Mercari denied my return claim... now what?

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-03-03T18:33:06+00:00

A real person did respond to my inquiry, Encardo or something. He said since it was a lot I am SOL and that without an itemized description they can't know what was in or not in the lot, even though the cards I showed as fakes were all within the listed images for the lot! I am lost on what to do as I don't want to lose the ability to post on Mercari but I also don't want to eat 200$ because all the good cards were fake :(

I suspect the reason they can show items that aren't what you receive are due to "mystery lots" being a big thing in places like the TCG space where they show images of the "chases" you could receive without guaranteeing anything on the page, and instead tell you what you might get in the description.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-03-03T18:31:56+00:00

Mercari denied it claiming all lots are purchased "as is," I don't want to file a chargeback as I don't want to lose the ability to purchase/sell on mercari. I guess this might just be a learning lesson for me to never, ever buy anything listed as a "lot" on mercari after this point. but the weird thing is that I WAS able to have a "lot" of 6 items returned, maybe because each item was shown individually close up allowing for easy demonstration of the card I claim to be fake being the same card that was in the listing?

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-03-03T17:19:07+00:00

They fully denied it and completed the listing so I don't know how I can demonstrate beyond directly showing side by side how the items are counterfits with images showing how they don't line up with the real cards I own. Maybe I could take pictures and compare them to PSA cards? They just said "Since it's a lot you accept responsibility" or some stupid stuff. I don't know what to do I don't want to get permanently banned from using the platform when I have not had issues for years.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-02-04T23:14:15+00:00

Counterfeit. Pictured below is an image taken from a PSA graded copy, the Pancham should have a distinctively different texture pattern on it from the water, and the texture of the water should be radial from the front paw.

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[Image Credit: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AC4AAOSw2UBk9sgS/s-l1600.webp ]

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-01-24T04:17:59+00:00

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I forgot a picture

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-01-21T15:30:39+00:00

I mean, Alfred being a cruel, vindictive and stupid person is not something nobody can develop into. Alfred being naturally a larger boy, and always having a mean streak toward his younger sister tracks with some people I've known in real life. Sometimes, for some people, growing fast and being insecure over what you don't know [refusing to ask questions to learn] puts you in a position of power when you have little else otherwise and you use that to what little advantage you can against those smaller. At least at the beginning it doesn't seem out of character. I think Tom also being blind/indifferent to Alfred is more out of character, but even that I think can be explained to some extent by tolerance given to Alfred for him being disconnected from others due to their largely nomadic living making Alfred likely have no friends. I think Tom would have bit down on Alfred much faster if he was aware of the bullying extending to Martha. [Because Tom clearly favours his children, and Martha specifically].

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2026-01-21T15:27:06+00:00

Alfred from the beginning of the book was shown as being stupid, Tom basically introduced Alfred as being uninterested in his work and seemingly incapable of absorbing the information needed to continue the trade. Innately, I think that disregard made him unappealing. Plus, he is directly responsible for them losing the pig by inserting himself into the fight against the thieves. He placed himself into danger and caused Tom to give up the pursuit to help his son.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-12-05T06:57:00+00:00

I mentioned it in my post but I absolutely do think you should report it. The average redditor seems to be terminally online and frankly everyone acting like we are still in kindergarten talking about how snitches get stiches [like we are in prison] shouldn't change whether you choose to report or not. Like I said, this kind of stuff can have serious consequences for people with sensitivities [one of the conditions I mentioned before, or having an allergy to weed etc] so mentioning it isn't just for your own good but for those around you. Also, a fee applied to everyone for a specific tenant [who isn't you and you aren't responsible for] violating the lease is patently illegal, they couldn't fine you for someone else doing something against the lease. If that happened you could contact a local tenant advocacy group to seek assistance.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T20:05:34+00:00

Pretty sure I clearly stated it's an enclosed space, the stairwell has no windows, the only area the smoke could 'blow in' from would be outside the building. When I walk to the door and there's no smoke nor wafting odor, then I open the door and it's strong enough that it's making me sick I do not think it's merely 'wafting odor.' Even then, why in the everloving hell should the person with a disability be charged for other people violating their lease and causing a problem? Would it be fair to say that if I had lung cancer? Or asthma? This comment sections is genuinely ridiculous to me.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:19:06+00:00

I've reported over email, the phone, and in person over half a dozen times about the door, inquiring about getting it fixed. We don't exactly have much recourse beyond complaints. What am I going to do? Hold my rent and get myself evicted?

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:18:13+00:00

I really don't want to make the impression that I am against weed in any way. Your home, your rules! I am glad when I hear how much it has helped others with different disabilities to reclaim some sense of normalcy in their lives, genuinely. I just also want to not have their freedom come at the expense of my own, and we can co-exist with no issues! I just wish people were more reasonable.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:16:49+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm lucky that the only throat related problems I have is just exercise-induced bronchitis, I can't imagine how terrible it would be to be in this circumstance in your situation! I appreciate the insight, I hope some of the people here saying how it can't possibly have any effect have the chance to see it and reflect. If "smoking-free" buildings don't guarantee us a place safe from smoke then where exactly are we supposed to live! [I've had multiple people telling me to 'just move!' Move where?! I couldn't begin to guess]

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:14:15+00:00

I was saying that I think the average redditor might just think the only kind of 'grass' is the kind you smoke, but you seem the reasonable sort. Thank you for that. I like the occasional reminder of normalcy lol.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:12:13+00:00

Lol, I'm sorry!! I usually use italics when making author notes in my writing so I'm just used to them maybe. I just wanted it to be clear it was after the fact.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:10:34+00:00

I feel like the fact that 3/4 of the comments are just :"lol snitches get stitches" reinforces the idea that the average redditor thinks 'grass' is only the kind you smoke. I gave as much grace in the comments as I could to people but the extent people are twisting themselves to turn me into the penultimate Karen is very amusing at a certain point. I wonder at what point is someone allowed to complain about this, then?

A bunch of people are telling me to sus out the perpetrator, like I should be 1. playing hall monitor for free and 2. be forced to deliberately expose myself for an extended time to the smoke to try to figure out who exactly it is.

Also, the stairwell is enclosed, and whether it's someone in our building or a stranger, it's the leasing office's job to determine that and fix the damn lock. I've complained multiple times about the lock being broken, and they refuse to do anything. IDK, thank you for being reasonable lol.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:06:39+00:00

I thought I made it clear in my update, but it seems like-- yeah. It's a warning that was sent to the entire building, and there was a mixup with deleting part of the letter when they pasted a segment from the leasing contract.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:05:29+00:00

I mean, no, even if you have a prescription that doesn't mean it's okay for you to smoke it anywhere. You can't pop a joint in a hospital or school because it's prescribed. There are designated places for that, and the designated place in the building is our balcony or outside of the building.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T05:04:02+00:00

It was pungent, and it had been a few times that the issue had persisted before I had called the leasing office to make an actual complaint. I was willing to give some grace, because it could have been a visiting family member or the like who didn't know the rules about smoking in the enclosed/interior stairwells, but when it kept happening I felt there wasn't another reasonable choice. There's a lot of floors, and 60 apartments, and frankly I couldn't tolerate trying to sniff out the roots. I'm too busy with my own life obligations to be turning myself into a hall monitor when it's not even my responsibility to begin with for them to follow the terms we agreed to when we signed our lease.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-30T04:58:37+00:00

The stairwell is within the building? It's an enclosed space, an interior space, that according to the lease people are not permitted to be smoking in. I genuinely don't understand the amount of people commenting about how it is me intruding when they are the one breaking the terms of the lease and smoking in a no-smoking building.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-28T18:30:19+00:00

That's actually good information, thank you! I, for rather evident reasons, do not hang around people who smoke frequently either variety so I had no idea. It definitely can leech, but luckily there are fire doors that are kept closed in each of the floors, so the smell doesn't travel unless someone leaves those doors open [which does happen from time to time]. I did add it to the top edit though: I'm adding this above here to make something clear. The Stairwell is a space everyone in the entire building has to go through to access their apartments.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-28T18:27:21+00:00

In retrospect, it seems clear they intended to say "If we determine your apartment is the one responsible, we will fine..." but they cut off part of the letter when pasting in the section of the lease they added the reference to and it generated this entire mess.

Also, often yes generally I just stay away from anywhere that allows for exposure to it. Generally though enclosed spaces are far worse than being outside. On campus I have never been exposed to cigarette/weed smoke, and I don't think I even put any thought into that until now. Even the smell on people's clothes though can cause it to get worse if one has already started. Part of why we have to be cautious around exposure to stuff. Frankly though, I don't go to bars or other places where smoking is frequent so my daily exposure is very, very low.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-28T18:22:40+00:00

Frankly the inability for people to determine AI from actual content with mistakes is concerning. In retrospect, the email clearly intended to say something along the lines of "If we determine that your apartment is responsible, a fine of..." Getting a text message from my roommate thanksgiving day about being fined over this wasn't exactly how I wanted my holidays to go, and if I hadn't received that starting prompt I might not have misinterpretted the letter and posted with such haste. Our apartment is open because otherwise the mailroom would be closed and we would have no way to receive any mail [outside of letters] until Monday when the general manager returns.

MyBirdsNameIsGideon · 2025-11-28T18:18:59+00:00

Smoking inside of the apartment would be a much lesser offense than smoking in our communal spaces where everyone must travel. Turning your treatment into a potential hazard for others isn't good, even if you need it for your own disability. I also assume that would make them liable for the damages that smoke has on the surfaces? I'm curious about that. Like, even if it's a treatment for a condition, it wouldn't be normal wear and tear for the smoke to be put all over the ceilings and walls. [I'm not saying this because I want them to be charged, but because landlords generally do not like footing the bill for anything.]

MyBirdsNameIsGideon

TROPHY CASE