Dealing with EBay trolls and ratbags. (Should we protect their privacy?)

[JeffH]

Received this "question" today;
"Dear solution2852,
hi this is not an uncirculated coin you con artist hope no one buys it wahhhaaa
-{username}"
The item in question is 2008 20 cents - UNCIRCULATED
I was unsure how to react;
•ignore it was my first thought
•don't bite was my next thought
Then, on reflection I decided on a civil answer;
"Dear {username},
Hi,
I personally opened the sealed bag of these coins (as delivered to bank), removed them and put them in the holders. Maybe you should Google "uncirculated coin definition" and "bag mark" for information about this topic.
Consider joining The Australian Coin Forum (http://www.australian-coins.net/) where there is a wealth of information about all aspects of coins and collecting. My user name there is JeffH.
I do know a bit about coins and stand by my words. I know very little about, for example, stamps and would not presume to negatively criticise a listing for stamps -If I was interested I would only ask a constructive question so as not to waste the seller's time.
Cheers,
Jeff
- solution2852

The coin was in a sealed $10 bag in a sealed Armaguard $200 bag that I obtained from the bank. I think "uncirculated is the correct call. And I am a member of the MarkN pedantic nitpicker's society.

A check of the persons feedback showed negligible interest in coins but a very large number of stamp purchases.

A couple of questions;
1.Is this sort of idiotic "question" common. I haven't had one like that before.
2.What do you think would be an approriate response?

Jeff

[Unicorn]

I haven't had one like that, most upsetting I'd imagine.

I did have one that rattled me a bit, but did what you did and tried not to let emotion get to me and responded with a polite .... ish .... answer.

I think your reply was well constructed Jeff.

[emu666]

Yes it is common enough for me to devise a strategy.
They are aiming to upset you and to try to get you to waste your time.

My method is
1) Go to your block bidder list and add them to it.
2) Forward the email to other sellers you get on well with so they can do the same.
3) Delete the email.
4) If you get another email from the same person, treat it as ultra top secret (i.e. destroy before reading).
Please PM (or post it here for us all to see) the user id of your timewaster so I can add it to my block bidder list.

[JeffH]

That sounds like a good strategy. aussieadam12 is now the latest entry on my blocked bidder list but he may never know anyway.

Jeff

[trout]

I can feel your pain Mate, It is people like this that have soured my selling experience on fleabay and I doubt that I will sell much on that site anymore.
This is also why I have spent the time and money to get the coins I want to sell graded and slabbed so that I can consign them to a reputable auction .
This way I don't have to deal with the  half-wits or shysters that plague eBay :whistle2::good:

[stevo1962]

I had a request from a buyer wanting me break the law yesterday as follows bearing in mind that WA is a plant quarantine state.I think it
would be a bigger risk for me than would be for him

"  Hi,
I would like to buy your 2 x Zuikonishiki at the buy it now price.
Though I'm in W.A. i would like to ask you if as soon as I pay I'll leave positive feedback and you send plants with no return address. I will take the chance if they arrive without being intercepted.
Regards Steve.

- ebay username"

[markn]

Ignore.  Don't answer.  Move on with life.  People say these things to get a rise out of you and when you give them a response they just feed off of it.  (Thanks to the charming JPL over at CCF this morning for reminding me that people who dwell under bridges and scare goats are still alive and well).

That being said emu666's approach would work nicely too.

[Unicorn]

Yes, I saw that Mark and I was most disappointed.

[Robster]

Good move.!! Life is to short for these type of people. :dodgy:

[trout]

Ignore.  Don't answer.  Move on with life.  People say these things to get a rise out of you and when you give them a response they just feed off of it.  (Thanks to the charming JPL over at CCF this morning for reminding me that people who dwell under bridges and scare goats are still alive and well).

That being said emu666's approach would work nicely too.

I answered this in the misbehavers thread :ok:

[robbiegal]

eerrrm
to quote mark
people who dwell under bridges and scare goats are still alive and well

not sure if i'd be encouraging those types to join this forum
I can see the misery it could bring from his first e-mail to you

I had a request from a buyer wanting me break the law yesterday as follows bearing in mind that WA is a plant quarantine state.I think it
would be a bigger risk for me than would be for him

"  Hi,
I would like to buy your 2 x Zuikonishiki at the buy it now price.
Though I'm in W.A. i would like to ask you if as soon as I pay I'll leave positive feedback and you send plants with no return address. I will take the chance if they arrive without being intercepted.
Regards Steve.

- ebay username"

bad news that one
the quarantines are there for good reason usually

[JeffH]

Hi Bigbird,
I presume your strategy includes no response at all to the initial message -just straight to blocked bidders list; end of story?
Jeff

[emu666]

Hi Bigbird,
I presume your strategy includes no response at all to the initial message -just straight to blocked bidders list; end of story?
Jeff

Yes.

[robbiegal]

I do the same now
ben on ebay for too long now to put up with the crap
there are some real nut cases out there in the bay

[markn]

there are some real nut cases out there in the bay

Edited for accuracy.