Ever get used by a so-called "Friend"?

[KermieBaby47]

I never did, until about a year ago.

I bought a whole bunch of Muppet figures off eBay for a friend I met through here, almost $300 worth. We had an understanding that he just didn't have a credit card (at the time apparently, cuz now he's got his own eBay account), so I would do the transactions through my eBay, and he'd send me payments for each figure. It started off okay, I got a couple payments and the total is now down to just over $200 -- but then nothing, zip, nadda, zilch-o.

I waited a bit (cuz this is a person I had trusted), and then sent a nice e-mail as a reminder. He wrote back, said he'd pay real soon, so I was happy & confident that I would see a check in the mail anytime. Nothing. Waited almost 2 months more, then sent another e-mail, this one a little more stern. Haven't heard anything since. Last month I sent a PM through here, and still I haven't gotten a reply. I even asked that if he was gonna stiff me the money, at least tell me so I could write him off as another friend gone bad, but still not even the courtesy of any kind of reply whatsoever.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? I don't know about the rest of you, but 200 bucks is a lot to me, it's a lot to do for a friend to just get taken for IMO. It's been almost a year now, so you can imagine the interest that has stacked up on this total, and I'm not even asking for compensation for the interest. This person has me so angry right now, and I feel like every time they read something from me that they're just laughing all the way to the bank. It's like I had a banner slapped on my head that said, "PLEASE, WON'T SOMEBODY STEAL $200 FROM ME?!?! I DON'T NEED TO PAY MY BILLS!!!" Except that I do have to pay my bills. I am a responsible adult who has to take care of things like that, oh yeah, and I have a conscience. I guess some people don't have to worry about responsibility and conscience.

Anyhow, I had to get this off my chest. Hopefully I'll hear something soon, or maybe drop dead of surprise at the sight of a check in the mail. Sadly, I seriously doubt that. It's also extremely infuriating to see posts about all this other stuff he's bought since, and everyone else seems to have gotten their money.

Hopefully this won't happen to anybody else here on MC, just please be really careful of who you trade with, or any online transaction with somebody you "trust". Online personas are a tricky thing, you really have to suspect everyone apparently, even someone who seems like the nicest person in the world.

Thanks for listening everybody, peace.

Anthony

 

[Ilikemuppets]

That is just cold. But I'm not sure I would spend 300 bucks like that for anybody, much less on the internet. Sorry you "got taken" like that. Some people just really just arn't trustworthy in this world.

I don't lend or borrow because that is the best ways to get taken. I give, but never borrow or expect anything back form anyone, though. I've learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[MuppetsRule]

. . . just please be really careful of who you trade with, or any online transaction with somebody you "trust". Online personas are a tricky thing, you really have to suspect everyone apparently, even someone who seems like the nicest person in the world.

Anthony

This is good advice for everybody that trusts the internet. The internet allows everybody to remain anonymous to others and to great, friendly, trusting people like we have here on MC that can be dangerous.

Sorry for your loss, Anthony. Did you ship him all the figures or were you shipping them as he paid for them? If you still have them you could at least resell them. If not, unfortunately, you have to rely on him/her coming through or look at it as a very expensive lesson. Sometimes the tuition for life's lessons can be expensive.

Does MC have a good/bad trader thread that he can be reported to? I know other collecter's sites have such a thing where you can post good or bad experiences with other users. Kind of like a feedback system.

Just curious. I noticed you mentioned you had met the friend through here and still read about other purchases he makes and pays for. Is there a reason you don't post his/her user name? Are you still considering him a friend and trying to protect him/her? If so, it is very honorable. If I were in the same situation as you I'd be very tempted to out him publicly on this transaction.

 

[KermieBaby47]

Thank you both for your input.

Yeah, I didn't want to just put his name out there, as we have some mutual friends here on MC. I've told one person who this guy is, and that's probably the only way I'll tell anyone is through a PM. But you're right, it is very tempting to oust him.

I never thought for a second that he would do this to me, so yes; all the figures were shipped straight to him from the sellers. I just changed the shipping address in my PayPal payments. It just really sucks 'cause we got to meet in person and hang out for a few days about a year and a half ago at a Muppet-type gathering. Seemed like a really cool guy who I considered a friend y'know? Oh well.

Thanks again.

Anthony

 

[furryredmonster]

Has the person logged into MC since then? It says so in their profile. (Unless they chose to be invisable) Maybe something happened to them if not? Just a thought.

 

[KermieBaby47]

Oh yeah, he's logged in. Posted replies in other threads, started new topics too.

He's here. Like I said, he must have no conscience anymore. He's purposely choosing to ignore me, basically admitting that he's a theif, and that he doesn't care.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....................

 

[KermieBaby47]

To anyone who might read this thread, I don't feel bad about outing this guy anymore, as now it seems that he'll be leaving MC (Post #32).

It's Frogster, or Luke/Lucas as he might be known to others, his real name.

Just wanted to finally let this go, he's obviously not going to pay me back. I mean, I can always hope, cuz 200 bucks is a lot to just let go, but I dunno.

I've tried to contact him through MySpace (here's his account), but he won't write back. I was gonna ask a few Muppet friends here to send Friend Requests, then maybe post something like "Pay Anthony his $200", and then take him off their Friends list, but maybe that would be going too far. But when I think about it, it's not going too far. Not paying someone the money that you owe them, and completely cutting them out of your life, THAT'S going too far.

Oh well. People's is people's eh? To anyone who reads this, thanks for reading. This is one of the horrible things I'm going through in my life, so it matters to me to at least be able to get it off my chest here at MC.

I hope I don't upset anyone with this thread, definitely not my intention. Just wanted to send out a warning for dealings with this guy.

Cheers,
Anthony