A month ago I bought a washing machine on trademe for washing horsecovers. Turned out I was dealing with a 13 year old who had described the machine with 13 year old optimism, it was supposed to be 3 years old, it is (according to the repairman) 8 years old. It was supposed to have an intermittent fault that meant it didn't spin about once every 5 cycles, it doesn't spin at all as it never stops washing (not a good trait in a front loader you will understand). In short not much use for anything - repairman doesn't even want it for parts. The young seller also implied in the listing that he had owned the machine since new - it came with an auction house lot number sticker on the side.
I advised the boy that the machine was older than advertised and also terminally ill. Two weeks later I got a reply that said "sorry about that, I will try to write auctions better in future, I think u got a bargain" I sent him a perfectly polite email back (a little sarcastic maybe) saying I was very pleased I was not a beneficiary in desperate need of a washing machine and at least I could afford to be ripped off and that I thought he shouldn't be trading on trademe (which of course he shouldn't be as it is against their terms and conditions at his age)
Tonight - two weeks later again - I have got a rude email from his mother. Apparently he is extremely traumatised by the way I have reacted over this and I had no right to suggest he had ripped people off, he was still learning and I should understand that and not upset her son. He said he was sorry so I should get over it. It's all my fault.
Where is this child going to end up?
When my children did the wrong thing I made them fix it (and if it involved money they didn't have I paid it and made them pay me back).
She has a very carefully worded reply... had to rewrite it three times to ensure it was actually polite.
he is to young to be on TM.
report him.
his parents has to take responsibility and they have to learn to look after their son!
get your money back!!
you have no social connections or emotional connections to this kid or his mother.
it could even be his mum sellimng things and the 13 year old might not even exist,,playing on peoples feelings and not force him to pay back what he did get from you!
I reported him after the first email telling me I got a bargain. This may have added to his trauma LOL. I would hope so - I actually hope I upset him a lot so he might learn something since his parents seem unable to teach him morals. TM have not disabled him (he's a new trader so no feedback record either to prove he is capable of trading responsibly)
He definitely exists I spoke to him on the phone after winning the auction and he told me what hours he was home and where he went to school! Asked to speak to his mother or father when we picked it up and Dad came to the door said it was the boys trade and sent him out. They declined to take any interest in it until I apparently upset him.
Trouble is I don't have any legal recourse - he's under age. I will be sending the email from Mummy to trademe if I don't get something more responsible in a day or two.
In all honesty I had written the money off and intended to dump the washing machine next time we went to the dump - I am just a bit gobsmacked by the attitude!
From the TM Terms and Conditions:
"3.1 Becoming a Member: Becoming a member is free. You may only register as a member if you are resident in New Zealand or Australia and can form a legally binding contract that is enforceable against you. For example, you must be 18 years old. By registering as a member, you warrant that you can form a legally binding contract."
Looks like he has an illegal account on TM, and TM should deal to it right quick.
I see you shiver in anticip......................................................................................ation
You could try the Disputes Tribunal first.
Had a trader recently, of obvious Asian descent (name suggested so) who threatened to take me to the disputes tribunal over a pair of insoles[:0]
She was incapable of trimming them down a fraction, then wanted refunded and not send them back, then when they arrived and I had refunded her, she threatened me with the Disputes Tribunal.
I told her (politely, of course) to fill her boots. I had refunded her, had proof of refunding her and not my fault she could not find the deposit at her bank.
I would never let this go since both the boy AND his parents need to take responsibility! this is his parents thing to sort out since he is unde age!
TM has to step in and stop his account!
Yes I feel that the boy should not be allowed to continue trading. He needs to be taught a lesson - so do his parents actually and I'm fairly sure that legally, the parents should be footing the bill of the sale of a useless machine as they are responsible for the actions of their son, he being under age. Lying or stretching the truth, to say the least, in order to make a sale, should be strongly condemmed by his parents, right at the start of his budding career, or he'll learn that its okay to lie as long as you can get away with it. The only path he'll end up taking with an attitude like that, is a path to prison in the long run. Kids need to know that bad actions have consequences and the general public don't like being swindled.
45 hectares between Whangarei and Paparoa. Registered Dexter cattle, Wiltshire sheep - black, white & pied.
New Hampshire Red poultry & Dorking poultry. Pilgrim Geese, Appleyard Ducks.
A cat called Pusscat and still looking for another heading dog.
quote:Originally posted by Inger
~~or he'll learn that its okay to lie as long as you can get away with it. The only path he'll end up taking with an attitude like that, is a path to prison in the long run.
Or possibly a very promising career in POLITICS! [}]
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Yes????
Well notify your fecking face ya miserable lookin sod!
“Add life to your days, not days to your life.â€
"Live life as if every day is your last, one day you will be right".
I am guessing that getting over her original maternal instinct to defend her young she has perhaps discussed it a bit with other people and maybe had a good look at the auction and realised how misleading it was and that I might not have been that unreasonable.
Certainly we have a change in attitude since two days ago, have an email this morning stating she saw my point and would refund.
Pleased I managed to keep the discussion polite on my side (I very nearly didn't...)
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