Lawrence Block - Ebay seller gone bad

macpsa · September 17, 2008 8:59PM

Lawrence seems to have run off with $ 2500 of my money. I won and purchased a 51 Bowman Mantle (PSA 3) in early August and he has yet to produce the card. The check that I sent him cleared my bank on August 18th.

I left multiple unreturned messages and finally was able to track him down through a different number on anywho.com. He apologized and said that he was running behind and would send the card out "next day" at his expense.

Needless to say, he didn't send the card and the next time I tried that phone number it was disconnected. I called the main Ebay contact number and left a message that said I was going to file charges with the local Fontana, CA police department. I also reminded him that it was felony theft based on the dollar amount involved.

This is not the kind of thing you expect from someone with 100% positive feedback. Can anybody help?

Thanks,
Mike

julen23 · September 17, 2008 9:31PM

based on my experience, provide us w/ his contact information.

board members can e-mail the dude & see what the deal is?

J

bxb · September 17, 2008 9:59PM

Sorry to hear about this Mike, but it has happened before.

Deja vu all over again

Maybe time to block Block.

Larry

WinPitcher · September 17, 2008 10:16PM

Mike

I think you will get your item, eventually.

Block is notorious for ' running late'

Hang in there.

Steve

storm888 · September 18, 2008 3:31AM

Some sellers will have a hard time adjusting to the new PayPal/MA only rules.

Griffins · September 18, 2008 3:40AM

Larry posted just one of many threads about him. I've also seen items on his website that were owned by other dealers, but he marked them up and represented the inventory as his own.

Mickey71 · September 18, 2008 3:44AM

I hate people like that. I honestly believe that some sellers do stuff like this as a wear down tactic, in hopes that buyers will just give up. It basically happened to me on a $400 card in 1991. I paid by money order when I was in Germany and never received the card and all the dealers contact info was no good. I even had a military lawyer send him a letter with absolutely no response. I gave up and went on with my life. I recently saw him pop up on ebay, and posted a thread for advice and basically everyone agreed that there was nothing I could do.

nam812 · September 18, 2008 3:46AM

I wonder if the winner of this item has received it? If they have, they have not left any feedback about it yet.

Kahuna · September 18, 2008 4:12AM

This is why I can't bring myself to buy on ebay. There are hundreds of sellers who are doing bad deals daily, and ebay seem to do little, and leaves the rest up to the buyers from what I've read online.

Stingray · September 18, 2008 4:21AM

Dude, could you have a bigger picture in your sig line??

RonBurgundy · September 18, 2008 4:24AM

What is his Ebay ID?

jimq112 · September 18, 2008 4:24AM

If you haven't file an INR you better do that soon!

auction ended august 5

leathtech · September 18, 2008 4:27AM

I'm sorry this happened to you... but this is why I'll never buy anything from ebay unless they take paypal, there is just nothing you can do if you pay by check or money order.

pandrews · September 18, 2008 4:56AM

<< This is why I can't bring myself to buy on ebay. There are hundreds of sellers who are doing bad deals daily, and ebay seem to do little, and leaves the rest up to the buyers from what I've read online. >>

try selling on eBay.. there are THOUSANDS of buyers who are scamming sellers on a daily basis, and ebay seems to do little..

Leiascards · September 18, 2008 5:11AM

<< 

<< This is why I can't bring myself to buy on ebay. There are hundreds of sellers who are doing bad deals daily, and ebay seem to do little, and leaves the rest up to the buyers from what I've read online. >>

try selling on eBay.. there are THOUSANDS of buyers who are scamming sellers on a daily basis, and ebay seems to do little.. >>

There are more buyers out there trying to scam sellers than buyers. I got one right now whose echeck bounced he is demanding I send the item anyway.

On the bright side there are hundreds of thousands of transactions a day on Ebay that go off without a hitch. Most Ebayers on both sides are honest, but you only hear about the bad ones.

WinPitcher · September 18, 2008 5:15AM

Ron

Larry Block sells under the name:

Blocksportscards on ebay.

Steve

dude · September 18, 2008 5:15AM

Don't panic yet, it might be Larry Block being Larry Block

mtcards · September 18, 2008 5:22AM

Time to bust his neg cherry

julen23 · September 18, 2008 5:26AM

perry smash puny keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RRRRRRrrrrrr

j

brianwintersfan · September 18, 2008 5:50AM

<< Dude, could you have a bigger picture in your sig line?? >>

He is the Big Kahuna! Why not try this on for size.

WinPitcher · September 18, 2008 12:09PM

I wonder if Larry has shipped the card?

Steve

macpsa · September 22, 2008 3:41AM

Here's the update. I just signed for a package today from Larry and it was EMPTY besides two pieces of cardboard and some bubble wrap inside. He basically stole $ 2500 of my money.

These are the things that I am going to do:

1. File a complaint with USPS and hopefully he gets busted for mail fraud.
2. Press charges with the local Fontana police dept (that is where anywho.com has him listed) and / or the Upland, CA PD. Can anybody get me a current address for Larry? The one that I have for BSI is 305 North Second Ave., Suite 327, Upland, CA 91786.
3. Contact Ebay's fraud department.
4. Pray for calm and patience in case I ever meet this person face to face.

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Mike

SKINSFAN · September 22, 2008 3:45AM

FILE SMALL CLAIMS

nam812 · September 22, 2008 3:50AM

Mike, by any chance did you open the package in front of a postal employee?

BamBam · September 22, 2008 3:56AM

<< Here's the update. I just signed for a package today from Larry and it was EMPTY besides two pieces of cardboard and some bubble wrap inside. He basically stole $ 2500 of my money.

These are the things that I am going to do:

1. File a complaint with USPS and hopefully he gets busted for mail fraud.
2. Press charges with the local Fontana police dept (that is where anywho.com has him listed) and / or the Upland, CA PD. Can anybody get me a current address for Larry? The one that I have for BSI is 305 North Second Ave., Suite 327, Upland, CA 91786.
3. Contact Ebay's fraud department.
4. Pray for calm and patience in case I ever meet this person face to face.

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Mike >>

HOLY CATS!!! well I hope eBay can help...Hopefully seller "man's up" and makes good before courts and law enforcement have to get involved.

perkdog · September 22, 2008 4:01AM

What a complete dirtbag to rip you off like that, a $2500 theft mail fraud style should involve a jail sentence.

storm888 · September 22, 2008 4:02AM

The package must have been insured.

File an insurance claim.

The claims examiners will get to the bottom of the story.

...........

So far, I see no certain evidence of a crime. The card could
have been stolen in transit. Such a circumstance is the best
hope for recovery of money by the buyer, if the item was
insured.

JTB · September 22, 2008 4:10AM

Would insurance actually cover this? He can't show a damaged item. If he tells the USPS that the box was empty, how do they know?

I vote for giving Larry a good beatin'

storm888 · September 22, 2008 4:18AM

"Would insurance actually cover this? He can't show a damaged item. If he tells the USPS that the box was empty, how do they know?"

//////////////////////////////////

If the insurance carrier finds, after investigating, that the item was stolen
out of the envelope in transit, insurance would pay.

Affidavits and interviews - combined with attempts to trace the route of
the package - are at the heart of such investigations.

Folks who conduct such invetsigations are highly-skilled at figuring out
who is telling the truth, and what most likely happened.

123Slider · September 22, 2008 4:27AM

The lines at the PO are going to get a lot longer after everyone starts opening their mail while there in front of someone.

I would be totally out of control. Looks like you are thinking things through well, and good luck with seeking your revenge.

lawnmowerman · September 22, 2008 4:44AM

<< What a complete dirtbag to rip you off like that, a $2500 theft mail fraud style should involve a jail sentence. >>

I agree paul. I hate thieves and liars!

pandrews · September 22, 2008 5:31AM

he should be kicked in the balls

Morgoth · September 22, 2008 5:47AM

I have bought and traded with Block and found him hard to deal with. He also was one of the biggest scan alterers on Ebay. None of his high end cards ever looked as great in person as they did in his scans that we purchased.

Hopefully someon who knows Block personally will notify him of this thread and he will try and make ammends.

yankeeno7 · September 22, 2008 5:52AM

I had one transaction with Larry Block about a year ago. It took forever and I never thought I would get my item. After 3 weeks he finally answers emails and was a complete douchebag about it. It took me nearly 2 months to get my item. I am thankful that I got it. I vowed never to give him my business ever again. I hope you get charges pressed against this theif.

storm888 · September 22, 2008 5:59AM

"...I hope you get charges pressed against this theif. ..."

////////////////////////////////

I'm not defending the seller........

BUT, I am missing the clear evidence that the seller did not put the
card in the envelope.

If the package was insured, it is MUCH better for the buyer to assume
that the item was stolen in route.

An insurance claim is MUCH easier than any other remedy.

yankeeno7 · September 22, 2008 6:04AM

Yes, you are right about that...I will restate what I posted...
IF in fact this was intentional then I hope he gets what he deserves

perkdog · September 22, 2008 6:16AM

<< Yes, you are right about that...I will restate what I posted...
IF in fact this was intentional then I hope he gets what he deserves >>

Same here, I guess he is innocent until proven guilty but I would think the OP would have mentioned if the package he received looked tampered with? Also its sounds too fishy to think a seller would just forget to put a $2500 card in the box before mailing it and even if that was the case a phone call or email should have immediately followed BEFORE the package was received.

macpsa · September 22, 2008 6:44AM

I did not open the package in front of the postal delivery person. She brings me thousands of packages per year so we have a good relationship and hardly ever have a problem with anything. The box definitely was not tampered with in route. Larry did take the time to put bubble wrap in the box and tape two pieces of cardboard together with nothing in between them.

He did get "insurance" on the package as well as "delivery confirmation." I will go see the Postmaster here in Westerville tomorrow and see what he / she has to say about how to proceed. Does anyone know Larry's home address so I have it when I file a police report? I am not sure if he lives in Fontana or Upland.

Mike

WinPitcher · September 22, 2008 7:23AM

Sounds like Mr. Block has some explaining to do.

If the past is any indication it will be of course not his fault.

I'd love to hear his 'reason'

Steve

WinPitcher · September 22, 2008 7:26AM

For a guy that did not reply to emails, etc, he certainly responded to the negative Mike left for him today.

All within 2 hours too.

Edited to add: All his other completed auctions still have the scan up, this auction of course does not.

Geez I wonder why?

Steve

storm888 · September 22, 2008 7:56AM

"...The box definitely was not tampered with in route. ..."

////////////////

The voice of experience is trying to help you here.

None of us in receipt of a parcel have any way of knowing
"definitely" if the parcel "was tampered with in route."

The most we could say is that "I don't recall looking for
tampering, and I don't recall seeing any tampering."

.............

In a case such as this, where the primary goal is to get
the buyer his money, it is MUCH better if the buyer/seller
have a complimentary account of events.

Seller: "When the package was mailed, the item was inside."

Buyer: "When the package arrived, the item was NOT inside."

Such a conflict is ripe for an insurance claim.

.......................

A buyer cannot, on the one hand, claim the seller "is a
thief," and on the other hand ask a trasport-insurer to
solve the problem.

StopYurWhining · September 22, 2008 8:04AM

how is it that the seller has so little recent feedback> ? his % is 92% positive.

Mickey71 · September 22, 2008 8:17AM

I do remember the whole enhanced scan thing. It used to look like every PSA 7 and 8 was gem mint. It seems as if Mr. Block has too many excuses for me. Someone bids on an auction, wins the auction, pays right away, seller ships the item securely in a reasonable amount of time.--- That's how it's supposed to happen. Mr. Block seems to handle his auctions in a slightly different fashion--- bidder bids on auction, bidder never should even consider asking a question, bidder wins auction, bidder pays for auction, seller never sends email confirming anything ie. payment received & item shipped, buyer doesn't receive item in a few weeks, buyer emails seller who never responds, buyer starts to legally threaten seller with PAYPAL, CC, Mail fraud, lawyers etc., after a few more weeks the seller finally sends the item and explains it was all just a coincidence. When this type of thing happens more than once, Larry in my mind doesn't need to explain anymore. It's all BS. JMO.
Mickey71

WinPitcher · September 22, 2008 8:48AM

His feedback was 100% up until Mac left the neg.

With that said Block has probably not sold much within the past year and that is why it took a heavy hit?

Steve

1neatstuff · September 22, 2008 10:59AM

wow what a scum i am very sorry this happened to you...

1420sports · September 22, 2008 1:39PM

sorry to hear about that

Boopotts · September 22, 2008 2:16PM

<< Here's the update. I just signed for a package today from Larry and it was EMPTY besides two pieces of cardboard and some bubble wrap inside. He basically stole $ 2500 of my money.

These are the things that I am going to do:

1. File a complaint with USPS and hopefully he gets busted for mail fraud.
2. Press charges with the local Fontana police dept (that is where anywho.com has him listed) and / or the Upland, CA PD. Can anybody get me a current address for Larry? The one that I have for BSI is 305 North Second Ave., Suite 327, Upland, CA 91786.
3. Contact Ebay's fraud department.
4. Pray for calm and patience in case I ever meet this person face to face.

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Mike >>

My best guess is a postal employee boosted the contents. Why would a guy actually bother to ship the cardboard and bubble wrap if he wasn't going to include a card? Why not just send you a piece of crumpled newspaper and a tube of lubricant?

JackWESQ · September 22, 2008 6:40PM

Dear Mike,

I highly recommend you read this thread about United Sports Auctions and Block Sportscards, Inc. I'll do some "digging" and see what information I can come up with.

/s/ JackWESQ

macpsa · September 22, 2008 9:23PM

Here is an update of what I sent Mr. Block this morning:

"Lawrence,

Don't worry I have kept all the packaging. It does not appear damaged or tampered with from the outside. There was bubble wrap and two pieces of cardboard taped sandwiched together with nothing in between them. Assuming that my suspicions are correct, you have already committed mail fraud by sending an empty package. There are two things that the postal inspector will use to bust you. First of all, a PSA graded card weighs between 1 and 2 ounces so the mailing weight will end up being 1 to 2 ounces lighter than what it should have been. The other thing is the tightness of the tape on the two pieces of cardboard. When I opened it, I slit it on two sides. There should be enough room for the extra 3/16" thickness of the PSA card to be between the two pieces of tape. Once again, if I am correct, the tape will not be long enough to meet on the slit ends with the PSA card in between the cardboard.

Your email to me implied that you were going to file an insurance claim. Are you sure, assuming again that I am correct, that you want to add insurance fraud on top of mail fraud? I am going to see the Postmaster this afternoon. Do you want to head all this off at the pass by overnighting me the card or $ 2506 reimbursement? Oh, and to top it off, you really hacked me off by charging me $ 57.00 for shipping.

I don't think you will call me since you haven't had the courage to call me yet, but if you would like to discuss my home phone # is 614-891-0791 and my cell # is 614-496-3541.

Mike"

By the way, storm888 is correct, I can't say for sure that the box was not tampered with. It sure looks that way though.

zep33 · September 22, 2008 9:33PM

might want to edit out your phone # from the post here.

good luck with this situation

macpsa · September 22, 2008 9:38PM

Zep33,

I want other board members to call me if they have evidence against this character so I left the real phone #'s in there. As I dig deeper, there appears to be some disturbing patterns.

Thanks,
Mike'

Lawrence Block - Ebay seller gone bad

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