I think I have experienced my first bad transaction here. I will list timeline and see what you guys think. I read a post about a fellow wanting something that I had. I sent it to him without payment letting him to drive before buying. The timeline is as follows
3 Mar- Item sent
8 Mar- Item arrived
8 April- We discussed trades.
22 April- More discussion
4 May- $$ price agreed upon. I sent my address
16 May- He hasn't sent money. Had various reasons
24 May- PM'ed no reply
29 May- PM'ed no reply
31 May- Email sent no reply
This wasn't a bow but an accessory but it looks like I'm still out. I did offer to him that in lieu of the $$ he could return the accessory, to no avail.
I guess there is nothing I can do but thought someone might have an idea. Thanks Guys
Is that person a member of this forum?
Yes
Hhhm
TradGang publishes a list of known scammers, which is about halfway down the list of topics on the main page. This would seem to qualify. You might want to send a PM to Terry or Rob.
It's funny; try before you buy has never worked well for me. I've never sent someone I don't know something in the mail to try, although everything I sell can be returned to me for a refund if it's in the same condition I sent it. But I have let local guys I know take a bow or something to try and see if they like it. They never seem to get around to giving it back. I eventually have to ask for it back, which is an awkward thing for me to have to do. So in the future I think the "try before you buy" will be limited to trying it while I'm there. Maybe the feeling is that you don't really care about something if you're willing to let someone have it and decide if they want to pay later, and eventually you'll just forget about it.
I tend to agree with McDave. Almost all retail businesses require payment before or when the goods are delivered.
Contact Terry or Rob, see what they can dig up. If they get back to you with no success, do us all a favor and publicly out him here, that way no one else gets burned.
Knock on wood, I've never been burned in a bow transaction yet (closest thing is two used ones I sold blew on the new owners after a few months to both our horrors) I've made some great friends, repeat buyers and repeat sellers to me that have even let me pay for bows in multiple payments and already sent me the bow to shoot (we all understand each other's addiction!!) These things are able to happen because of something called HONOR. However there is no honor among thieves unfortunately. This is why it's important to feel people out, check how much they post, see if they have other forum members in good standing who vouch for them etc.
You guys are correct. I should have been smarter.
Among most folks here on the site doing what you did is fine and trusting. But...there are a few everywhere who take advantage and think only of themselves...
Looks like you kept records. I myself would give them maybe one more week then "out them". They know from this post what is coming and have that week to make correction or at least contact.
Send Rob a pm.
Don't you just go ahead and post his name on this thread and see if he'll come defend himself
One thing we absolutely freaking hate is scammers on this site
Pay up sucka!
Absent some tragic life event, it sound like he may be on his way to being banned from TG.
Sorry you are getting jerked around on this deal. I hate it when people take advantage of a generous offer.
It makes me respect a certain Bowyer,(one of our sponsers) who sent me two of his bows to try before I ordered another. No down payment required.
To be fair, I had previously bought a bow from him so we had some history.
Yeah sounds like you got taken...it sucks for sure.
I don't understand how people like that can live with themselves.
One of his reasons was a family member had to have a bi-pass and the other was baseball had him swamped. That was mid May
Having had a transaction with him previously puts you instantly in a place of trust. Because all went well I can't say I wouldn't have done the same. There are definately people on here I would let "try before you buy" just by their reputation, who they are etc. others have done it for me and I have really appreciated it and it helped me out. This doesn't make this situation right as this person appears to be avoiding you. I'd give him one last courtesy call/email or chance to defend himself. If still NO response Then call him out so we all know who it is and not to deal with him.
Personally, I panic if I can't live up to my end of a deal on the time frame agreed upon and keep communication as open as possible. Last year I arranged a trade that was to take place 8 week in the future. 7 days later I recieved notice that my item was available and being sent. I did not sleep well until I had held up my end.....which ended up being at the 8 week point, or a pinch later. But in the end, both parties happy!
Knock on wood no problems here. I have had lots of guys send me stuff prior to payment and I've done the same.
Terry even offered a bow one time, just to try out and we have never even spoke.
This place has a rare bread of gentlemen. My bet is he will still make good, just a bit of a nudge is all he needs.
I'm going to give him the weekend then I guess I'll go on offense. I appreciate all the insight guys
I (as a buyer) had a Craig's list transaction that was dead for two months. I made email and phone contact to get product/condition info on a recurve bow-all good to buy. Sent USPS money order. NOTHING for two months (no returned emails, no phone pick-ups. I was only able to leave messages (I.e. "What's the status of the bow?").
Finally I contacted my local police. They said this case was "theft by deception". I filed charges on my end. My police dept contacted the seller's police dept.
Low and behold, I had the bow in my hand 4 days later. Never received any contact from the seller.
Worked out overall, but it was a pain for two months. It was a 1959 Kodiak Special (68" 40#), and I really wanted it. It is now my favorite bow, but what a hassle.
I have little tolerance for liars, cheats and thieves.
If your buyer is "swamped" by personal issues, well, life happens. The buyer has an absolute responsibility to make alternate plans with you to a satisfactory end point. Have him pay up, or ship the bow back. Neither of these options take much time.
If he is not working with you to resolve the transaction, give him one last call and email (written documentation, with proof of receipt of email) that you will go to the authorities if full payment, or the bow in original condition at sale time, is not received in 5 days.
It's not your fault this guy is dragging his heals on finalizing the sale-for whatever reason he has. It IS the buyer that must act quickly. If not, then go to "plan B", the cops.
Lastly, don't ship an item without payment in hand.
nkw880. I wish it hadn't gotten this far. I told him he could return the item. Communication just stopped. It's mostly my fault. I was over confident that he was like everyone else I've dealt with here on TradGang. Everyone here has been great. I have learned my lesson. If anyone knows this guy mention to him that I'll take the item back even though he's had it since March if the money is an issue. Thank you everyone.
Terry or Bob if you need more details let me know.
I sure would appreciate more detail - like who this scammer is!
"Baseball"?!? Is this person a ball player or simply a fan of the game?
If they put watching a game over sending the money, you know to chalk it up as tuition for a life lesson.
Sorry for your loss...
His user name is nkw880. I don't know what the baseball deal is.
I take my lead from AutoZone. You can borrow a tool by paying retail and get your money back when it's returned!
Chain2
Sent you a PM.
PM answered Thank you
This sucks. I have done something similar to what you did and sent bows immediately to long time TG members on their word that payment was coming. I have never had a problem with this. I also figured that I could afford the loss if they did not hold up their end. Still, it sucks when it is a TG member doing this to you.
UPDATE.
I received an email last night from him @ 2147 EDT saying I would have a tracking # today.
doesn't make sense to me for a member in question to do something that stupid, when he has openly listed his real name and address in one of the thread here....some people really don't think about consequences of their action
Stuff happens I guess. All the responses here must have motivated him. Money or item, as long as I get one, I'll figure it settled. Thanks Guys
He wouldn't be from Texas would he?
We have heard that TRACKING INFO COMING TODAY before as well. Until money is in hand or item is returned in hand with no issues....there is NO MORE TRUST. Trust was lost when he dragged out a 3 day transaction to 3 months.
I'm not sure how you did business with him here but I want to make one thing clear... this guy Nick was NOT a contributing member - he did NOT have access to the classifieds.
No Texan would do this. This guy is a Buckeye. Go Blue!
I wish I had some closure to add but I don't. He told me I'd have a tracking # by 1700 EDT today. Nothing. I'm done. He's not worth any more of my time. If he comes back around at least we all know what he's made of. Thanks for all the support guys.
If he doesn't come through we will add him to the scammers list ......oh yeah he's been banned.
But again I'm not sure how you did business with him but he was NOT , I repeat NOT a contributing member here.
Thanks Terry. I know I could've done things different that's for sure. Lesson learned. Thanks again
Heck the first post that comes up in his search he's posting his name and address, not a smart crook. That could earn a visit if it were something major.
I mailed a bunch of low dollar items to reputable guys on this site. More than half of them required multiple pms in order to get my money. After that I decided I would never do it again.
This is exactly why we charge a minimal fee for the classifieds so that people don't run into this type of GARBAGE!!!!
FWIW, In the past 13 years I have never had a problem with anyone here at Trad Gang....but you have to use some common sense anywhere when trading online.
There are a handful of guys here that I have either sent them a bow to try or have sent product as soon as the deal was made, and they have done the same for me. I either knew their reputation or had dealt and sometimes hunted with them in the past, its good to know that there are honorable men to share the sport with. Unfortunately there are also very small men who will take advantage of another's good nature. This guy is one of them and now it is known by all that he has no honor or dignity and is not to be trusted. His exposed act of dishonesty is something that he must forever bear alone as we all move on past him.
My item was returned to me by USPS today. Thank you for all the support guys. Things only started to happen once I posted my story here. Thanks again
Sorry for your experience I have always been very fortunate in all my dealings here.
Nice to hear it was returned.
Yes. Glad to hear a better ending to this story!
awesome it turned out good,,,, one of those scammers on the list tried ripping me off and he had alot of forum friends here that spoke out saying there must be a reason. but in the end Terry and Rob in my case didn't play around, my case was before the contributor option..
i only deal with contributors only, .and still haven't got any scammers contacting me like other forums..