Comments on: Police blotter: Upset eBay buyer makes house call

A weekly report on the intersection of technology and the law. This episode: an eBay deal goes awry.

Wow

The guy got a full refund, so what was his problem. Wierdo.

Wow

The guy got a full refund, so what was his problem. Wierdo.

Brainiac bad at math

Let me do the math here. He doesn't want his $59 + shipping back, but he'll drive 200+ miles each way (and it could be twice that) to ask for $100? That's a minumim $30 (400mi/30mpg/$2.25/gal) in fuel alone and six hours of travel, and at minumim wage (what is it? $6.50 or so?) that's another $36. Since he has more time than money let's say we count just his fuel. $100 - $30 = $70. Does it make sense to drive six (or is it 12, we don't know) to make a $70 (or is it $40?) profit? Now if he used sick or vaction time to drive out there then he's really in the red!

I'll go on a limb and guess he's not so good with numbers...

[R. U. Sirius]

I'll go further

The buyer is a moron. The seller offered a full refund. What more could you ask for?

[zeroplane]

He isn't bad at math, he is jobless and insain

Oh please, I have been duped out of $80.00 dollars on eBay. I learned to be more cautious and research from who I'm bidding at before bidding. Especially if I'm bidding on items over $100.00. If you don't have a phone conversation with the seller and confirm their phone number and address then you are asking for trouble. For something over $1000.00 I would do a history check on the seller and demand their SSN. Then hire a gum shoe to shadow them for a month before bidding.

If that doesn't work, go steal money from the kid's piggy bank and swindle some extra cash from the elderly neighbors to cover your losses.

It is simple math we are talk'en about here.

Geesh. ;P

Brainiac bad at math

Let me do the math here. He doesn't want his $59 + shipping back, but he'll drive 200+ miles each way (and it could be twice that) to ask for $100? That's a minumim $30 (400mi/30mpg/$2.25/gal) in fuel alone and six hours of travel, and at minumim wage (what is it? $6.50 or so?) that's another $36. Since he has more time than money let's say we count just his fuel. $100 - $30 = $70. Does it make sense to drive six (or is it 12, we don't know) to make a $70 (or is it $40?) profit? Now if he used sick or vaction time to drive out there then he's really in the red!

I'll go on a limb and guess he's not so good with numbers...

[R. U. Sirius]

I'll go further

The buyer is a moron. The seller offered a full refund. What more could you ask for?

[zeroplane]

He isn't bad at math, he is jobless and insain

Oh please, I have been duped out of $80.00 dollars on eBay. I learned to be more cautious and research from who I'm bidding at before bidding. Especially if I'm bidding on items over $100.00. If you don't have a phone conversation with the seller and confirm their phone number and address then you are asking for trouble. For something over $1000.00 I would do a history check on the seller and demand their SSN. Then hire a gum shoe to shadow them for a month before bidding.

If that doesn't work, go steal money from the kid's piggy bank and swindle some extra cash from the elderly neighbors to cover your losses.

It is simple math we are talk'en about here.

Geesh. ;P

[j3st3r]

Lesson Time

Every is vaguely familiar with Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware. On the flip side, Caveat venditor - Let the seller beware. Especially important when the buyer happens to be an idiot who has a map, a rifle and too much time on his hands!

[j3st3r]

Lesson Time

Every is vaguely familiar with Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware. On the flip side, Caveat venditor - Let the seller beware. Especially important when the buyer happens to be an idiot who has a map, a rifle and too much time on his hands!