Blocked buyer sending threatening messages -- how is this allowed?

[sassykzt]

This individual is blocked  in my blocked buyers list AND blocked under buyer requirements ( don't allow blocked buyers to contact you).  This is not about an existing transaction.  He first sent a message in the middle of the night asking questions that were answered in the listing.  By morning the  listing had sold out.  I politely replied, the items were sold out but the info. was in the description part of the listing as well as in the item specifics.   He has since sent 27 verbally abusive messages despite being blocked in the 2 areas mentioned above.  I contacted customer service -- they were NO help.  I was told not to respond to him and ignore & delete his continuing messages.  HELP!!!

[buyselljack2016]

@sassykzt 

Anyone can go to your feedback page, and send a message from there by clicking on "Contact member".  It bypasses the "blocked bidder' list.

[iart]

Yes. Buyers can get away with anything in here. By not deleting their account they are allowing this person to harass other sellers too. I don't understand their reasoning.

But can't you find any humor in here? Post some of those messages (without naming the buyer). Let us all in on the laugh.

[sassykzt]

Threatening my business & my life w/ violence  -- No, I can't find ANY humor in this whatsoever. 

[simply-the-best-for-you · Accepted solution]

Try C/S again.  I had a similar issue with a 'buyer' spamming me to give them a discount, over 2 days, 15 messages or so.  I initiated a chat with C/S & explained that they were "spamming" me repeatedly b/c I wouldn't give a discount.  I gave them the item # & the rep could clearly see they were spamming me & the rep sent  a warning & I never heard from them again.   

My 'buyer' was not abusive or swearing, nor did they circumvent a BBL (checking that box only applies if you don't already have a communications with them), they simply refused to quit spamming me & the rep sent  a warning in under 2 minutes flat.  The whole chat only took minutes & they took care of it productively & immediately.   I used the words "spamming me repeatedly over X number of days & X number of messages" & I asked the rep to send them a "cease & desist".   I don't even think I said harass, but it can't hurt.    This was just a few weeks ago, so you may have just gotten a bad rep.  FWIW, I've had to do this a few times over the years & Ebay has always sent them a cease & desist, which must be worded pretty well b/c it's always resulted in a sudden end to the harassment.  

[simply-the-best-for-you]

They take it even more serious if you are being threatened or 'bad' language is used, be sure to make that known to the rep.  Usually they act VERY quickly if threats are involved! 

[sassykzt]

This customer service agent did not -- there were many graphic descriptions of violence ( I'll spare you the four letter words & gruesome language).  All the CS agent said was " Oh, there are so many of them.  You will have to ignore this man".    I already had a man ( 6 years ago) show up at my home from the return address on his package ( I  switched over to a PO box immediately).  I had to call the police-- he was arrested since he had 4! outstanding warrants for his arrest all for spousal abuse.  I 'm glad my local police took it seriously.

Thank you for your kind words!  I received another response asking me to find some humor in this and to share the messages😱

[sin-n-dex]

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@sassykzt wrote:

This customer service agent did not -- there were many graphic descriptions of violence ( I'll spare you the four letter words & gruesome language).  All the CS agent said was " Oh, there are so many of them.  You will have to ignore this man".    I already had a man ( 6 years ago) show up at my home from the return address on his package ( I  switched over to a PO box immediately).  I had to call the police-- he was arrested since he had 4! outstanding warrants for his arrest all for spousal abuse.  I 'm glad my local police took it seriously.

Thank you for your kind words!  I received another response asking me to find some humor in this and to share the messages😱

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I feel your pain... 20 years ago I had someone I went out on a few dates with over the summer call me every 15 minutes from 10am until 1am every day for a few days. I blocked their number. Then they started calling me collect every 15 minutes from pay phones. I had to block collect calls (sorry to anyone who might have needed my help). I called his local police department and they said for me to change my number (so I have to spend $100 just because the guy is upset about being rejected). Coming to my house wasn't an option, I moved back to Canada and notified Canadian Immigration that I felt threatened. But it still feels threatening to be harassed like that.

I do get ignoring is not the easiest thing to do and just seeing his user ID in your inbox makes your blood pressure go up. Do try with CS until you get a rep that's helpful. There are policy violations for this type of behaviour and enough of those will get this buyer suspended.

C.

[sassykzt]

I was shocked at the callous attitude of the CS -  I have to whole transcript of the conversation.  Rereading it makes me very angry.  Thank you for your kind words!

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@sassykzt wrote:

Threatening my business & my life w/ violence

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Nowadays that's called making terroristic threats. Do that here and you get sent to Parchman for up to ten years. It's no joke. Call the police or sheriff's department.

“(3) A person convicted of the offense of making a terroristic threat is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for not more than ten (10) years. ” Miss. Code § 97-7-75

[fashunu4eeuh]

@sassykzt 
Sorry this is happening to you.  It is against eBay policy for anyone to use the platform to threaten. Below are the policy pages this user is violating. Be sure to cite them to customer service when you make the report. In the Member to Member Contact policy, there is a link on the page specifically for reporting threats. This may help to get you heard. Good luck.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/membertomember-contact-policy?id=4262

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/abusive-buyer-policy?id=4374

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/threats-offensive-language-policy?id=425...

[chapeau-noir]

Just a note - your responding to this person even once obliterated the message block.  I know you didn't realise that this person was a crackpot, but that's how they got through, along with being able to contact you through your ID.

[sassykzt]

I never responded responded to him, only blocked him after reading some of the messages and then contacted cs.  The messages continued -- this is why this is so maddening!  Update on the situation -- reached out to CS, again was told to ignore.  Contacted law enforcement on advice of family attorney.  The case is now being handled by the district attorney himself and another branch of law enforcement.   They found this awful person and he is in custody as of this morning.

[sassykzt]

District attorney's office called this morning ,  he is in custody.  Local law enforcement took all the messages very seriously and acted immediately.  They were perplexed why cs did nothing  -- I sent them the transcript where the male cs just brushed it off as a prank.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

That's awful!  Glad local law enforcement helped!  It's frustrating the inconsistency in C/S.  I had mine dealt with in minutes by C/S & they took it very seriously & mine did not contain threats.  Crazy the response you got from Ebay C/S!