alok331 scammed me out of $200! (Got a refund though)

DZ · Sep 23, 2009

Alright,

So I paid for a Street Fighter Giant Attack setup with the mobo and drive a little over two weeks ago. I paid the seller via Paypal, and sent the payment using the gift option, to save the fees. The seller has good rep on a few sites, so I figured I would be fine. The total of the item plus shipping was $200 dollars. I was promised the item would ship on Saturday the 12th, but I never heard from the seller. He gave me his number, and I ended up texting him in case he was at work or something. I instantly got a reply stating that he had a rough week at work and that he would ship it out on the coming Saturday, he also said I would get a tracking number then. Saturday rolls around and nothing, so now I'm all but convinced somethings not right here. The seller hasnt logged on since the 10th, and will not reply to my pms nor my text messages. I have already come to terms with the fact that I am going to eat the $200, but I figured this would be a good warning for people on here:

DO NOT SEND PAYMENTS TO ANYBODY ON PAYPAL USING THE GIFT OPTION! YOU WILL HAVE NOT RECOURSE IF THE ITEM IS NOT SENT!

In being fair I havent included the sellers name here, but If I hear nothing by friday, I will edit this post to add his name in here.

-DZ

Xian Xi · Sep 23, 2009

Very true. Only use gift payments with someone you know and trust.

I never use gift payments for people I never dealt with before or no one vouches for.

ReplicaX · Sep 23, 2009

Really why my Paypal is set to my checking account. Instant, and you dont have to figure out fees.

I hope this issue gets resolved DZ, wheter you get the game or a refund in some way.

Phyeir · Sep 23, 2009

Exactly why I won't use the gift option... I'd rather pay an extra 2 bux to not worry that I can be screwed without recourse.

Xian Xi · Sep 23, 2009

ReplicaX said:
Really why my Paypal is set to my checking account. Instant, and you dont have to figure out fees.

I hope this issue gets resolved DZ, wheter you get the game or a refund in some way.

You still pay fees with it set to checking. Anytime you receive money you get fees unless it's a gift payment.

Bibliophile · Sep 23, 2009

I have had several sellers on this site ask me to send payment as a gift, or they will have to add in the 3% extra to the price if I send it as "payment for goods." I pay the extra to send it as "payment for goods" rather than gift because I like having the peace of mind of knowing I have recourse if the seller doesn't ship out.

Metal Slugnuts · Sep 23, 2009

Xian Xi said:
You still pay fees with it set to checking. Anytime you receive money you get fees unless it's a gift payment.

Not quite true...the sender has the option of either eating the fees for the seller or letting the seller pay them.

Fucking retarded and they switched it without telling users. :annoyed:

awbacon · Sep 23, 2009

I had a seller ask for a gift payment on here a few weeks ago. Don't want to use his SN because I have no idea if he was a real seller or scammer. Either way, I didn't buy

Tango · Sep 23, 2009

I agree with everything everyone has said so far on here.... however, I will generally ask people to pay me as a "gift" to avoid giving paypal yours and my money. Of course, the flip side to that is as DZ has pointed out and frankly that is just shitty.

I think my seller rep is solid so I would like to think that people feel like they can fully trust me. Or they can opt to pay the 4%, or it can be split or whatever...

But... as we have all seen in the past there have been solid, trustworthy sellers who have turned into flakes and scammers for no apparent reason.

So what is the solution? Should there be something clean across the board not allowing for it or is it for the individuals involved in the transaction to agree upon?

Either way, gordon... sorry to hear about that man. Total bummer... and its a cool ass game too!

BIG BEAR · Sep 23, 2009

You really need to divulge this person's ID simply because to cut-off communication in this data age is a SIN. It's damn near impossible to excuse a break off of communication.
If the seller has somewhat of a good rep,I'm certain you will receive your goods but he needs to do the right thing and put your mind at ease.

What I understand from gifting is that it's a payment from your PayPal balance,checking account or a cash withdraw from your credit card(DO NOT GIFT from the credit card!!!) Just pay the 3.9%.
Does anybody else get charged a fee here for gifting a payment? The first couple of times I did it,it was free then I was hit with a .50 charge.
BB

Xian Xi · Sep 23, 2009

Only time I notice I get a fee from gifting is with an international gift.

Metal Slugnuts · Sep 23, 2009

I kept getting hit when gifting from my bank account....it'd ask me how to allocate the fee. :scratch:

Stellaking · Sep 23, 2009

I use this gift option but I state it (mostly on forums I'm around always)

It's really not that safe for a seller using gift as of course there is no tracking option to tack on,
agreed trusted only both ways & it's give and take innit ?

(e) Credible warning DZ, but this fella needs to step the fuck up whatever
forum, your trust is betrayed here gift or no.

DZ · Sep 23, 2009

I guess big bear is in the right here, so the members name is alok331. He just recently sold a candy cab on here, and in his pics it shows an sf3 setup, so I didn't think twice about sending the payment as a gift.

My objective of this post is not to start a witch hunt or get the seller banned. I simply would like to know what's up with the item I purchased and use this space to warn others about sending payments as gifts. I hope my item arrives and I hope everything is ok with alok.

Thanks for the advice guys

-dz

Stellaking · Sep 23, 2009

There maybe an issue, it happens.
alok331, change the title thread here DZ ?

(e) Yeah, sellers head in the sand ain't right...
Who don't reply to txt tho ?

Fucksake @ alok331

Darren870 · Sep 23, 2009

I get annoyed when people send money as a "gift". It just means I cant ship from paypal and cant get the discounts when shipping through paypal (cheaper priority rates/free DC).

The only time I like it is when an international buyer is buying from me. Reason being:
1. I have to go to the post office anyways
2. The buyer cant "claim" they never received the item and then do a charge back. This obviously will result in their favor since they didn't want to spring for EMS shipping with tracking and then ill be at fault for having no proof of shipment.

Luckily this has only happened once over my 5+ years of selling things online. I just refunded them as I didn't want to go through the hassle of a $5 game. In my opinion if someone wants to buy something from a different country and the game never arrives its a risk the buyer takes it shouldn't be on the seller. Therefore i like gift payments from international buyers as I don't have to worry about having to have my 2nd charge back

VICE ACADEMY 88 · Sep 23, 2009

I ask for gift payments. I could probably pay a months' rent with all of the Paypal fees I paid before they started the 'gift' thing. We've got our own feedback system here, other forums have the same. good enough for me. Just don't fuck with people and no one will have a problem with you. And buyers, spend wisely. There it is.

DZ · Sep 23, 2009

I do wanna say that it was my choice to pay as a gift. The seller did not request it, and it was a dumb move on my part. Still, it doesnt mean you drop contact with me. :oh_no:

awbacon · Sep 23, 2009

LustForLard said:
In my opinion if someone wants to buy something from a different country and the game never arrives its a risk the buyer takes it shouldn't be on the seller. Therefore i like gift payments from international buyers as I don't have to worry about having to have my 2nd charge back

I hate international shipping, whether I am the buyer or seller. Its EMS w/ confirmation and tracking or nothing. The downside is that it limits what I want to buy from overseas, cause I hate a $20 game that is $10 to ship.

I've been burnt twice on using just untrackable Airmail, from reputable online stores, because I went the cheap route and said 'I am sure it will arrive'

Luckily on one my c.c company paid me back w/o doing a chargeback (because a chargeback wasnt the right thing to do, the seller did ship, I am sure) on some sort of 'insurance' my card (amex) had at the time

awbacon · Sep 23, 2009

My point is that : If a seller ships an item (saves a receipt, shows proof it went out) and the product vanishes because the buyer wanted the cheapest delivery route, that 100% absolves the seller from any responsibility due to the fact it went MIA

DZ · Sep 23, 2009

Sent a few more text messages got nothing.

Things dont look good for this transaction...and I was o such a roll too.

Tango · Sep 23, 2009

man what a bummer...

Im sure this guy is going to come through for you but try messaging him through ebay where he currently has some items for sale;

http://shop.ebay.com/aluisi/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

I doubt anyone would forget about active auctions...!

BIG BEAR · Sep 23, 2009

I hope he realizes that he's starting to get dirty and that it's not in his best interest to do so if he intends to ever do business within our circles again.
BB

DecepticonZero said:
Sent a few more text messages got nothing.

Things dont look good for this transaction...and I was o such a roll too.

kitkit.com · Sep 23, 2009

I think you have made a mistake. aluisi is not alok331.

I have dealt with alok331, who lives in Foster City/Miltipas CA, in person 2 years ago. Unfortunately, I lost his phone number. Otherwise, I would give it to DZ.

Tango said:
man what a bummer...

Im sure this guy is going to come through for you but try messaging him through ebay where he currently has some items for sale;

http://shop.ebay.com/aluisi/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

I doubt anyone would forget about active auctions...!

Bibliophile · Sep 24, 2009

Tango said:
man what a bummer...

Im sure this guy is going to come through for you but try messaging him through ebay where he currently has some items for sale;

http://shop.ebay.com/aluisi/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

I doubt anyone would forget about active auctions...!

Kit's right. Aluisi and alok331 are two different members. I have dealt with aluisi; I haven't dealt with alok331 that I can recall.

Aluisi
Alok331

alok331 scammed me out of $200! (Got a refund though)

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