My favorite Caray moment: 1992 NLCS; Braves vs. Pirates. I was watching a little TV outside with a friend on my trampoline. We were watching and listening to slow as molasses Sid Bream rounding third base heading for home. Barry Bonds picked up the Francisco Cabrera’s hit and heaved it home. “He iiiiiissssss …safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! … Braves win!” My friend and I went absolutely crazy.

RIP skip.

I had the strangest thing happen last night while watching some of the Braves vs. Brewers game.  I was busy doing other things and had just missed seeing Chipper Jones bat.  Since he’s tearing up the ball lately, I wanted to see his current BA (how much over .400 that is).  So I cruised on over to the CNN SI website and saw the strangest thing.  While looking at the box score, I noticed the game had gone final and the Braves won 8-1.  Here’s the thing though, the TV was currently showing 6-1 Braves in the top of the 8th.  Is the telecast SO far behind (1.5 innings), or is something else going on?  I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it would see pretty odd for a TV broadcast to be THAT far behind the live game.  I was going to dismiss it as an error, but when I checked the final box score this morning the final score was in fact, 8-1 (like you see above).  Strange coincidence, or something else?

If you’ve been watching the NCAA basketball tournament this week, I’m sure you’ve seen those “Dude” Bud Light commercials. If not, basically it’s a guy saying “Dude” in typical guy situations. Situations include someone cutting in line at the movies, a guy ordering a white zinfandel at a bar, another guy sitting too close to him on the couch, etc. The commercials are actually pretty funny.

Recently I’ve seen the website dudemadness.com appearing at the end of the commercials. So what’s at this website? Pretty much nothing. Visiting the site shows you one of the commercials and that’s it. There is absolutely NOTHING interactive or engaging about the site. Other than a few clickable links (privacy, terms, etc), there is basically nothing else on the entire website. What a complete waste of bandwidth and time. I was hoping for so much more when I went to the site. Save yourself some time and don’t bother visiting.

-I’ve started to post a little on Twitter. If you wish to virtually stalk me, my username is kfordham281
-I’ve been posting a ton on Apple Mac HQ.
-My Mac enjoyment is still going well
-Plans for the Ultra O-gaine are coming along nicely
-I’m learning php and mysql. So far it’s pretty good stuff. I already knew enough to get by but now I’m really learning.
-Planning a trip with friends to Europe this summer, it’s going to be an amazing two weeks!

Well that’s enough for now, night!

10/24/2007 at 21:01 EDT: Macbook sold

10/24/2007 at 21:42 EDT: Invoice sent

10/25/2007 around 12:00 EDT I think (eBay doesn’t have a time): Message sent to buyer that invoice was previously sent

10/25 or 26/2007: I resent the invoice again on Friday, but it could have been Thursday night. I deleted the email so I’m not sure of the exact time.

10/26/2007 at 17:39 EDT: Payment finally received, over 40hrs after auction ended.

10/27/2007 at 13:07 EDT: Macbook dropped off at UPS store. Due to lower shipping costs I included $900 worth of insurance, up from the standard $100 insurance.

10/31/2007 at 14:54 EDT: Macbook is delivered

11/03/2007 at 11:49 EDT: Positive Feedback left for buyer; “Payment took almost 48hrs but everything else was good. Thanks!”

11/03/2007 at 23:01 EDT: Buyer sent the following email to me; “Hello, i received the macbook, but it was not as described. The superdrive does not work and theres only 120GB. Please fix this problem. Thank
you.”

11/03/2007 at 23:02 EDT: Buyer filed a dispute with Paypal with the following message; “Hello, I recently received the macbook I purchased on ebay. However, the macbook was not as described in the auction. The superdrive component of the macbook does not work. Every time I try to put a DVD or CD, it does not work. Also, the seller said in the auction that it had 120 GB hard drive, but the macbook indicates that theres only 100GB. I have tried contacting the seller, but have not received a response.”

11/03/2007 at 23:04 EDT: Buyer escalated the dispute to a claim with the following message; “I am escalating the claim because I have not received a response from the seller. Please help resolve this problem. I don’t want $951 to go to waste for a damaged item. Thank you.”

11/04/2007 at 01:34 EDT: I replied to the buyer; “Please reread the auction details, it clearly states twice that the hard drive is 120GB.
What about the super drive does not work? The last thing I did before putting the Macbook in the box was to reinstall the operating system via the restore DVD’s. So clearly the drive worked then. How is the drive not working now? “does not work” is not very descriptive and I’ll need more information before I can help you.”

11/04/2007 at 11:08 EST: The buyer responded with “When I put a DVD or CD in the drive it makes a weird noise and then doesn’t recognize the CD and DVD. How can I bring it to Apple to fix it? What is the warranty number? Etc?”

11/04/2007 at 11:35 EST: I replied to the buyer with “Usually when you put in a CD/DVD, it will make a noise (normal) and take about 10-15 seconds before it shows up on the desktop. Unlike Windows, the CD will not automatically open up. If you are not seeing the CD or DVD show up on the desktop (and are 100% sure the disc works; having tried it in another PC/Mac), then it could be an indication that something is not working right.

You can bring the laptop to any local Apple store and they will take a look at it. If there is a problem, they will fix it. You live in FL and they have several stores around. Check here for locations: http://www.apple.com/retail

You can also call 1-800-275-2273 to talk to Apple Care support. You should not need a warranty number, just the serial number. They will look up the serial number and see that it’s still under hardware warranty and should fix it without any problems. You may have to send it to them, but I’m not 100% sure on that since I’ve never had to call them.

Is this your first Mac? If so, do you know someone else who uses them? If you do know someone, have them check it out before going to the store or calling Apple Care. They may be able to give you a few points on how some things work differently on the Mac. Let me know if you need anything else, I’m happy to help. I can assure you the Macbook was in perfect working condition when it left my hands so I definitely want to make sure it works for you too.

Kevin”

11/6/2007 at 15:44 EST: I emailed the buyer again; “Hi,

Could you please update me on what’s going on? It’s been a few days and I haven’t heard anything.

Thank You.”

As I type this I have heard nothing from the buyer since his last email on 11/04/2007. Paypal is “reviewing” the claim by the buyer. My problem with all of this is that all the buyer has to do is click a few buttons and now my money is being held up by Paypal. I know for a fact when the item was shipped that both the Superdrive worked and the hard drive was 120GB. The last thing I did before putting the Macbook in the box was do an OS X restore via the DVDs. I never touched the inside of the Macbook and when shipped, the drive was 120GB. And even if, that’s a big if in my book, the SuperDrive does in fact have a problem, IT’S STILL UNDER WARRANTY! It would cost the buyer ZERO to get it fixed.

I believe there is a big red flag in all this, and that’s why I believe it’s a scam. What honest person waits until after receiving positive feedback (and having the item for 3 days), and in less than 5 minutes contacts the seller for the first time regarding an issue, ONE minute later files a dispute with Paypal stating “I have tried contacting the seller, but have not received a response”, then TWO minutes later escalates the dispute to a claim stating “I am escalating the claim because I have not received a response from the seller”. I’ll tell you who, Someone who is not honest.

Paypal says it takes up to 30 days to resolve a claim and until then I’m in a waiting position. Paypal’s resolution center is pretty flawed in my book by not allowing easy input of information. They allow you to upload pictures but getting text into the case is another story. I had to email them using a contact form to get them some of the facts and the form even had a character limit. To me that’s pretty lame. I should have as many characters as I want in order to give them the information that I think is important to the case.

All I know is this, I will NEVER buy anything from eBay member hrw102. I will tell everyone I know not to buy anything from this guy either. Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks this guy is up to no good too. Thanks to Husam Wahdon (the buyer’s name) for ruining my eBay experience.

Update1: Looks like my eBay buyer is actually alive. Here’s the latest communication.

11/18/2007 at 12:04 EST: I received the following from the buyer. “Apple is asking if I have apple warranty and is asking for the membership card or number. What is it?”

11/18/2007 at 14:41 EST: I replied to the buyer with “I spoke to Apple Care and found out that phone support is only in the first 90 days of owning the product unless you buy the extended warranty (http://www.apple.com/support/products/proplan.html). The Macbook is still under warranty, you just have to visit an Apple Store or an Apple authorized service provider. The closest Apple Store is in either Orlando or Jacksonville; I’m not sure which is closest to you. Check here for more info about the Apple Stores: http://www.apple.com/retail

Komputer Kingdom in Gainesville is an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Give them a call at 352-378-4874 and see how they can help you.

Let me know how I can help or if you need additional information.”

I’m writing update1 on 12/2/2007 and I haven’t heard back from the buyers after I replied to his question on 11/18/2007 (two weeks ago).

Update2 - Written on 12/13/2007

12/6/2007 at 00:05 EST: Paypal said; “This claim has been reviewed and it has been determined that a full refund of the PayPal transaction (including shipping and handling) should be awarded to the buyer once the item, in its original condition, is returned to you.”

12/6/2007 at 00:34 EST: I emailed the buyer and said “Thank you for my worst experience ever on eBay. I’ve already contacted Paypal, but DO NOT send the package to [address removed]. Send to: [address removed]”

12/6/2007 at 01:05 EST: For once the buyer responded in a timely fashion with this; “I’m not an idiot. You sent me a damaged item. Apple says that the warranty only covers technical problem not mechanical. They said that it would cost me $30 to fix the DVD drive. It would be wrong for me to have to pay for this. I am going to ship this item to the address that Paypal gave me not the one you provided. ”

12/6/2007 at 11:22 EST: I responded with; “You may not be an idiot, but how you handled this auction is in fact wrong. Wrong is emailing me at 11:01PM on a Saturday night saying you had a problem, and then 1 minute later opening a Paypal dispute claiming “I have tried contacting the seller, but have not received a response”. You expect a 1 minute response, are you kidding me? In my book that’s called LYING! Whether the item is damaged or not (I stake my word that it did in fact work when I put it in the box), because you lied to Paypal, I’ll always believe you are trying to scam me. You LIED to Paypal! Taking as much as two weeks to respond to an email while still selling items on eBay, doesn’t exactly make you the model of communication either. I just got off the phone with Paypal and they will be sending you an email to send the Macbook to the address below (as earlier requested). I will be going over the Macbook with a fine tooth comb, so every single thing I sent in the original package will need to be there in addition to the Macbook being in the same shape as it was sent. The original Macbook box, manuals, DVD’s, cables, etc will all need to be there an in their original condition. It was not a pleasure doing business with you and I hope our paths never cross again.

[address removed]”

As I type update2 the buyer has yet to respond to Paypal. Paypal even sent the buyer another email yesterday (he has until the 15th to respond). The buyer NEVER mentioned a $30 fee to fix the problem until the email you see above. In all honesty, if I could in fact verify that it would cost $30 to fix the item I would have paid it. At this point I’m out more than $30 so it makes sense to pay it. The buyer never mentioned it until after the Paypal case was decided so I had no chance to do such a thing. What doesn’t make sense is his claim that “Apple says that the warranty only covers technical problem not mechanical”. I’ve never had to deal with an Apple warranty, but doesn’t that claim seem backwards to you? It makes sense that they WOULD cover mechanical problems and not technical problems. But whatever…. I’ll be happy when this stuff is all over with. My gut tells me he’s just waiting until the last minute to piss me off.

Update3 - Written on 12/17/2007

As of 12:07 AM EST this morning, the case with Paypal has been closed.  The buyer did not respond to Paypal in the allotted time and the claim was denied.  What’s interesting here is that even though the deadline for his response was December 15th, Paypal told me he actually had until the 16th.  So much for a hard deadline I suppose.  At any rate, all this is over and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.  I learned a valuable lesson though.  At all cost, I’m going to avoid eBay and Paypal with anything worth over $100.  I’ll use craigslist first, and then and only then if I can’t sell it I’ll think about going to eBay/Paypal.  Done, over, glad I don’t have to think about this anymore.