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this looks like a Bass from Rondo...
- Thread starter eastcoasteddie
- Start date
I can deal with
a) by calling from a phone that is hooked up to a fax machine.
b) denial is fine while he is on the phone (and expected) but I am pretty sure he will think about it afterwards
c) doesn't bother me
d) GOD I REALLY HATE VOICEMAIL but I would just call back later (not giving him my number) It's funny that voicemail is the one thing that would drive me batty
a) by calling from a phone that is hooked up to a fax machine.
b) denial is fine while he is on the phone (and expected) but I am pretty sure he will think about it afterwards
c) doesn't bother me
d) GOD I REALLY HATE VOICEMAIL but I would just call back later (not giving him my number) It's funny that voicemail is the one thing that would drive me batty
Do you think John Hall knows this guy is using the Rickenbacker name on his site?
Rickenbacker 350v64 ultra.
http://www.geocities.com/mlmguitars/productscustomshop.html
Too bad he isn't using the EBMM name as well. Ball and Hall together tag teaming this guy would be a riot!
Rickenbacker 350v64 ultra.
http://www.geocities.com/mlmguitars/productscustomshop.html
Too bad he isn't using the EBMM name as well. Ball and Hall together tag teaming this guy would be a riot!
Feedback investigating, good idea...
Looks like he got one of these in February:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370017933848
And now has a similar guitar on sale:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Matthew-Loren-M...oryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.geocities.com/mlmcustomworks/Ebay2.html?1208661698371
His links as a buyer let us know where he is getting his straps and hardware as well. Seems like a different user ID would have been a good idea...
=wr=
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I called him and got pretty much denial. LOL I wasn't trying to be a **** or anything but I wanted him to know that I had concerns. And make him think about it.
I asked if the pictures on his site were his shop and up front he said that the ones with the green walls weren't his but some friends that do custom work. He said that he didn't put together the website so he will look into it and fix anything. I wasn't trying to be so direct but after I asked him I said that the pictures of his shop look like Fearless guitars in Portland, OR.
I said that his 6 string bass reminded me of a rondo 6 string.
I said that some of the guitars he showed as custom work were ESPs (which he claimed he did the work on locally.) I forgot to mention to him that they showed up at NAMM though.
I said this "I don't know the answer to this but do you know the penalty for taking overseas made basses and claiming that they were made in the USA is?" And he said no. And I said "well you might want to look into that." to which he replied "Well I don't need to because I am not into doing anything like that."
He did mention that he has bought from Kurt before (I did not tell him the name) and that he gets his cases from Rondo, guts them and redoes them, but he wouldn't admit anything with the basses or guitars.
He kept bringing up licensing body designs and when we talked about Rondo he said that he is kinda doing the same thing kurt is. I mentioned that Kurt though is making sure that people know that these are asian made basses and that he is also pricing them accordingly.
But he also claims that he has a few models that he actually makes in his house. He said he would never take any overseas model and market it as such (and actually the one on ebay at the moment doesn't say that it has been handmade or made int he USA.)
With the 6 string fretless he said that he had the body made for him but that he did the paint job and electronics and hardware.
At this point I don't have a problem with his auction. I mean it is priced a little high but let any seller charge what they want as long as they don't misrepresent. Hopefully he will just fail at selling them because he is charging too much. But let the market decide.
I do have issues with his website (copied pictures is a definite problem.) As far as made in the USA is concerned it seems set up a bit vaguely. He claims on the phone that not all his stuff is handmade but made by others but on his site it's just very vague. I guess he is lying by saying that his brandname is made in the USA but not disclosing that actually it is not all of them. I am not sure, but I think a district attorney could pick his site apart and lay down some definite charges, but I can't.
Without admitting that anything was supplied from overseas, he said that he gets parts and then "pro modifies" them here in the USA so now he has a USA made instrument. I just told him that he better look into that. Just because something is put together in the US with foreign made parts doesn't mean it is USA made. If that was true then couldn't G&L say there tribute series was USA made? (fogot to mention G&L to him though.) I did mention to him more than once that it is cool for people to take an already made guitar and nmodify it and sell it for more, as long as they aren't saying it is hand-made or made in the USA.
Anyways he is in full denial, but he is probably thinking about it right now. Like "how can I make my site better so that people wont be suspicious?" thinking about it.
I say a bunch of people need to get on ebay him and start picking out all the problems with his site and auctions. It seems like its going to take a few people noticing for him to really think about it.
I asked if the pictures on his site were his shop and up front he said that the ones with the green walls weren't his but some friends that do custom work. He said that he didn't put together the website so he will look into it and fix anything. I wasn't trying to be so direct but after I asked him I said that the pictures of his shop look like Fearless guitars in Portland, OR.
I said that his 6 string bass reminded me of a rondo 6 string.
I said that some of the guitars he showed as custom work were ESPs (which he claimed he did the work on locally.) I forgot to mention to him that they showed up at NAMM though.
I said this "I don't know the answer to this but do you know the penalty for taking overseas made basses and claiming that they were made in the USA is?" And he said no. And I said "well you might want to look into that." to which he replied "Well I don't need to because I am not into doing anything like that."
He did mention that he has bought from Kurt before (I did not tell him the name) and that he gets his cases from Rondo, guts them and redoes them, but he wouldn't admit anything with the basses or guitars.
He kept bringing up licensing body designs and when we talked about Rondo he said that he is kinda doing the same thing kurt is. I mentioned that Kurt though is making sure that people know that these are asian made basses and that he is also pricing them accordingly.
But he also claims that he has a few models that he actually makes in his house. He said he would never take any overseas model and market it as such (and actually the one on ebay at the moment doesn't say that it has been handmade or made int he USA.)
With the 6 string fretless he said that he had the body made for him but that he did the paint job and electronics and hardware.
At this point I don't have a problem with his auction. I mean it is priced a little high but let any seller charge what they want as long as they don't misrepresent. Hopefully he will just fail at selling them because he is charging too much. But let the market decide.
I do have issues with his website (copied pictures is a definite problem.) As far as made in the USA is concerned it seems set up a bit vaguely. He claims on the phone that not all his stuff is handmade but made by others but on his site it's just very vague. I guess he is lying by saying that his brandname is made in the USA but not disclosing that actually it is not all of them. I am not sure, but I think a district attorney could pick his site apart and lay down some definite charges, but I can't.
Without admitting that anything was supplied from overseas, he said that he gets parts and then "pro modifies" them here in the USA so now he has a USA made instrument. I just told him that he better look into that. Just because something is put together in the US with foreign made parts doesn't mean it is USA made. If that was true then couldn't G&L say there tribute series was USA made? (fogot to mention G&L to him though.) I did mention to him more than once that it is cool for people to take an already made guitar and nmodify it and sell it for more, as long as they aren't saying it is hand-made or made in the USA.
Anyways he is in full denial, but he is probably thinking about it right now. Like "how can I make my site better so that people wont be suspicious?" thinking about it.
I say a bunch of people need to get on ebay him and start picking out all the problems with his site and auctions. It seems like its going to take a few people noticing for him to really think about it.
I also must mention that he seemed to be a fairly smoothe talker and when I brought up any objection he couldn't answer he would just ask for specifics and said he'd write it down.
This just went up on his site!!
"It has been brought to my attention that there is incorrect information provided on my website. However I have not been able to talk with my web tech to see. With this altercation brought to my attention, I have desided to pull selected links off my website temp. I'm sorry for the inconvenance. I will personally evaluate all of this sites contents to assure it's accuracy. I will be back up and running as soon as possible. Thanks so much.
Matthew Loren McIntosh"
Also, his links aren't working anymore....
"It has been brought to my attention that there is incorrect information provided on my website. However I have not been able to talk with my web tech to see. With this altercation brought to my attention, I have desided to pull selected links off my website temp. I'm sorry for the inconvenance. I will personally evaluate all of this sites contents to assure it's accuracy. I will be back up and running as soon as possible. Thanks so much.
Matthew Loren McIntosh"
Also, his links aren't working anymore....
Ok then how about this quote taken from his website.
"All of the MLM Guitars are built at Matthews home in Massillon, Ohio USA".
I am reporting this scammer to eBay and Rondo Music(whom I have dealt with numerous times in the past).
Yeah the message is new and is probably a direct result of my phone call. He is scrambling but I dont think he is going away.
I think he is talking to his web tech (himself) right now. He is taking a good hard look at how he can still get away with this, but a little more sneakily.
I think he needs to remove any pictures that he borrowed, remove his claim that his stuff is handmade, and remove his claim that anything is USA made. He probably should lower his pricing, but that is not a legal issue, just a market one, and he can do what he wants legally with his selling price.
I am not as sure about this but I will talk to my legal professor. If something is foreign made, not only can it not say made in USA but it actually has to be labelled as made in that country. You cannot just remove the sticker even if you make no claim. I am pretty sure it is this way or else all the manufacturers would not want to put made in China stickers on their toys after the lead paint incident. I am about 90% sure they HAVE TO put it on because of a law. This law would also apply to him, hence his stuff coming from Rondo (or shine directly) would have to say made in China (or werever.) He can't just take it off and say nothing.
I think he is talking to his web tech (himself) right now. He is taking a good hard look at how he can still get away with this, but a little more sneakily.
I think he needs to remove any pictures that he borrowed, remove his claim that his stuff is handmade, and remove his claim that anything is USA made. He probably should lower his pricing, but that is not a legal issue, just a market one, and he can do what he wants legally with his selling price.
I am not as sure about this but I will talk to my legal professor. If something is foreign made, not only can it not say made in USA but it actually has to be labelled as made in that country. You cannot just remove the sticker even if you make no claim. I am pretty sure it is this way or else all the manufacturers would not want to put made in China stickers on their toys after the lead paint incident. I am about 90% sure they HAVE TO put it on because of a law. This law would also apply to him, hence his stuff coming from Rondo (or shine directly) would have to say made in China (or werever.) He can't just take it off and say nothing.
wow!
I feel like I kind of "created" a good deed by posting my finidngs, but you guys are the true heroes for taking this scumbag down!
Kudos to TB members!!!!
I feel like I kind of "created" a good deed by posting my finidngs, but you guys are the true heroes for taking this scumbag down!
Kudos to TB members!!!!
what a douche bag!
I think I'm gonna try to pose real fresh like in front of some guitars and tell everyone that I made 'em.
Bag of douche, I'll tell ya.
I think I'm gonna send some annoying email via an anonymous email account.
Douche!
I think I'm gonna try to pose real fresh like in front of some guitars and tell everyone that I made 'em.
Bag of douche, I'll tell ya.
I think I'm gonna send some annoying email via an anonymous email account.
Douche!
Let's hear it for the power of the TalkBass scam alert community. Good work particularly Warrior Joe 7.
Kudos to you for picking up on this. GJ!
Know the old saying "You can't judge a book by its cover"?
Well you can in this guy's case, he even looks like a "scummer".
Well I could have done better on the phone LOL but thanks guys. I think the plan worked to atleast make him think. Hopefully he comes clean and doen't make his scam harder to crack but if he does I will try again. I've gotten myself in a little trouble before fighting scammers on tb and ebay but it's worth it. Not real trouble just very heated discussions and locked threads (and questionable behavior on my part (recommending a fake ebay account to get the high bid LOL))
