I won the bid!  I drove 500+ miles to pick it up.  Then...

Returning It

Not everyone out here in eBay land plays with a full deck. Take me, for example. When the bidding got up to $36, I bid thirty-eight eighty-eight. I was shocked to see the by the confirmation message that I had offered 3,888.00 dollars! I had visions of moving to remote (sic) Gondwanaland to escape the arms of the law because there are only a limited number of ways via which I'd be forced to pay for this puppy. Thank god for me, some asshole had bid $150. Thus, using eBay's to me obscure price escalation method, I only owed $152.59 plus shipping.

I was relived.

So happy was I, in fact, that I emailed this fellow right away, telling him that I'd be right over  to pick up the item. (All the emails are below.) His name seems to be Don Berg or Connie.  You see, I live in a near-by city in an adjacent state, only 340 miles, as the crow drives on Google Earth, and that's only a few hrs away from my house. (And the weather was beautiful. And I was planning on going there in an hour or so anyway, for some other reason.)

A friend picked me up an hour after the eBay bidding had finished. And I expected to reap that there big eBay panacea bonus, FREE SHIPPING, that's because there wouldn't be any shipping. And I'd save all the trees the trees and the oil and all that, because all that is used up by packing and taping mailing stuff.

Etc.

So we set out for Boise, Idaho, a couple of hrs later -- my friends and me. Boise is where my new used Casio Wave Ceptor awaited me. My friend has one of them thar new-fangled electric hybrids. All the better, still for our environment. And I'd have a previously-owned Casio Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 watch, to replace the old one which went belly up some years ago.  They don't make them like they used to. In fact -- and it is a fact, Casio doesn't make it anymore. I've checked (2010).

And that's a good thing. Last year, a young pimple-faced, but nice kid derided me for having such an old-fashioned calculator-style timepiece.  He explained, if he needs the correct time he just pulls out his cell phone and looks at that.  My first digital watch cost more than $1000 in 1974 USDs.  And it didn't have room for phone numbers in it and it didn't listen to Fort Collins's Atomic cesium gadget in Boulder Colorado for the ticking of the GMT to correct itself, down to a gnat's femtosecond. Well,  maybe only to a drosophila's -- melanogaster or not. And it wasn't made of plastic, where the paint rubs off.

 Upon checking into my room at the airport hotel in Boise, I emailed my eBay vendor, 2_themoon, and told him  I'd be right over to pay him, cash, and pick it up. That way, he'd gain, too because he wouldn't have to pay the PayPal fee (although I'd loose out on my credit-card kick-back, but who cares, its for a good cause: Our environment :)

We went out for dinner laughs and drinks with some local friends who met us at the airport hotel and had a swell time at the Outback restaurant nearby. Then I pulled up my emailed reply from Connie, my eBay purveyor, saying something to effect that he does not have a store front and that was a good reason why I can't go there. Who cares if he has a storefront, as long as he has my one in a million used, from a dead corpse's widow's estate-sale, WaveCeptor 150. I was aghast.

An email exchange later, I was even more aghaster to learn that he wasn't willing to drop by the hotel front desk to drop of the item for me either. I thought, what an ass -- who would ever want to do business with one as grumpy as that?

All's well that ends. Upon my suggestion Don Berg / Connie offered provide free shipping, which I think is the least they should have done, without being prompted, after all that this trouble. When I arrived home two days later I paid using PayPal, he quickly sent me a USPS confirmation / tracking number and the package arrived promptly shortly thereafter.

      On-line Bribery
They almost all do it, these internet vendors. To them, the star-rating is a big deal because buyers beware. So the 2the moon guy did it too.  At least that's how I interpret what he said:

Hi,
...I appreciate your positive feedback and will automatically leave positive feedback for you whenever I receive it! If something did not go right with this transaction, please email me before leaving feedback so I can try and make it right.     (Emphasis is mine)

What I think he's saying is that the it he's waiting to receive is a positive feedback star rating, and not a negative one. I could be wrong, so I asked, kind of (see email correspondence below).

Bribery for feed-back stars is common online -- on eBay and Amazon.com et al.  Maybe this isn't that but look at this, from Consumer Reports:

Shipping was prompt; the package arrived from from Bonnie Berg, 5869 N Collister Dr, Boise, ID 83703.  The item was as described * but unsanitary:  There was a hair (thin, light brown) stuck to its display box:

*  The watch's light is inoperative.

 Emails

From: KRP
Date: May 4, 2011 11:46:59 AM MDT
To: 2themoon@cableone.net
Subject: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

Hi,
It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358. I am going up to Boise, leaving in 1 hour, will be there soon, maybe by 5 or 6pm today. If you will email me your address, I'll put that into the GPS and arrive to pick it up do-day, pay cash if that's OK.

Thank you kindly in advance for your soonest reply.

No reply, and it was time to leave; my friends were on their way to my place to collect me, so 45 minutes later I asked again with the sane email and that's all she wrote -- until I arrived in Boise.

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 4, 2011 1:03:50 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

Hi,
I am so sorry I do not have a store front and due to a bad experience I do not offer local pick up. You can see from my feedback I mail promptly.
Thank you and again I am sorry.

So sorry, eh?  Very, very sorry means really sorry. 'So so' means middling, moderate, ordinary, adequate... I've never understood 'so sorry' but I hear it a lot.

From: KRP
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 7:30 PM
To: 2themoon
Subject: Re: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

I do not need a store front, but if yo really don't want me to come over,. You could come to the Idaho airport Best Western tomorrow; else please wait until I return home, but I have your cash now, thanks.

Sent from my iPad

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 4, 2011 10:16:12 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

I am so sorry but due to a bad experience I do not offer local pick up or delivery. All items sold are mailed USPS.
Thanks.

From: KRP
Date: May 4, 2011 10:37:18 PM MDT
To: 2themoon <2themoon@cableone.net>

Subject: Re: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

Thank you. I cannot imagine what kind of bad experience you had to prevent this transaction here in your city, Boise, but it take you at your word. Perhaps you might be so kind as to consider free shipping, as shipping is wasteful and unnecessary since I am here in town now.

Of course it's up to you. I had hoped I'd encounter a full service purveyor here on eBay. It is what it is. After I return home I can make your payment, or if you wish, I can give you my credit card information here and now via clear text return email, please let me know about that if you wish, or simply gall me -- you have my number, at your earliest possible convenience and thanks in advance,

Sent from my iPad

Well, he did gall me by now :(

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 5, 2011 8:34:59 AM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: It looks like I have this bid, Item number:140540516358.

Yes I will ship this to you with free shipping. I am sorry I have no way to directly process credit cards but you can pay by credit card through PayPal. I will send you a new invoice that reflects the free shipping. The invoice will give you the opportunity to pay using your credit card through PayPal.
Thanks.

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 6, 2011 3:55:20 PM MDT
To: "KRP"
Subject: RE: Item #140540516358 Instant payment received from har1.414

Hi,
PayPal received and item will be in the mail today (5/6/11). Your USPS delivery confirmation number is 9101150134711710724993. Thank you for a flawless transaction.

I appreciate your positive feedback and will automatically leave positive feedback for you whenever I receive it! If something did not go right with this transaction, please email me before leaving feedback so I can try and make it right.

Thanks again!
-Connie

Yes "something did not go right" here.  That's why I made this web page and I'll email him this URL")

From: KRP
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 5:37 PM
To: 2themoon
Subject: Re: Item #140540516358 Instant payment received from har1111

Thank you; You don't need to leave any feedback for me because I'm not interested in my feedback. Thanks anyway for offering that. I don't understand what you mean when you say "whenever I receive it!". I thought I was through with all this... I can't imagine what you mean when you say you'll receive something from me.

It seems this is getting more and more difficult. How hard would it have been for you to meet me or drop it off at the airport hotel for  the delivery of  the item  for  which  you  made  a  tremendous  profit  (I bet)?    (Emphasis is mine)

All's well that ends well, but this didn't end well -- The item was damaged "in transit".

Returning It
To: Connie or Don Berg
5869 N Collister Dr
Boise, ID 83703-3829

Subject: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."
From: KRP
Date: May 9, 2011 7:46:00 PM MDT
To: 2themoon <2themoon@cableone.net>

RE: "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Thanks for sending the watch quickly; it arrived on time.

It works well -- in the daytime, but not at night when it's dark. That's because its light does not light. So, I've repackaged it because I'd like to return it to you. I wish you had more carefully checked and mentioned this defect in your eBay description! Please credit my Discover card account accordingly. It would be proper to have a refund of the mailing charges, which I can tell you about after I return from the post office. It's too bad we're having this problem -- perhaps we'd have been better off if you had allowed me to pick it up as was my initial expectation because we'd have known right then and there, as testing the light is easy and the most basic check -- and maybe I'd have purchased it anyway, but for a lesser price -- maybe.

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 9, 2011 7:52:28 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Please return and I will refund the purchase price for you. I am sorry the light is not working for you it was not in the description as it worked just fine. I am not sure why it is no longer working but please return it.
Thanks.

From: KRP
Date: May 9, 2011 8:28:00 PM MDT
To: 2themoon <2themoon@cableone.net>
Subject: Re: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Thanks; Yes checking the light is one of the easiest and quickest things one would normally check. I have a feeling you didn't do that although you say that you did. I think so, because the watch -- and I have many years' experience with these Casio Data Banks -- the reason I doubt that it worked is that a faint and tactile click obtains when depressing the light button, and this has never been the case in my experience.

You did not say, though you seem to have implied that you won't refund my shipping charges. Is that correct?

Thank you kindly in advance for your reply.

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 9, 2011 7:52:28 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Please return and I will refund the purchase price for you. I am sorry the light is not working for you it was not in the description as it worked just fine. I am not sure why it is no longer working but please return it.
Thanks.

From: KRP
Date: May 9, 2011 9:15:27 PM MDT
To: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Subject: Re: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

OK, I understand and give you the benefit of the doubt. However your offer is weak, in my opinion, especially for a watch that has a mechanical or electronic defect. Thank you kindly for your reply.

(I'd be ashamed to wear it and have to admit to friends that I'd paid more for it than an for equivalent brand new one :)

Again, what about my shipping costs?

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 9, 2011 9:55:29 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Please return it and I will refund your money. Yes, I will refund your shipping.

From: KRP
Date: May 10, 2011 10:11:15 PM MDT
To: 2themoon <2themoon@cableone.net>
Subject: Re: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Thank you, the thing is in transit. I don't have a tracking number but I'm sure I can get one for you if you like; it was mailed this afternoon.

So, the total I expect to be refunded is $165.27; please let me know if you disagree. Please let me know when the refund has been accomplished.

Thank you kindly in advance.

I sent a printed copy of this web page along in the box in which I returned the watch.  They didn't say moo.  But they refunded the money:

From: "2themoon@cableone.net" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 12, 2011 11:06:55 PM MDT
To: "nowsc@yahoo.com" <nowsc@yahoo.com>
Subject: You've got money!

PayPal

Don Berg sent you $12.77 USD

Hello,

Just thought you'd like to know Don Berg sent you $12.77 USD.

Note from Don Berg:
This is for the return shipping for item 140540516358 CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. Thanks.

Don't see the money in your account?

If you haven't confirmed your email address with us yet, you won't see the money in your account until you do. Confirm your email address now (You'll need your confirmation code: 0304-2852-6315-5753-1659)

When that's done, the money will show up in your PayPal account and you'll be able to see the complete payment details. (It sometimes takes a few minutes.)

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 12, 2011 11:08:02 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Hi,
Your money has been refunded. PayPal will not allow you to refund more than what was originally paid so you will receive two payments. One for the watch and the other for the return shipping.
Thanks.

From: KRP
Date: May 13, 2011 4:21:19 AM MDT
To: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Subject: Re: Item #140540516358 "This is a men's CASIO Wave Ceptor Data Bank 150 Wrist Watch. It is in good used condition."

Thank you; It's appreciated!

Then I noticed that not all of my shipping costs have been refunded!  Apparently 2TheMoon has little experience in refunding shipping costs and didn't know that PayPal takes a cut of 67 cents:

So, I must email again; it's getting very tiresome, all this eBay and PayPal stuff:

From: KRP
Date: May 13, 2011 5:51:33 AM MDT
To: "2themoon@cableone.net" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Subject: Re: You've got money!

Thank you for the shipping refund and the other, but it's not complete. I think you may have little or no experience in this refunding-business and were unaware that PayPal would take its cut of the money you sent me for shipping. PayPal withheld 67 cents and I hope you will refund that to me at your earliest convenience. If you find it easier, you may send me a check via snail mail; you have my mailing address, yes?

I do not see the statement on the PayPal web page, for the $12.10, which it says it has paid me for shipping -- that this amount has indeed been credited to my Discover Card account. (Such a statement *is* present for the refund of the purchase price of the watch). So, I'm at a loss to see what that means! Where is my money for shipping? As in the past, with questions to you, I have had to ask three times, sometimes, in order for you to answer. I hope that won't obtain with this question.

So, in short, I don't know where my money for the shipping refund is.
Thank you kindly in advance.

From: "2themoon" <2themoon@cableone.net>
Date: May 13, 2011 3:07:02 PM MDT
To: KRP
Subject: RE: You've got money!

The return package weighed 1 pound. Per the USPS the shipping cost was $5.15 not $9.17 as you claimed. You claimed insurance, the package was not marked insured. Insurance on $152.00 is $2.85 not the $3.00 you claimed. But I paid in an effort to satisfy you. But I find there is no satisfying you. I am done. I will not read or respond to any more bullying emails. I have refunded your money and I am done.     (Emphasis is mine)

Here's the rest of my money, plus a small tip.  My opinion-- and I could be wrong -- is that 2The Moon is at least as mean-spirited as I.  I drove for six hours and stayed overnight in Boise Idaho to pick up this thing.  @TheMoon refused and refunded the shipping only mit Ach und Krach.  Bo be fair, it is probably a little unusual for a customer to want to appear to the Breg's doorstep to claim their merchandise and pay cash.

 Link:  Here is my 2TheMoon -- my Property on the Moon:

 Unpleasant experiences:
Amazon.com's TexereSilk
Sit-n-Sleep Co. 
Midwest Optical Company
Buy Cheap Software  

---

 Links:
Are We Living in the Matrix?
The Standard model
Peter Lynds: On a Finite Universe with no Beginning or End
Why do Americans still dislike Atheists?
Books about time