When to call the police on abusive buyers?

[zmoz]

So, if you're a seller on ebay, chances are you've had to deal with a belligerent, incompetent buyer about something. You probably also know that ebay doesn't care at all about you as a seller, and will do nothing about this, even when you report them multiple times as an abusive buyer.

It's not uncommon for them to start throwing empty threats. Amazon and ebay are teaching them to be extremely stupid and rude, they don't understand ebay is different when you purchase from an individual person, and of course, individual terms are set differently in each listing. Usually being a belligerent buyer just means you get to keep something for free with absolutely no warnings from ebay. (We have ebay to thank for this) They won't enforce their communication guidelines, either.

I am very particular about this if it involves me missing an item or a payment. If a buyer steals an item from me in any way (even with ebay's blessing) I will report both to the postmaster general (mail fraud) and their local police department (theft). Unlikely that anything will be done about it, but at least they will get a warning from law enforcement and it will be on record if they keep it up.

My question is, when should I report threats from buyers to law enforcement? I know most of them are empty, but that does not make it OK. I currently have a buyer sending numerous ebay messages that say things like "I will find you", "I'm going to get you for this", "I will get my money", etc, etc. He keeps insisting that he "knows where I am". Not direct threats of physical harm but I can read between the lines and the intent is obvious if you read the 30+ nasty messages. Ebay has been made aware, ebay has chosen to do nothing. (For reference this buyer is demanding a refund on a non refundable item with no valid reason)

I don't want to waste the time of the police over frivolous things, but on the other hand, people should not get away with making stupid threats just because they are hiding behind a computer. Ebay's answer to this problem is only making it worse than it ever has been. Should I make a police report about stupid threats like this? Should I call their local PD or my local PD?

I'm not particularly asking about this specific buyer, but something similar comes up on a somewhat regular basis. Buyers on ebay seem to be mostly really stupid people, and I'm tired of them getting away with it with absolutely no repercussions.

[bargainnation]

Sounds like a buyer from down under and I'm not referring to Australia.

I understand not wanting to waste the time of the police over frivolous things but you don't know for sure that the buyer won't act or try to act on these veil threats.  At the very least report it to law enforcement and to eBay.  It is better to err on the side of caution.

[fab_finds4u]

Yes, it is, and happy to say the OP is now  NARU.

I didn't see any indication they were making or selling custom made items. All their items were propane hose adaptors and the like.. If a buyer claimed it didn't fit is the only reason the seller won. If those hose assemblies leaked they would be forced to refund.  Calling buyers idiots or having a mental disability is shocking.  I guess they didn't realize every time they fought a refund when eBay stepped in they got a defect. Defects lead to suspension,,,,,,,,   another one bites the dust. And too bad because they were selling a product where there's a lot of completion and they were doing well. 

Sellers take heed- there is no such thing as no refunds.  If you fight them then that's not resolving the buyer's complaint. If eBay sees a pattern of not resolving cases you get the boot.

[inhawaii]

30+ years in law enforcement.  Those are not threats. They may be against some ebay policy for "rude behavior" or something like that, but no threat. 

[fab_finds4u]

@inhawaii  Elvis has left the building.  zmoz has been suspended.

[richard1rst]

As others have mentioned, in the absence of any real harm the police most likely will do nothing. And neither will eBay.

BUT

I am a big fan of Machiavelli.

One of his lines was "If an enemy attacks you your response should be so overwhelming disproportionate that he would never attack you again".

To that end since his address is available through eBay then you sue him, or at least let him know the suit is in progress,  for megabucks. I'm betting he never considered that as a response. Not only will it cost him money to defend but it should pull him up short.

https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/can-a-victim-cyberbullying-sue-future-damages.htm

[femmefan1946]

OTOH,you are wrong.

[vaseinda_0]

All I can tell you is I rarely get these types of buyers, but I can recall a time when the manner with which I engaged with my buyers would sometimes result in that kind of behavior.  So long story short, we really do in fact bring this on to ourselves.