Thievery on Gear Swap???

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 12:16 PM

Ok gear whores, I need your advice with a delicate gear swap situtation.

About a month ago a certain maggot (lets call him Benedict) PMed me regarding a pair of cheap twin tips that I was getting rid of. We talked, we kissed and we agreed on a price.

Two weeks later (after a binding transplant) the skis were nicely and thoroughly packaged in the same mangled box in which Splat shipped me my Bros last spring and off they went to Benedict. I notified him that the skis had shipped and provided the UPS tracking number. I prompty received a response stating:

"The check is in the mail."

I tracked the skis to Benedicts's address and confimed they were delivered on September 21. It has been two weeks since skis were delivered and I haven't received my check. I have PMed Benedict a number of times with no response.

I still hope that there is some mixup and that Benedict has every intention of paying me, because I have that much confidence in my fellow maggots. His last activity on the forum was on the day the skis were delivered so maybe he has been away.

I want to wait a bit longer to give Benedict a chance to make things right, but how much longer should I wait? I can live without the money, but at some point, if I never get the check, Benedict needs to be shamed publicly.

**BS720** · 10-04-2006, 12:24 PM

FS: Smith and Wesson 686 357mag, 6" barrel, in VG condition with a speed loader. Short term rental also considered...

BLOOD SWEAT STEEL · 10-04-2006, 12:36 PM

Are you certain he's been ignoring the PM's? Does he have daily activity on the board?

Out his ass.

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 12:39 PM

Thats the only reason I haven't outed him yet. Looking at his user profile his "Last Activity" was September 23 (2 days after "he put the check in the mail"). How is last activity measured anyhow?

**psychkub** · 10-04-2006, 12:51 PM

That's why I prefer to use paypal. Despite the service charge, it's one of the safest means of exchanging funds out there.

September 23rd is a LONG time to remain inactive. Sounds fishy.

**bubba-k** · 10-04-2006, 12:54 PM

Sounds like a little foul play to me as well, how many posts did this member have, and how long had they been a member?

**Danno** · 10-04-2006, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by psychkub

That's why I prefer to use paypal. Despite the service charge, it's one of the safest means of exchanging funds out there.

but someone still needs to trust someone in these transactions. If the seller makes the buyer use paypal, the buyer is trusting that the seller has the product and will ship.

The whole system still rests on trust, no matter how the transaction goes down, unless it's an in person transaction.

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by bubba-k

Sounds like a little foul play to me as well, how many posts did this member have, and how long had they been a member?

Member since 2004 with only 150 or so posts.

**Danno** · 10-04-2006, 12:56 PM

Member since 2004? I'd wait some more.

**pechelman** · 10-04-2006, 12:58 PM

maybe someone in that area knows this person
either way, you have an address and someoen locally could visit Benedict to see if hes alive etc

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 12:59 PM

Damn you and your mixed messages! I was about to pull the trigger and out him.

If I post his address would anyone in his area go over to beat the shit out of him? You can keep the money he owes me

**climb2ski** · 10-04-2006, 01:05 PM

you have his address so for the small cost of a plane ticket you could get the skis back.... I hope this works out for you. I have always sent/accepted checks with fellow maggots.

**bubba-k** · 10-04-2006, 01:06 PM

Well, definately been a member awhile etc... I'd say try and find someone in his area, that may be easiest, hate to call someone out to find they had some major problem or something.

**wi3dzmin** · 10-04-2006, 01:11 PM

I'd wait a bit longer... Otherwise let the "plaster the culprit's personal info all over the net" game begin. Just show me where to sign

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 01:17 PM

Ok. I am holding off one more week. Benedict did seem like a good, dependable guy. If i don't hear from him by next wendesday, I will either find someone in the area to go check on him or just go ahead and out him.

**Professor Chaos** · 10-04-2006, 01:33 PM

I doubt that someone whos been here since 2004 and still posting is that bad of a person. Considering hes been here since 04 and only 150 posts or so maybe he just doesnt have that much time on his hands to be checking every day or two.

If it does come to you taking action Vano just get someone in the region to check him out. Dont splatter his address and whatnot publicly over the net that aint cool at all man, but just give a general area like the city and if theres anyone close to him PM his address to that person to check him out.

**cpj.slc** · 10-04-2006, 01:58 PM

I hate to hear stuff like this. The whole board is based on an idea of trusting other Mags. I think giving him another week, then taking action is the right way to go. Drop him some more PM's or emails (if you have an address) to let him know you didn't get the check, and you are wondering what is up. Then if he doesn't respond take appropriate action.

**powderface** · 10-04-2006, 02:09 PM

It's your fault. You should have waited till you recieved the check then shipped the skis? Haven't you done this before?

**Sensisnow** · 10-04-2006, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by powderface

It's your fault. You should have waited till you recieved the check then shipped the skis? Haven't you done this before?

Around here, maggots have a thing called trust.

**vano** · 10-04-2006, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by powderface

It's your fault. You should have waited till you recieved the check then shipped the skis? Haven't you done this before?

Go fuck Mel Gibson.

**Danno** · 10-04-2006, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by powderface

It's your fault. You should have waited till you recieved the check then shipped the skis? Haven't you done this before?

again, that's an attitude that fails to recognize that someone has to trust someone here. SO, if this post was about a buyer who'd sent their money but hadn't received the skis, would someone in here say it's their fault for sending money before receiving product?

assuming no face-to-face contact opporunity,

SOMEONE IN ANY GEAR SWAP TRANSACTION HAS TO TRUST SOMEONE.

So there's nothing wrong about Vano being the guy to trust the buyer.

**TurxSki** · 10-04-2006, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by vano

Damn you and your mixed messages! I was about to pull the trigger and out him.

Go ahead and name the miscreant

If he was planning on being away, he would have told you so.
If it turns out to all be a big mistake, just delete this thread.
(There's always the chance of some kind of unexpected personal tragedy I suppose. E.g. my sister-in-law found her BF dead of a heroin OD in her bathroom Saturday night. She didn't even know he was using ! )

**wi3dzmin** · 10-04-2006, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by El Duderino

Dont splatter his address and whatnot publicly over the net that aint cool at all man

Yah, well, true. While not technically illegal (it is public information), it's definately uncool. But then again... so is fraud. And if that's what he's dealing with, I personally have no problem with it under these circumstances, and will more than likely support it.

EDIT: spelling

**powderface** · 10-04-2006, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by vano

Go fuck Mel Gibson.

Dude it wouldn't matter if Jesus Christ himself wanted to buy skis from me. I still would wait for the money. Yes it's called trust, but would you ship out a 15,000 dollar Rolex with the guy saying the check is in the mail? Fuk no. 50 dollars or 50,000 dollars, you always wait till you recieve the money. Guess you learned the hard way,

**Danno** · 10-04-2006, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by powderface

Dude it wouldn't matter if Jesus Christ himself wanted to buy skis from me. I still would wait for the money. Yes it's called trust, but would you ship out a 15,000 dollar Rolex with the guy saying the check is in the mail? Fuk no. 50 dollars or 50,000 dollars, you always wait till you recieve the money. Guess you learned the hard way,

would you send a $50,000 dollar check to a stranger before seeing the item?