My dealings with David Tein of Munster, IN began with an innocent e-mail concerning a recent bid I had made in an eBay auction.

From: Teinfamily@aol.com
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 00:58:56 EDT
Subject: Palm Pilot Modem
To: rcarls2@umbc.edu

I see you bid on a palm pilot modem. I was going to sell off the same one. If 
you are interested I will sell it to you for $30 and I will pay the shipping.

David

We briefly exchanged e-mails over whether or not it would work on the Palm III. When I was convinced that I wanted to buy this Palm Pilot Modem, I sent off a check for $30 and gave him my P.O. Box to send it to via USPS mail.

From: Teinfamily@aol.com
Message-ID: <76.d6da7c.26956d4c@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 01:04:12 EDT
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
To: rob@vees.net

You can either send it to me at:

David Tein
PO Box 3122
Munster IN 46321

or I can send you a paypal request. Which ever you prefer.

David

On Saturday, July 15, 2000, a Palm Navigator arrived in the mail. The retail value of this accessory was less than $30, and many were selling on eBay at that time for anywhere from $10 to $15.

I assumed at first that it was just an honest mistake.

From: rob@vees.net
To: Teinfamily@aol.com
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 10:08 EDT

David,

You sent me a Palm Navigator by mistake.

Please send the modem and I'll return the Navigator to your PO Box as
soon as it arrives.

Rob

To which he replied:

From: Teinfamily@aol.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 13:37:47 EDT
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
To: rob@vees.net

Rob,

if you got the navigator them the modem is on its way to Hawaii. I 
will have Jeremy in Hawaii send it directlty to you, and if I can 
impose of you to do the same. Just let me know how much the postage 
is and I will send it back to you.

I am sincerely sorry.

David

During this time, my check for $30 was cashed and endorsed by David Tein into an Indiana bank account.

From: rob@vees.net
To: Teinfamily@aol.com
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 16:05 EDT

S'ok, mistakes happen.  I'll eat the dollar or so.

What's his address?

He doesn't respond for a week, so I send another message.

From: rob@vees.net
To: Teinfamily@aol.com
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
Date: 26 Jul 2000 18:27 EDT

David,

I can't send the Navigator on without Jeremy's address.

Please send it to me and I'll send off his unit as soon as the modem
arrives here.

Rob

To which he responds:

From: Teinfamily@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 00:36:52 EDT
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
To: rob@vees.net

Rob

I am sorry for the delay - I am still waiting for the Hulahoop flower 
sniffing Hawian to get back to me. He don't move so fast. He ends every 
sentece with Aloha, he promised me that he would email you. I will 
send him anoth note.

Sorry

David

I write back immediately:

Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 11:40:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: rob@vees.net
To: Teinfamily@aol.com
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem

Still no e-mail from him.  Please let him know that I could really use
this modem soon.  If I don't hear from him in the next three days, I'll
e-mail you again.

This is the last e-mail I receive from David until October 10, 2003.

From: Teinfamily@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 16:19:49 EDT
Subject: Re: Palm Pilot Modem
To: rob@vees.net

Thanx Rob,

David

After a few e-mails back and forth, on October 14, 2003, David makes it clear that he would like to settle up with me and put this experience behind us both. That afternoon I receive an e-mail from Western Union's billpay.com service as follows.

From: confirm@bidpay.com
Date: Tue Oct 14, 2003  15:38:29 US/Eastern
To: rob@vees.net
Subject: Money Order Confirmation Letter (18xxxxxx)

Dear Rob Carlson

This email is to inform you that the Western Union BidPay service has  
received an order from David Tein to have a $30.00 Western Union 
US$ money order sent to you for 

Auction Item  : Refund of $30
Auction Site  : refund
Auction Number: xxxxxxxxxxxx

We have both reached a mutually satisfying conclusion to our transaction and I consider the matter with David Tein to be settled and behind us both.

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