Okay, I read the Dented Helmet thread and I have to put in here. I ordered and recieved one of Karline's Stormtrooper helmets a year ago and it came in quick time, great condition, well packed. His name is *not* "Bentley O'Toole" but Rob (I forget his last name), he's in the UK and not Australia, and he's had that Karline tag for quite some time as I've watched his auctions.
If you check his feedback it was perfect up until a short time ago. I too saw his "last ones" sales and emailed him and he said that a local postal worker was ripping him off and selling his stuff on the side. He's been so messed up about it he's filed a complaint and is trying to work out legal action. He's selling his molds at this point (and has a buyer) because of it all.
To my knowledge he isn't a scammer nor rip-off artist and has honestly been himself screwed over. I think you guys might need to take another big look at the larger picture. He's got 1,833 positive feedback, the negatives and problems only started in December, prior to that there is no negative feedback, and even during the past two months he was still getting positive feedback amongst the problems. That's a pretty big clue that something else was going on, I've never known a scammer to just suddenly start and be random about his scamming.
If your having trouble contacting him, go through eBay, be polite, say that maybe you were wrong and would like to know how if possible you could get your money back. Try not assuming the worse about the guy and working with him instead. Not saying you haven't, but looking at the DH thread it seems like a confused "hit thread" and not even always about the right guy.
Just an IMO and trying to help. Good luck, it's a sad thing when a supplier gets screwed and the customers too. Hopefully he can repay everyone what he can.
Hi Lord Abaddon,
Thank you:thumbsup and I appreciate the time you have taken to voice your opinion which I value, and will take into consideration. In consideration of his feedbacks, many ebayers had decided to purchase and give the seller the benefit of doubt. It is with much reluctance that we are embarking on this as there are other life issues to occupy our limited time.
But being mindful that feedbacks can be inflated by having the interested persons helping to buy and sell, with no real transaction taking place. Complicated but possible, as we term "Interested parties transactions". This may not be the case, but :confused
And I do have three other ebay purchase that is taking more than 2 months but I can establish that they are legit due to production or shipping lead times. And I accept and am reasonable towards those.
In the tdh thread, we are voicing and sharing our experiences about the seller. Granted some shared experiences in the post at tdh about other scams not relevant to facts on this seller in question, but trying to inform members of various scam methods. In that respect, I do appreciate their participation.:thumbsup
We are trying to establish the facts and collate information, and will not penalise the innocent if legitimate reasons for the incidents can be found. There is what I was told another thread about this seller at the 501st where only 501st members can access, and this thread started before the one at tdh.
We are also mindful that it is a very competitive market and there are competitiors actions. Due considerations will be given in this respect.
-My purchase has been three months old now.
-Have been very polite and given the seller the benefit of doubt.
-Seller says he is on vacation, will check his paper work.
-No reply thereafter, I have to chase the seller for a reply and subsequently set a dateline for his reply on his paper work checking.
-Have tried ebay using dispute console at the eleventh hour, since there is a sixty day limit, but no reply from seller for a month after the dispute has been opened.
-Seller replied on the theft by postal worker.
-Saw a thread about the seller in the tdh and gave my 2c. I even went to the extend of giving the seller the benefit of doubt in the thread.
-Tried contracting seller but he is very selective in his reply to questions, some you don't get a reply at all, even though they are simple questions regarding tracking numbers.
-Promised by seller to provide postal tracking/airway bill number to make good the sales. Failed to track the parcel at the UK postal website; because service is not available for the postal number given,
-Tried to check with the seller and no reply after a few days. Meanwhile, he has time to list his items at ebay with new descriptions at ebay.
-Therefore wrote to the UK postal service to check and also found that the postal/airway bill number does not entail a tracking service.
-Also tried to establish if this the postal number/airway bill number is legit but UK postal replied that information was confidential.
-Tried to communicate with seller regarding the above, still no reply for several days.
-Then found that the seller is selling his moulds and exiting ebay, is also suspect that the seller is abandoning rather than addressing these issues.
Notwithstanding other demands in our life, a lot of time has been taken to establish the facts and in trying to communicate with the seller, because I think he deserved the benefit of doubt.... but all cordial avenues and attempts have been exhausted. It takes two hands to clap.
Having said that, there is a buyer who been awaiting eight months for his item. Some 501st members facing the same issue. And we are trying to establish if these issues are caused by the same reasons, and if it is just for this time window.
Money paid and received, and no delivery or refund; it is a default on contract which needs to be addressed. And to protect young and potential internet purchasers from these irreponsible selling practises.
Lastly, I again thank you for your opinion and advise which we will value, and keep in view in our endeavour. And I hope I am wrong about the seller because I believe in fair play; this world is what we make it to be.
Peace
