jerstolp - one shady mofo

[Bryan J]

New user jerstolp, who joined BF on 5/14/2011 puts up a Spyderco Military Ti for trade--he's looking for ZT 301s, 302s. I post that I have a 300 and he can contact me if he's interested. He posts he's not interested, followed by a post that he might be interested, followed by a post that he is interested. He then posts two visitor messages on my page. I email him to get pictures of the knife (let's not forget this person has been a member for less than two weeks). He sends me 2 or 3 immediate emails saying "let's do it", and also offering me a Microtech Ultratech for the ZT0300 (no, I never indicated I was interested in an Ultratech). This user says his name is "Jeremy". Some of his emails come from an account with the name "Jennifer Baker". I ask him for pictures of the Spyderco Military. He sends me pictures of the Microtech and says he doesn't actually have the Military, but it's due to arrive in two days. But his trade thread says pictures will be provided upon request. It also describes the condition of a used knife that he has never seen or handled. When I ask him exactly who he's buying the knife from, he gives me somebody's YouTube account and says that he's changed his mind and is no longer interested in the trade. All this occurs in the span of about 30-45 minutes.

Very bizarre behavior.

My last email to him:

"With all due respect, this isn't the way to conduct yourself on BladeForums. Your behavior is highly erratic and there are rules against saying "I'll take it", and then reneging. To be honest, I would not have went through with this trade with you anyway, so your passing on the trade is definitely for the best. I simply don't trust brand new members using other people's email addresses who flip knives before they've ever received them from the previous seller. You do understand how this looks to other members, don't you? Your behavior raises almost every red flag in the book. Even if you are a legit member--and I have no way of knowing that--your trading etiquette leaves much to be desired. I'd advise you to work on it if you plan on being part of the BF community."

 

[macmiddlebrooks]

Well written response.

 

[jerstolp]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

 

[EMT_Lee]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

Well... as for the "change my mind" part... not really. Once you agree to a sell/trade, you are committed. If you back out, that's really bad. You should make sure your mind is made up before agreeing to anything. That's just the way it is.

 

[Bryan J]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

I'd like to think any fair-minded person could empathize with the position I've outlined given the data points here. Wherever you reside on the spectrum between scammer and honest trader, you at least have to admit that your behavior 1) was unfair and 2) appears outwardly suspicious. "Stop whining" is childish response--the kind that really only serves to damage your own character. As I stated previously, I had no intention of trading with you. The sole purpose of this thread is to warn others--it's my responsibility to do so. They are certainly welcome to come to their own conclusions about this attempted transaction.

In the meantime, try to step back and look at things from a perspective other than your own:

1) Do you believe it is honest to describe a used knife that you have never seen or handled?

2) Is it fair of you to commit to a trade and then renege so promiscuously?

3) Given the reality that there are so many scammers on knife forums, does it really make sense to use another person's email address for forum communication? You are aware that email addresses are free, right?

 

[snowreaper1]

Another member I will definitley stay away from. Thanks for the headsup Bryan J.

 

[type00rev]

Shady indeed. Nice response and instinct there Bryan. There has been an influx of noobs as of late.....some decent, some not so decent.

 

[bowmore17]

Always wondered about this Want To Trade thing.
You have to be a Gold member or higher to list an item for sale, but anyone can list an item for trade?
Isn't a trade riskier? just a thought..

 

[EMT_Lee]

Always wondered about this Want To Trade thing.
You have to be a Gold member or higher to list an item for sale, but anyone can list an item for trade?
Isn't a trade riskier? just a thought..

Sort of. That's why reputation and iTrader feedback are so important. I, generally, ask new members to ship their item first. If they don't feel comfortable with that arrangement, then I pass on the trade. Simple.

 

[RevDevil]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

Whining? It's a warning to the people that are adults about this kind of thing against potential flakers and kiddies playing on the interwebs. How is that whining? Wouldn't you want someone to warn you about someone that may not conduct a simple transaction in a manner that has become customary on this forum? As stated, make a decision, then follow through with it. There is no BS'ing on here.

Sort of. That's why reputation and iTrader feedback are so important. I, generally, ask new members to ship their item first. If they don't feel comfortable with that arrangement, then I pass on the trade. Simple.

That is the best way to do it. Personally, I would only do a trade with someone I am friends with on here or that I know well enough. Ultimately, you are only ever as good as your word. Some people could give 2 sh*ts about it, but integrity is a part of your character and it does matter to some of us. To those with a lack of character, no thanks.

 

[jujigatame]

And to quote from section 3 of the rules for the Exchange.

Do not post items for sale or trade if you do not have them in your physical possession.


The very idea of trying to sell or trade a knife you don't even have in your possession bothers me greatly. If you can't wait X days until you have it in hand to list it then you needn't be taking part in the Exchange at all.

 

[neuron]

New user jerstolp, who joined BF on 5/14/2011 puts up a Spyderco Military Ti for trade--he's looking for ZT 301s, 302s. I post that I have a 300 and he can contact me if he's interested. He posts he's not interested, followed by a post that he might be interested, followed by a post that he is interested. He then posts two visitor messages on my page. I email him to get pictures of the knife (let's not forget this person has been a member for less than two weeks). He sends me 2 or 3 immediate emails saying "let's do it", and also offering me a Microtech Ultratech for the ZT0300 (no, I never indicated I was interested in an Ultratech). This user says his name is "Jeremy". Some of his emails come from an account with the name "Jennifer Baker". I ask him for pictures of the Spyderco Military. He sends me pictures of the Microtech and says he doesn't actually have the Military, but it's due to arrive in two days. But his trade thread says pictures will be provided upon request. It also describes the condition of a used knife that he has never seen or handled. When I ask him exactly who he's buying the knife from, he gives me somebody's YouTube account and says that he's changed his mind and is no longer interested in the trade. All this occurs in the span of about 30-45 minutes.

Very bizarre behavior.

My last email to him:

"With all due respect, this isn't the way to conduct yourself on BladeForums. Your behavior is highly erratic and there are rules against saying "I'll take it", and then reneging. To be honest, I would not have went through with this trade with you anyway, so your passing on the trade is definitely for the best. I simply don't trust brand new members using other people's email addresses who flip knives before they've ever received them from the previous seller. You do understand how this looks to other members, don't you? Your behavior raises almost every red flag in the book. Even if you are a legit member--and I have no way of knowing that--your trading etiquette leaves much to be desired. I'd advise you to work on it if you plan on being part of the BF community."

I'd like to think any fair-minded person could empathize with the position I've outlined given the data points here. Wherever you reside on the spectrum between scammer and honest trader, you at least have to admit that your behavior 1) was unfair and 2) appears outwardly suspicious. "Stop whining" is childish response--the kind that really only serves to damage your own character. As I stated previously, I had no intention of trading with you. The sole purpose of this thread is to warn others--it's my responsibility to do so. They are certainly welcome to come to their own conclusions about this attempted transaction.

In the meantime, try to step back and look at things from a perspective other than your own:

1) Do you believe it is honest to describe a used knife that you have never seen or handled?

2) Is it fair of you to commit to a trade and then renege so promiscuously?

3) Given the reality that there are so many scammers on knife forums, does it really make sense to use another person's email address for forum communication? You are aware that email addresses are free, right?

Very well said in both posts, Bryan J. I'll definitely be staying away from this guy (especially given his dismissal of your very reasonable concerns as mere "whining").

 

[wolfmann601]

If you say "I'll take it", then stand by your word and take it.

You are only as good as your word and in this case one's word has proven to be hollow..............................

 

[risen]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

Bad news, good news.

The bad news is that for a guy just starting out on BF, you really crapped all over your rep.

The good news is that since you really haven't been here for very long, anyway, you're not losing much (you didn't seem to value your own word, as it was, so nothing lost there, regardless).

 

[CWL]

i am new and i said i will ship first. you dont ship till you recieve the knife from me , how would i be trying to do anything. all of my everything comes from that email my gf of 12 years. cant change my mind cmon. stop whining. im done.

jerstolp, your behavior in this transaction (wanting to trade with something you've never seen, changing your mind after agreeing to "buy it") shows us your character. Either you will sit back and review your actions to become a better man, or you can keep on blaming others.

 

[Shipwrecked]

Im still new here as well, but I have gone out of my way to build a good reputation with our other forum members. This is obviously a hobby that is quite important to all of us otherwise we wouldn't be members here. We should be here to support each other's knife enthusiasm and needs. This is a community first and foremost, not just an exchange. That just so happens to be a fantastic plus. If you commit to something, follow through.