S3D Re: ( Ebay vs Sell-3d) SELL-3D digest 782

[JNorman805@xxxxxxx]

Mark Damish writes:

<< That's 40+ year old 120 volt wiring right, where the
 insulation decayed. Right? >>


I don't think so. I checked the insulation after the fact and couldn't see 
any fraying, hardening or chipping of the rubber.  I've sent the unit off to 
Dr. T for his assessment and/or repair, and I'm curious to see what he 
discovers.   I suspect an internal short in the rheostat, but I don't know.  
What I do know is that the unit was not as it was described on Ebay, the 
seller told me to go away, and Ebay did the same.  For your interest and/or 
entertainment, I append the the response I have been sending to the 
approximately 60 Ebay users who have asked me for the details surrounding the 
negative feedback I left.

Hello:

Let's face it, most transactions go smoothly because most people are honest 
and sell decent merchandise, including Malak.  The test of a seller's 
integrity is his response when he makes a mistake and something goes wrong.  
Malak fails the test.

The best I can do is share the seller's description, and our post-transaction 
e-mail exchanges, after I sent the guy a money order for $114.27 and he sent 
me the item::



Seller's description: 
Stereo Realist Green Button Viewer. I believe this is model # 2062. It has 
the green buttons and dials. Has 110 volt adapter to provide full control of 
light intensity with the Vari-Light cartridge. I do not have any stereo 
photos to test it with but the light does work. The viewer has focusing and 
eye separation adjustments so that you can adjust it exactly to your own 
eyesight. Has great optical glass. This viewer is in used condition with some 
wear on green button and 1"long 0.5" wide broken piece on right side of 
viewer. Battery compartment is clean. Buyer prepays bid plus $4.00 shipping 
costs. 

My first e-mail after receiving the item:
Dear Mahmut:
	I received the Green Button Viewer on Friday.  I need to tell you 
that it is not satisfactory.
	While your description was accurate cosmetically, you also stated 
that "the light does work."
	When I plugged it into the wall socket, there was a spectacular 
electric arc that sent little "comets" of burning pieces of the socket into 
the room.  My thumb and forefinger that I had used to hold the plug were 
blackened with soot, but fortunately not burned.  The socket needed to be 
replaced.  Fortunately, now that the socket has been replaced and the circuit 
breaker turned back on, there appears to be no ill effect to the wiring of 
the house.
	In addition, the screws that hold the two halves of the AC unit 
together cannot be fastened firmly due to deterioration of the bakelite.  
This is a material defect that seriously affects the usability of the viewer, 
which should have been obvious to you, but which you did not bother to 
mention in your description.
	In any case, not only does the light NOT work, but the viewer is 
dangerously defective.  I trust that you will be willing to refund the 
purchase price.  In addition, because the description was so egregiously 
misleading, I am asking that you reimburse me for shipping both ways as well. 
(Replacing the wall socket was a mere inconvenience and a minor expense, 
which I am willing to absorb.)
	If we can resolve this matter in a friendly, forthright, honest way, 
I will asume it was all a result of oversight on your part and will not enter 
negative feedback.
	I await your quick response.
							Very truly yours,
							Jim Norman

"Malak's" response:

Dear Jim,

I am glad to hear that the accident that you mentioned in your email did 
not harm you or your home.  

I just would like to remind you that the bidding for the item started at 
$15.00 and there was no reserve price.  Some buyers, which may include 
you, may think that the sellers do not bother to mention small details 
(such as the deterioration of the screws holes in bakelite) because of 
the very low starting prices or no reserves.  This was not the case for 
my auction.

You may or may not know this, but many viewers are at least 25-30 years 
old. It is not a surpise to see loose screws holes. In addition, as I 
mentioned in my description, this viewer is in used condition. If you 
remember, I also included in my ad the wear on the green button, the 
broken piece and the clean battery compartment. In your e-mail, you were 
saying that I did not perform a very simple test, which is to plug the 
cord in, turn the adjuster and look through the viewer. For your 
information, I always test all of my merchandise before my auctions 
start and before shipping.

In summary, the viewer was not defective before the shipment.  It was in 
perfect working condition, including control of light intensity.  The 
viewer is a simple item with no circuit, which may break down during the 
shipment. That is why I do not have a good explanation for the cause of 
the damage. My best guess is that it may be the twisting cord resulting 
in a short-circuit.

Please do not get me wrong, but I strongly believe that you regretted 
the $115.00-bid from the beginning. To make my point, I would like to 
remind you your very first e-mail, which mentiones the $115.00 payment 
for a "broken" viewer.

Since, I am very sure that "the light was working" and my description 
was "accurate", I do not intend to refund any money you paid for this 
item.

Sincerely,
Mahmut Yuksel


My response:

Mahmut:

<< Please do not get me wrong, but I strongly believe that you regretted 
 the $115.00-bid from the beginning. To make my point, I would like to 
 remind you your very first e-mail, which mentiones the $115.00 payment 
 for a "broken" viewer. >>

	I had no regret whatsoever paying approximately $115 for a Realist 
Green Button viewer, in working condition.  As you know, I e-mailed you 
within minutes of the close of the auction to ask you for your address so 
that I could send you the closing price, and actually sent you a money order 
the very next business day.  In fact, I would have been most happy to receive 
a viewer in working condition as you described it.  In my view it was, and 
is, a fair price for a Green Button viewer, with the broken case, as you 
described it.  I am aware that Green Button viewers in cosmetically perfect 
condition sell for much more.  Since I am a user and not a collector, It did 
not bother me that the case was broken, as you had described.  In fact, I was 
and am prepared to deal with small problems like loose screws, although I 
would appreciate being told in advance and I believe an honest dealer would 
do so.  What is intolerable to me is that you offered for sale an electrical 
appliance, saying that it was in working condition, when in fact it was not 
only not working but incredibly dangerously defective.
	I am amazed that you have no intention of correcting this problem; I 
know I would never treat another person in this manner.  
	Perhaps there is another way that you can see to make good on this 
deal: if you have in your possession a working viewer of comparable quality, 
that normally sells for approximately the same amount as the the price that I 
paid for your defective Green Button viewer, I would be willing to consider 
an exchange.  For example, I would be satisfied with a Red Button viewer with 
minor scratches, a clean battery compartment, clear lenses, smooth 
mechanicals and no cracks or chips in the case to be worth close enough to 
what I paid and satisfactory in exchange.  As you undoubtedly know, Red 
Button Viewers normally sell for far less than Green Button Viewers, so I 
consider this a more than reasonable resolution to the problem between us.  
However, please don't bother me with any obviously unsatisfactory offers 
(i.e., a Brumberger viewer or a Life-Like viewer, even in mint condition, 
which I am sure you know are of insignificant value).
	I will refrain from further recourse for 24 hours while you consider 
the reasonableness of my position.  
	After 24 hours, I will consider myself free to share the details of 
this transaction with e-Bay administrators and anyone else who may be 
interested.
	Very truly yours,
	Jim Norman

"Malak's" final response:
Jim:

I received your email this morning.  It seems to me that either I could 
not make my point clear enough or you do not want to see my point at 
all.  Just to let you know once again, I am perfectly comfortable about 
the accuracy of my advertisement.  I believe that my ad included every 
detail that it needed.  In addition, the viewer was in working condition 
when I shipped it to you.  I have no doubt in my mind about that.  
Whatever happened to it, it happened either on its way or in your hands. 

I really do not appreciate the way you are handling this problem.  
Especially, the emails that accuse me with dishonesty.  I would suggest 
you that you take just a few minutes to take a look my feedback on Ebay.  
You will easily see I have 80+ positive feedback without any negative 
ones.  Besides, you will see many of my customers stating that the 
merchandise I sold them was in "better than described" position.  The 
bottom line is, my feedback on Ebay speaks for itself.

You have mentioned on your email that you are willing to have an 
exchange with another type of viewer.  I do not have such viewers in my 
possession.  Even if I had such a viewer, I would not be interested in 
an exchange.  I know for sure that what I sold you was working properly 
in my hands.

You really need not to be waiting for 24 hours until your further 
action, whatever that may be.

Sincerely,

M. Yuksel  

And there you have it.  Caveat emptor and good luck (and don't plug anything 
in!).

Jim Norman


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End of SELL-3D Digest 784
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