Thread: Should I pay this guy on eBay?

I am a little late to this party but here is how I would of handled this were this to happen to me. I would email the seller and say, this is what happened. I am going to pay for the item because it was my mistake. Can you provide me with the next highest bidder info so that I can offer the item to them for their bid? Thank you.. etc... etc... etc...

Originally Posted by Jim M

I am a little late to this party but here is how I would of handled this were this to happen to me. I would email the seller and say, this is what happened. I am going to pay for the item because it was my mistake. Can you provide me with the next highest bidder info so that I can offer the item to them for their bid? Thank you.. etc... etc... etc...

Actually, the proper thing to do if that was the action you wanted to take as the buyer is to contact the seller and ask him to contact the next highest bidder to find out if they'd want to buy the item from you first, before any details are given out. Some buyers don't want unsolicited emails, even if they bid on them. I know I don't want sellers just handing out my information to others without my actual consent.

Well that wasn't at all pleasant but I paid the man. I'll post pictures when I get the note. I'm actually thankful for the constructive criticism on this one.

Honorable move, and glad to hear you're not upset by everyone blaming you personally for your sleepwalking antics. Like I said I wouldn't have blamed you a bit if you hadn't.

I'm honestly very confused by everyone saying someone's "responsible for their actions" while they're sleepwalking, medication-induced or not. If this has been regular sleepwalking and there was no medication involved, would you say the same? If your child sleepwalks and mistakes the sofa for a toilet in their stupor, do you blame them for it and make them buy a new chair with their allowance because "if there's no consequences they'll do it again and they need to learn personal accountability?" Especially if it's the first time they've done it? It's not like sleep-bidding is a regular occurrence that he allows to happen because "oh I can just cancel the bids."

Also, I'm completely confused by the folks comparing killing people while drunk driving to bidding on ebay while sleepwalking. One is done consciously with an altered perception while on a drug you chose to take (which is why one would be held accountable) and results in the ending of a life (a very serious thing). The other is done subconsciously while on a prescription medication (and yes, there is a difference between prescription meds you need to be able to sleep, and alcohol - if you can't see that I can't help you) and results in some butthurt on the part of the seller and/or wallethurt on the part of the buyer (neither of which should cause grievous harm to anyone). These issues aren't black and white, and comparing the two is, IMO, silly.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

I'm honestly very confused by everyone saying someone's "responsible for their actions" while they're sleepwalking, medication-induced or not.

They don't seem, or want, to understand that certain drugs that can alter the thinking or impair one's judgement and in most cases can render the individual incapable of making sound decisions.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

If this has been regular sleepwalking and there was no medication involved, would you say the same?

Absolutely. Take the necessary steps while you're conscious to ensure your unconscious actions don't harm or negatively affect yourself or others.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

Also, I'm completely confused by the folks comparing killing people while drunk driving to bidding on ebay while sleepwalking...comparing the two is, IMO, silly

I think the analogy is sound. Then to level the outcomes, change killing someone while driving drunk to running into someone's property causing a few hundred dollars worth of damage while drunk. And just because you're so drunk and don't remember any of it, or even if you were sleepwalking; you would still be held accountable for your actions. It's unlikely the property owner would give a person a pass and foot the bill themselves because somebody drove their car into his yard while asleep behind the wheel; I know I wouldn't.

The bottom line is that both alcohol and prescription meds are substances that you chose to take. And both can cause you to do subconscious actions (blacking-out and not remembering what you did the previous night for alcohol and sleepwalking for meds).

Just as many that cannot sleep regular hours need meds to assist them, many alcoholics need alcohol to function and can get very sick from withdraws if they don't have it.

My point circles back to the first sentence.

-LTB

Originally Posted by JCB1983

Well that wasn't at all pleasant but I paid the man. I'll post pictures when I get the note. I'm actually thankful for the constructive criticism on this one.

I really believe you did the right thing. If you truly don't want it, I'm sure you can resell it for all or nearly all you paid for it. I look forward to seeing the photos.

Originally Posted by coinman0456

I was wondering if anyone got the joke beside me.

Sure did. Only worth a snicker, not a belly laugh, but that's just my somewhat jaded reaction - other people's may differ.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

butthurt

HA! That's funny right there! Thanks for that word; I like it and will use it in future.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

I'm honestly very confused by everyone saying someone's "responsible for their actions" while they're sleepwalking, medication-induced or not.

Unless another soul inhabited his physical body, he is responsible for his actions.

Originally Posted by BUncirculated

[...] certain drugs that can alter the thinking or impair one's judgement and in most cases can render the individual incapable of making sound decisions.

Who forced him the deglutition?

Originally Posted by JCB1983

[...] I paid the man.

You did well.

Originally Posted by BUncirculated

They don't seem, or want, to understand that certain drugs that can alter the thinking or impair one's judgement and in most cases can render the individual incapable of making sound decisions.

I understand this. What I don't get is someone taking a drug without understanding the effects and adverse reactions before taking it. There is a responsibity on the taker's part to understand these actions. An if a medication affects one adversely, is it not responsible to quit taking it and consult your doctor?

Originally Posted by AngelKitty

Honorable move, and glad to hear you're not upset by everyone blaming you personally for your sleepwalking antics. Like I said I wouldn't have blamed you a bit if you hadn't.

I'm honestly very confused by everyone saying someone's "responsible for their actions" while they're sleepwalking, medication-induced or not. If this has been regular sleepwalking and there was no medication involved, would you say the same? If your child sleepwalks and mistakes the sofa for a toilet in their stupor, do you blame them for it and make them buy a new chair with their allowance because "if there's no consequences they'll do it again and they need to learn personal accountability?" Especially if it's the first time they've done it? It's not like sleep-bidding is a regular occurrence that he allows to happen because "oh I can just cancel the bids."

Also, I'm completely confused by the folks comparing killing people while drunk driving to bidding on ebay while sleepwalking. One is done consciously with an altered perception while on a drug you chose to take (which is why one would be held accountable) and results in the ending of a life (a very serious thing). The other is done subconsciously while on a prescription medication (and yes, there is a difference between prescription meds you need to be able to sleep, and alcohol - if you can't see that I can't help you) and results in some butthurt on the part of the seller and/or wallethurt on the part of the buyer (neither of which should cause grievous harm to anyone). These issues aren't black and white, and comparing the two is, IMO, silly.

You're confusing responsibility with blame. You're off when you compare children to adults. An adult should know what happens (or what may happen). He should have read the leaflet with the product information before he took the med. He should have quit taking the med and called his doctor. Again, as an anonymous seller, this is going to look like a far-fetched excuse to get out paying the bid. Nothing more, nothing less.

While not as drastic as taking a life, both situations you cite involve voluntarily taking the substance and knowing the effects, one by peer advice and the other by the doctor, but nobody forces the Ambien down his throat. Again, criminal charges may not be likely in the second case, but civil action is a distinct possibility.

Originally Posted by JCB1983

Well that wasn't at all pleasant but I paid the man. I'll post pictures when I get the note. I'm actually thankful for the constructive criticism on this one.

You did the right thing.

+1 Rep Point (Too bad we don't have a rep points system here)

Originally Posted by omahaorange

I understand this. What I don't get is someone else taking a drug without understanding the effects and adverse reactions before taking it. There is a responsibity on the taker's part to understand these actions. An if a medication affects one adversely, it is not responsible to quit taking it and consult your doctor?

This is true to a certain degree...but you never know how a drug will affect you until you take it. I have prescribed a number of medications that can cause cogitative problems...and it is amazing how some people have absolutely no problems and others have nothing but problems. That is why I always warn them of the possible side effects and tell them they need to be careful and monitor themselves until they know how it is going to affect them.

You did the right move. Worse comes to worse you could always try to sell it if you really don't want it. Even if you lose a bit of money its a lesson learned for the future.

Ambien caused problems for me. I take lunesta, with no problems. The doctors told me that if I didn't like ambien, I wouldn't like Lunesta, cuz its pretty much the same. The doctors were wrong.
Anyway, I'd pay the guy.