eBay Situation: What Do You Do?

[gmarguli]

What would you do in this situation?

 

Back in early November I sold a coin on eBay. The buyer is in a foreign country. His address was slightly odd as it didn't appear to include a city, but who knows with these foreign addresses.

 

10 days after the auction ended, he paid via PayPal. I shipped the coin 2 days later. I had no communication from him other than the payment (which had no note or anything attached to it).

 

About 10 days ago the package was returned to me by the Post Office. It clearly had not been opened. The customs sticker was ripped off and the address was obscured. The PO had no idea why it was returned to me or how far it went (i.e. all the way to the other country or never leaving Los Angeles). The package was fairly dirty, so I assume it traveled far.

 

I sent an email to the buyer informing him that it was returned to me and asking him to confirm his address. I've received no response. He is still active on eBay and bid on stuff recently - since the email was sent.

 

I cannot refund the money via PayPal as too much time has elapsed, besides I consider the coin sold and I paid the fees. The auction has been flushed from the eBay system.

 

I do not feel comfortable just sending the coin again as the address is slightly odd and it may just come back again or end up in the collection of a foreign postal worker.

 

What to do?

[midwest]

Just keep it untill the guy contacts you. If after a few weeks he doesn't contact you it's your to keep.

[goose3]

how much was this item?

[gmarguli]

It sold for around $115 which was a good price for the buyer.

[EZ_E]

Just keep it untill the guy contacts you. If after a few weeks he doesn't contact you it's your to keep.

 

I second that.

[Here]

Maybe another seller that he has won from can help you out.

 

 

 

Jerry

[supertooth]

Greg----Have you thought about contacting Ebay with the story? Maybe they could try to contact him or find a better address? It's a thought. Bob [supertooth]

[gmarguli]

Not sure what eBay would tell me, other than to contact him thru the eBay Contact Member (which he seems to ignore) or to get his contact information (which appears to be wrong).

 

The thing I find really odd is that he's still on eBay bidding. It's not like he's gone missing. I've had that happen to bidders in the past. He's there, he's alive, he's bidding, but he just doesn't respond to me.

[cpm9ball]

Have you posted feedback yet? If not, or if you can add to it, why don't you post a pleasant response like, Item returned by USPS;undeliverable;buyer won't respond for corrected address." If he reads his feedback, maybe this will get his attention.

 

Chris

[gmarguli]

The auction is gone from the eBay system, so feedback can't be left.

[MikeKing]

Write a letter and send it to him snail mail asking him to contact you.

[jom]

Just keep emailing...what else can you do?

 

jom

[truthteller]

Maybe the buyer has read your posts on the water cooler forum and now wants nothing to do with you?

 

 

TRUTH

[ronday]

I second the idea of contacting another seller. You can send them the address that you have and ask them to correct it.

 

At this point you have been paid and no longer own the item you sold. It is found property. As such you have to make every reasonable attempt to return the item to its owner.

 

Of course, after enough time, international I think at least 6 months, you should be able to consider it found property.

 

You might want to consider what you will do if he writes you after 7 months asking about his package?

[jom]

Maybe the guy is a latter day Garrett and he buys so many coins he can't remember whether he receives them or not or what he paid for them?

 

jom

[braddick]

Greg! ::Whew!!:: Thanks for the reminder. I completely forgot I had purchased this coin (via my secret, foreign eBay handle, of course).

 

Please forward to my home address pronto.

[gmarguli]

Greg! ::Whew!!:: Thanks for the reminder. I completely forgot I had purchased this coin (via my secret, foreign eBay handle, of course).

 

Please forward to my home address pronto.

 

Thanks Pat for finally contacting me. I'll mail it off right away. However, I'll need to mail it COD to cover the cost of mailing the item a second time. $50 should cover it.

[jom]

Pat's got a secret foreign address? I think the authorities might want to know about this....

 

jom

[gmarguli]

Pat's got a secret foreign address? I think the authorities might want to know about this....

 

jom

 

He is Da Man.

[braddick]

Pat's got a secret foreign address? I think the authorities might want to know about this....

 

jom

By "secret foreign address" I was speaking of my post office box. Yes, it's only about ten feet away from Rick Tomaska's.

 

Have you been to the post office lately? It is a foreign place. Getting about as bad as the DMV or Longs drug store on a Saturday afternoon.

 

Greg, COD? I believe I have some coins that belong to you being held hostage...

[gmarguli]

Pat's got a secret foreign address? I think the authorities might want to know about this....

 

jom

By "secret foreign address" I was speaking of my post office box. Yes, it's only about ten feet away from Rick Tomaska's.

 

Have you been to the post office lately? It is a foreign place. Getting about as bad as the DMV or Longs drug store on a Saturday afternoon.

 

Greg, COD? I believe I have some coins that belong to you being held hostage...

 

By COD I meant "Flaming bag of dog poop left on your home door step".

[jom]

By "secret foreign address" I was speaking of my post office box. Yes, it's only about ten feet away from Rick Tomaska's.

 

Seems like Rick Tomaska needs to be investigated also.

 

jom

[braddick]

By "secret foreign address" I was speaking of my post office box. Yes, it's only about ten feet away from Rick Tomaska's.

 

Seems like Rick Tomaska needs to be investigated also.

 

jom

Puzzlement. Japanese surname, caucasian male adult, brokering coins with big, oversized bells on the bak of them.

 

I agree! Needs a thorough investigation.

[braddick]

By "secret foreign address" I was speaking of my post office box. Yes, it's only about ten feet away from Rick Tomaska's.

 

Seems like Rick Tomaska needs to be investigated also.

 

jom

Puzzlement.

 

Japanese surname, caucasian male adult, brokering coins with big, oversized bells on the back of them.

 

I agree! Needs a thorough investigation.

[Morgannut]

If he wants to be found, he'll find you!! Meanwhile, watch your back--

[Leothelion]

Talvez, este companheiro não fala o inglês!

 

Leo

[Stanley]

Chi at

[Leothelion]

Chi at

 

OK..what's "chi at"?

 

Leo

[gmarguli]

The buyer finally responded to an email. Says he was out of town on a job. Not sure why he was able to use eBay during this time, but not reply to my email.

[Coin]

Finally , some kind of end to the mystery ! He probably either had limited e-time and spent it bidding an not reading or someone else also uses his same Ebay ID to bid on things or who knows...anyhoo , did anyone ever investigate Rick Tomaska? I'll bet HE has ALL the FBL 53-S 's an that's why nobody else can find any ... .

Well , Great Greg , glad ya finally got some kind of answer to the foreign big money connection.