The universe demanded that I buy a new camera. No, really. For months and months and months I had ignored the sexiness that is the Canon T2i. Magazine articles about it went unread. Amazon ads about it went un-clicked. Blog posts about it went ignored. The universe didn't like me being all responsible and stuff, though.
The universe started sending me money for the camera.
First, I won $100 in one blog contest. Then I won another $100 in another. I secured a tiny little contract that delivered another $100. And then I WON ANOTHER $100. That was the last straw. If the universe wants to send me money as a reward for leaving comments on blogs, then I'm going to be left with no choice but to do exactly what the universe wants me to do. BUY A NEW CAMERA!
That actually happened back before Christmas. My sexy little lady and I are still getting to know each other, but it's pretty much looooooove.
The only problem is that my first love, Mr. Canon, has now become a bit of a third wheel. I haven't fondled him since the T2i (she's still without a name) came into my life. It's not fair to just leave a really hawt camera sitting on a shelf without love, so with a little tear in my eye, I listed him on ebay.
That was on Sunday at 4:30.
At 4:37, someone had already bought it for the Buy It Now price.
Now, while the Buy It Now price was reasonable, it wasn't ZOMG! BUY IT NOW! DOOON'T WAIT! or anything. Seven minutes smelled a little fishy. I clicked around a bit to see who had bought it. I found a whole barrel of dead fish.
The so-called "buyer" was in Belgium and was using a brand-spanking new ebay account. I may be a ridiculously trusting person, but even *I* knew that it was just someone buying valuable junk in hopes that the seller would be moronic enough to send it without payment.
But, just in case, I figured I would just send an invoice and see what happened. Right after, I looked up the ebay policy for such situations and learned that I needed to give the "buyer" three days before I could cancel the transaction without any penalty. I also learned that I would be best served by making sure that I made a good faith effort to communicate with them.
So, I sent an email.
Thank you for your interest in the Canon XTi! I will get it shipped out within 24 hours of receiving payment. Please let me know if you have any questions.
I expected a whole lot of nothing to happen. But! But! I got a reply!
hope is in good condition?please you send me PayPal money request invoice from from PAYPAL not ebay invoice,PAYPAL money request from paypal so that i will make payment immediately and here is also my paypal email ID ithinkyourestupid@yahoo.com
(.advise asap
I, for one, ALWAYS buy valuable electronics without knowing what sort of condition they are in. So, I replied.
It's in fantastic condition! There was that time that my dog sat on it and got the knob thing stuck in an unfortunate place, but the smell is almost gone. I'll send a PayPal invoice right over!
I sent the PayPal invoice, fully expecting to get a spoofed PayPal email telling me I had a payment. And I did. I sent an email right away.
Thank you so much for your payment! There seems to be a problem with it, though. I can see the email saying it came, but usually when I get money in my PayPal account, the little number on my PayPal iPhone app changes (I think it's called a notification?). Maybe there is something wrong with my phone?
You already knew I was evil, so don't act surprised.
I got a reply.
i am work for company which fixes iphones.perhaps, you send to me with camera and i can fix?i need no money to do it.do as nice.
I had totally struck gold. Not only were they willing to buy my camera from me with fake money, they were willing to fix my phone for free, too! Wahooo!
That is so nice of you to offer! Do you happen to know how to fix a MacBook, too? The text on mine is too small and I have to use a magnifying glass to read emails. I don't know anyone who knows how to work on MacBooks, so I have to just deal with it.
I don't own a MacBook. Nor do I own a magnifying glass. Yet.
After sending that email, an incredibly disappointing thing happened. eBay found the fraudulent account all on their own and shut it down. No more email fun for me, which is really too bad because I bet that person in Belgium would have known how to fix the giant dead plasma TV in our basement, too. Sadcakes.
The camera is relisted on ebay (Camera body! Lens! Macro attachment! Fisheye attachment! Extra battery! You should buy it!). So far, it's not as much fun this time around, but I'll learn to be OK with that.
No dogs have actually stink-butted this camera. Promise.