A good reason to get a PO BOX if you don't have one already: psycho buyers.

http://news.com.com/Police+blotter+Upset+eBay+buyer+makes+house+call/2100-1028_3-5809277.html

What: Dispute over quality of Pfaltzgraff Heritage tumblers that were purchased on eBay.

When: Arrest made September 2001, case decided July 20, 2005.

Outcome: After being arrested on charges of stalking an eBay seller, Jay Howard Rothhaupt sued. He largely (but not entirely) lost before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

What happened: When Rothhaupt bought a set of Pfaltzgraff Heritage tumblers on eBay for $59, he was unhappy with the quality. Even after eBay sellers Seldon and Phyllis Scott offered a full refund plus return shipping costs, Rothhaupt remained irked.
tumbler

After sending a string of nasty e-mail messages alleging fraud, Rothhaupt apparently thought he could secure a better response by showing up in person. So he drove from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, showed up at the Scotts' home and demanded $100.

It's not clear what happened next. The Scotts claimed that Rothhaupt refused to leave and they called the police (Seldon Scott is a special deputy with the county sheriff's department). Rothhaupt said he left the property when requested.

Seldon Scott followed Rothhaupt in his own car. Not long after, Rothhaupt was pulled over on interstate 71 by police and frisked. After acknowledging he had a rifle in the back of his car that he said was used for target shooting, Rothhaupt was arrested on charges of second-degree stalking, harassing communications, theft by deception, and third-degree criminal trespass. He was tried on two of the four charges and acquitted by a jury.

In response, Rothhaupt sued in federal court alleging his constitutional rights had been violated. The three-judge panel ruled in favor of the Scotts and the sheriff's department on all grounds but one, saying that the only claim that might have merit is that Rothhaupt was wrongfully arrested.

Quote: "We disagree with the district court on the propriety of the arrest, because (the deputy) lacked probable cause. Under the Fourth Amendment, an officer 'may not seize an individual except after establishing probable cause that the individual has committed, or is about to commit, a crime.'" --from the court opinion

Good article and should a warning to all sellers...
Even though the seller attempted to correct the problem the buyer choose to stalk the seller to their home....

America: Give me your tired, your poor and your sickos!

I've always used a P O Box when dealing with internet transactions...

Thanks for the heads up earthfragments!

elgato

I as well have a PO Box - Have had it for over a year. I figured I needed it after a real "gentleman" (on eBay) - threatened to "slit my throat". I still hold copies of all the emails. I actually have a folder titled "Psychos" and unfortunately theres a few different people in there. One never knows when info might be needed.....

Anyone know this guys user name? I'd be curious to see if it matches up with one I have in my folder!

littlebitz

Hi, I am also a Seller on eBay !
All I did sent them was his a Total for purchase, after I went to the Post Office to get real ship. cost . Ship. cost was $19. Canada to USA for a 8 day Penjalum C.Clock with 2 Heavy Cast iron weights .
Here is a Knoxville, Tn Psycho buyer I just had dealing with . I went to eBay for help, but like always. Sorry there is nothing we can do! .
Yes I filed a None Payment Dispute & she got her Strike today .
Who say`s it is Fun being a eBay Member these days ?? Especially not if one is a Seller . I have Hat-It with eBay !!

Byers last 2 e mail Remarks: ~~~~~
******
THIS IS MR CAYLOR IF YOU SEND ONE MORE HARRASSING MESSAGE TO MY WIFE I WILL PERSONALLY FIND YOU, AND OPEN ONE UP ON YOUR A**. SHE TOLD YOU SHES NOT BUYING THE STUPID FU**ING CLOCK!! GO TO HEL* FYI YOU REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE YOU PIECE OF TRASH LOSER! EH EH

*****
YOU ARE A SICK TWISTED SOCIOPATHIC LOSER OF A MAN, AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GOD SMITES
YOU TO HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!!! I, AMOUNG OTHERS ARE FIGHTING FOR YOUR BANNING, AND I WILL APPEAL
THIS UNPAID AND WIN. SO YOU GO AHEAD AND KEEP ON WITH THE NASTINESS AND SEE WHERE IT GETS YOU. YOU
ARE A PATHETIC SCUNG OF DEEP BOWELS OF PUTRIDNESS TRASH, NOT WORTHY TO BREATH EACH DAY I BET THE
MIRROR BREAKS WHEN YOU LOOK IN IT, OR DO YOU EVEN HAVE A REFLECTION? SAD, SAD, SMALL, MAN! GOD HELP
YOU.


Moderator edited out part of profane words as required in our PSU rules..Thanks for a great thread, otherwise!! Good to have you here!!

I had just one experience with a cuckoo, about several years ago.

It's kind of funny in a lot of ways. He bids, and wins 11 collectible toy
cars, then demands to stop by to pick it up, I made arrangements for
him to meet at a public spot - called Police Department. He then
changes his mind, and wants it shipped, and to resend invoice. I resent
the invoice but this time I removed my name and used my friend's
PO Box, and he then changed his mind, he and his buddy will stop by
at a Mall, I got pretty suspicious and stated, we will meet you at the
Mall. He then wanted to know who this "WE" was, and I confirmed, 2
buddies of mine.

Then he wanted to know if I was a he or a she, and I replied back with
Would you like ICU or CCU in hospital? No response, and a month had
passed on, I then filed FVF and slammed a negative.

He then writes back about 9 months later wanting to meet me at HIS
place and bring the cars and any others that he might be interested in.
I stated, I'm sorry - items have been sold, business transaction has
been terminated. He writes back with one word - OH?

A year and half later after the auction ends, he threatens a lawsuit that
if I do not surrender his cars which he paid for, he was going to sue me
for every penny I had.

Since I knew where he resided, so I provided him 11 different lawyers.
(gotta love online Yellow Pages) Everything that was advertised was in
that email, including the famous "advertisement should not be your sole
decision on hiring a laywer, and ask about ....." line. And I even told
him which lawyer I felt would be good to represent him, because he would
sorely need them in court.

He called the police and reported me as harassment. When my local
police came - they reviewed everything and with chuckles, I printed all
the emails I saved. Since that man has previous history of being in an
mental insitution and was clearly unstabled, they turned it over to the
State Attorney's Office to be investigated to see if he should return to
mental hospital or head to jail on several charges.

The last word I had obtained was a formal snail mail letter informing that
they have discussed with his psychiatrist and recommended that he return
to the State Mental Health Hospital for a time being, and if I have any
words or comments, to please fill in the space below ... (and I wrote)

Please see to it that he never have any access to a computer, and
that he be prohibited from being near or around computers, especially
online access, we already have one too many online. Thank you.

The final formal snail mail letter I received...

Thank you for your response and your comment was reviewed and
considered by (name withdrawn) and has been recommended and
approved.

(I wonder, if this was a 'canned' answer or a real human-kind answer?)

WOW!

I thought for a moment that MY ex was out of "the hospital".LOL Whew, what a relief. I know he is so crazy that he's terrified of computers so I never have to worry about him doing that crap! Be careful and stay alert. You never know what'll happen.

ROFL - good one - yeah!!! Those messages are very concerning - does make one wonder and be on guard!

Good grief...And I thought I had a bozo because she called folks names. I feel blessed now!!

I had one of those too even cursed me out something terrible. Had my real name, real phone number (back when I was naive ) Told me he was coming to my house. I welcomed him with open arms, I told him I would have my dog (puppy then) drag him in the house by his throat then, I would have my husband, who is an office w/ a weapon shot him in the A**. I told him, we ain't going to fatally harm ya, but every time you sit down to take a dump, you'll be reminded of A**hole you are. hmmm, wonder whatever happened to that guy Honestly, we wouldn't harm a fly but you show up at people's homes you are asking for trouble. Go to the authorities that is what they are there for, better yet, take em to court I took 2 people to court and won both cases non ebay related

Reminds me of the time we used to do a farmers market in a really bad part of town. There had been several robberies of the farmers and even one farmer had a bullet hole in his truck. Several farmers had BIG dogs along that would lay under their trucks.

Part of the problem was that some of the white farmers treated the black customers like trash.

I tried to always treat all my customers the same so I never had any problems. Another reason was that one of the years we had late sweet corn, but it was a bit wormy in the tips. So I had a small block of wood on my table and a machette that I was using to chop off the tip. Whack, whack, whack all morning long. Nobody ever bothered me, especially while I had that machette at the stand. Not that I'd ever use it on any person.

Carol

Thank for the article. Unfortunately now I have an idiot too who lives closeby. After 5 weeks of silence(deal was not consummated)recev'd yesterday an email from ''buyer'' via ebay's system which showed my street address. And that was all that was printed.

I use a P O box always. Never gave ebay my street.

Took 30 emails (his, ebay's, mine)to the Police Department.
Beyond belief mess. He'd best not follow through on his plan: a 30.06 and either of two Charter Arms .38 Specials are locked and loaded.

Here's a handy hint which I followed MONTHS ago: type your own telephone number into Google. If your name is associated (google has a link to do so+ ask Google to BLOCK/REMOVE you. )Sniggs