| Author |
Message |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (207.30.189.38)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 6:53 pm: | |
FYIW I have talked to a couple people recently who made transactions over the internet for bus parts and accessories with less than desirable outcomes. If purchasing via internet, it might pay to research seller first or try to have someone near seller check the product for you. Hope this helps, Jack |
Alan E.Kline (206.28.236.100)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 11:26 pm: | |
Paco Express, Here's the whole deal, On 11/02/02
There was a add on "Bus Nuts" for a DD-671 four value cycl head, with Jake Brake and alum. value cover. The price was $700.00 plus shipping.
The seller was "JUST BUSSES" of AZ. (RANDY FULKERSON)
I called Randy and talked by phone on 11/26/02in which we agreeded on a price of $700.00 plus $235.00 shipping by way of conway trucking to Jacksonville FLA. A certified check was sent to Just busses (RANDY FULKERSON) 15988 west-adams, Goodyear, Az. 85338 phone # 1-623-341-1942 on 11/27/02. After several phone calls to Randy and after hearing a bunch of excuess I still have not recieved any of the items. It has now gotten to a point where he will not answer my calls to his house or place of busseness.
I am wondering if anyone else out there has had any doings with this company?? If so please let me know? Also if anybody out there knows a way to get my hard earned money back PLEASE email me and let me know. Thank you all for your time in this matter. aekkea@net-magic.net 02/18/02 |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 11:51 pm: | |
Jack,
I've made almost every purchase for my Crown conversion, including the bus itself, from ebay.
If I don't find it on ebay, I find it elsewhere on the internet and to date, I have not had one problem. Well actually I'll admit to one; I broke my own rules a couple years ago and got screwed by a Canadian over some paint. But other than that, I've purchased everything from the bus to the AC/s, the 7kw genset to the windows, and the datastorm dish system to the kitchen sink... most if not all of my tools, materials, pumps, plumbing, etc etc etc all from ebay. What didn't come from ebay came from intenet based stores... my turbo, hardware galore, sound deadning material, stereo system and speakers, dash gauges, electrical parts, pooh tanks... the list goes on and on, and never a problem.
The basic rule with ebay is to look at the seller's feedback rating, and if he has ten feedbacks and 5 negatives, don't buy from him. But if he has 1200 positives and 2 negatives, you can be pretty sure he'll follow through on the deal and you'll be happy.
Payment method makes a difference too... If you use your credit card or Paypal for your goodies, you have some big guns standing behind you if the seller is a jerk. And you can always stop payment a personal check but you can't stop payment on a money order- if the seller is a crook you're had....likewise if you send a cashier's check or money order and the post office loses it, you'll go thru hell getting a refund.
Basically if you do your homework you probably won't have a problem. To date I've literally made thousands of internet transactions and not been taken ever (except that one time mentioned above, and that was my own fault because I was too anxious for a good deal and I blatently broke my own rules, and I paid the price for doing so).
I guess my gut feeling is to beware of anyone who insists on certified funds... that can signal that they are hungry and possibly crooked because you have little way to recover your funds if things go wrong, and they know it. That's where online escrows come in handy- keeps honest people very honest!! And people who accept credit cards, Paypal, or personal checks are much more likely to be legit.
As a side note, a year or so ago I ran some numbers on ebay where there were something like 5000 active fraud cases per year, with millions of auctions per month going on... it was something like you'd have to make an average of 1000 purchases per week to get screwed just once per year! Basically if you stay away from buying diamonds, watches, and Prevost Fractional ownerships, you'll likely never have a problem.
If you're still leary about internet transactions especially large ones, there are reliable escrow services that can be used... but all in all there's no excuse for being ripped off except your own sloppiness.
So that's my opinion... I've found the internet in general to be an exciting source of parts and goodies for my bus project. This bus has certainly been more fun to convert than the last one 15 years ago, and I owe it ALL to the internet.... nothing like a wonderful junkyard right in your office!!!
Cheers
Gary |
Lin (66.159.223.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 11:55 pm: | |
I don't know for sure, but since it is an interstate possible fraud issue maybe the feds (FBI) or something has a way of fielding complaints. It may be a good threat anyway. I guess this should serve as a reminder that if a seller does not take credit cards, something is wrong. |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (65.37.90.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 12:58 am: | |
I too have had good luck with Ebay purchases, although I have had a couple of near misses.
One instance where the item was not a described but the seller refunded the money including all shipping.
Another seller jacked up the posted shipping costs, I refused to complete the transaction and I have since had an inquiry from a probation officer who wanted details of the sale as this guy was legally not allowed to sell via Ebay whilst on probation.
The most recent one is when I bought my dream truck and found the dealership had sold it the same day as the auction closed and did not end the auction. I am still working with them as the buyer will resell it to me if the dealer can find a suitable replacement for him and he is not out of pocket. Unfortunately this has been going on for 6 weeks and I am getting a little frustrated, so tomorrow may be the day I start the legal stuff if I don't get something definate. I guess the FBI could be involved here too as it is across State lines and a breach of contract?
Peter. |
jmaxwell (66.42.92.21)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 1:31 am: | |
Since u have the guys business and real name, and I presume a copy of the check, go to the Consumer Fraud Division of His State Attorney General's Office with a complaint against him. Several months ago he had a bus on e-bay that I had some interest in and I e-mailed him only to receive some vague answer several days later. I dropped it with the vague response, fortunately for me, I guess. |
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.18)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 12:47 pm: | |
I've had many succesfull transactions on eBay both buying and selling - including several vehicles.
I got burned once on a $30 item when a seller who apparently had been good, all of a sudden went bad. His feedback started to tank quickly. Unfortunately, my bad deal happened just when the dealer went sour, so his feedback was good when I placed my bid but started dropping as the weeks went by and I never got my item. It happens, but that is the only one bad deal out of over a thousand good ones I have had. Follow Gary's suggestions and you will have no or very few problems. If in doubt, use an secrow service.
BTW, I believe it is the Postal Inspector's jurisdiction if there is any promise that the goods were to have been sent by US Postal Service. But don't hold your breath waiting for action from them.
If Alan's deal was arranged to have been shipped by a trucking company, not sure which authority would be involved. Probably the local police in the seller's area. Which is a nightmare to follow up on unless you have a friend or advocate living nearby to help you. Might call the local boys in blue anyway and at least file a police report via FAX etc. Get the ball rolling. . .
Scott |
Dale MC8 (66.42.75.134)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 1:05 pm: | |
Try National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch.....National Consumers League,1701 K Street NW, Suite 1200, Washington DC 20006, (202) 835-3323,(fax) (202) 835-0618, www.nclnet.org
I'm a couple months into a fraud charge with a seller on eBay and this is one of the contacts I was given. Not really any progress yet, but still hopeful.
HTH, Dale |
TomNPat (66.82.9.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 6:51 pm: | |
Alan,
At the bottom of the current board is a posting about Randy Fulkerson at 'Just Buses'. It started out that he had not performed in and August posting, but he did by October.
Maybe he just moves very slowly! From reading that post months ago, his name is kind of etched in my memory, yours mad the etching deeper!
TomNPat |
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