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Thread: Difficult customer

  1. #1
    Senior Member Annie's Avatar
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    Default Difficult customer

    A while ago I put a 'pen for sale' ad in the appropriate section here. I was selling on behalf of a work colleague. I presented it well with good photos and my price plus the payment terms - paypal.

    Next I get a message asking for my lowest price and telling me they would pay by Western Union. Nope. Read the ad - it says paypal and the price is the price.

    Another message. No, he doesn't have paypal so it's Western Union. Nope, not doing that. I tell him so. Next, miraculously, he can do paypal but he wants me to fake the customs form so that the value is far less. No, not doing that either and I tell him so.

    Time passes, tumbleweed drifts down the road. More messages, which I ignore. And today, another message with enquiries about the pen - again.

    Yes, I still have the pen. No, I am not selling to you. Any other ideas as to how I can get this person to Foxtrot Oscar?
    Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/peachez


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    Senior Member Kaputnik's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    No useful advice, but you've reminded me why I keep putting off selling some of my extra pens, and other things I wouldn't mind getting rid off. Well, one of the reasons.
    "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."
    G.K. Chesterton

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    If it's by PM, put him on ignore.

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    Senior Member Annie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    If it's by PM, put him on ignore.
    Brilliant idea! Many thanks.
    Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/peachez


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    Senior Member Wile E Coyote's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Just tell him to "Foxtrot Oscar," then put him on ignore.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    I love this phrase, thank you for that!

    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    I really did not think we had that type of scammer customers here on this board. You are doing the right thing in blocking them.

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    That guy seems to have ticked all the boxes.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Unfortunately, that sometimes works in both directions. There is a rather well known fountain pen maker who does absolutely drop dead beautiful pens but only accepts payment be bank transfer. I will not make a payment by bank transfer so even though his pens are exactly what I might want I won't buy them.

    But I can still lust after them in my heart.

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    Senior Member Annie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    That guy seems to have ticked all the boxes.
    Unfortunately yes he has.
    Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/peachez


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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Marking down the value in customs form isn't that big of a deal tbh. Pens cost a rather lot of money and most wouldn't want to pay their government extra taxes. If buyer is assuming full responsibility of loss in transit, then it should be okay.

    Other than that, I think asking to pay via PayPal only was reasonable as were the other conditions.

  17. #12
    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by Dhruv View Post
    Marking down the value in customs form isn't that big of a deal tbh. Pens cost a rather lot of money and most wouldn't want to pay their government extra taxes. If buyer is assuming full responsibility of loss in transit, then it should be okay.

    Other than that, I think asking to pay via PayPal only was reasonable as were the other conditions.
    If someone asks me to mark down the value on a customs form the deal stops right there. Sorry but that is simply not done!

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    Senior Member Cob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Dhruv View Post
    Marking down the value in customs form isn't that big of a deal tbh. Pens cost a rather lot of money and most wouldn't want to pay their government extra taxes. If buyer is assuming full responsibility of loss in transit, then it should be okay.

    Other than that, I think asking to pay via PayPal only was reasonable as were the other conditions.
    If someone asks me to mark down the value on a customs form the deal stops right there. Sorry but that is simply not done!
    Agreed. I had some bloke somewhere in the far east telling me that customs duties in his country were high and so would I etc.... I remained unimpressed and acted accordingly.

    Cob
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    The other absolute is I will only ship when fully insured and with tracking. I don't care if the buyer says they will assume any liability, the rule is fully insured and with tracking or the sale ends right then.

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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    I hope I never reach the level of obsession in this hobby where I would be willing to engage in fraud or harassment. Jiminy Cricket, they're just pens. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!

    Happy Thanksgiving - Bob

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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    I completely agree that falsifying customs or other documents is a nonstarter but I recognize some national cultures are very accepting of these types of practices. The US and much of Western Europe tend to be less open to corruption than other countries and I’m perfectly okay with that.

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Completely in agreement. I won't falsify customs documents.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post

    If someone asks me to mark down the value on a customs form the deal stops right there. Sorry but that is simply not done!
    Then I know whom not to bother with while buying.

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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    .


    Agreed. I had some bloke somewhere in the far east telling me that customs duties in his country were high and so would I etc.... I remained unimpressed and acted accordingly.

    Cob
    90% of these pointless laws which bother us and force us to do this have come from your country anyway, and I know more U.K. Buyers who do this, so yeah.,.

  31. #20
    Senior Member Cob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Difficult customer

    Quote Originally Posted by Dhruv View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    .


    Agreed. I had some bloke somewhere in the far east telling me that customs duties in his country were high and so would I etc.... I remained unimpressed and acted accordingly.

    Cob
    90% of these pointless laws which bother us and force us to do this have come from your country anyway, and I know more U.K. Buyers who do this, so yeah.,.
    I have no idea what you mean. Duties - excise or VAT are Taxes not "laws"; you are not forced to do anything. No one is required to buy from England, and were I to buy from India I should have to pay duty or more properly, VAT on import. So what exactly is your point?

    Cob
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

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