(non-EB) seller screwed me over

[Sokratesz]

Good afternoon folks, there's a short tale that I'd like to share with you:

I bought a 6990 monorail set last week, on the Dutch 'Marktplaats' website, which is kind of like Ebay but less 'serious'. It arrived Saturday and was missing almost half the pieces and included some very badly damaged ones even though the seller had it listed as 'complete and in good condition'.

I called him yesterday afternoon to inform him about the status and he immediately claimed that it had been 'complete as he had gotten it'. I carefully explained what 'complete' means in the context of LEGO sets but he quickly degenerated into calling me a liar and eventually hung up.

So I mailed him shortly after, again explaining my position and requesting that he cooperate to solve the problem. He replied threatening to sue me for slander, said he would send his lawyer after me, and said I was being rude for disturbing his Sunday rest like this

According to Google he is about 20 years old and doesn't have an impressive résumé when it comes to intimidating people, so I ignored his threats and offered him two solutions, either he take it all back and gives me a refund, or he refunds part of the value so I can complete the set myself.

Again, he replied in an absurdly threatening manner. He is going to send his lawyer after me (whose cost I supposedly have to pay ) and sue me for slander and fraud.

I again ignored his threats and repeated my offer, and he hasn't replied since.

Unfortunately for him I have his full name, address and registered phone number + bank account, and according to a good friend of mine (who happens to be a police officer) there's enough information and evidence for them to summon him for questioning and order him to fulfil his obligations as seller lest he be fined for fraud. I'll give him a few days to think it over but when he doesn't reply in a satisfying way I'm going to report him.

More as it unfolds ;)

- Sok

[Saint]

sadly it happens on "Martkplaats" more than you think I was conned out of € 150 for a WII a few months back.. With that in mind I'm even more careful about doing stuff on the internet.

I guess you can even report the fellow to the Marktplaats staff aswel. If he has a bad reputation , he will be purged from Marktplaats, sadly that will not prevent him of making another account and selling on Marktplaats in the future .

Hope it will work out for you !!

[JopieK]

always go to the police... also Kassa and Opgelicht might help (Dutch TV programs). I recently helped an American friend with Marktplaats and he just got his stuff... Bt.w. did you pay by bank or paypal? You can also ask the bank to retrieve the money I think in some cases.

If you don't really know sellers, the best way is to pick it up. That is what we do with large LEGO lots on Ebay at least.

[Rick]

Good afternoon folks, there's a short tale that I'd like to share with you:

As bad as this is for you, this is not really a discussion topic. The way you present it now, it sounds more like a way to vent your (understandable) frustration.

I'm sorry, but topic locked.