trd_04, A warning to others

[PETC]

I don't think he is on this board, but for those of us on both boards, you should know about this guy. Not necessarily that he is a scammer, because I don't think he is. But I think that there are major communications problems between him and his customers.

He has been a member o the board since March of 2004, and since then 95% of all of his nearly 400 posts are ALL in the for sale section. They're either stating that he wants something, or saying that he has something and then not following up.

On April 6th, 2007, I purchased a Power FC + Commander from him for the Gen 3 for $630. What follows is our conversations through emails and the un-expected turn for the worse at the last minute.

Originally Posted by me

I know that 650 is a really good deal, but I just took a hit with buying textbooks for school. Would you accept 600 shipped to 98257?

-Gary

Originally Posted by Ramon Gonzalez

630.00shipped for paypal

610.00 shipped money order

Originally Posted by me

Then I asked some questions about what was contained because I was a n00b and didn't understand that the Map/Coil/Igniter that he had were just spare Gen 3 parts that he was also selling

Originally Posted by Ramon Gonzalez

630.00 shiipped remember the paypal fee

Originally Posted by Me

Right, totally forgot.

1. What's your paypal
2. and I know this is a stupid question, but I feel I should ask it. Are there any problems with the unit at all?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Ramon Gonzalez

*He gave me his paypal address*

Originally Posted by Me

Payment sent. If you're shipping with USPS please ship to

Gary Cole
XXXX XXXXXX Street Apt. XXX
Bellingham, WA
98225

If you decide to ship with UPS or something like that (Which would be preferable) ship to

Gary Cole
XXXXX Xrd Ave.
La Conner, WA
98257

Thanks again man!

-Gary

Originally Posted by Ramon Gonzalez

ok no problem and Thanks

It was Easter weekend, so I assumed he was busy, but on the 8th I decided to email him and ask him if he had any updates since I hadn't heard anything from him since the 6th when I Paypaled him my money.

Originally Posted by Me

Any updates?

-Gary

I waited, and received no reply, and the next day on the 9th I sent him another message, thinking maybe my first got lost in his inbox since they've all been a reply to the same first string.

Originally Posted by Me

I understand that it's Easter weekend, and you may be out of town, but I did just paypal you all the money for the product and as soon as you get this I'd really appreciate an update.

-Gary

By the 10th I still had not received any information from Mr. Gonzalez what-so-ever, so I sent him another email. I knew he had been online since his recent activity showed that he had logged in on the 10th of April.

Originally Posted by Me

Ramon,

I know you've been online since I purchased the Power FC from you because you last activity was today, the 10th. You've been on the boards for a few years, so I doubt you're scamming me here, and I know you live in Puerto Rico, but come on man... I gave you the money four days ago and I haven't heard *anything* from you since then. If you haven't shipped it yet, that's fine, just let me know what the hell is going on.

If I don't hear from you by the end of today I'll be contacting the admins. I don't want to over-react, and I DO want to buy this Power FC from you, but I also feel that communicating with your customers is incredibly important. You replied nearly instantly to all of my emails until you had my money.

Just let me know what's going on man.

-Gary Cole

I sent that message early this morning, and had not heard from him, so I made a thread just saying that this is what's going on, all I want to be is contacted, and that's it. I wasn't asking for my money back or saying he was a scammer or anything, just asked for a little communication. Finally he replied, and this is what I got.

Originally Posted by Ramon Gonzalez

Hello Gary Cole

The reason of this letter is to let you know is that im going to refund your money back because we started with the wrong foot, and the other reason is because i dont think that the way you treat people is the rigth way.

Thanks for your time

I was a little shocked at this response simply because I felt I was just protecting my assets, and was not in any way upset with Mr. Gonzalez. I think that there was simply a communications problem, and that he potentially misinterpreted what I was saying.

As of this moment Mr. Gonzalez has refunded my money on Paypal and the transaction is pending. I'm sorry it had to end this way, but I just felt that I should inform the community, if nothing else then to help people in the future possibly understand Mr. Gonzalez a little more and hopefully come to more amicable ends to their financial dealings with him.

[Bak@EMSPowered]

What the heck... that doesnt even make sense, why'd he do that?

[PETC]

I have no idea man, I wish I could tell you. My only guess is that he either:

A) Speaks rather poor english and just got some keywords from my email that made it sound like I was insulting him
B) Didn't actually want to sell the Power FC
C) Is actually a scammer and didn't have enough time to finnish everything before I threatend action.

[canadam]

Thanks Gary, this is perfect for the feedback forum. You've given what appears to be fair and honest feedback for this guy- I won't consider dealing with him, even knowing that you got your money back. Language barriers can definately be a problem sometimes. I don't think the guy wanted to scam you, he could have just kept your money had he wanted to, but he sure wasn't easy to deal with.