[edit] I'll hold off on putting this guy's name here for now, until I can resolve this [/edit]
I dont really know what forum to put this in, but I've seen some 'scam' threads in Market Watch so this is as close as I thought I could get. Anyways, here's my story:
On Monday night I made a thread about trading my 50mm 1.4 for an iPhone. Within an hour I got a bite. The dude seemed extremely legit. With my 50mm I was also selling a 28 2.8. The guy said he'd give me $100 for it. Sounds good.
I was honest with him and told him I dont really know how 'trading' works. Do I send my items first? Does he? Do I wait for the $100 in paypal?
This is what he said - he told me that we'll both ship our items at the same time the next day, and we'll get tracking numbers to each other at a certain time, '...say...12PM'. I told him that I couldnt have it by then, and if we could shoot for maybe 4PM. He said yeah that's fine, I'll see you at 4PM.
I asked him if he had any feedback/references, I looked at a transaction he made not too long ago when he bought a 70-200 2.8. He also gave me his number and the name of his photography studio and where he was located. He also gave me his mailing address.
Now I know what you're thinking, 'you should've waited for the paypal first to confirm he's legit'. He told me he doesnt have a paypal but his nephew, who shoots weddings with him, would transfer me my money the next day, at 11-12PM.
I was skeptical but he said he wanted to have the lenses shipped to him before Saturday, to test them at a wedding. I thought, hey, I'm a nice guy, I'll go to the post office first thing tomorrow morning, push all my other errands aside, and ship the lenses.
Went to the post office at noon, shipped the lenses, ran all my errands for the day, got back home at 4PM, sent him the tracking.
I asked him for the tracking numbers that night after not hearing from him at 4PM, like we said. It turns out he sent the package out with his wife to mail on her way to work, but she forgot it. He also couldnt PP me the money, so he said by 11:30 tomorrow the money would be in my account.
Next morning he says there was a problem with his nephew, or something like that, and he'd have the money to me by noon. Noon comes around, no money. Starting to feel regret about sending the lenses out.
Thursday morning he still hasnt sent out the package, and I still havent gotten my money. He says 'there's a problem with your address, it's coming up as an "invalid address"'. Nope. First time this has ever happened to me in my life. I've done so many deals through POTN, FM, and eBay. This is the first time I've heard it.
I'm beyond frustrated at this point. This pretty much smells like a scam. This is what he sends me: "You know, I can't believe this crap. I can't get ahold of my nephew to paypal. I'm just wasting your time and have completly ruined this deal. I am very sorry for everything. When the lenses arrive I will send them back and we can just forget this ever happened."
Nope. Not gonna happen. I help up my end of the deal, he hasnt. I tell him to call me on my cell phone. (BTW I've called the dude like, 15 times before this, left 5-6 voicemails, and nothing)
He calls me. I tell him. Send the damn iPhone. Send me a money order with the iPhone. The lenses are at your house. The tracking number that I gave you says they're there.
He says, ok cool I'll go right now and send the iPhone.
I text him a couple hours later, and he responds: "the post office was closed. I'll do it first thing in the morning"
I text him at 10AM the next day asking him if he's gone to the post office. He says, "I'm on my way out right now, I'll get you the tracking number when I get back"
3PM after numerous texts and calls, he says he's "Sent. Soon as I get back I will give you the tracking #."
Cool. Awesome. Way to go.
8PM after numerous texts and calls, he says "I'll have it to you momentarily. Unloading and it's yours (the tracking number)."
Around 11PM-11:30 - sends me the tracking number. Awesome. Finally. Right? Wrong. I was in a movie at the time he sent me the text with the tracking number, so when I get home I type it into the USPS site, guess what? "There is no record of this item"
Typo? Maybe. Mis-read the numbers? Possibly. Scam? Sure sounds like it.
Now it's 1:22 AM. I sent him a text saying "Come on man, the tracking number isn't right". I also sent him a PM here on POTN.
How do I deal with this? Obviously, if he actually sent the package, then things will be fine in a couple days when it gets to my house. But if he hasnt yet (which is a strong possiblity. He has said that he's 'going to the post office' numerous times already) what do I do? Is there a way to bring authorities into this? I'm only 19 years old, I'm not too big on all the legal stuff, but I do have his phone number, address, name of his photography business.
Help a brotha out. Obviously if he just accidentally sent the wrong tracking number, and the package arrives on monday, things will be fine. I'll be back to my understanding self, thinking "hey, not everyone can get to the post office in their busy schedules, give the guy a break, he's got family and a business to take care of." But if it DOESNT arrive here on monday, what do I do? Do I tell him to send the lenses back? How does he do that if he seems to miraculously get lost going to the post office anyway?
/end novel.
) Good luck to you and keep us posted.
