You would think that the reduced anonymity might count for anything, but apparently it doesn’t. I bought a small wagon from a seller who apparently orders them in bulk from China for resale here in the States. It was still taped in its box, so I couldn’t preview it before buying it; she wouldn’t let me, and my round-trip drive for this thing had totaled to a bit over an hour (despite seeing some nice scenes, sure), so I didn’t want to drive back empty-handed. Yet I only found out after I got home, opened it, and assembled it that the handle is loose.

This was a damaged-box product which is why it sold on a fire discount of just $15, but even so I told her about the handle and she basically said that I knew what I was getting into when I bought it at such a price. After I said that while I suspect that the handle may fall off in half a year, she didn’t need to be so defensive, either, she suddenly blocked me out of the blue. The listing disappeared from my view and I have no idea of how to reach this person apart from possibly trying to have a friend who she hasn’t blocked to review-bomb her on my behalf. I have not done that yet because I don’t want to expose my friend to unknown inconveniences.

Ironically, she had at least 4.6★ that I can recall. I think this is how mass FBM sellers of new products (as opposed to one-time used ones) keep their ratings high: by blocking anyone showing the slightest sign of critique so that they literally cannot leave a negative review. I had no idea that FBM functioned like this. I thought that despite blocking, at least the listing would still be available.

I almost thought about planning a visit some time to egg her house (since that’s where I met her for it), but I’ll be a better human than that and not do something so lowly. I’m now wondering if maybe this person’s sales can be reported for tax evasion, come to think of it…