Advice: Physical Threats and Chargeback from Directory Owner

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice. I have heavily promoted and owned my directory for several months now and have run into a problem I am not sure how to handle and also to give a heads up to other owners in the community. I am not going to reveal at this time who this person is, hoping that I can come to a resolution, but I am sure it will come out soon enough.

First, this directory owner has been promoting heavily for the last 2 weeks or so. I received an email from him stating that he would like to make a $100 bid on my directory and if I would be willing to bid on his directory. I looked and was impressed and agreed that I would like to bid $75 back on his. Which I did.

A couple of days later I received another $230 bid from this person. Great! Then a couple of days after that I started getting emails asking me to send him the $230 back?? I was confused. I sent him the following email response.

This morning I received this email along with a claim in PayPal..

So, I am looking for some advice.
I responded to the payPal claim and have contacted local authorities who have a copy of the email on file in case something does actually happen at my residence.

I am just so confused and angry over this situation...

Anyone?

Thanks!
Lance

 

Thanks, I agree, I am sure it was an empty threat, but you can never be too sure. It just makes me angry that a fellow directory owner, who knows the rules would try to coerce another owner to "cheat" and "artificially inflate bids" and then start a a PayPal dispute after the bid was made and I refused to "cheat" other advertisers on my directory.

 

the guy was obviously hoping you would be interested in inflating bids and is now pissed this isnt the case
doubt paypal will be so interested in his dispute since he didnt pay for physical goods

as for the threat well its lame but there isnt much more you can do than contact local authorities but I dont think its anywhere near that stage even

 

Keep it off a public forum for a start, pm anyone that you know here for some advise if you feel comfortable doing that.

By local authorities im guessing you mean police?

Really, its very sensible to keep these things private, deal with it through paypal, do it through their channels.

Imagine would two large rival companies come to a forum and start posting private messages.

Keep it private, discuss with your family maybe, or like i say, by pm with members here if you feel they can advise you.

After you have it sorted, then if you still feel like warning people here, do that, but secure yourself first.

 

thanks Pipes, I appreciate your comments and understand. I have tried to work it out with him.. No avail.

But I do agree with you. Thanks again.

 

I can see how Dir owner B may have thought with the first transaction that the sting was on, even though it was not your intention. For my many years dealing with crap people, i would 100% refund the $ and wash your hands of it, otherwise it just gets into muddy waters. then if you want quietly warn others.

 

Well...

When you agreed to bid on his (whether sincere or not) and he bid on yours then BOTH violated a
trust factor/Bid directory Sin as that would fall in line with some off the basic rules that most had
to adhere to in fairness from foul play and inflated bids. (I would assume you dont know that thread
as it hasnt been around for a long while so i can understand the mistake)

Now as for the letter....

He was trying to "punk ya" to get his money back after he seen his money going south with no return in sight.

Regardless i hope someone brings back that thread with the basic rules and you sort out this situation.
(though he would be officially "burnt" in my book for being shady with NO refund available.)

You do what you feel is right and wish you success....

thx
malcolm

 

Hi Malclm,

Could you please elaborate on this? I am assuming it was directed at me. Typically when I receive a new bid from a directory, I look at them and look around and see where they are promoting and how heavily, if I like it then I will bid on their directory, not becuase they bid on mine, but becuase of the other owners that have chosen to invest in this directory and how it might benefit mine.

I have invested thousands of dollars bidding and advertising and have NEVER asked anyone to bid back on my site. In fact, most of the sites that I bid on have very low relative bids on my site. I spend money on big sites for exposure and targeted traffic.

That is why I told him I would not bid on his, just because he bid on mine again and don't feel as though I have done anything wrong.

Again, my response was (there was NO DEAL ever discussed over this bid):

 

Thiers a thread (here at DP) that was made with alot of common rules a few months back
that you dont know about and just things that the script cant control but should be adhered too.
I dont think you ment to do any harm but where influenced by another party unwittingly so i dont
fault you for not knowing.

Whether you decide to refund is your perogative but when someone tries getting over on me
then they shouldn't expect any favors or returns. (but thats me not you so....)

Do what you feel you must to sort out the situation and be rid of this person

thx
malcolm

 

Quote:First, this directory owner has been promoting heavily for the last 2 weeks or so. I received an email from him stating that he would like to make a $100 bid on my directory and if I would be willing to bid on his directory. I looked and was impressed and agreed that I would like to bid $75 back on his. Which I did.

here you went wrong with bidding ethics.

Better to stay clear of this kind of bid tactics.
keep is clean and fair, dont give discounts.
my 1 usd should be have the same value as any other bidder or link buyer.

and btw these kind of directory owners are the ones screaming on the forums like

he i have invested 10.000 usd to linkbuilding, and give other the wrong impression.

My 2 cents stay clear of this kind of tactics, and keep it fair.

 

I agree with you here. I even asked several "BIG" bid directory owners here before I ever responded to him, they said that if I would have bid on his directory after receiving this bid (which I would have) then it was ok, in fact, many of them did as well.



I agree with you, completely.

 

Not much idea, but as the deal is completed, paypal can't be against you..

Show paypal the product(bid here) is delivered.

 

Well if his TOS dictate that NO refunds are available then....

In the end its his choice or option...

thx
malcolm

 

understand your reply a bit better now, i did not know about the thread, my reply was more in general with dealing with these type of people, it is not worth the hassle and they just cause trouble no matter what, when or where.

i have had threats from all sorts of hoodlams in my lifetime and none of it is worth it and you are better of just giving the $ back and moving on, these people have small brains and limited focus outside of their latest rant and are worse than small kids who can't have a lolly.

 

In first case you should not be saying yes to the agreement

Here no exchange will do anything good for you and others

I hope you understand it

 

That is EXACTLY my point. My point is I WOULD have made the original bid that I made on his site anyway. He just chose to contact me first.

I would HAVE NEVER agreed to any "Fixing" of bids, which is obviously what has been going on with this owner as I look around at all of the directories he ranks higher than me on now.

I refused to "inflate" bids for him and now he is pissed.

 

If you’re in business on the internet for many years you will run into every kind of nut possible, some might end up at your door even. Unless you want to deal with a lot of crap always offer full refunds to anybody who is not happy with your service.


Having a few pit bulls for those who might end up at your door can be a good safeguard as well.

 

That is EXACTLY my point. My point is I WOULD have made the original bid that I made on his site anyway. He just chose to contact me first.
I also want to make it clear that he sent me $100 in PayPal and then I bid a full $75 through PayPal on his directory.

I would HAVE NEVER agreed to any "Fixing" of bids, which is obviously what has been going on with this owner as I look around at all of the directories he ranks higher than me on now.

I refused to "inflate" bids for him and now he is pissed.

 

Hahaha.. thanks Stoner, I new I had my Pitbull for something... I just thought it was to lay by the fireplace.. lol