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09-12-2009, 07:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: SoCal | | | I guess this was inevitable - I got ripped off on BassGear.com...
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Long story short, I was selling a Yamaha TRB-5 fretless that I don't ever play. The "buyer" didn't give me any bad vibes at all while we were emailing each other back and forth about shipping and payment; he asked if I had a paypal account and I said no but he could just mail me a check or money order.... So I mail the bass off without getting the money first. And YES I'm aware this was probably not a great idea on my part, but I've bought / sold 5 other basses online with nary an issue. Apparently the 6th time is the charm.
Anyways, the money never showed up, he hasn't answered my emails for two weeks, he's not picking up either of his phone numbers, and I'm pretty sure he's screwing me.
Now, is there any way I can put some pressure on this guy to send me my cash? I would drive to his place and kick down the door but I'm in SoCal and he's in Amarillo Texas - would I have any luck contacting the fraud squad of their police department? I have proof of delivery from UPS, and 10+ emails between the two of us. And of course I can show that my bank account hasn't been reimbursed either.
So I've learned that you can't trust everybody on the internet, no matter how cool and trustworthy they make themselves out to be via email. And it's only a few hundred bucks, but the principle is half of my frustration as well. How can somebody spitting out the same bass talk as me screw a person over like this?!! Whatever, sorry for the bitch fest.
Seller beware.
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"this bass was not designed to be set up. It was built to be set down" - xush on a Wishnevsky bass.
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09-12-2009, 08:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Florida, in the U.S.A. | | | Maybe some of the good ole Texas boys here on T.B. could go and eyeball this @$$ hat for you. For a nominal fee of course.
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"They call me the working man,,, I guess that's what I am".
Official Redneck Bassist Club! member # 2
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09-12-2009, 10:31 PM
|  | Registered User
Builder: Valenti Basses | | Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Staten Island NYC | | | I don't mean to sound like an ass but DUDE, you shipped a bass to a stranger with out getting paid!!!!! |
09-12-2009, 10:52 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Lackey  Long story short, I was selling a Yamaha TRB-5 fretless that I don't ever play. The "buyer" didn't give me any bad vibes at all while we were emailing each other back and forth about shipping and payment; he asked if I had a paypal account and I said no but he could just mail me a check or money order.... So I mail the bass off without getting the money first. And YES I'm aware this was probably not a great idea on my part, but I've bought / sold 5 other basses online with nary an issue. Apparently the 6th time is the charm.
Anyways, the money never showed up, he hasn't answered my emails for two weeks, he's not picking up either of his phone numbers, and I'm pretty sure he's screwing me.
Now, is there any way I can put some pressure on this guy to send me my cash? I would drive to his place and kick down the door but I'm in SoCal and he's in Amarillo Texas - would I have any luck contacting the fraud squad of their police department? I have proof of delivery from UPS, and 10+ emails between the two of us. And of course I can show that my bank account hasn't been reimbursed either.
So I've learned that you can't trust everybody on the internet, no matter how cool and trustworthy they make themselves out to be via email. And it's only a few hundred bucks, but the principle is half of my frustration as well. How can somebody spitting out the same bass talk as me screw a person over like this?!! Whatever, sorry for the bitch fest.
Seller beware. | Not to rub salt in the wound, but I'm going to tell you what a cop told me once. I was behind the bar in a club I owned, trying to cash out at lunch and get ready for the evening. A guy walks up to the bar (don't they always?) and does the "can you break a $50.00 thing, give him 2 $20's and $10.00 and he comes back and wants ones, give him $1's and you know the routine. Took about 3 minutes for him to end up with about $40 more than he should. Realized it right away, course he's out the door by them. The club was in a mall on the third floor of a sky scraper, so I spot him across the mall and call security. They nab him and I tell my story. The cop uncuffs him and tells me. "I can't arrest him cause you are stupid and bad at math." Sorry dude, but be careful next time.
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I am an agent of the devil, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
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09-13-2009, 02:17 AM
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Originally Posted by rcarraher Not to rub salt in the wound, but I'm going to tell you what a cop told me once. I was behind the bar in a club I owned, trying to cash out at lunch and get ready for the evening. A guy walks up to the bar (don't they always?) and does the "can you break a $50.00 thing, give him 2 $20's and $10.00 and he comes back and wants ones, give him $1's and you know the routine. Took about 3 minutes for him to end up with about $40 more than he should. Realized it right away, course he's out the door by them. The club was in a mall on the third floor of a sky scraper, so I spot him across the mall and call security. They nab him and I tell my story. The cop uncuffs him and tells me. "I can't arrest him cause you are stupid and bad at math." Sorry dude, but be careful next time. | i saw that in a tv show about an illusionist, i believe it was criss angel, dont blame yourself, that guy did something bad but at the same time he did it VERY good.
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Someone here said these wise words, they are now my sig. "Sometimes people suck.."
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09-13-2009, 02:25 AM
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Originally Posted by makanudo i saw that in a tv show about an illusionist, i believe it was criss angel, dont blame yourself, that guy did something bad but at the same time he did it VERY good. | Yup, quick change artists. And he was good.
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I am an agent of the devil, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
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09-13-2009, 03:07 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: SoCal | | | well, this guy didn't do it THAT good - I've done some research and know where he lives, his girlfriend lives, other family lives, etc..... So if I'm ever in town I can just bust through the door and get my gear back.
In theory.
But I will try it if need be - might as well stop in on my way to visit family in OK.
And yes I was stupid. I pointed that out in my first post, but thanks for reiterating it...
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"this bass was not designed to be set up. It was built to be set down" - xush on a Wishnevsky bass.
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09-13-2009, 09:19 AM
| | | | I had someone attempt rip me off via ebay a few years ago. I got my merchandise by doing this:
Email him & tell him this is mail fraud, because you shipped it to him and it wasn't an in person transaction. USPS or not.
You're going to contact the FBI and the postmaster in his area (best if you can include the postmaster's name). Mail fraud can carry fines up to $100,000 and possible time in federal prison.
Is this true? How the #$^% should I know? But it scared the crap out of him and I got my stuff.
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Noysdia. Ibanez Club #410, Buddhist Bassists #10, WI Bassist #34, DWBB #34, 50+ # 22
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09-13-2009, 09:21 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Alabama | | | Give us his email address. |
09-13-2009, 09:28 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Big spring,Texas | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Nino Valenti I don't mean to sound like an ass but DUDE, you shipped a bass to a stranger with out getting paid!!!!! | +1..... Cash in hand, always. I wished I lived closer to Amarillo, I have some pinned up frustration issues at the moment and would love to be the one to collect the chedda. Call the police and report it if nothing else, and make sure he knows you are doing so. Sorry for your bad transaction bro'.
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*MIA club member #56*
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09-13-2009, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Lackey well, this guy didn't do it THAT good - I've done some research and know where he lives, his girlfriend lives, other family lives, etc..... So if I'm ever in town I can just bust through the door and get my gear back.
In theory.
But I will try it if need be - might as well stop in on my way to visit family in OK.
And yes I was stupid. I pointed that out in my first post, but thanks for reiterating it... | Sorry, about the "salt". I tend to be trusting of people and have done "dumb" things in trusting people in the past. After 54 years on the planet I don't do nearly as many, so maybe I am jaded. BTW, noticed your from "The Inland Empire". Where at? I was born in Pomona and grew up in Ontario and everywhere else in the Pomona Valley. I also have family in Okla. Tu;sa and outside of OKC.
The guy above me suggested the "mail fraud" route. Which actually is the case here. Because of the small sum (to the authorities anyway) involved, they would have to find that this guy did this repeatedly in order to prosecute him. But, chances are HE doesn't know this. I'd seriously consider harrassing the hell out of him, letters to his GF house, to his family. Basically let all of his friends and family know that the guys a douche.
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I am an agent of the devil, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
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09-13-2009, 12:18 PM
|  | Registered User
Head Tinkerer, The Flufflab | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: California | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DanAleks I had someone attempt rip me off via ebay a few years ago. I got my merchandise by doing this:
Email him & tell him this is mail fraud, because you shipped it to him and it wasn't an in person transaction. USPS or not.
You're going to contact the FBI and the postmaster in his area (best if you can include the postmaster's name). Mail fraud can carry fines up to $100,000 and possible time in federal prison.
Is this true? How the #$^% should I know? But it scared the crap out of him and I got my stuff. | +1 Mail fraud is serious stuff and I've used this threat more than once before when someone's tried to screw me or a friend.
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"Grasping the vine in one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!" |
09-13-2009, 12:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: D'Shaw | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Lackey well, this guy didn't do it THAT good - I've done some research and know where he lives, his girlfriend lives, other family lives, etc..... | Turn it over to the post office when you file your complaint for mail fraud. Theft by wire fraud may also apply since it was an internet sale.
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"It's a Crapshoot." The timbre is in the timber. It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.
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09-13-2009, 01:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Florida | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Nino Valenti I don't mean to sound like an ass but DUDE, you shipped a bass to a stranger with out getting paid!!!!! | I'm with you man. 
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I don't look for used condoms but I seem to find them all the time - Kwesi
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09-14-2009, 02:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: SoCal | | | Well, quick update: After tracking down his girlfriends home number and leaving a 40 second long clip of Aphex Twin's Come To Daddy on her answering machine at 3 am last night he finally responded to my emails this morning with an offer to send me the cash at a local Wells Fargo. I can't be sure that the voicemail helped, but it didn't seem to hurt ; ) I've yet to see if he follows through though....
He also knows I work for UPS in the scanning side - which gave me more info than the customer usually gets (Way more for all he knows, hehe) Perhaps he thinks I'm narrowing in on him (a bit yes, but not enough). Actually my next plan of action was to send a detailed message to his parents address, possibly written in blood - probably not.
Whatever. Yes, I was dumb, and no, you can't trust a person based on email rapport and common interests. I should have learned this by now.
rcarraher: I'm in San Antonio Heights (no curbs, north of Upland) And I've got family in OKC as well as Sanger TX. I lived in Pomona for two months as a kid - fun place. hehe
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"this bass was not designed to be set up. It was built to be set down" - xush on a Wishnevsky bass.
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