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Bad experience with eBay seller Bandersnark, also known as Snark on this forum.

Hi all,

here's a "nice" story about my recent experience with this person from Canada.

I bought the following The Cure cd from him:

http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/The-Cure-signed-Pornography-autographed...?

He also listed this item at the Buy/sell group here: http://live.autographmagazine.com/group/free-autograph-buy-sell-tra...

I bought it, thought he could be trusted since he also listed here. To be sure, I asked Roger Epperson's opinion a few days later (stupid, I know) and he said: "afwul item and not even close".

I asked Snark to refund me, off course after I sent the item back to him. I did the item (even unopened) back to the post and sent it back the 9th october (I have a recipe of the shipping costs I made, but of course this has no value).
I mailed Snark and he only said: "I hope you used tracking, because otherwise there is no guarantee I will ever receive the item back". I already saw the problems coming: he immediately covered himself by asking if I used tracking. I knew that I would never get a refund.
I also asked him to refund my shipping costs because that seems logic to me. His answer: "nice try, why would I do that?".
Maybe less common but I also asked him to refund the 15 dollar I paid for Roger's opinion. To me this seems logic too, I refer to his description on eBay: "I guarantee that these autographs will pass authentication by Roger Epperson".
Seems this phrase has no value at the end.
He also states that "further details of signing will be given to the buyer". I haven't receveid any details because I'm 99,9% sure he wasn't there when the cd was signed.

I didn't answer him and let it go for a few weeks, because off course I didn't use tracking. I just posted the item the normal cheapiest way, and never ever had any problems with this way of posting in all the transactions I did (all sort of items from all over the world). 20 days later he didn't receive the item so that's impossible. I'm 99,9% it's already collecting dust in his house.
His last mail states: "let us be honest, if you are trying to get a refund, you should have used tracking".
Maybe the item is still on its way, but I don't believe in fairytales.

But in the end, he'll say shortly with a smile that it's his word against mine. It's easy to cheat on people far away from overseas. I know I'm right, I'm just a music lover searching for genuine items, nothing more, nothing less. I rely on the honesty of traders when I do transactions.
Another lesson in the autograph hunting for me, and maybe other buyers will think twice if they want to buy something from him.

Tags: bandersnark, ebay, snark

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bjorn VDB on November 5, 2014 at 8:25am

No problem at all JXE! I didn't saw you accepted the friend request. I was indeed going to ask you some more about claims on ebay.

I'll try to call ebay in a couple of days, I'm away till friday.

Permalink Reply by Xwiesy on November 5, 2014 at 4:27am

The amazing Kreskin, everyone! Oh, did you use tracking? No? Well then I have a vision that I'll never receive the package!

Permalink Reply by Snark on November 5, 2014 at 11:23am

'Prove it -- just the facts.'

Permalink Reply by Null on November 5, 2014 at 11:25am

How is this thief still allowed on these forums?

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 5, 2014 at 3:37pm

We allow anyone discussed on Autograph Magazine Live! to be a member, as long as they're not disruptive.

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on November 5, 2014 at 3:46pm

I would yank his For Sale posts though until he can have those sloppy messes authenticated.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 5, 2014 at 4:53pm

I didn't know he offered things for sale here. I'll take them down.

Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on November 5, 2014 at 1:55pm

Agreed, I think this member should either refund or be banned from this forum. A clear scam and forgery, not sure we would want someone selling forgeries on here

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on November 5, 2014 at 2:05pm

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on November 5, 2014 at 3:39pm

Guy couldn't prove he sent it back. He didn't track it. That's not questionable. Lots of folks would have done it the same way. Not everyone is as up to date on the requirements of EBAY. You obviously were. You got over. You predicted if it wasn't sent with tracking that you probably wouldn't get it back and you played through.

Your autographs look like crap anyway. You are the master of the sloppiest examples possible. Half your junk would be rejected. You act like your a pro yet you take the stupidest things to get signed. Old CD's and used ticket stubs. I cant believe anyone would buy that junk. I still think you buy and flip. I see you buy from other autograph sellers.

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on November 6, 2014 at 8:16am

I think most of your for sale items are junk or messy examples that would be hard to authenticate. You seem to have collecting sloppy sigs down to a science.

Reply all you want. I've stated my opinions and nothing going to change them. Done wasting time on a weak characters like you where $100 bucks is obviously life or death.

Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on November 5, 2014 at 3:27pm

You said the item would pass Roger's authentication, it failed and is therefore more than fair to say it's a forgery. PayPal only sided with you as there was no tracking details although Bjorn has clear evidence of returning the item and the first thing you said was did you send it with tracking.

I send a lot of items all over the world and only twice out of thousands have I had an item go missing or lost that were not tracked and yet amazingly you jumped on the no tracking and made it pretty obvious you knew Bjorn was stuck as he had no tracking. Items can take weeks but your attitude and manners made it clear you were never going to admit if you ever got the photo back so hence why we feel you have pulled a scam.

Bjorn made 1 error, trusting you and not tracking the item and he has suffered a $100 loss.

You sold a forgery and this site does not need or want people who are questionable and definitely not people who sell forgeries and then lie about things so I hope that Wascher and Steve will take action.