Nick Rogers - Is this typical of MOTL or am I way off base?

[iamfishman]

So, I had never used MOTL before, and have no interest in making a big long list of all my haves and wants(mostly because my haves are already on TCGPlayer and my haves are only certain cards from Arabian Nights).  The following are the only two PMs I have sent and the only one I have received on the site after signing up a few days ago.  Let me know what you think: am I right, wrong, or in some gray area here.

I send:

Hi,

I am a first time, brand new MOTL user.  I am interested in your Library of Alexandria and have 2 Misty Rainforests and 1 Scalding Tarn in NM condition as well as other wants of yours.

I have heard many things about this site, and that it is reliable, plus you have great feedback so I don't mind sending first.

Hit me back, if you would, with a scan of the LOA and what you value it at and we can go from there.

Thanks,
Ray




He sends back:

With a fresh account created just this week, no posts, no H/W list, and an exceptionally sketchy approach, my sense is that any trade we work out will end up with you in possession of my Library and me posting about a bungled deal on the Bad Traders forum...

For what it's worth, you don't have to go about your business this way.  There are much easier ways to get cards than simply making attempts at theft online.  They may be a bit slower, but they won't come back to haunt you at the end of the day (either in your conscience or once someone files legal action). 

Feel free to reach out if you need someone to talk to about it, but nothing good comes of this sort of effort.

--Nick




And I send back:

Hi Nick,

Thank you for your reply.  My name is Raymond Robillard.  I am a fairly well know member of the Vintage Community due to the large TMD Open torunaments I used to run in Waterbury, CT.  Those who know me would describe me as incredibly trustworthy.  I have an ebay account of the same name(Iamfishman) with 448 transactions and a 100% rating.  Additionally, I just started a store on TCGPlayer (The Icatian Store) a month ago and already have completed about 100 transactions with, again, a 100% feedback rating.  My work on TCGPlayer has been to sell a lot of smaller cards to fill in pieces for 4 sets of Arabian Nights (Of which I am in need of a LOA).

As I mentioned, I simply had no experience with MOTL, but had heard positive things about it.  Knowing that there would be obvious skepticism, I wrote in my email to you that I would send first.  I would have been happy to wait until you received my cards before you sent anything.  I believe, however, your pessimism may have prevented you from reading that intended message.

What stands as the much larger issue to me, however, is the brash and condescending nature of your response.  Is this the norm on this site, and if so, how does anyone get started on it?  While it may sound "over the top" to say, your email has left a terrible taste in my mouth and it is unlikely that I will move forward using this site, nor will I be able to recommend it to others.

I am not looking for an apology, nor any kind of response.  I simply ask that you think about the assumptions and accusations you may make before you put your foot in your mouth.

Sincerely,
Ray Robillard
Iamfishman2000@hotmail.com

[Commandant]

As a long time user of that website I cannot really blame him. At the same time I wholeheartedly believe you approached a first time trade in the correct manner. MoTL is very open, it's like a free online dating site in that you're generally going to meet a ton of rando commandos and generally mean spirited/ignorant/large ego individuals  when compared to somewhere like Magic Librarities. I've had a fair amount of success on MoTL but I've also had run ins with people that do not really deserve a second thought. Pack it up and try a different person.

Also I'd be willing to give you a reference.

[Prospero]

I was on the site back in 2000, through 2002 or so.  I don't remember people being that way.

You're a good man, Ray.  Whatever these savages seem to think, the Vintage community certainly supports you.

[JACO]

Just skip dealing with that dude. Make yourself a Have/Want list, and find others to trade with. It's a good site. I've got like the 20th most references there out of 25K+ people, and have used it for a long time. Just like anywhere else there's great people, and ones to forego.

[TheShop]

This is so silly.  He should have asked you to send first after working out some terms...people with high refs have literally nothing to lose by saying "this is too risky unless you send first."