Really Ugly Response From An Ebay Seller

I thought I'd share a response I got to an inquiry to an ebay seller. I post on Stampsmarter sometimes, but even more often, I send notes to sellers when I see something that they've described as something better than it really is. I usually get, actually very nice responses- like "thanks for your help".

I'll probably get some comments that I was a bit harsh here, and I'll admit after reading it that I may have come off like a jerk-- but in no way deserved what came back to me. Bottom line, is that he is describing a lot of classic US stamps as SOUND, when they aren't, and this one isn't sound in any way-- but I offered to buy it from him, if it didn't sell, and it didn't.

Here is a link to the stamp:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/121828857754

Here is what I sent him:

Dear cwsdenver,
This stamp is plate position 100L8, bottom right corner of the left half of the plate. I'm only interested in it because of the position because I plate this issue. It isn't anywhere near sound as described, with some severe perf faults on the lower left. I can offer you $15 for it if it doesn't sell. Thanks,
- ray_mac

He could have ignored me, and could've said "no", and could have said "no, and you're wrong", or even "no, a__hol_", but this is what he said:

Dear ray_mac,
Perf 15 1/2 stamps are exempted from the normal grading standards, as any "expert" should know. It is "sound" because it has no tears, creases, bends, wrinkles, or any other defects other than what it received when it was cancelled or seperated into a single stamp at the Post Office. I truly hate pin-headed jerk stamp collectors like you. This stamp hobby has been decreasing for 30 years and eventually you will all be dead along with the stamps you so much treasure!
- cwsdenver

My initial reaction was shock, and then I thought I'd say something like: "Well, would you take $15.25 for it instead?".

Listen, all I did was say it isn't sound. And if it doesn't sell, I'll offer you a lower price for it. Didn't really say anything wrong, except he really obviously didn't like the fact that someone doesn't think it was sound.......

And, it's obvious that he never sent a stamp to Bill Weiss that he thought was "Sound", and got a cert back with a "tiny corner perf crease, otherwise sound".

Thought I'd share. Again, if you think I was a little rough on the edges, I can accept that, but my main purpose here was showing that the guy is mis-describing his stamps, and I guess now I'm a pin-headed jerk stamp collector, and this guy thinks I should die.

If he's on this board, I'd truly invite him to tell his side.....

Thanks for listening....Ray

Ray, you weren't too harsh and the seller is blowhard idiot.

That is the craziest response I have ever heard.
I was just about to hit send on my Plating 101
when I saw this. Thanks for your interest on that
topic as well.

At Stamp Smarter I always word my seller communications carefully and always try to give them the benefit of doubt. They often sound something like this;
"If you have the time could you take a closer look at this stamp? From the image provided this stamp appears to be a perf trimmed #35 and not a #15. Only the Type I #35 had incomplete side designs as shown in this image."

Your message was professional and straight to the point; I see nothing that should have been taken as offensive by the seller. I get responses from sellers that are all over the board. Some are fantastic, independent of whether or not they are open for any changes in their listings. Those type folks are a pleasure to deal with, even if we do not see eye-to-eye. Some say thank you and that they will update the listing, but never do. Others simply ignore the input. Some can be the biggest jerks.

I guess some sellers want to kill the messenger with the bad news. But if they stopped to think about it, getting input that prevents them from having a upset buyer and costly returns should be looked upon favorably.
Don

raymac,

I agree with the other respondants. You were not out of order. However, you have to be careful because there is a lot of anger out there today. The days of civilty and manners are apparently over.

Jack Kelley

Stampcrow, you have outdone yourself on this one!! :)
Always enjoy your humor!!

No, the seller is right; I will be dead eventually.

I like it! I might have offered $14.00 if it didn't sell. There are angry people out there and the best we can do is let them be angry and not take the bait. I would keep that response in a file for absurd people.
I am the treasurer for a local stamp club and someone refunded me .46 cents for an over payment to him. He taped the coins together. I saved that in my it makes you wonder what they are thinking file. Actually that file has a different name but I can't post it here.
Vince

Ray, he goes into the "never bid on/buy from this seller" file.

Ray, maybe if you were just a "pin-head", the seller would've been ok with you.

I would be interested to see if the stamp get re-listed.

Hey, he should have excepted your offer, then charged you $10 for shipping... baawaahaahaa

Since I will now never buy from him, I feel like saying something really pithy and nasty so he will block me

ray.mac:

I commend you on your courage.

It is not easy to come out as pin-headed.

I am confident that I speak on behalf of all of your forum brothers and sisters when I say that we will do our level best to insure that your pin-headedness does not keep you from leading a full & happy life here on SCF ...

... or, from accepting your party's nomination to run for President of the United States of America, should it come to that.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

ikeyPikey 80% of the people in this world are decent and civil, great people; 20% have always been, to some degree or another, idiots and make the 80% cynical of the rest. The "pin-head" wasn't you. Thank you for being part of the 80%.

Ray, I didn't see a problem with your inquiry--not harsh at all. We must absolutely police ourselves and our hobby.

signed: pinheaded stamp collector who hopes to die with the stamps he so loves and treasures

Obviously that is me too. Another jerk to add to my ebay "avoid" list. Fortunately I do not have very many.