posted on May 19, 2007 08:39:39 AM new
Some of you may recall that I mentioned one of only two buyer checks that have bounced in 8 years.
A couple of months ago a rather pathetic owner of a small shop owner here in our village called, said she'd heard I sell on consignment sometimes, and asked me to sell a Lladro figurine for her. She had the look of someone who's using. She insisted that it start higher than I would have; it was a small figure of a boy, not too rare.
I worked my butt off on that auction, hoping it would surprise me; great photos, research, the whole nine yards. It didn't sell. Not one bid. She asked me to relist; I warned her the listing fees would double if it didn't sell. It didn't sell.
I went to her shop and asked for payment of $11.80 for the listing fees. She wrote a check. It bounced.
I went back to her shop, and it was closed, boarded up. Found the trailer park where she lived and mailed a note to her with the bounced check and bank notice and asked her to make good on it. Nothing!
Two days ago I and a friend had lunch at a new restaurant in town. She was our waitress! I didn't know if she recognized me, and I said nothing to her about the bounced check. Even tipped her.
Came home and told my husband I'd seen her.
The very next day I get a money order in the mail, sent the afternoon of our lunch at the restaurant; the money order included the bank charge as well.
All's well that ends well (if the m.o. is authentic, of course). She must have recognized me and realized I know where to find her!
Not sure what the point of this story is, but I thought some of you might be interested. I laughed--a lot--over this.
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There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on May 19, 2007 09:17:25 AM newShe must have recognized me and realized I know where to find her!
Or she couldn't pay you before because she was broke. Once she got a job and came into some cash, she did the right thing. Good for her!
I thought the story was a little sad, but was heartened to see that the waitress had character. Sounds like she's on her way to getting back on her feet.
A lawyer who works for a city government bounced a check on me a couple years ago. She never made good on it, and I think we can assume she could have laid her hands on $10 without too much trouble.
posted on May 19, 2007 10:22:12 AM new
Fluffy--The thing that bothered me the very most was her not responding when I tried to get in touch with her by mail and e-mail. She had my phone number. We have 2500 permanent residents here; we all live within two miles of each other. My conclusion was that she was going to move off the mountain; there could be no other explanation for her burning her bridges here in town. Too small, too much shared information here.
If she'd just called to say she was dead broke and looking for a job, and would pay me when she could, that would have been all I needed to hear. It's just NOT the Idyllwild way to write bad checks and ignore messages.
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There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on May 19, 2007 10:34:22 AM new
Well, gosh, Adele, if I was broke I don't think I'd feel like calling people up and telling them.
I grew up in a small town about the size of Idyllwild. It's a two-sided coin. While people you barely know are usually friendly and anxious to help when they can, often people you barely know are spreading poisonous rumors about you that often have little or no basis in fact. In my hometown they're still talking about things some people did 50 years ago. I could tell you stories...
I think it's much harder to get by in a small town than it is in a city. Which is one of the reasons I've never moved back to that cozy little town on the river. I think your waitress has some grit to stick it out there in the face of the inevitable whispering behind her back. I mean, heck, you as much as branded her a druggie with absolutely no factual evidence. And so what if she was? People turn their lives around sometimes.
posted on May 19, 2007 10:39:57 AM new
Well, of course my original posting should have sounded as sympathetic as I was feeling.
This woman has been working at the new restaurant for a month. I should have said that, too.
Part of my point was that, if I hadn't eaten at that restaurant and she never saw me again, would she have paid what she owed? Too coincidental--I eat there Thursday noon, she puts a money order in the mail by 5, and I get it in my box the next morning.
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There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
Your post reminded me that I've been ripped off twice by taking someone's verbal agreement as sufficient, and both times they were attorneys. The amounts were insufficient to make small claims court worthwhile, although I seriously considered it for one of them (as a point of principle, or lack thereof).
Verbal agreements with plumbers, mechanics, retired people, etc. have all gone fine.
BTW, I do have a contract, and almost everyone signs it. Sometimes, however, circumstances and timing preclude getting a signature before the listing.
posted on May 19, 2007 01:24:14 PM new
In another thread ,some of you suggested consignment with a brick and mortar shop,leaving the stuff in the shop until sold.
A friend of mine used to do that,as she has no shop of her own and often she found the item either stolen,missing or the shop closed.
Roadsmith,
I doubt if you would have received the money order if you did not eat there on Thursday,may be someday if it bothers her conscience,but not the next day!
If she does not pay you,you could badmouth her or make a big scene in the restaurant and get her fired!
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Lets all stop whining !
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posted on May 19, 2007 08:52:50 PM new
I would have no trouble telling someone I was broke before I would even think of deliberately giving them a bad check that would add NSF charges to what I already owed.
posted on May 19, 2007 09:20:08 PM new
Chances are the fact that you said nothing and then left a tip prompted her to pay her debt. She may have really appreciated you not making a scene and had a little guilt thus paid you. More than I can say on some folks I have known.
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