First of all, I am not going to force anyone into a deal. I will not deal with this individual for various reasons. That being said, a lot of stuff here pisses me off.

1. When you send an email saying you want to buy 5 items after reading a post, in this hobby that is your word. If you fail to read it correctly, that is not the seller's fault. Deal with it and do a better job reading the post next time before agreeing to terms. Pay up and move on.

2. When you tell a seller you want to buy something based upon the stated terms, the seller takes action based upon your word. I immediately marked the original post with those items as sold. I lose what is called "opportunity cost" if you back out later because someone else may have wanted an item or even the lot and may have backed out after seeing the post showing items are sold. That may or may not have happened here, I will never know, but I might have lost a replacement sale while taking your word you were going to buy.

3. There has been discussion about the fairness of shipping costs. A seller can list an item any way they want and no one is twisting anyone's arms to agree to terms. Regardless of whether I had posted the items as 1.00 + 0.50 shipping or $1.50 including free shipping, or free with $1.50 shipping, it all works out to the same UNLESS you request to negotiate BEFORE stating you want to buy. That did not happen. The potential buyer here ASSUMED something that there was no basis upon which to make that assumption and that is that the terms of the sale were negotiable even after agreeing to make the purchase.

4. Sellers often use shipping charges to sell items. Not always, but sometimes. It's marketing 101. $1.00 each + 0.50 shipping just sounds better than $1.50 each including free shipping. In the end, the terms are the same if there is no negotiation outside of simply agreeing to terms.

5. Never ASSUME anything. If you are not 100% clear on terms or you are interesting in discussing terms, that should be done BEFORE agreeing to terms.

6. As another person did, never mark someone else's post as SOLD. That is not your prerogative. You have no way of knowing what has happened behind the scenes. You also can't claim something as yours until the seller says it's yours.

7. As happened in this case, buyer made another incorrect ASSUMPTION is essence calling me out as a racist. Since I had no idea who I was dealing with or where he lived, in my quote to him, I advised the total assuming he lived in the continental US and to advise me for alternative terms if he lived outside this area. I said "Where are these going to be shipped? As long as continental US, please paypal as a "GIFT" $7.50 to tnsteve@gmail.com and I will mail the 5 cards asap. If anywhere outside this area, please let me know to get a different shipping quote. Thanks." His response was "BTW, I'm ok with it but some might take offense to one asking if another is from a different country based solely on name. If I was out of the US, I would clearly state that in my first email inquiry. ." In essence, I was being a racist towards him due to his name. I sold my entire chip collection recently to a gentleman who it turns out lives in South America. I have bought and sold items hundreds of time from folks in England, Germany, Australia, etc. Your name alone says nothing about where you live. I wasn't going to ship something to a foreign country the same way as I would ship it to the US so I added a general disclaimer to the fact that shipping could need to be addressed if outside the US.

8. Reggie Gummer listed some very valuable information for buyers and sellers. We have had many dealings with each other. I sincerely hope some took much of that info to task.

9. Most people here do not have a Phd in postal rules, regulations and the best way to skimp, cheat and save in mailing items. I had actually packaged these 5 chips in a small bubble mailer and it would have cost in the ballpark of $2.00 to ship this way not counting the cost of the mailer itself. $2.50 would have basically been my exact costs to ship these 5 cards. So before you go accusing someone of cheating someone based upon postage charges, maybe have a conversation about how the items are going to be shipped if you are unclear or have questions or concerns. And if you are a 3rd party with no information at all on what has transpired, please feel to keep your accusations, opinions and assumptions to yourself since you obviously have none of the facts.

10. Lastly. If my friend Chuck Smorse is agreeing with me here, we know the end days are here, so I feel some vindication. Thanks Chuck for seeing it as I did.