eBay Gremlin

Victim case: #3071210533
(or #1 as we’ll call them from here on out)

Facts: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3071210533&category=21177

“atari video game system games verry nice, working in very clean condition. i never seen as nice of game system from the 70. joy stick is still quick and moves with ease. your getting a rare hard to find boxed games. this alone is the money for your bid. i wish i were still young to have the time to play with this myself. but in 7 days it will be yours. bid as if you know the true value of the rare find.”

Opening comments: “Florence Nightmaregale” started this find of the century at $24.99 with a $60 BIN. And what do you get for your money? A ‘nice system from the 70’ with quick ‘joy stick’ and hard to find boxed games (Berzerk, Steeplechase, Space Invaders, and Race – we’re talking ultra-super-like forget it-hard-to-find stuff.) Sure, maybe that’s worth $60, if it included the crappy b&w tv ‘from the 70’ and the retro kitchen ‘from the 50’. Maybe.

I find it curiously odd that the seller’s payment instructions are in flawless English, don’t you? Why is it only the young have time to play this? How DO you judge the quickness of a joystick? And more importantly, do I really know the "true value of the rare find"? Questions I hope to have answered.

<ebay gremlin> Hello! Can you please tell me how many games come with the system and if they all are in working mode. Are they all white and black or color? Also do all the controllers work and how quick are they?

<ebay gremlin> How many game come with the system? I see 3 game boxed and 1 game in system but your auction say all are boxed. Is this true? Do the paddles have the shakers when you plug them and use them in? Is the tv from the 70 included as well? The picture looks white and black. Is this a color system white and black or other? I know the true value of the rare find and want to bid quickly! Thanks.

<butterfly032003> 4. the one game in the system has no box. (paddles shake) No. (tv included) no (only to show system is working) but can be for sale? Color system

<ebay gremlin> Ok I have made bid now! So this then includes the 70s tv, correct? There are then 4 games only with system? How many use the paddles and how many use the quick sticks? Also how do you determine the quick-ness of the joy sticks? I use to be champion game player back in the 70 an I really need a good fast sticks to get back into form! I am still so young as to play the system! Sorry to hear you are not, but that happen I guess to us all, correct? Also you say this is one of your best system - do you have others?????

<ebay gremlin> ??? Can you please answer my questions about these? What does “we will see what happens” mean?? Is that code for something? That is a bit worrisome. Maybe something bad will happen soon?? Maybe you don’t have much times to replay but then again I get 3 emails with this answer! Why o why I have many questions about this item that only you can answer J)))

[Next day no replies, so I resent this message. Twice. Day after that I hear nothing so I follow up with this:]

<ebay gremlin> why are you not responding to me emails? this is not a good sign. I need to hear back from you very like quickly!!

<butterfly032003> hi, did i not answer these question before...." we will see what happen" is the auction is still going on you have not won it yet? no codes...again i have not played this game.. iam giving my opion and others people my think driffent. iam having trouble with sending email so to be sure it goes out i some time send it 3 time ,just to be sure also i work some time 15 hours a day as a RN with sick people, i answer email once a day befor work: i don't get a chance to answer email but once a day? ..... thanks for your bid.

<ebay gremlin> Thank you for reply finally finally!! You make me wonder if I should not bid elsewhere. You ask if I won auction yet? How can I win auction if it is still running??! I no understand this. Ah, you a nurse? I can use one right now J I have been with much sickness the last few days. Ma throat is white and I have these blotchy marks over my whole body. Is that bad? Does that mean I’m dying???? Gosh I hope not I really want to win this bid before that happens J Yes your email is working good too good maybe. I get all your replies! Yet none of them answer my previous questions L Ok so I reprint them here now for you. So this auction then includes the 70s tv, correct? There are then 4 games only with system? How many use the paddles and how many use the quick sticks? Also how do you determine the quick-ness of the joy sticks? I use to be champion game player back in the 70 an I really need a good fast sticks to get back into form! I am still so young as to play the system! Sorry to hear you are not, but that happen I guess to us all, correct? Also you say this is one of your best system- do you have others?????

<butterfly032003> NO IT IS NOT WITH THIS AUCTION... MAYBE A LATER AUCTION. YES. 2 STICKS "MY OPINION 2" THIS IS ONLY MY OPINON. THIS WAS 40 YEARS AGO. NO THIS IS THE ONLY ONE LIKE THIS I HAVE. I HOPE YOUR QUESTION WERE ANSWERED.

<ebay gremlin> Oh. Tv not with auction then. Oh but I need tv to play this right? Then how can I play without tv?? Quick sticks then only your opinion? I thought you know much about this type of system. I need a quick stick BADLY!!! I need to get back into top form. But then what if your opinion is not the same as my opinion? I am well done I think. You say this is system from the 70 but then you say that was 40 years ago? Do you mean 30 or is system from the 60? You also say this is one of my best system and you have never seen a nicer one but now you say this is the only one you have. You I hope understand my confusioness!! Also my skin blotchies are now read and itchy. What does this mean?? You being nurse I trust you opinion greatly on this!

<ebay gremlin> I have not yet heard from you, is all ok? Is everything good? I pull bid I think maybe that something has happened to you. I hope not if you let me know you ok and can still answer my questionays I can rebid it not too late! I have not ben feeling so good myself either. I may be near my ending *cough*. I need to have the answers quickly, quickly like the sticks. Because the blotchez are bleeding and it getting harder *cough cough* to keep typing all this out and I want to have this system before it was …..to late! So please help me nurse from the 70! You my only hope. *cough*cough*bleeds*clicks send*rots*dies*

Summary:

As you read, I didn’t have much luck getting my questions answered. Not only that, I was pretty much left to die at the hands of this so-called nurse. That’s some kind of bedside manner. Maybe she should hold onto that system since it sounds like she could use some R&R. That’s just what this doctor ordered.

But what’s this I see? It’s ANOTHER system for auction by the same seller!

“Atari game system w/ 2 games complete !just like our CHRISTMAS in the 70's you get all hook-up and power supply. ATARI GAME SYSTEM COLLECTORS AND LOVER OR VINTAGE AGE GAMES. WHO DON'T LIKE PACK-MAN ON CHRISTMAS DAY. YOUR GETTING 2 GAMES (POT LUCK) AND 2 JOY STICKS AND 2 SET OF PADDLES. PLEASE SEE PICTURE, WE TESTED EVERYTHING. THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE YOUR KID THE SAME THING WE ASK SANTA FOR, JOY AND FUN. LET THEM SEE THE FUN IN THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE.I REMEMBER AFTER SCHOOL WE PLAYED DEFENDER ALL AFTERNOON. BOY IT WAS FUN....”

eBay Gremlin Battles Nurse From the 70

Summary:

Last updated: Saturday, February 19, 2011 02:39 PM