Bad Flea Deal

reeltrouble1

I am quite saddened to post this thread, however, I feel I must.

On Novermber 2, 2005 last year I sold a sl2000 tweeter to Hotwheelman. I had offered a group of them for sale and it was the last one left, he had sent me this pm.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=24078

Well, after some time had went by I received this pm from HWM.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=30840

So I write him back, tell him to enjoy xmas and his family, dont worry. Well he didn't, worry that is.

After 3 more months go buy I write him a pm asking for payment, we are talking 20.00 bucks here. Since it was the last one I had and there was a little crease in it I even had cut the price from the original post for him. So after a bit I get this response.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=46495

I am sorry to hear about his medical issues, write him back a pm telling him that next Friday which was March 31, 2006, would be fine.

Well, 10 days later, still have not received or heard a thing from HWM. I have talked to some other members and have come to find out this is not the first time. Getting the item, then the no money/health issue.

Although the amount of dough here is not much, still it was a sale and it is unpaid for after nearly 5 1/2 months. If HWM makes good I will post, if not well so be it. If he cannot pay then he cannot and just tell me that, however, he has told me on three seperate occasions he would send the money and never followed through.

RT1

Willow

It's the principle of the matter not the amount of $$. Your are right to feel the way you do. Unless his health has taken a turn for the worse ( which I'm ssure we all hope not).

Tour2ma

Yup, it's the principle of the thing.

Ted, PM links not working. Likely due to password protection.

ohskigod

there is no medical issue in the planet I can think of that prevents one from sending 20.00 bucks. not doing it immediatly?, ok, I can feel that if there are issues. it happens. It sure as heck hapenned to me. but 5 1/2 months? Reel, brotha, you aint getting paid. Luckily it was a small item, however, I certainly understand the principal of the thing.

I had a check get lost in the mail to Beardog (a whole batch of my mail didnt get to its destination) He was very understanding, and after some time to make sure it didnt pop out of no where (a mutual decision) I felt like crap the whole time despite logically knowing It was nothing I did on purpose. so when I hear something like this, it dismays me.

billbillw

RT1,
Glad to see your able to sit at the computer and post again. I guess things went well last week.

We are unable to see your PMs to/from HWM (only you can). Did you ever send the tweeter to HWM or were you just waiting to get paid first?

reeltrouble1

OK, I thought the links were good, here are the posts. Yes, I sent him the tweeter back in November of 05.

hotwheelman
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: 10-uh-see
Posts: 1,298 Last one

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I need that last one for my 10b's, can you put a holding pattern on it, it may be next week before I can get the funds out to you. You got paypal?



Mike
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hotwheelman
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 1,298 Re: Last one

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Ted,


Just wanted to drop a line so you would know that I have not forgot about ya, we have overextended ourselves buying christmas for the kids so I am sort of shortchanged at the moment hence the reason I have not sent a paypal out to you yet. I should be able to by the end of next week or sometime the week after the 25th, let me know if that is o.k. for you. Tweeter sounds great, much,much better than the one that was in it that was pinched in the gap. Thanks a million bro.


Mike
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Private Message: Re: Last one
03-25-2006, 08:58 AM
hotwheelman
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 1,298 Re: Last one

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Ted,

I have had so much I have been dealing with around here and I guess I just about let this slip through the cracks, sorry I dropped the ball. I can send that out to you be the end of this week, I would go ahead and send it out today but there just is not enough to cover it. Hope that's o.k. and I apologize for the extended delay.
You doing o.k.? I have not said anything public about this on the forum but I was told about a month ago that I will be losing my vision to a disease that effects the cornea, it has already just about taken the vision in my right eye already and seems to progressing fairly rapidlly and have been told there is not much they can do for it.



Take care bro,
Mike


Those are the linked messages.

RT1

Demiurge

There's really no excuse, health issues or not. It's the principle of it all, as everyone has said. It's good to make the issue public so others are aware to be cautious about transacting with this person in the future on any item, let alone a $20 item.

I'd have a health issue myself if I owed anybody money that I promised -- it's called having a conscience.

F1nut

This sounds familiar. Mike (Hotwheelman) owned me $90.00 for over a year at which point I was paid $20.00. I told him to forget the rest as I was tired of the excuses. I had not planned on ever saying anything because I gave him the benefit of the doubt and felt sorry for him. However, in light of RT1's experience I'd have to say this behavior seems to be a pattern and I feel my experience dealing with Mike has to be laid on the table also as we can not have this kind of behavior repeating itself any longer.

TroyD

Nothing personal against Mike, but, not being able to come up with a spare Jackson in 6 months? Not cool.

BDT

keith allen

We apprectiate the info

Skynut

It is the principle I would think. If I give my word then I feel obligated to up-hold my promise.

I would at least offer to send the item back if I couldn't come up with money.

brettw22

Sorry to hear RT......when I was selling some DVD's a few years back he did the same thing. Ultimately it was like 2 or 3 DVD's that he never paid for and after months and months of PM's saying high bill here, there etc, I just said forget it.

PolkThug

Damn, that makes three people so far, who've been burned by this guy.

F1nut

That's three strikes!!!

TroyD

Sorta begs the question, if he's got outstanding debts, what's he doing aquiring new ones?

Inexcusable.

BDT

landry_p2000

Sorry that you guys got the shaft, and this post will help others from getting the same. I usually like to pay as soon as possible when I get something from the FM. Of the three deals I have done the transactions were smooth and everyone kept their word. If I have any doubt about having the cash, I don't make the deal. Its that simple, some people bite off more than they can chew, and this is what happens. But $20 bucks??? Dang man I can get that out of my ash tray in change.........

shack

I feel bad for anyone experiencing hard times... That said...it's really very simple, for something like audio gear, if I don't have the cash in my pocket to pay for it, I don't buy it.

landry_p2000

shack wrote:

I feel bad for anyone experiencing hard times... That said...it's really very simple, for something like audio gear, if I don't have the cash in my pocket to pay for it, I don't buy it.

100% agree. There were a lot of mouth watering deals on the FM, but I had to pass because the timing wasn't right.

ohskigod

sounds like he counts on people not giving a flying whoop about small dollar amounts. also looks like the cat is out of the bag. Its not about the money here (if it was big $, it would have NOT taken this long to come to light) this seems to be about taking advantage of people's kindness and understanding, and God DAMN.... that is one of my biggest irritants!!!!!!

Ron-P

The least he could do is send back the tweeter, that'd cost much less then $20. It's sad that people do this to one another.

cfrizz

This is NOT an accident! This is an established pattern that has now been brought to light.

I think Ted, Brett & Jesse should contact Justin & have him banned from the Flea Market!

MrNightly

That's kinda scary.. he's been around since the beginning of this forum as well. Thanks for sharing, 'cause us knew guys who don't know, would probably be burned. And if it starts small, a big one may be around the corner, or already taking place.

That's what I love about this place, everyone looking out for everyone.

brettw22

Everytime I go to clean up my inbox I've kept these becuase they just irritate me that they exist...........(makes sense to me I guess).

Anyway, here's my emails.......different circumstances, but same intent....

Indicated interest on the 10th......

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=139074&postcount=25

Received them by the 20th.......

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=141314&postcount=45

*********************************8
Received this on 2-3-04

Hi brett,


Wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten you, we had a 325 buck electric bill last month and more of the same this one. I hope to be caught back up by next week and will mail it out to you then. Hope that is o.k., just seems like the **** always hits the fan around here at the wrong time. Hope all is well out in arizona and thanks a ton.

Mike

****************************

Received this on 3-15-04

Hi brett,

Just wanted to touch base, I have been hammered the past two months with high electric bills and have just been fighting to keep the bear away. Last month was 300 and this month topped the 400 dollar mark plus we have a roof that is just about gone and I am attempting to pool some moneys to have it put on. I am trying to get myself dug out here so I can take care of some obligations that I have pending, if things go they way I am hoping they will I should be in a better position towards the end of the month to get some moneys on the way to you. I just to say thanks also for you being so patient with me, and I feel you are a great asset to the forum community. I will let you know very soon when I will be getting them out to you.

Thanks so much,
Mike

********************

Never received anything past this, and I quit trying. The total was $33 for the 3 dvd's that he received.

mulveling

What an irresponsible dishonest jerk :mad:
99% of the time these medical excuses, etc, are just BS - responsible traders take care of their business ASAP, period. No way around it, he's a thief and his actions are criminal. Thanks for out-ing this guy, you've done a service to the community!

Skynut

Playing off someones good nature is pathetic.
I always give the benifit of the doubt but when the same probalem is found to be a pattern then....WTF?
$400.00 electric bill? That is shut the light off time at my house.

ohskigod

anyone email this thread link to Hotwheelman yet?

mulveling

Skynut wrote:

Playing off someones good nature is pathetic.
I always give the benifit of the doubt but when the same probalem is found to be a pattern then....WTF?
$400.00 electric bill? That is shut the light off time at my house.

It must cost a lot to power all that audio gear he's scammed off others :rolleyes:

kingtut

I haven't seen his posting for a while. Does he still post on this board?

Ricardo

Wow man; it is sad; no matter how bad the electric bill or the health is, you just don't do this... and it's been what, three times already?

I bought an amp from Mike....he shipped it close to two months after he got the money..I guess I was lucky??

Ron-P

Does he still post on this board?

Yep. His last post was on 3/31.

RuSsMaN

I don't think the guy intends to cause harm, maybe he's just got a short circuit somewhere.

Nontheless, I let him audition a pair of Celestion shelf speakers I had for sale, try em, like em, send me the $$$. http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10155

$65 shipped, I think I got a partial payment of $20 or $30 (I can't remember) a month or two later, and wrote off the rest after the same sort of emails / pm's - sickness, job loss, medical bills, etc.

I had forgotten about it, in all honesty.