Bad deals gone worse

madmax · April 2003

I don't know how to do it but we need a method of preventing multiple scams of polk newbies. (and oldbies). Once we know someone has taken advantage we need a way to prevent it in the future. Lets face it, if I come to this site and see 20 people talking to... wambotomby, I'm going to feel pretty confident that if wambotomby offers me a deal I am pretty safe dealing with him. How do we point out the wambotomby's to the new guy who has not been here for years like many of us. If you ignore wambotomby he will continue his scam. If you block him he will become lilwombatombey and continue his plight. There has to be a technical solution somewhere. Can't we take a stand and then use ip addresses to back it up? I have a few friends who have signed up using bogus S/N's because they were interested in some topic I had been talking about. Not that they would be wambotombies but it just proves that the process to become a member is not very stringent. If I knew the answer I would tell everyone but I don't. Any ideas out there?
madmax

brettw22 · April 2003

Back a month or so ago when (and not to start something) Jstas and I were arguing, and he started calling me a bunch of different names, I think that he was temp banned. After the thread went to the HOS, there was a lil red text line under his name saying something to the effect of Time Out: Potty Mouth...(not sure of the exact words) It looked like he was banned for a short time, so if that's the case, I don't see how they can't do it to others. Certainly the Mod's should/would put more emphasis on banning those that are ripping people off vs. the one's that just cry and act like little kids......

dthomps · April 2003

I really agree. It is hard to distinguish the people who have been less than exemplary in prior dealings, especially for people like me, who try and keep out of the discussions. I dont think Jstas was ever really banned, I think he just had that little banner for a bit. I dont want to get all Ebayish but some kind of a feedback system might work, maybe like HTF's good traders list? Dunno, just a though... Take care. Mike

madmax · April 2003

I like the red lettered warning. Now lets all agree that polk cannot and should not label a potential customer as a scam artist. It should be well known by the time they do it and even then it should be digestable, for lack of a better word. I was very impressed with the hos idea and it is a great start. What promps me to bring this up was a transaction a few weeks ago where a newbie member put his trust in me. He made the mistake of setting forth his plans to me in an email. If I were a "take advantage" sort of guy I could have ripped him good. (which I would never do). Newbies are like that. What a bad taste that would leave for a new polk buyer. Lets get something together here and offer it as a solution.
madmax

brettw22 · April 2003

I really like dthomps idea about a feedback system in the Flea Market forum. From a programming standpoint, I don't know how exactly it would work, since ultimately (taking Scott for instance) people could(and probably would) freely bash his profile. Somehow there needs to be a feedback system based on one's IP, or have various names linked to the same IP where the rating exists with to prevent the person from randomly switching names to avoid negative feedback.........

Shizelbs · April 2003

I agree a feedback system would be very good. Thats why I have tried to say so many encouraging words to those wanting to buy from Jimmie. From visiting I could tell there was a need for something like this. With so much crap that has gone on, I wanted to say something nice about a person that is good to deal with.

F1nut · April 2003

Chuck and everyone,

Those are great and long over due ideas. Count me in.

burdette · April 2003

At least a temporary solution is to start a sticky thread in the Flea Market forum (like the Forum Rules thread is always at the top). Once you had completed a transaction, buyer, seller or both could add a post commenting on the deal. It wouldn't do anything about IP addresses, but anyone could go there, search a name, and get an idea of what to expect. I believe the problems are few, far between, and relatively isolated. I know I've bought stuff from five guys and every transaction was satisfactory. At least two of those guys hadn't posted very much (if at all) before they posted their sale.

dthomps · April 2003

Maybe something could happen like this:
We could have a line that follows us around which shows how many transactions we have had and our history. That way someone could easily see whether he or she had been involved in anything, and more importantly, whether he or she held up their end of the bargain. I dont know how difficult this would be, but maybe each one of us could have a page like our profile with comments according to our trustworthiness. Maybe I am reaching here, but if implemented correctly, it could work well.
Take it easy.
Mike

I was thikning something like this:

madmax · May 2003

All good ideas! I guess it depends on what the forum software allows them to do. I like the sticky thread idea but am wary for reasons listed below. I can see comments like:

Great transaction with BobM
JoeC didn't ship for 3 weeks

More than one liners, any exagerated insults or praise, or suspected false claims could be deleted by polk. The only problem with this is unscrouplus supporters or maybe even the same person logged in under a different name could build up a false reputation. (either good or bad).

There are many known traits of several people on this forum, mostly good. We just need a way to capture them honestly.

Here is an idea. "Judgement Day" forum. Different than HOS In that it is a one time post which requires you to present your feedback in a well thought out well intentioned way. Posts which are questionable in any way are deleted by polk (if they deem necessary) once they are notified via "report thread to moderator" or if they just don't believe it. Just a thought.

madmax

RuSsMaN · May 2003

Hey, check this out. dthomps(mike) sent it to me last night, so give credit where credit is due.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=1069659

Does that email addy/gear for sale look familar?

Cheers,
Russ

hoosier21 · May 2003

Scott a.k.a.

wangotango68 - Ebay and Polk Forum
littlebaby68 - Ebay
audionutt - Polk Forum
Kelly T - Home Theater Forum

Are there anymore?

madmax · May 2003

Yes that is him. Is anyone surprised? I think this points out how important it is to protect our polk people. So back to the original thread...
madmax

Kelly T. aka wangotango... What a looser. So did you see how quickly they banned him?

PETERNG · May 2003

We should have a reference category in this forum where buyers and sellers can post their feed back on any sale transaction. At least we have something to verify or check before we make the decision for the deal. All of us have the responsibility to post our experience to deal with those individuals either is bad or good. If we all do this, at least we can prevent some of the future scams and with that, those bad people that you dealing with, will leave this forum. We already have in the web, the sellerating.com to check on any Internet dealers, but we need one here to prevent bad deals from the bad individuals. Micah, can this be done?

F1nut · May 2003

Originally posted by hoosier21
Scott a.k.a.

wangotango68 - Ebay and Polk Forum
littlebaby68 - Ebay
audionutt - Polk Forum
Kelly T - Home Theater Forum

Are there anymore?

Scott Trigg a.k.a

lildog - Polk Forum

madmax · May 2003

bigman68 ebay

F1nut · May 2003

From the HT website:

excellent condition polk floorstanding speakers oak in color
cabnits are ding free grills are flawless. i have the original boxes for easy shipping.$450 or best offer. buyer to pay shipping.email me v10roar@msn.com

kelly

Looks like icecycles speakers. Note what he says about easy shipping!!!

hoosier21 · May 2003

I noticed the easy shipping also, took 2.5 weeks with the original boxes, wonder how long it would have taken without them?

Notice how he does not mention the scratches that are clearly shown below.

But the tweeter switch out was so wrong

hoosier21 · May 2003

and here

F1nut · May 2003

There is also a audionutt at Audiogon, but it looks like the account is unused.

wangotango68 · May 2003

once again i would like to thank you all for wasting your time or your company's time talking about me on this web site. and to think it was something that was going on AT ANOTHER WEB SITE.
once again thank you:)

scott:cool:

hoosier21 · May 2003

Once again you have proven to be a jerk.

Why do you act like you do? Why is it so hard to offer something for sale, describe it correctly, pack it WELL, receive the money, ship the unit. It is not hard, it is much easier than what you are doing.

Wise up dickhead.

madmax · May 2003

all i wana to do is stay here with my friends an pull a few cons i dont care what you guys think of me get a life

(that wasn't so tough...)

Bad deals gone worse

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