How Much Trust Does An Online Seller Deserve?

k,

so we can use your powers to help us in bs? good to know

Hiya, Spock1k! Good to see your post; we don't bump into each other in the Forum much anymore.

Steve, I have already let BS administration know I have received the order; they have replied and have noted in their records that my transaction was completed. You can also PM them and let either Mark or Richard know. It will be up to them to decide whether the seller will be reinstated or not. I'm certainly glad your received your stamps; they are very very nice!

k

Kim,

I let BS know right after I apologized to the seller for doubting his intention to complete our transaction.

From the reply I received from BS, it didn't look good for the seller.

But I imagine that if he satisfactorily completes all of his outstanding transactions he may be able to make the case for reinstatement on a probationary basis -- and I shared that with him.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, without being able to look him in the eye, it is hard to gauge whether he intended to deceive or if he just dug himself into a hole and didn't know how to get out.

I don't want to kick him when he's down, but I also don't want to place others at risk -- this will be a tough call for the BS management team but I'm willing to give him a second (and final) chance.

Steve

If I remember correctly, the seller is a long-time APS member, and had a good track record at BS before stopping for a year because of health and then returning. I don't know the official BS policy, but there is a good chance that they will be reinstated if they provide a good explanation, provided either shipment or refund, and demonstrated that the previous problems that caused the delays have been solved. I've known several sellers that have been reinstated in the past after going through similar "crises".

I'm also willing to give the seller a 2nd chance, as their is one item that I have not paid for because the seller was suspended right after that auction closed. I will email the seller and see if he responds. I have not received any sort of communications from the seller other than an invoice.

I've followed this thread and here is my $.02. An offer was made to sell an item and a buyer responded to the offer and consideration was tendered to the seller. The seller is obligated to fulfill his part of the transaction at a specified timed and date otherwise he is in breach of contract. Depending on the amount of the consideration and breach of contract, it can become a lawsuit issue.
We, as stamp collectors assume(you know what is said about making assumptions) that both parties are amicable and courteous, that there would not be a bad faith transaction. In the above case, the seller has thrown in the kitchen sink as why he has not fulfilled his obligation. Ask for your money back, file all the complaints that are possible and if he is an actual business person, file a complaint with his Better Business Bureau. Broad cast his name as loudly as possible so others would not be taken in by his shenanigans. Be careful with the last comment. In my case, If I am dealing with a new seller, I inquire if they will take my visa or MasterCard as payment. Using the credit card gives me a 60 day window to cancel the transaction. What I don't like about this is my cc number is in the hands of a stranger. But that is not to different than making a cc purchase in a retail store for the first time. I do not like using PayPal or other 3rd party to make payments for me. And if I still have doubts, I could very easily pass on the transaction and purchase it from a known dealer or seller at another time. There are far too many stamps out there that another item isn't available somewhere else. In this country it's always "let the buyer beware".
Joel