And the Dumbing Down Continues

“I have a 1978 Honda CX500, I got it from my friend and it was belong to his passed away father. This bike has been sitting in the garage for years and couple years ago my friend was riding it and it worked perfect. My friend took the battery away and the carburetor needed to be cleaned too, so me and my roommate were trying to rebuild the carburetor and I also bought a new battery for it too. And then the engine was working perfectly. Then we were trying to fix the signal lights but we don’t really know how to fix those wires and so we just basically left it in the garage so far, and we are tired about fixing this bike so I’m thinking to sell it. I broke my phone last week and so I need money to fix it and please reply this post by email.”

Even better is my exchange with a customer on eBay:

Buyer:  Hi it Kevin I can offer you $157 for the pocket watch and I can pay for April 3 that when I get payed please let me know that would be ok thanks Kevin

Seller:  Hi Kevin, tell you what, round it off to $160 and you’ve got a deal.  At that price I can pay the postage, pay for what I have in the watch and call it close enough.   Sound okay?

Buyer:  Hi it Kevin I do not get payed into the April 3  to pay for it please let me know that ok with you it seem the big gear is missing teeth or is that the way picture came out please let me know the info thanks Kevin

Seller:  Watch is fine, no missing teeth.  I will accept $160 and hold it for you.

Buyer?  Hi it Kevin the offer was declined why you did accepted the offer please email with info thanks Kevin

Seller:  Kevin, I am holding the pocket watch for you, but we need to clear up something.   I have no idea what you just said?  The offer was accepted, if you will pay $160.   In return I agree to hold the watch until your pay-day.  Do you understand?

Days later… no reply.