Virtual representations

[days_unfolding]

I'm in the middle of my second-ever eBay ripoff. The guy from whom I ordered the cat tree kept on saying that he was behind and to wait a little longer, and I was trying to cooperate with the jerk. While I was in N.C., he deregistered his eBay user ID. Unfortunately, it's too late to get my money back from eBay. His email wasn't accepting messages, but I found another email address on a web site that he has, and sent him a strongly-worded note stating that I wanted my money back; otherwise, I would first call him and then contact his local police department. (Ironically, he's in N.C., but not close to Raleigh.) Now I need to follow through on my threats. The part that I find difficult is calling him (though if I were him, I wouldn't be answering my phone). I'm out $225, which isn't the end of the world, but is enough money to be upsetting.

Someone also is forging my user ID in spam headers. To add insult to injury, the spam is for--how do I put this--male enhancement products? He's sending out 2-3 emails five days a week, and my email is filling up with "undeliverable mail" messages (which I'm reluctant to delete because they provide a record of what he's doing). I'm trying to figure out a way to spam their order site.

I know that anything that can be used can be abused, but bleah. I'm half-tempted to go offline for a while.


I exchanged emails with someone with whom I haven't talked to in about 10 years. I'm going to talk to him next week, and I've been grappling with the "this is your life" quality of trying to fill him in. I've come up with some things to say, but it's tough to disguise (not that I would) the downhill path that I've been on. We'll see how it goes. I'm curious to hear how he's been doing.

I got a couple of books of walks in the City, with the idea that I'd get into shape for my next trip (and also, they'd be fun). The only problem is that many of them involve stairs, and I'm not sure how well my knees would react to them. (What do people with arthritis do in San Francisco?) I guess all I can do is try them and find out. Maybe take public transportation and take industrial-strength ibuprofen, which makes me woozy.

One walk is in Golden Gate Park, and it goes past a rose garden. I said to myself, "I should go up there in June, when the roses are in bloom".

Adrienne, it is June.

That about sums it up.

Comments

June Already?

[papoose.livejournal.com]

time's a flyin'

Re: June Already?

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

it sure is

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Contact your isp and offer to forward all the undeliverable emails, making sure you include all the headers. It might not be the same person, just someone who picked up your address somewhere else.

I assume you've emailed eBay about it. I had my credit card number stolen once, and tracked the person to an eBay id. I contacted them, and while I never heard back from them, they canceled his id.

One good thing about paying with PayPal is that if you have fraud, PayPal will often make sure you get your money back, although it seems to take awhile. I went through it once, and while the quality of the interaction left a lot to be desired, I did get my money back.

I know I'd never send a check or a money order.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

Hotmail won't deal with forged headers. They also were less than helpful about another problem that I had. I think that when you use Hotmail, you're more-or-less on your own.

eBay won't do anything because it's past their deadline for making a claim. (They couldn't revoke his user ID anyway because he already deleted his ID.) It's past Paypal's deadline for making a claim too.

Re:

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Oh - yes, you're on your own. That's why hotmail addresses should be treated like throwaways ;)

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

I pay for mine, which makes me wish that Hotmail support was a little more helpful. I use this ID for eBay, so I can't dump it right now. I also have a lot of emails that I'd have to archive somehow.

[lesliesailor.livejournal.com]

(What do people with arthritis do in San Francisco?) Ummm-m-m, I think they complain about the stairs and then get knee replacements! At least, my Mom held out for as long as she could and then she got one knee replaced and then the other!! Now, she has no problems what-so-ever, and we all have a hard time keeping up with her!! In fact, she broke her wrist last December, and my Dad thought that would slow her down, but it didn't... Seriously, though, I think people with arthritis just take the stairs one at a time and go slowly.

I can't believe it is June already, either. This year has just virtually disappeared!! The walk in Golden Gare Park is beautiful, and the rose garden is phenominal when all of the roses are in bloom. You shouldn't have any problems with that walk, either, because I think it is mostly flat.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'm too young for a knee replacement, but I think that I could complain really well -;) I probably should be able to take the stairs slowly. My knee might lock up sometimes. The last time that I went walking in the City, I walked in North Beach, Telegraph Hill, and Russian Hill, but I think that was pre-arthritis (or early arthritis). Those are the type of hills that I'm worried about.

I was glad to see the walk in Golden Gate Park listed. I've been around the museums, but haven't really explored the park. And yes, it should be an easy walk.

E-Bay & Life....

[allisonway.livejournal.com]

Never ordered from e-bay, and haven't really looked it over (maybe a glimpse), so I didn't know you could get ripped off like that. That really must be annoying, though. And the spam....ugh.

Wondering about this guy you haven't spoken to in 10 years. How did you two get in contact, again?

Re: E-Bay & Life....

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

On eBay, you're at the mercy of the seller. The vast majority are honest, but a few are not. I've been on eBay for years and estimate that I've gotten 50 or 60 items over time, and I've had problems with dishonest sellers only twice. But yes, it's annoying when it happens.

The guy and I work for the same company at different labs in different cities. We worked together on a project; he and another writer would come down to work with us, and we would meet during the day and go out and party during the night. We also exchanged a lot of e-mails and phone calls, and got to know each other surprisingly well, considering the distance. We exchanged contact info at the end of the project and intended to keep in touch, but fell out of touch anyway.

Now I need to consult with him about a business matter. I'm sure we'll catch up on what's been going on after we cover the business side.