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mikithecrackhead · Jan 2, 2002, 12:29 AM

I found this message at another forum and I thought it should be posted here too. This person has been ripping people off of their cash and other stuff.
The reason I am posting this is to make to prevent someone in this forum from getting ripped off.
This person has Posted merchandise for sale or trade in Palminfocenter.com; http://www.palminfoc enter.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1533&FORUM_ID=34&CAT_ID =1&Topic_Title=Sony+Clie+N710C+for+Sale+at+US% 24350&Forum_Title=Market+Place and PDAbuzz.com;
attn: everyone
Again, I am only posting this to prevent anyone here from getting ripped off

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: mikithecrackhead ]

mikithecrackhead · Jan 2, 2002, 12:46 AM

This person has also posted items at Yahoo! auctions; http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo....ction/56703200

anim8ing · Jan 2, 2002, 04:05 AM

amazing, that's all I can say. If you read the entire thread, it's wonderful how we can all come together. I would suggest this thread to anyone that has ever bought/sold an item over the internet.

Merry Mac World, and Happy New Year!

Anim8r

-1984- · Jan 2, 2002, 11:20 AM

Yikes! Did you mail the thing out to a post office box? If you have his address you should have some legal recourse I'd think.

Eccent · Jan 2, 2002, 12:46 PM

Anandtech has a list of trolls to stay away from: http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...hreadid=636612

mikithecrackhead · Jan 3, 2002, 01:24 AM

Yeah, I read the whole thread, this person, Brandon ended up getting his money back, but think of how many other folks he ripped off. That Dr John Chiam seems like a cool dude.
Eccent thanks for the list of trolls, I think they should be exposed to warn others of their bad practices. Then they should be released into a pit with a bunch of rabid and horny apes so they could be gang raped by a bunch of hairy beasts and then breast fed by the hairy matriarch.

mikithecrackhead · Jan 3, 2002, 01:35 AM

REPOST: screen name and e mail of the troll

Solidus, aka storm rider. Email: oboeist2000@hotmail.com. and/or oboeist2000@yahoo.com
on more than one occasion he has made bad deals and has a negative rating in Yahoo! auctions

SpeadFreek · Jan 3, 2002, 01:41 AM

Trust is cool, but...

Non-secure transactions with some unknown in Singapore?

... (meaning anywhere outside your own country)...

That should be grounds for revoking your G.E.D.

mattsliva · Jan 3, 2002, 04:03 PM

This board is great. I've never had any problems. Keep it up guys!

matt

xtro · Jan 3, 2002, 06:06 PM

That should be grounds for revoking your G.E.D.

<wiping Pepsi from monitor>

Jesus man, that's hilarious.

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: xtro ]

Tristrami · Jan 4, 2002, 12:00 AM

Did anybody buy from this guy?:
http://forums.macnn.com/cgi-bin/ulti...6&t=002051

mikithecrackhead · Jan 4, 2002, 05:25 PM

no i haven't but I look for veterans, check his profile I'm a little skeptical of new members and or members with little posts. When I am in ebay I check their history. I check everything out before I bid, which is why my E bay rating is 0, I have bid for 2years, never won anything. I guess I never came accross any " deals :" there.

rambo47 · Jan 5, 2002, 04:28 PM

Deals for a buyer are rare on eBay. For a seller, sure, its the best, but you show wisdom by not jumping into something just because you got caught up in the "auction frenzy."

eBay is superb for research into resale value, and for finding something rare or unusual. I got a copy of Harry "Breaker" Morant's poetry from Australia on eBay. Never would have gotten it if I waited for Amazon.com to fill my backorder.

Rainy Day · Jan 6, 2002, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by rambo47:
Deals for a buyer are rare on eBay. For a seller, sure, its the best, but you show wisdom by not jumping into something just because you got caught up in the "auction frenzy."

I once went to a bicycle auction, conducted by a local police department, selling recovered stollen bicycles which nobody claimed. It amazed me how people would get caught up in "auction frenzy" and pay way more for a used bicycle than what they'd pay for the same bicycle new with warranty. The proceeds weren't going to charity or anything like that ('twas going to the government... which i guess is a charity of sorts... but that's another matter).

Tristrami · Jan 6, 2002, 11:05 AM

Did anybody buy from this guy?:
http://forums.macnn.com/cgi-bin/ulti...6&t=002051

Well, I did and have received nothing so far. I have emailed him several times and gotten no result. Any info appeciated.

Raman · Jan 6, 2002, 11:29 AM

There was a story on TechTV's Cybercrime about how some dude brought $60,000 worth of fake paintings off this guy.

People are idiots.

If you're going to buy anything off someone, I suggest getting their home address and phone number. I've sold stuff via newsgroups and on ebay before and I always volunteer the information. I even gave someone the serial number to my Pismo and Name and Address so they could call Apple to verify that the Pismo did have AppleCare. I always make photocopies of any reciepts (with the credit-card # blacked out) even if it's been years after its out of warranty, and a letter stating both our addresses and the fact that this property rightfully belongs to the new owner. Yeah, I guess it's overboard but it's peace of mind knowing that you can track down and kill the seller if they rip you off.

Rainy Day · Jan 6, 2002, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by Raman:
If you're going to buy anything off someone, I suggest getting their home address and phone number.

Well, addresses can be faked pretty easily, and few folks are going to verify the address they get. As for phone numbers, the clever criminal can get a disposable number that they toss at some point.

In the end, it all boils down to your instincts and trust (or lack thereof). Use "common" sense, sure, but there are not hard and fast rules that one can follow which guarantees you won't get ripped off. Most people are relatively honest, but there are always a few rotten apples in every barrel. Unfortunately, it's a relatively small percentage of the population which make us all put locks on all our doors.

Tristrami · Jan 6, 2002, 04:45 PM

I have his name (Brian J. Lipscomb) , address and telephone number, but to no avail. I want my item or my $65 back.

mikithecrackhead · Jan 7, 2002, 10:49 AM

I have his name (Brian J. Lipscomb) , address and telephone number, but to no avail. I want my item or my $65 back.

Thanks for the warning, Sorry to hear about your misfortune, that sucks. I take it he lives too far away from you to pay him a visit, maybe, you could mail him some Anthrax or something similar~

just kidding. We should have a user review or user comments from other members in this forum.

mr_sonicblue · Jan 7, 2002, 02:23 PM

WARNING; SELF-PLUG:

If any of you trade frequently on forums, please check out HeatWare.com. We provide free evaluation services for forum traders. It's become an very valuable asset to many traders, especially AnandTech users.

mikithecrackhead · Jan 7, 2002, 03:11 PM

WARNING; SELF-PLUG:

If any of you trade frequently on forums, please check out HeatWare.com. We provide free evaluation services for forum traders. It's become an very valuable asset to many traders, especially AnandTech users.
thanks for the link. I clicked on the link and joined the "user group"? I could not figure out what heat ware was until I re-read your post on the thread, <suggestion>maybe that should be on the home page?. Well anyways I did a search for proffesional mac and his e-mail, darkstar4386@yahoo.com. nothing popped up, (no info, positive or negative.)
Thanks again mr. sonic blue,

[ 01-07-2002: Message edited by: mikithecrackhead ]

Moorghyn · Jan 10, 2002, 01:55 PM

It doesn't just happen on ebay or when buying from individuals. See my post regarding the company Macs4All.com. They are a legitimate business (I think), so, eventually, I'm sure I'll get my money back. But some consumer or law-enforcement organization ought to check this business out.

They actually tried to convince me that FedEx left my package and someone must have stolen it. Rather than the truth, which is that they never shipped it.

Stay away from these guys, they're real nice on the phone but if you have a problem receiving something you bought from them don't expect any help, or any kind of refund, until you have taken the issue up with your credit card company.

Good luck all.

Mac-Guy · Jan 11, 2002, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by rambo47:
Deals for a buyer are rare on eBay. For a seller, sure, its the best, but you show wisdom by not jumping into something just because you got caught up in the "auction frenzy."

eBay is superb for research into resale value, and for finding something rare or unusual. I got a copy of Harry "Breaker" Morant's poetry from Australia on eBay. Never would have gotten it if I waited for Amazon.com to fill my backorder.

I wouldn't say there are no deals to be had on eBay. I bought a 266 beige G3 for around $200 and it's been great. Try to buy one from an online vendor and you'll pay at least $300. I also purchased a SCSI CD-ROM drive that didn't work and returned it for a refund with no hassles.

But having said that, I will say the computer sales portion of eBay has gotten increasingly scary over the last year. Too many fly-by-night dealer wannabes. Caveat emptor, baby. Caveat emptor.

Mac-Guy · Jan 11, 2002, 07:41 AM

Selling can be even scarier on eBay. I helped a friend sell some stuff and had a heck of a time getting the winning bidder to pay up. And then you worry they'll get the computer, steal some RAM out of it, claim it was broken, and want a refund.

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Mac-Guy ]

Tristrami · Jan 22, 2002, 12:35 PM

No response from Brian J. Lipscomb of Philadelphia after repeated attempts. I guess it becomes a case mail fraud, now.

Jansar · Jan 22, 2002, 01:00 PM

That's horrible. And the sad thing is, it's so easy to do.

Tristrami · Jan 22, 2002, 04:33 PM

It'll be more horrible when Mr. Lipscomb gets charged with felony mail faud. Unluckily for him I have copies of everything, and his home address.

mattyrug · Jan 24, 2002, 03:08 AM

Try The Troll Hunters!
I've only been trolled once, and never again!