Yes! Robert was a moron on this occasion. He learns by his mistakes. FYI the auction in question was E-bay #320492563. At the time the auction commenced [April 28] I checked and the seller had no neutral or negative feedback. At the time he was also a registered seller to the best of my recollection. To answer several of the points you bring up view that auction and you will see not only a large clear scan but also a clear description.

I have had approximately 175 transactions on E-bay with a perfect record. For most part everyone I deal with has been a total asset to the chip collecting community. They have been prompt answered my E-mails when I had questions and have been courteous in ever way. I suppose my number was up. It was time for me to get a jerk.

I should clarify that after I threatened to contact his potential customers [which I now know the consequences of] He did reply. I Told him I would accept a replacement in lieu of a refund. When I didn't get a reply to that I went looking elsewhere. I found another dealer with the item and purchased it there. I returned the chip along with a copy of my winning bid E-mail to show him that I had found the chip thru another source.

I hoped that to some degree it also demonstrated that I needed this chip, that I didn't have one and that I wasn't trying to scam him by returning a chip that I might have had just to get another new one.

I made the mistake of not insuring the item. I had already spent in excess to what I wanted to and felt that since I had never had a problem in the past why bother.... A mistake on my part.

You might also note that I did not post feedback for 2 months in order to give the seller every opportunity to make some sort of a settlement even if to meet me half way on the costs. His last E-mail he threatened to have me thrown off E-bay, I suppose for being honest. As it turns out now HE is suspended.

I would tend to agree with the opinions that were posted 1] I can not proove the condition of the chip 2] I no longer have the chip 3] I have no way of prooving he ever received it. If one was to view the circumstancial evidence of my record vs. his on E-bay and the fact that he is now suspended I let them draw their own conclusions, but we are not in a court of law and if we were I would probably lose.

I personally would welcome some sort of a forum warning other collectors of potential rip off artists. While some people might have personal agendas or vendettas, over all with some sort of a point system we might be able to weed out some of this scum. I think it is also important to remember that when E-bay suspends someone they are apt to pop up with another seller I.D. . With a collection of information as the sellers name,address,P.O. box number or even just a zip code it may be a real asset to others to be able to locate these repeat offenders before placing a bid. [ I'm not a lawyer so I don't know what legal problems if any this would pose]

I received an e-mail last night by a person who had also been burned by this guy. What he said is that he would of warned me had he known. It happened to him over a year ago when the person had a different seller I.D.. He didn't change his name so he was able to put 2 and 2 together

My thanks to all of you for you input.