I have been avoiding doing this thread for a long time. I really didn't want to drag anyone's name through the mud and I was ultimately hoping I could still get my ponies, but I have done The Arena a disservice by not making this post sooner. I apologize.
I am out 4 ponies and $40 and
Manda has refused to even talk to me anymore. Until I told her that I could see that she was logging on, she was still on here everyday, ignoring all of my messages. But I told her that I could see the last time she logged on and now she hasn't signed in since the end of March.
I was a fool and went through my inbox to clear it out at one point and deleted a few of the messages from her. However, I did not delete any of my sent items so I have very good approximations of dates. So, here is the whole story:
On around
January 16, 2013 Manda sent me a message offering me two pony sets I had listed in my wanted thread. She said that she had seen the Walmart Pinkie Pie and Friends set at her local Walmart and could pick it up for me if I wanted, in addition to a brushable Starswirl that she was expecting to get from one of her international friends she was currently buying from. (I say around because I deleted her message but my response was on
January 18 and was apologetic for not responding sooner, which is what I do if I don't reply to someone the same day.)
At the time, Manda had no feedback and I was weary but I figured that we all have to start somewhere. So I told her that I would be very interested in Starswirl and depending on price, also the Pinkie Pie Set. I asked for a price on the set and a shipping quote on the
18th.
On the same day, she replied that she was interested in a trade/partial trade for some of the blind bags I had on
my sales list (and a few others if I could find them at my local shops) for a Spike I was also interested in.
We talked back and forth a bit this same day and figured out some details. I wanted Starswirl for sure, regardless of price. I was hesitant about the PP Set because it was $20 and I was low on funds. She replied that her Walmart actually has them on clearance for $10 and I was on board. We worked out that Starswirl would be $20, PP Set would be $10, and Spike would trade for 4 of my blindbags.
The next time we talked, I sent out a message on the
20th of January and she answered the next day. I talked about blindbag moulds and that I hadn't been able to find what she wanted but I would check another store the following day. Her reply included that she was able to get the PP Set on sale. I told her I couldn't find any of the blindbags that she wanted so she would have to choose from the ones on my sales list. We agreed Royal Riff + Twilight Sky + Cadance + Fluttershy for Spike. I asked if $35+shipping was okay for the sales portion of the trade/sale. ($20 for Starswirl, $10 for PP Set, and $5 for her time. She had quoted me $30 but I wanted to give her something for her efforts too).
The next day (
Jan 22) we worked out shipping and total cost to $39.92, including paypal fees. We shared home addresses for shipping and she shared her email for paypal.
On the
23rd of January, I paid $40 to her paypal. I preferred a nice even number so I rounded up, especially since she had been so nice this whole time, even agreeing to debox the PP Set and send me the art from the box. I told her I submitted payment and that I would send out the ponies around the 28th.
On the 25th, she confirmed with me what box art I wanted.
On the
26, 27, or 28th (I deleted her message but I replied on the 28th so I am not too sure on the exact date here), she told me that she had picked up the PP Set and I replied I hadn't sent out the blindbags but that I needed too. I really didn't want to send out my end until I received ponies, though, since I had already paid her. I didn't tell her as much but I really should have.
On
February 6th I responded to a message that she had sent about a week earlier (I am not too sure the exact date but I remember being apologetic for taking a week to get back to her) that had said Starswirl was still being waited on because she was shipping internationally. She also wanted to know if I wanted to get Ploomette II from her while we were waiting for Starswirl, since Ploomette II was in my wanted list and she could get her. I replied not to stress about Starswirl because I understand international shipping takes time. I told her I really shouldn't be getting another pony at this time but to check what prices were anyway on Ploomette, just in case the price is right. I apologized about falling off the face of the earth for a week but that I was having some difficulties at home. That got us talking about some very intimate details about mental illness and life. She gave me advice on coping mechanisms. We exchanged gmail chat and Skype info. We talked quite a bit and I thought I had made a new friend. I had to cut a chat short because I need to go grocery shopping before the store closed and I think she may have interpreted that as me thinking poorly of her because right before I cut the chat short, she was talking about conspiracy theories (which is right up my alley! I actually felt the exact same way!)
After that time though, we didn't talk again until Starswirl came in which was
February 20th. She messaged me and asked if I wanted her sent out right away or if I was going to want Ploomette II too. This was the last time I heard from Manda.
I replied on the 27th that I would ask my bf about Ploomette II but to send out what she has now. I asked her if she would be willing to chat with me again.
On
March 1st, I apologized for taking so long to reply to her message from the 20th and that I had talked to my bf and that he said to hold off on Ploomette II for the time being. I also told her that her blindbags were ready to send out.
On
March 5th, I messaged her that I sent out the blindbags and asked her how she was.
On
March 21st, I asked her if she was okay, if she received any of my messages, and if she had received the blindbags. I asked if she sent out her end and I expressed my concern that I hadn't heard from her. I wished her well.
On
March 23rd, I sent the following:
"Hello again!
I still haven't heard from you and I was missing my ponies. Can you still ship them out? Did the blindbags I sent to you ever make it? Are you doing ok? Can you please give me some type of status update?
I hope everything is okay. Please let me know what is going on with Starswirl and the Pinkie Pie set as soon as possible.
All the Best,
Pony Adventures"
On
March 29, 2013, I asked for a status update, asked if she was still able to send out her end and if not, she needed to let me know and in which case, I wanted a full refund and my sealed blindbags sent back to me. If she needed more time, that was perfectly ok too, she just needed to tell me. I pleaded that she let me know what was going on. I complained that she hadn't even told me if she received the blindbags alright. I told her that I could see that she had been on the arena on her profile, so it seems that she was merely avoiding me. I asked if she was alright and if there was anything I can do and to please just let me know.
(I was checking her profile regularly to see what her last sign in date was. She was on here almost every day or every other day up until I sent her this message.)
The final message I sent is written below and occurred on
April 6, 2013:
"
I am getting weary of this. I sent you $40 near the end of january. I sent you four blind bags in february. It is now april. Please send me a full refund and the unopened blind bags (or $10 for their worth + what I spent on shipping) or send me the ponies you promised me.
You came to me to try to get me to buy from you. At the time you had no feedback and I was worried but I figured we all have to start somewhere and gave you the benefit of the doubt. I could have bought the same ponies from someone established. And if you recall, I wasn't going to buy the Pinkie Pie set until you talked me into it. I was just trying to meet new people here on the arena and do you a favor.
I will still give you positive feedback and harbor no resentment if you would just talk to me. However, if you choose to keep ignoring me, I will give you negative feedback, complain to a mod, and perhaps create a buyer beware post about you. I really don't want to do that though.
Please respond to me.
All the Best,
Pony Adventures
"So that is the story.
I realize that I may have been too aggressive but I was irritated. I messaged the mods and they were unable to get ahold of Manda. ponylady directed me to make this post so that everyone else would be warned and so that we might get her attention, if she is lurking. I am sorry this took so much of your time just to read and I thank you for hearing me out. Please let me know if you need anymore details.
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