Dear eBay Queen:
I am flipping out! Friday evening, I received a message from a person that I assumed had bought something from me, but after closer inspection they had not.
“I just wanted you to know that I’ve been looking at your items, and I believe they were stolen from my partner and mine’s home. I’m not saying you are a thief, but quite possibly you bought them from a thief. I have attached photos from the stuff I have missing. I hope that you will return them to me as soon as possible.”
I responded:
“Thank you for your email, I purchased most of the items in question from Goodwill and a few different garage sales. I am sorry your items were stolen. I don’t think I have any of your items.”
The lady messaged this back to me:
“Well, I can see you want to play dirty pool. I will be contacting the Emporia Police straight away. I did a bit of research on you and the things you are selling. I have sent a message to eBay to let them know you either steal merchandise, OR you are buying stolen merchandise. You should be ashamed of yourself! I’ve worked long and hard for my things. It is not fair that you’ve come along to steal them! I will not take this laying down! You will pay for your actions.”
I have called the Emporia, Kansas police, and they all but laughed at me. They were not mean, but they pretty much told me the person was a loon. The police did not have any record of this person being robbed. Over the weekend the woman contacted me through Facebook and my Youtube eBay online vlog. My mother and sister instant messaged me because this woman sent them a message on Facebook. I contacted our local police and they said there was not much they could do about it. This is my family’s ONLY source of income. My mom and sister messaged the woman back and said they didn’t know her and then blocked her. I messaged her and asked her to give me a list of things that were stolen. She sent me a message back and WANTS to COME TO MY HOUSE! I declined, and told her that I have the receipts from Goodwill, TJ Maxx, and 2 antique stores for 90% of the items she has said were stolen. I offered to make copies and send them to the Emporia Police in care of her name. She sent me a long list of profanities.
What should I do? Do you think I should contact eBay? I just want to sit down and cry! My mother is now calling 2 and 3 times a day freaking out over everything. What should I do?
Freaked Out
Dear Freaked:
Oh my goodness! You’ve come across a real winner there! Since you have all or most of your receipts for the items, I think I would scan the receipts in and load them onto the eBay message you were sent by the person. In this receipts message I would say something like this:
“I am very sorry that you and your partner were robbed, I can assure you that I did not have any part in it. I have contacted the Emporia Police, and offered copies of my receipts. They told me they did not need the receipts, because they did not have any record of __insert the person’s name__ being robbed. Since the police did not want my receipts, I have attached scans of them to this message. I hope that you do receive your items back, and once again I am sorry this has happened to you.”
I would not, under any circumstances meet this person at your home, or really anywhere but the police station. It is completely up to you if you want to contact eBay. I probably would, just so that I could report this buyer. Make sure that you refer them to the message where you have uploaded proof of your purchases.
Strange eBay Item of the Week: Item #:181703816330. While setting up our church rummage sale, I came across one of these. It’s interesting watching people come up with an explanation for what it might be. Lot of 7 Vintage 16 Loom Boat Shuttles Wood w/ Cop Skewer Bobbins 2 Eye Feed SOLD: $59.99.