I might get into trouble for stating this, but here are the neutral and negative responses by the buyers:
Fear not, Bob, you make a very valid statement! Admittedly, I never bothered to read any of his feedback. When I saw 565 individual sellers giving him a 99% positive feedback rating, well that was okay with me at the prices most of his auctions are going for. A later check revealed he has 707 positives and 6 negatives. That is an acceptable rating in my book under the old adage, "You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
I've sent 4 or 5 emails to him and finally received a response overnight. It was three words, "they already left". I sent a reply requesting what he meant by those three words.
Just to bring you up to speed on what happend, I won two of his auctions, I put two separate money orders in one envelope each with a copy of the eBay Auction sheet, and did receive one item over a week ago. I figured the second item couldn't be far behind but it hasn't arrived yet. So now I have to wait and see if this seller will come through with the piece, or if it got lost will he refund my money. I will sincerely try to work it out before I consider hitting him with negative feedback because he will probably give the same to me and spoil my 100% positive feedback rating.
Right now he has $59.18 of my money (why did he have to screw up on the expensive piece!), and I want what I paid for or my money back. I will keep you informed of what finally happens. It the meantime, I would have second thoughts about bidding on any of his offerings unless you feel lucky.
Bob