[Gort]

Pappy’s and Skysufer808’s troublesome eBay experiences inspire me to ask: What is your most memorable knock-down, drag-out brouhaha you ever had with a vendor?

Please don’t mention names, and please don’t pepper us with clues as to who it was: That’s your business, not ours. But please do share your experience.

My squabble occurred just last week. It won’t make the All-Time Donnybrooks Hall of Fame, but here it is anyway ...

Ever since I sold a particular Corgi model on eBay two years ago, I’ve wanted it back. Last week I lucked out and found it on the net (not eBay). The price was a bit steep, but I was determined to get it no matter what (yeah, I know—dumb is as dumb does).

So I called the number and this old guy answered. I told him I wanted to order a model. He grumbled that nobody was available to take the order and requested that I call back. No problem, I responded, but before I left I asked if the model was “new” and in a MINT box (always the MINT box). That’s when the fun began.

He turned incredulous and offended like I’d just called his mother an old cow and blurted, “Wha—? What makes you think I don’t sell new models???” I could imagine him staring at me red faced and cross eyed.

His bizarre, contemptuous tone appalled me, but I kept my voice in check and explained that the Corgi I was ordering was rare. Really rare, in fact. So rare that models like that almost always come used—not MINT.

Open mouth—insert foot. Big mistake.

The guy asked which plane I wished to buy; I told him (again) and quoted his listed sale price. And I could almost hear the cogs whirring in his brain. He paused for a moment and then casually observed, “Yeah, that’s a really really rare plane, alright. Umm ... I meant to take that model off the sale price weeks ago. I can’t sell it to you at the sale price. It’s worth more than that.”

My jaw dropped; my eyes narrowed with contempt. I said (calmly, but only just), “Wait a minute. What about your sales price? You list it for $XXX.XX. What’s with that–?!? I can’t go any higher. I only have so much money!”

“Well,” he replied, “This Corgi is so rare, I can sell it to anybody. I sell models all the time; some other collector is bound to buy it; I won’t have any problems.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. This guy was truly a Grade-A PUTZ. But I still very much wanted the model. So I asked him what he would sell it for. He said he’d have to think about it and call me back. I gave him my name, etc., and waited for his call. But it never came.

Short story, I waited two days and called back. This time another person answered. I told them I wanted to order a model; I gave them the information. And voila! I got it for the sale price. No questions, no problems. It’s on its way to my house as week speak.

[Captain Eddie]

Glad it worked out for ya, ya big hunk of metal! Better a little steep instead of a LOT steep. Guy sounds like a creep.