[meteorite-list] More details....& thanks! Got had & need help.

From: MuseumStore/NatureSource <musnat_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:04:51 2004
Message-ID: <004b01c20278$43c35100$a08e70d1_at_JCD>

Hello Al and list,

Yes, this was definitely a wakeup call for me! This seller had a low
feedback rating, and did not appear to be an established meteorite dealer.
As a member of the IMCA, I feel like an idiot for bidding on this auction,
as I look back on it now. But, as they say, hindsight is always 20/20.
Ultimately the responsibility is with the buyer, however I believe that
having good watchdogs out there can only serve to keep fraudulant sellers on
notice that they cannot defraud with immunity!

It's funny because when you think about asking questions about an auction,
you don't think to ask "so, IS this what you described?" At least that's
how I felt before. Maybe too much faith in humanity! : ) I will
definitely be way more picky who I buy from in the future.

As the owner of a retail business for almost 10 years now, another valuable
lesson I've learned is that 99% of the time, it pays to take something back
if a customer is not happy. As long as the item is in "resellable
condition" there is nothing that cannot be refunded in my store. It's just
good customer relations.

Well, I suppose we will all have to become educated in our own way in that
big wide cyberjungle called Ebay. No matter what happens, I have definitely
gained an education because of this fiasco. Even if I am out $188 now, it
may ultimately have saved me from making a more costly mistake in the
future. We have no way of knowing these things. So, I'll take my lumps if
I have to and go on a little wiser.

It is nice to know though, that there are people out there on this list who
are looking out for all of us and trying to keep this
hobby/passion/livelihood the way it should be. They should be applauded.

Thanks so much for taking the time to address this.

Best wishes,
Jeannie Devon
IMCA #9236
The Museum Store/The Nature Source
Anchorage, AK
www.thenaturesource.com


-----Original Message-----
From: almitt <almitt_at_kconline.com>
To: MuseumStore/NatureSource <musnat_at_alaska.net>
Cc: Meteorite List <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>; magellon
<magellon_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] More details....& thanks! Got had & need help.


>Hello list,
>
>I have been following this thread which has split into threads now and
would like to
>comment on it. I hope I don't come across wrong as that isn't my intention
but merely
>to inform. I realize that in Jeannie's case that the items have been
misrepresented as
>something they are not. It is also a wake up call to do business with those
dealers
>with good reputations and that will stand behind what they sell. Perhaps a
nickel test
>should be done on her material.
>
>Ebay auctions state that you are entering into a legal contract with the
seller to buy
>that item by placing your bid (see below, taken from ebay auction). So you
should get
>information from any seller about what you are buying before you bid on it.
If the
>seller states that it is a certain way or metallic and you receive oxide
then I think
>that is misrepresentation and your email could be forward to ebay and
negative
>feedback left if the seller doesn't make it right with you.
>
>I have seen several posts stating the seller should take the item back if
the bidder
>isn't happy with the item or if it isn't like they thought it would be. I
think that a
>good reputable seller would do this but unless you asked the right
questions or if the
>material is misrepresented, I think as a bidder you are stuck by what is
said in the
>statement below made by ebay.
>
>As a seller I want my bidders/customers happy and would rather take
something back
>than loose future sells to them. I know many of the good dealers on this
list would
>most likely do the same and again it comes back to dealing with a reputable
dealer. As
>some have already said " let the buyer beware"
>My best.
>
>--AL
>
> Ebay says in its auctions:
>
> Your bid is a contract - Place a bid only if you're serious about
> buying the item. If you are the winning bidder, you will enter into a
> legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller
>
>
>______________________________________________
>Meteorite-list mailing list
>Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Received on Thu 23 May 2002 12:38:26 PM PDT