Scammed on RFD; V3i-**PLEASE VOTE**., n00bs & veterans-LEARN from my mistake

So I got slammed a couple weeks ago. Deal too good to be true (basically save $100), he pmd me with his offer. Was a distance Trade., lUser had no feedback, and refused to ship first, or even accept partial deposit and balance payment upon delivery. I have 35 all positive on heatware-so naturally well within my scope to suggest it.

Deal was V3i; full package accessories, receipt (he did a hup in May (3months prior)) included, 2 hours or so on the phone, no liquid damage, nothing wrong with the phone. I got name, phone number (called and chatted-seemed sincere), so I sent EMT of 215 shipped. As soon as I sent EMT, guy says "oops, it's not working-I just unplugged it from laptop and now it's not powering on"...I'm thinking GET OUT NOW!!!!!, he tells me shall he just cancel the EMT, or are we still going ahead with it. I ask him again to confirm there's no out of warantee damage to the phone, and figure, meh., I'll take anyway and send off for repair which is covered as he's giving me the receipt. He EMTs me $35 back that night, so we're down to $180 shipped for potentially a new V3i.

I receive phone and the FIRST thing I see is this.

ALARM BELLS, in case you're not following, that circular void, is where the externally located liquid damage indicator SHOULD be., in-and-of-itself being removed voids the warantee .

He claims he removed it because it was 'getting scratched off' each time he put the battery in , insisting he had no idea what the implications were-warantee wise. Being TOO GULLIBLE, I say 'okay'., MAYBE the internal one is white...Well when I remove the transflash which was still in there., I noticed green corrosion on the contacts, as well as a film of water underneath the memory card DAMMIT.


I then open the damn thing up, and BANG., in full glory., the red sticker.




Some internal panel that also shows a nice amount of corrosion;



When presented with this, the seller now claims that he won't refund anything, because I bought an 'As Is' V3i-for $180...yeah right. After a little serious muscling, his tone changes-but insists on me returning the phone FIRST, and would THEN refund $150., REFUSING to pay the money first.

I sleep on it, and figure screw this., There no way in HELL I'm getting taken on BOTH ends., so-for scraps I can probably make up $50-$75, so I suggest he sends $75 and we call it quits-He agrees and I find a solution on my side.

Keep in mind., If this guy willingly scammed me, would he have refunded the initial $35, and the final $75? The two possibilities are equally disturbing., 1) Either he did try to scam me, and then had a guilt-breakdown...I mean this guy was open., we talked an-Isht load about family, his newborn baby (that I heard in the background and when he was carrying him), I have his receipt with name and all details from Rogers Plus...so could he be THAT insane? to try such a scam with ALL his details? The other possibility 2) is that he TRULY is THEE most OBLIVIOUS and CLUELESS cellphone (ahem V3i) user. I kept suggesting that maybe his wife or someone ELSE dumped it in water, but HE INSISTS it was NEVER exposed to any liquid even after I showed him the pictures???

Now guys, suggestions please, should I mention his details to the forums as a scammer? or shall I leave it be, and give the benefit of the doubt (If these pictures possibly LEAVE any doubt still :disappoin ...)

Anyway., I was much happy to take this 215-35-75=$105 lesson and walk, than POTENTIALLY not even have received the $75 back to begin with. hmpfff..ehhh well....If anything I hope any of you presented with a similar predicament will learn from my mistake and move on to another less attractive/more trustworthy deal.

I have as yet not divulged his personal information as I do not take such an act lightly-and would like to be DEAD certain everybody believes he acted maliciously-and deserves to join the likes of scammers.

Jeez.

That sucks and yes you did get scammed.

Anyone who has a V3i knows a bit about phones thats my opinion .

because people mistake it for razr and those are the people who dont know anything about phones.

Originally Posted by HughG

Jeez.
.....

LMAO...that convinced you are eh? hehe., well I was pretty sure, but I preferred to get feedback from my trusted peers.

double LMAO., you STILL have Ronypal's quote I see in yer siggy

lol i neverever do EMT ..not ever

yea true that never emt...and never deal with a newb or long disst imho....

yea man hope he refunds.....

sorry dude.

i meant to vote number 2

come on msn

I'm pretty sure that this individual had full knowledge of the product and it's condition. He/she was just attempting to make a few $$$ trying to sell this piece of trash.

I say post the information so fellow RFD'ers will be aware of this person.

NOTE: Sorry about the loss of $$$, I've been taken for a scam once but I eventually settled for the $100.00 loss but I posted the info about the darn crook.

Oh damn dood I'm so sorry hear that happened to you. I would be pretty pissed if that happened to me that is why I'm not a firm believer of these emt, paypal or shipping on these RFD sites I will only do it if it's by a well known company in person deals is probably the safest way to do things. Gawd at least you got something back for it.

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

LMAO...that convinced you are eh? hehe., well I was pretty sure, but I preferred to get feedback from my trusted peers.

double LMAO., you STILL have Ronypal's quote I see in yer siggy

always.
lol
its really uncouth man

I appreciate the feedback folks., but I want to STRESS to the few of you who've said no EMT.

EMT itself is QUITE secure. The problem that I made (which I NEVER made prior, and won't again) is do business with someone without established feedback.

THAT is critical. For those who're in large cities local deals are plentiful., but the REST of Canadian RFD'ers (and international)-we have to settle on our online Trust-fact-ometer. Curiously., poor Canadianpsycho or who was it again., 176 all positive heatware, and got suckered with COD ...mind you I think the loss was minimal-and only the cost of the shipping., but still...Even Heat can be flaunted apparently by some-WHY...is beyond me, as I treat ALL my transaction with the utmost integrity and customer satisfaction-all down to the bubblewrap

You got scammed Bubbles!!!

He's smart enough to take your funds before shipping out the phone. Obviously, he knows you wouldn't be sending him the funds after seeing the phone in person.

This is a calculated scam!!!

I'd say 3rd option, give him a chance to learn his lesson before the 'powerful' people on this forum decide to help you out to bring him down (or expose him like that ipod scammer lol)

BT,

I would've got the police involved, but the problem now is you actually agreed to keep the phone when he refunded the last $75.
I'd ask him to refund you the $105 as a goodwill gesture, especially if he wishes to continue selling on RFD and if he doesn't, I would post his info to protect fellow RFDer's.

Have him refund the money first, then ship the item back to him.

If he doesn't want to do that (remind him that you paid first, then let him ship), it would be fair to post his details.