A bit of reading for the sharp of mind

[derekcohen]

Here are two links to separate threads I have been involved with over the last couple of days. It is finished now, but I thought it might interest some of you. Have a drink at hand.

Read this first ... (I started this thread)

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...lapsed&sb=5&o=

and then read... (I later contributed to this thread)

http://www.ibiblio.org/japanwood/php...a89507c3bf2b28

The latter is the entire thread. My section comes in on the second page but there is pertinent information from about half way through the first page.

Your opinions are always wanted.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[bitingmidge]

I think I need a drink AFTER reading too!

Of course I'm greatly sympathetic Derek, although mildly dissatisfied with your politeness through the whole charade. I admire your self control!

In the end, I suspect the blood-nose would have been a better outcome, the lack of responsiblity shown by the seller reminds me of a clip I saw recently of a person on trial for selling "photographs of iPods" on eBay. The perpetrator continued to plead innocence despite the evidence, and it is clear that some people have a rather different standard of ethics/morals to the one that I would like to think I display.

There's some interesting stuff in there apart from the bunfight.

Did you ever receive a definitive response from Shaptons? Would you mind posting an update here for the benefit of those (me ) who don't haunt other forums (fora?)?

I was particularly surprised to hear that the stones are meant to be kept dry, and wonder what the difference is in the binding medium, as I understand that Kings and others are best kept wet?


Cheers, and thanks for the insight!

P

[RufflyRustic]

Shheeeeesssshh!!!!

What Midge said!!!!

cheers
Wendy

[bfx]

Derek,

I'm with you: this guy has abused the Ebay system. Even if he can wiggle out of his description that it "stays flat for a long time" he can't deny that he has described the stone in the Japanese Tools Forum as a problem and this should have been declared in the Ebay description.

"Sold as is" is all very well but if he cares about his reputation he should accurately describe the "..as is" part. His offer for you to return the item so he can relist it (ie sting someone else) clearly indicates reputation is not as important to him as it is to some of us.

I love the comment in his support that posting these sort of issues is not in keeping with the gentlemenly club nature of the Japanese Tools Forum. Who said (Oscar, Groucho, Hawkeye) that they don't want to be a member of any club that would accept them as a member?

I, for one, am going to be a bit more cautious when I deal with Ebay in the future.

Bill

[tameriska]

Fair bit of reading there Derek.
As bitingmidge put it, you were very polite throughout the discussion, and I think that was to your advantage.
I admire your guts for going to bat with the seller on his 'own turf' to uphold a principal.

Best of luck with your stone, I hope that it stabilizes enough for a few years of enjoyable use after all this.

[silentC]

Here's what I think: He knows that he has been busted but he's never going to admit it on a public forum.

[Groggy]

Derek, I guess this turned out exactly as you thought it would. Sometimes it is best to tackle dishonesty where it lives. He seems to have his little nook of friends who don't want to think badly of him, though I am sure they won't be buying from him without some care in the future.

Considering the forums this is now spread across, I suspect he will need a new alias on eBay, certainly informed buyers will be alarmed at his attitude.

My gut feel for the stone is that he may have done something silly with it, then ground it down to remove the evidence.

[rat52]

Derek,
I don't normally buy into or comment on forums when it becomes personal.
You were right to take it as far as you did and although it is bound to leave a bitter taste for a while take heart that most agree with your actions.

[Bodgy]

Derek

Remind me never to offend you in any way.

[johnc]

I was surprised how he seemed incapable of using reason when it was obvious his assertions had little weight. If he did have a faulty stone fair enough, but to then flog it off with a pack of lies really puts him in a poor light. Seemed to me he had done something silly in his care and use of the stone.

[rrich]

I may have said this before.

In my home we can spell fraud with four letters, "eBay".

Every time that I look at things on eBay, I become most skeptical. I have not been able to part with the funds for an eBay purchase. Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong offerings, maybe, I just don't know or trust.

[TEEJAY]

Very tenacious Derek.

Apart from the hysteria of some - it was interesting to see the vastly different opinions of so called experts on these stones claiming a nuclear reactor would need to be used to deviate these stones as they are of a ceramic molecular structure

versus

stabilising the stones is part of the manufacturing process and this was something faulty to these stones

and

these stones move naturally and should be flattened before use - so do it

Along with my stones have never moved and will never move

to

my stones flap in the wind and I expect that and so should you - you twit.


And coated with a sprinkling of we all love one another here - how dare you show one of us as being not worthy of this - so it's all your fault


Should have been titled "Days of our water stone lives"

[bitingmidge]

Oh what the heck, Derek, I have no idea who Judge Judy is, but why not give her a call, she seems to have this sort of thing sorted and I don't think your Mr Smith is any more honest than this misunderstood trader:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJDK6ctRjqw

Cheers,

P

[Groggy]

Oh what the heck, Derek, I have no idea who Judge Judy is, but why not give her a call, she seems to have this sort of thing sorted and I don't think your Mr Smith is any more honest than this misunderstood trader:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJDK6ctRjqw

Darn, you've made me change my mind about Judge Judy

[Greg Q]

Sorry to read of your problems with this jerk, Derek. Makes me wonder if he did leave the stones wet in a Maine winter...which is enough to warp anything. I'm glad that you mentioned it publicly...that's what he deserves.

Greg