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I don't usually like to post about problem buyers, since the issue usually resolves itself or just fades away, but this buyer, jaim_crod on eBay AKA Jamie C. of San Francisco, had been nothing but a headache.

In the course of 24 hours, we exchanged no less than 22 emails. It started off with her wanting to know where her package was. It was no biggie - that is a common enough question and I was able to pull up the information showing her that her package was being held as undeliverable by the USPS because no one was at home to sign for it when it arrived (I always send everything registered as a safety measure).

Then she started emailing me, asking me to call USPS to arrange a same-day re-delivery at 10am to her front door. Not only was I unable to do so as the package was not addressed to me and I cannot pose as the addressee to request a re-delivery (senders cannot request for specific re-deliveries, or even just normal re-deliveries with registered mail - there are a lot of logistical issues with this), I am also all the way in Singapore and she was expecting me to make an overseas call. Granted, overseas calls are cheap when you have Skype, but they are still a nightmare to use due to the time lag in VOIP services.

So I gave her the instructions on how to contact USPS to request for a re-delivery, and she emailed me with every little update, such as how the post office was not open yet for calling, so she will call later; how the post office was not responding to phone calls; she asked me again and again to call USPS, despite me explaining that I am not in the position to pose as her. In the end, I said I'll issue her a full refund since even if I were to re-send it, I will still send it by registered mail, and so the very same problem may crop up once more if no one is at home at the time of delivery. She agreed to it.

I sent her the refund immediately and thought that was the end of this. Nope.

Within hours, I received an email from her saying that she found out that she had been calling the wrong post office, and has called the correct one and now wants to know how she can self-collect the package. I explained politely that since she has been refunded, she cannot collect the package. She then asks how to send payment, and I gave her instructions on using Paypal, which she did not have at all and by this time, we were over 20 emails in within a 24 hours period. I was drained, weary and frankly not about to get a headache over a grand total of US$11.99. I told her flat out that she has received her full refund, and since she has so much trouble trying to arrange for a collection of the package, it will be easier to just call it quits.

Finally, she asked if she can just re-buy the toy and self-collect the package. I agreed to that. Guess what? No payment received, but package has been confirmed by USPS to have been delivered! Delivery confirmation was registered online as clear as day!

I'm out $12, hours of my time, my toys, and now, have a nice neutral feedback that reads:

"Had a bit problems and seller didn't really do any thing."

1) I'm pretty sure responding super-fast in emails (how else can we exchange over 20 emails within 24 hours) despite our time zone difference is counted as doing something.

2) No one, not even the President, can ask USPS to deliver a very specific time on registered mail service. If you want time-specific deliveries or re-deliveries, that is usually the most expensive option with courier companies. I should know, because I often have to ask Fedex to re-deliver to my place, and they can only offer me the options of morning (9 to 1pm), afternoon (2 to 6pm) or evening (up to 8pm). Take note that I use Fedex services for thousands of dollars each month. Seriously.

3) I cannot and will not pose as the addressee to request for a re-delivery, because there are too many possible legal complications. To request for a re-deliver in Singapore, we sometimes get asked some personal information that is privy only to ourselves; I cannot even on goodwill help her request for a re-delivery because I will not have her personal information should they ask me something besides her name and address.


In short, if you want a nightmare buyer who expects the seller to bend over backwards for her and end up not even paying a single cent despite having received her item, you can welcome jaim_crod to bid on your items.

I have sent her an eBay invoice. I will update in a few days to let you know if she decides to do the right thing and pay for what she received.

UPDATE #1: I called eBay about the feedback, and they agreed that the feedback is contradictory to actual events. Ebay's rep told me that they can see clearly that there was a lot of email exchange taking place, so to claim that I did not help at all was false. As a result, the neutral feedback will be removed. However, I cannot open an unpaid item case on this. We'll just have to see how honest the buyer is.

UPDATE #2: With over a week gone and 3 eBay invoices going unpaid, I think we can safely assume that this buyer is not intending to pay. A case of "I have to work to get my package, so it should be free" mentality at work here?