Scammed ?

Scammed ?

  • Report to PayPal.

    Votes: 18 39.1%

  • Report to PayPal and reveal Seller's name here.

    Votes: 28 60.9%

  • No reporting, wait, & keep trying to contact for 1-2 weeks.

    Votes: 2 4.3%

  • Do nothing , accept loss, move on.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    46
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srtiwari

srtiwari

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Oct 3, 2005
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Quite recently, I bought an MF Kit here, from an RFFer , who noted in the listing that he was selling because of some financial difficulty. Mine was the first PM, but there were apparently several people interested. I promptly paid the asking price (well over a $1000) by PayPal, and received a quick "I'll ship it out today" from the seller.
I did not receive any further word, until my - somewhat terse - third request for update. The seller then apologized, claimed he had mailed it "earlier in the week", and again reminded me of his recent financial troubles.
And then...Nothing ! No package, no shipping info. In fact, no communication whatsoever !

Now I don't want to be uncharitable, but this is unreasonable. Even if my purchase price went towards solving some immediate crisis, surely some money, say $15, could have been held back to pay for shipping. Of course, the refusal to answer my emails is more troubling, since I would have been more understanding if the seller had explained why the shipping was delayed.
And so...have I been scammed ? I am trying to be patient, but cannot help the combination of irritation and dread, that I may have been "taken". I have not reported to PayPal, AND have tried to be vague about details here "to protect the (possibly) innocent".
BTW, it irks me even more that it happened on RFF, where one has a better sense of community, and members have more reason to feel safer (than say, EBay) in buying and selling gear. That is why I am posting this today. I also wonder if more than one 'Dummy sale' (pun intended) resulted from that listing.

It is now almost 3 weeks from completed payment. I am undecided and ambivalent. I do not yet want to report to PayPal, or name the seller here, just in case there is a genuine mistake/problem/explanation, since I will then feel badly, particularly since the person is already having some problems. OTOH, how long should one reasonably be expected to wait ?

I'm interested in knowing how other RFFers might approach this issue...
 
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In the interest of most genuine RFF members here, I'd name and shame after lodging a dispute with PayPal. To me, a person's reputation is one of the most important aspect of being a forum member. If someone has done me wrong and I can prove it, I'd let others here know so that the community can be a safer place.
 
Hunghang,
Do you think I have waited long enough to exhaust all reasonable, genuine explanations ?

B2,
At this point, the seller is not responding to ANY questions !
 
If the item was sent earlier this week, depending on source/destination, anything up to 10 working days is reasonable. I'd give it another week. However, make sure your period to raise a PayPal claim does not expire (40 days???).
 
srtiwari said:
Do you think I have waited long enough to exhaust all reasonable, genuine explanations ?
Click to expand...

Yes.

This does not mean that there is no reasonable, genuine explanation -- he may be suffering from depression, for example -- but you have certainly waited long enough. Contact Paypal now, or at least, after another few days to allow for delivery. If that doesn't stir him into action, name him.

Tashi delek,

R.
 
I'd lodge a dispute immediately with PayPal, if you have sound reason to believe that the item should have reached you by now. I don't know where the seller lives, or how long it should take to get to you, but if it should reasonably have arrived by now, you are justified in lodging a dispute, which will be the first step in recovering your money. Better to do that, and be certain of facts, before publishing.
 
srtiwari, from experience you would probably be better off pursuing this off list, rather than naming names. You've certainly waited long enough, but seeking resolution through paypal would probably be the better route (although that's not likely to get you anywhere, either!).
 
People can be rubbish, rather than necessarily being crooks. In which case a PayPal dispute tends to help the poor dears focus. Launch your dispute now.

PayPal do tend to be in favour of buyers if you jump thru their hoops and they will require tracking information from the vendor, so vague excuses won't wash with them.
 
I bought MF kit last year from guy in Canada, it took Canadian Post almost eight weeks to deliver a camera to Ireland, meantime I've been searching net about canada post, and lots of people are pissed on them. Just my 2 cent.
 
I'd file a Paypal claim. If that doesnt get you anywhere - I hope you used your Credit Card as Paypal payment - Give them a call if Paypal is not doing much. And yes, I think you should name the names - people should be responsible - both seller and a buyer. If you paid right away - seller should ship right away. I, for one woud want to know who I should or shouldn't deal with here.
I have sold several items here as well as on ebay and I think I'm a very responsible seller. I expect the same from others.
Dont fall for some ideas like "seller is suffering from depression" - what sort of an excuse is that? Depression keeps one from driving down to the post office?
So, unless your seller (and I think I know who it is), was hit by the bus or got locked up for doing drugs - you have all the rights to demand your money back and expose this person to the community.
 
I agree, not acceptable at all. When I sell stuff myself and there is a delay in posting, away with work, public holidays etc I always communicate this to the buyer. Let's try and keep this kind of thing away from this forum. Trust on here, is what makes buying and selling 99.9% of the time such a pleasure. I hope it gets resolved quickly.
 
How many RFF posts does he have? I'm wondering if it was very low?

Whether to report or wait... it depends if it is international or domestic. International shipments can take awhile, especially with customs backlog.
 
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Interestingly, he has been a member here more than 2 years, and has almost 2000 posts. So, he seems to have been quite active. No wonder his PM mailbox is now "Full" !
 
I'm amazed at your patience, having spent so much money on the kit. If this were a $65 folder, I'd say keep waiting or whatever; but a cool grand? If this were me I would be freaking out! HE chose to sell the gear, not you, so it is his responsibility to communicate and do the deal, period. Everything here, but especially the lack of communication, points to a problem. I would contact Paypal, and maybe even the mods here to clear out the guy's box so you can PM him about this, or even do an Internet search for his phone number and call him.
 
Sooner,
I was giving him the "Benefit of the doubt" by waiting.
I have now contacted PayPal and filed a dispute for "Item not received".
How do I contact the moderators on RFF ?
Your idea about the Internet phone search is excellent. Thank you.
 
I recall the kit sold here not long ago. He is a well-established member here (IMHO). Why would he want to scam you? It's beyond my understanding but I would tend to agree that he might be in some kinda trouble (not an excuse to what happened).
Report to paypal, get your money back but I wouldn't jump to a conclusion that he is a scammer or something like that.
 
dwaoka said:
I bought MF kit last year from guy in Canada, it took Canadian Post almost eight weeks to deliver a camera to Ireland, meantime I've been searching net about canada post, and lots of people are pissed on them. Just my 2 cent.
Click to expand...

Using Canada post to ship out of the country has never let me down
I recently shipped two items to Australia both items arrived in a week.
;)

And what Krosya said always use your credit card it may cost a little more (paypal fees) but you can file a charge back with your credit card company if a problem like this comes up.

Good Luck
 
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