Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jackdaniels]

Normally I don't need to ask questions about this or that.
Having been here ten years this time around I thought I had seen it all.
So here goes...
A few days ago I read an ad for a wii the seller was asking 100,000 obo.
On the phone she said no problem with the wii; she just didn't have a TV anymore. During the conversation she mentioned her computer was making more noise than normal and taking 5-10 minutes to boot. I said I know a bit about computers and said I'd take a look. She said she had received a lot of replies but would sell it to me.
I went to meet her and brought along a can of air and some basic tools.
The wii was in good shape. I opened up her computer and turned it on.
The cpu fan was loud as a jet engine; it seemed strange since there wasn't much dust in the heatsink. I took off the heatsink and there was no thermal paste (thermal paste is important!). The cpu being a Pentium D definitely needs paste; those first generation dual cpus were hot to begin with. I didn't have any on me so I explained why the fan was so loud and I would bring some over the next day. I also went into the start up services and stopped the unnecessary programs. The computer now would boot up in less than two minutes (not bad for a computer that hasn't been reformatted in 3 years)
She also mentioned it would be nice to have the system in English.
I advised more ram wouldn't hurt either (only has 1GB). Also the cpu heatsink fan was shot from having being on high for so long.
Then SHE suggested we could just trade the work needed to be done on her computer for the wii; I agreed (In good faith she gave me the wii)
I gots a trusting face LOL .
The next day I started getting into the fever/body ache stage of a flu.
So we agreed to meet the next day. Next day comes and here we go...
She calls me up and says her "Korean Friend" told her it was a bad deal.
I had already given the wii to my friend who was heading to Yongsan to have it modded. I had already purchased the ram ddr2 4200. I told her this. Then her Korean friend gets on the phone
and tells me to give the wii back. I explain it to him that it is in Yongsan somewhere. He says call them and cancel the mod. Now my Korean not being perfect he takes it as bam mal? And he starts calling me all kinds of names most of which are not allowed on this board. I hang up.
I text her and asked her to send me her bank info so I could send her the 100,000 instead of what we agreed on. She doesn't reply. Send another text no reply. I call and the Korean guy answers and says to me "calm down" in broken English, "stop being childish". Who me? I asked to talk with the seller and he refuses. In the mean time my friend who has the wii isn't answering his phone...To be honest I did get some spidey tingling senses when I met up with her.

I have the wii back un-modded.
I also have the ram which is useless to me which she refuses to reimburse me for. Not to mention the trouble shooting time and what not.
.

What would you do?

[warren pease]

Keep the Wii and continue to offer to fix her PC. She's a grown-up and made a deal. If you want to be an awesome human and offer to send her the W100,000 she originally asked for that's up to you. But considering you alright put X amount of time into addressing and beginning to fix her crappy computer and went and bought the ram I'd keep that hard cash in my pocket.

[Seoulio]

Well I mean you guys made an arrangement, and getting her computer into working order sounds like it would be worth the 100 k you were "charging"

regardless you were there to buy a WII fo cash, and so if you hadnt helped her with the computer you were getting that wii regardless.

Send her the cash ( minus a possible fee for the work you did do on her computer) and be done with it.

You have done nothing wrong.

On the other hand you have also made a transaction ( a verbal one but a transaction regardless) The wii is yours, just keep telling her "When would you like me to come and do the work we agreed on for the trade?"

I have no idea if the cops would be involved this way though, or who they would side with if they came.

[The Gipkik]

I wouldn't have done all that work for her. She's a complete stranger. In Korea, the promise of a transaction still equals complete stranger. And you know what complete stranger means, right? Chalk it up to experience and don't get in touch with her anymore. What's done is done.

[jackdaniels]

[Italy37612]

I would keep it. She's an adult, she entered into an agreement with you. You tried to honor said agreement. Keep the Wii and she will learn a valuable life lesson.

[The Gipkik]

[BoholDiver]

I think there are really 3 choices here.

1. Be a little harsh. Keep the Wii. If she calls later to get the work done, go do it. If the K guy is there, tell him to shut up and show some respect.

2. Somewhere in the middle: Send the 100,000 minus the cost of the RAM chip.

3. Be a doormat and give the seller the 100,000 won.

[northway]

Her buddy probably said he'd do the same deal and was pissed that she didn't give him the opportunity first.