today was the last day of postage and the package never showed
No it wasn't. I said by Monday. The mail operates on Saturdays. Starting to get a sinking sensation that I've made a deal with the wrong person.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, Mar 14, 2004 04:38:04AM -0800 Dear Seller, Have you got any news on my Mobile phone that i won from u ? (6310i) i am looking for what ever details u can give me even a tracking number if not refund me, i will leave positive feedback
Now this.
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 20:07:55 +0000 From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Ian, I have no tracking number because I sent the item by regular, unrecorded post. It's entirely outside my experience for a package to be lost this way - one of the items I sold on eBay in the past was a mobile phone, to a buyer in Eire, and it arrived by regular post within a couple of days without problems. All that I know is that I posted it on March the 4th from Old Street post office in London. I'm not liable for any failures made by the Royal Mail. I'm not going to refund you, because I was reading through your user feedback, and after seeing some of the negative comments, I don't trust you at all. For all I know, you already have the phone. You know what I also discovered just now? http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/confidence/know-seller-policies.html#sp6 You tricked me into breaking one of eBay's rules. I am *not* happy. If you'll let this drop, then I'll consider not filing a fraud alert against you. Clear?
Not happy at all.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, Mar 14, 2004 08:20:53PM +0000, Ian Dolan wrote: ao i will lose my 80 gmp thats not fair. but i dont want any neg feedback plz leave positive as i have paid u i will do the same,.
He's on the run now!
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 20:35:24 +0000 That's pushing it. How about we both leave no feedback and that'll be the end of it.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, Mar 14, 2004 08:59:01PM +0000 no because u know whats going to happen, u see u can rpt me for makin u end an item but i can rpt u for not sending me an item so no ones going to win so i wud suggest leave feedback and that wud be it
"i wud suggest" (sic)? Is that a threat?
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 22:23:54 +0000 You think I'm going to leave you positive feedback? Dream on. I won't report you, I already said that. This ends here. Goodbye.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, Mar 14, 2004 10:37:53PM +0000 no earle this doesnt end here, u done the wrong thing on ebay read it again it says that u as a seller cannot end early, so let the best man win, i paid u and u didnt send the product
"Let the best man win", huh? Here's news to you, pal, I already did.
From: Earle Martin To: Ian Dolan Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 22:45:21 +0000 You tricked me into breaking a rule. I sent you an item. For all I know, you're lying to me and you have the phone already. I'm not giving you any positive feedback.
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 23:00:59 +0000 listen earle i didnt trick you into anything, i wanted that phone, u know i did thats why i paid 80 come on earle be a decent seller you have to do sumthing to resolve this i got nothing and u got ur money
Ooh, wheedling. Sure, I really believe you now. A day later this appeared on my eBay feedback:
(+) received the product today thx and sorry for the trouble Buyer laptop_gamer(* 81) 15-Mar-04 13:22 3081102105
Ha! I left him this in return:
(-) A pain to deal with. Avoid. Seller jabbatheduck(* 10) 17-Mar-04 11:24 3081102105
From: Ian Dolan To: Earle Martin Subject: Re: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #3081102105 Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 05:35:51 PST earle whats the stroy y did u leave me bad feedback ? i still havent even received the phone, ur a fucking disagrace
Ah, so the item didn't arrive now? So I have proof that he's a liar, as well as a cheat. Game over.
On June 6th I received an automatic notification that Dolan had opened a SquareTrade case against me and requested that I withdraw the bad feedback I left him. A few hours later, I received another notification that he'd closed the case with the reason of wanting to "resolve this directly with the other party". I don't know what he was thinking, nor do I care.
On October the 19th I got the following message from Dolan:
dear [my eBay user name] i would appreciate if u would remove that web site on google for me , maybe we could sort this out between ourselves? cheers
Dear Ian: no. Deal with it.