As usual, eBay woes

Every time I get a message from an eBay member I break out in hives, I tell you.

(This does make me feel doomy about making eBay so important in my life...)

Long story short--this person feels that I didn't include the "book" with the game. I immediately replied, "Did you check the packaging?" and I also asked them which was missing--the book or the map or both.

Listen, I've learned that a lot of people do not completely inspect the box. I know that sounds patronizing and evil to ask that question, but it's true.

I didn't hear anything back for a day and a half, so I emailed again, asking if they had found the book or map.

I received a reply finally (this morning) that the book was missing (but they did not clarify whether the map was missing (I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS (though I recognize the irony in that statement))) and a bit of not-quite-strong language wanting a refund or at the very least a refund for the book part. (Why does it matter if the map was missing? Well, they were together. So if only one is missing, that's strange. If both were missing, well, then, I might have shipped them to somebody else, though I doubt it highly.)

So I responded by refunding the entire purchase price (but not the shipping) and I said:

Normally I would wait for one more email just to be certain that the book or map is not there before I send out a refund; I've had people overlook things before only to find them later (multiple times, actually).

However, you are clearly upset about this issue, so I've just processed the refund (but not the shipping charges).

Thanks and have a nice day!

What's your opinion, flist? Was I too nasty? patronizing?

I've been wondering about this for the better part of a year.

Those of you who are fluent in Russian--

There is a blogger named Denis Yakovlev whose blog keeps popping up when I do searches. Somehow my poem about the Giant Squid is somewhere on the page.

However, I can't figure out where, or why.

Strange link.

If you're bored and have a moment, can you look at it and let me know why my poem and I are being referenced? Thanks!

Massive gratitude to the awesomeness that is furiosity.

ha!

ms_hecubus was right.

Have just received insanely positive feedback from the eBayer who couldn't communicate--my little bit of snark went right over his head.