bad flea market deal

ohskigod

didnt know wether to post it here in the clubhouse of in the flea market.

I also told another member (who also, per my last contact, was burned) that I would wait until he returned from a trip and post with him, but I'm so pissed at this point, I couldnt wait. I wont divulge who the other member was that got burned until he reveals himself.

I responded to a post in the flea market for a Monster power conditioner by MSkeezer. the link for the post is below

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39875

I mailed the 185.00 check on 4/18. I will admit that the 3-4 day delay from me committing to the item and mailing the check was because of the close of tax season, and I work for my state's tax dept. Things were a little nuts.

on 4/25, I sent a pm asking if he recieved the check, since I have had a check lost before to Beardog, I am now paranoid about it hapenning again. Mskeezer responded that he did recieve the check and would try to ship out the unit by the end of the week of he could.

on 5/2, I recieved this PM from Mskeezer

I hate having to tell you this, but a number of things have come up over the past week, and it's why I haven't been able to get the power center out. I don't like making excuses, but there are some things that I can't help. At this point, I'd understand it if you're upset about not receiving the Monster yet. My roommate evicited me for a bounced $20 check which had been a mistake on my part due to an error when I balanced my checkbook. I went over with him what happened, but he basically said it wasn't my problem. He initially gave me a 5 day notice to move. There was nothing in the lease agreement on his part that says he has to give me any kind of notice, and he felt he was being generous by giving me the 5 days. That same afternoon, I was talking to him about how Illinois law states that he is required to give a written 30 day notice, and an argument ensued. That 5 days turned into "get your **** out tonight". I got most of my stuff moved out and into my in-law's garage, which includes the Monster. Don't worry, it's wrapped and packaged. For the next couple of days, I was living out of my car and sleeping at work. I didn't want to ask for a place to stay, and my girlfriend has since asked me to live with her. That's why I have not been able to get it shipped out, and I hope you don't mind waiting for another week or so, at least until I can get things sorted out and somewhat stabalized. I apologize, and while I know this isn't your problem, I hope you can at least understand.

Thomas

I advised that I could wait, to which he responded

Thanks a ton for understanding! It means a lot. I hate that I haven't been able to get the Monster out. I know we all face hard times at one point or another in our lives. I just never thought it would happen to me. I just hope the worst is over. Thanks again, man.

Thomas

I sent him a followup on 5/9, asking if he had ny luck shipping the unit out, to which he responded on 5/12......

I will be able to get it shipped out this weekend. I finally found a place and I'll start moving in tonight or tomorrow. Thanks so much for being patient with me. Take care man.

Thomas

weekend comes and goes, and no notification of shipping. I figure to let some more time pass, but still heard nothing.

I tried to PM him again to ask for a status on 5/20, but I found his PM box to be full. I emailed him via club polk (I did not have his physical email address) with no responce. I emailed him again 5/24, again...no responce.

found out I was not the only one. I talked to the other party, and he decided to wait until after the 1st to go public. Out of respect for him, I will not reveal who it is until he goes public. I will say his item was about the same price as mine if I am not mistaken.

I fully acknowlege that something might have hapenned to him, but my instict says something else is afoot. the fact of the matter was, he did not ship the item anywhere near when he cashed my check. Apparently going to the bank and cashing my check was NOT an inconvenience, but getting the Monster to UPS or FED was. He had the item, he had the money to ship it (even if he waited until the check to clear, which I would have had no problem with).

Now, the lack of contact pretty much etches in my mind that I got screwed. I cant even work the postal money order thing since I sent a check. I'm sure there are things I can do, but honestly, its not about the money. I just hate getting screwed.

am I wrong here? any comments or advice is welcome, even if you do not agree with me going public at this juncture. You gotta figure if you deal online, your gonna get screwed at some point. I never, in a million years, thought it would be here.

audiobliss

I wouldn't actually say I've been 'burned'. But I haven't been able to get in touch with him.

Demiurge

He's a very good guy to deal with (I bought some stuff from him), and he has been having a rough go of it based on a few posts not that long ago. No excuse, but if he was going to rip someone off after padding a few sales I think he would have done it with a bigger ticket item.

Hopefully he'll make it all good, but I don't blame you for some concern.

ohskigod

audiobliss wrote:

I wouldn't actually say I've been 'burned'. But I haven't been able to get in touch with him.

you werent the one I was referring to, it was another buyer, like me who has paid for an item

Demiurge

Here's a link....

Skynut

That blows.
Getting ripped off blows.
Perhaps he is telling the truth and will make good on the deal soon but if not then.....?

audiobliss

Demiurge wrote:

He's a very good guy to deal with (I bought some stuff from him), and he has been having a rough go of it based on a few posts not that long ago. No excuse, but if he was going to rip someone off after padding a few sales I think he would have done it with a bigger ticket item.

Hopefully he'll make it all good, but I don't blame you for some concern.

That's basically the approach I've been taking. I don't have anything really tied up with him, it's just he said he'd send me a MO for my SNES and a few games I've been trying to sell. I'm just assuming he'll get things straightened out with whatever it is he's dealing with sooner or later, and I'll just wait and see if he's still interested then.

criverajr

Dude,

It's going on more than a month, bring it to the open and let the flaming begin, we don't do that around here!!! Send the man his power center. Good luck getting either your money back or the MonsterPowerCenter.

CRj

jdhdiggs

Demi,

If the guy was going through that much crap, he shouldn't have been selling things if he couldn't deliver. There are at least three forum members that are having significant troubles in regards to flea market deals. It looks to me that he is selling items as a bridge loan until he gets back on his feet. That's not cool in my book. He should of been more upfront and honest.

ohskigod

I remember that thread Demi, so whe he told me he needed a little time. I can see how when things weigh on you, things get a little backlogged. hey, I've been there. If he took a couple weeks to ship, then no prob. I am still not in a rush to get it, but were at a point where my check has been cashed for a while. If he didnt cash the check, hey... I wouldnt give a flying whoop de doo. If he said, "things are going nuts, so I cant do the deal" I really dont consider things like that a big deal, especially here.

but he took my check and cashed it....FAST. I would never cash a check without getting the item out within a week (and I would feel guilty as hell for taking that week). he even says in one of his PM's that the item was packed. he's got the money, and the item was allready packed. why not just go to UPS, FED EX, staples, any of the many storefronts that will actually pack things for you, or even the post office, and get the thing shipped?

ohskigod

it was when the communication stopped is when I started thinking "hey Lou, feel the burn baby...cause you got SCREWED!!"

luckily, 185.00 wont break my bank, but I'm not rich, thats still alot of money to pay in return for bupkus.

Demiurge

jdhdiggs

Whoa, I am not standing up for this guy. Just saying I did a high dollar transaction with him and it was smooth as butter. I also said that it's no excuse just because he's having a hard time. He needs to take care of the sale no questions asked. All I was saying is that it might explain a few things, right or wrong, it's a solid theory. I also don't think he'd rip someone off for a little under two hunnys. He didn't seem like that type of guy to me. Hopefully bringing this out in the open will get the problem remedied. I think if he was upfront and honest about it he would get a little more slack.

polksda

I hate to be the insensitive **** of the bunch (there are others here that do it so much better than I ), but a month is inexcusable. If he couldn't ship the item, he could have returned the funds. It sounds like he used the money for other things. Even that I could understand if he were forthcoming about it.

I've been through shitstorms earlier in my life, and I've also had money owed to me (for over a year in at least one instance) by people going through the same. I only have one cardinal rule with situations like this:

Be honest with me up front.

Tell me in advance that you're having problems, can't make the payment, ship the merchandise, etc., be proactive about it. I'm MUCH more likely to believe you and be accomodating if you tell me beforehand that you're going to miss a due date, etc., than if I have to hunt you down and drag it out of you after the fact. At that point it looks like you're just trying to cover your ****.

(Not only that, but if you tell me in advance, then *I* can make alternative arrangements in case I was relying on said merchandise, money, etc. for an obligation of my own.)

We all go through ****. It's those that are dishonest and/or inconsiderate about it that deserve wrath and no second chances.

ohskigod

it things were the other way, like if he wanted to buy something from me then couldnt because he had problems, yeah, it would probably tick me off, but I would get over it, because I can just resell the item.

he;s got the $. why the hell.....probs notwithstanding....can you not get an item to a shipping outlet when you have the cash?

answer, you used all the cash for something else. a couple of weeks or so, no problem, I'm not a complete ogre, but get my damn item shipped, because sending me all my money back probably aint gonna happen either.

PolkThug

I wouldn't give up on Mskeezer yet, he does have 22 good transactions with Polkies, which is more than most of us.

That's also an extreme amount of BS he's going through right now. Hopefully he'll get his priorities/life/flea deals straightened out soon.

jdhdiggs

Demi,

Read you loud and clear, but I just agree with Lou. It would be substantially different if he was on the buying end or didn't cash the check. The fact is, he has the money and won't ship- and he has done this to multiple members. I would bet he eventually gets this resolved, but this should still be a severe black mark on the record.

I'd also bet that Har and Trigg had some "successful" transactions as well, doesn't mean that anyone would want to rely on them or do business with them.

audiobliss

I'm with PT. And if you'll look at his profile, he still hasn't even logged in since 5/16 or so. It's kind of ridiculous for us to be speculating what's going on. I mean, he could have taken that $185, hopped on a plane, and be sitting under the sun on some exotic beach. Or he could have stepped out in front of a Mac truck. Who knows.

Demiurge

Right on. I guess I hope he's being immature and dumb rather than a crook. Makes me want to think more than twice about dropping another grand around here unless it's an iron clad member with sales like Russ or Doro.

The fact that it this doesn't have much of a logical flow to it makes me think that's exactly what it is. Immaturity and laziness. He needs to man up to this and give Lou his money back or the item. No doubt.

madmax

He has been a solid member for a long time. Loss of contact is the big deal I see so I wonder if he has access to a computer? 22 good sales says a lot but you have the right to question after this long. On the other hand it could be delivered shortly so I'd give it a little more time considering the circumstances. Hopefully all is well but you will find out either way in time.
Good luck to you.
madmax

faster100

Bad deals brought public shouldn't start with "It's not about the money"
It's your hard earned money regardless.. If its 2 bucks or $2000

Ive had hard times, and still sold and shipped on e-bay continually.. same here.

And its always about the money, if someone screws you its certainly not about friendship and honor anymore.. and after 3 strikes your out. It's happened to what 2-3 people now

I hope the best, $185 bucks IS significant .. specially when a friend steals it.
after all, were all friends here in one way shape or form..

Good luck Lou

ND13

I've dealt with Thomas in the past and he made good on what he owed me. It took a while, but he came through and kept in touch. I'm guessing that he doesn't have internet access, for whatever reason, as Chuck suggested.

Lou,
I understand your frustration and hopefully it will be relieved in the near future, one way or another.

faster100

maybe a new "unwritten rule" should be a disclosure of a telephone number in case of situations like this.. surely one would have time to make a call and tell the details.. or atleast for deals say over 100 bucks and for newer sellers

ND13

That's why I always PM my phone number.

faster100

yeah i got your number Noel.. case you ever go A-wall on me

criverajr

Lou,

I would be mad to, he has the money and the gear, their is no bright side for you. No communication, no gear, no money, same MO with other members, if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, smells like a duck, you get me drift. Time is not on his side because right now he has all the cards. Hard times have been had by all, but honesty here on this site usually gets you some slack. Being screwed is no fun.

CRj

madmax

Being a good 3 weeks behind doesn't necessarily mean your screwed... Just thinking that if he got the money at the beginning of the month and you received the item today it would be 3 weeks late once you subtract shipping time.
madmax

BIZILL

when or if you do get it, this type of thing sure sucks the fun-factor out of a newly purchased piece of audio gear.

danger boy

you guys who did send him money are due to receive your items you have already paid for.. this has gone on long enough. Even with hard times... he has your cash.. and now just needs to get his **** in gear and drop the items off for shipping.

We all have rough times now and then.. but transactions to me are always a top priority. I may fudge a day or two on shipping.. but then i'll make it up by sending it priority mail and taking the hit on the extra postage. It's all about doing the right thing, and being a man about it.

I have never done any transactions with this guy... so I can't say anything bad or good about him.. but it still sucks when "one of our own" can't pull it together enough to ship the already paid for items in question.

good luck guys... i honestly hope he makes good on the items you paid for.

billbillw

The longest I've ever taken to ship something to somebody was maybe 3 business days after I received payment. Usually, its next day! Troubles or not, Zero and Ohskigod should have had their stuff more than a month ago. On his way to cash the check, he should have brought the item for shipment! Not very honorable...
Hope you guys get your stuff from him or get refunds promptly.

wingnut4772

Even when I have had a lot of crap going on I shipped my stuff out....sometimes maybe a day or two later but it got out. That's just wrong.

cfrizz

Even if he eventually ships out said items, he should then be put on the bad sellers list.

This is simply unacceptable behavior. Short of being in a coma in a hospital, there just isn't any excuse!