TK4611
Well-Known Member
Firstly, this is not an attempt to discredit or destroy anyone's reputation on the RPF, it is simply information on a situation I have found myself in and wish to warn others about.
2 months ago, I won an ebay auction for a Studio Scale X-wing which was being sold by someone with the username tomg981. A little bit of internet investigation and it turns out that this is Tom Gallo AKA Houdiniguy.
The SS X-wing kit is one which I have been after for a while, however there was no indication as to whether it was a Mike Salzo kit or a Captain Cardboard version or a recast of either. Also, shipping overseas was not specified - so I asked the question and the response (as seen in the auction) was yes, it is a Salzo and yes he ships overseas.
I paid straight away and heard no more from the seller until two weeks later when the kit still wasn't marked as shipped.
Tom assured me it had been shipped and that he would find me the tracking number.
Nearly two weeks later... no kit and no tracking number.
After several more emails Tom replied;
Hello,
I have been unable to locate the tracking numbers for this. I can
offer two options here for you. (Please check my feedback, I am an hoenst
collector and seller all at 100%) I am highly concerned this has not
arrived yet. I originally purchased 3 of these*, I will be more than happy
to send you the final kit I have, get tracking numbers and expidite the
shipping right to you. I of course will fully pay for the shipping etc.
Last resort... I can refund the balance to you. Let me know aqnd again my
sincere appologies on all of this.. Tom
* Bear that comment in mind for later...
I responded that I would cover the shipping costs if and when the replacement kit showed up.
Two weeks and several more unanswered emails later, I received a UPS tracking number. The kit was being shipped from Katy, Texas...
The seller resides in Tacoma, WA.
Another week later the kit arrives and it is obvious as soon as I opened the box that I have a recast on my hands, something which Mike Salzo himself confirmed.
I started back-tracking through posts on the RPF and the name Mike Tait (fairly synonymous with recasting) kept coming up.
On a whim, I Googled 'Mike Tait, Katy, Texas' and the senders address matched that of the Google listing for Mike Tait on the shipping label on the recast which I received.
Except that the senders name on the label says Tom Gallo.
By now, it was far too late to open an ebayclaim and Tom did not respond to my final email letting him know how disappointed I was.
I think that now, that disappointment has progressed to a case of being severely pissed off, not just because I received a recast, but because I was lied to by Tom throughout the whole process.
If the latest feedback on his ebay profile is to be believed, that is now something that may be becoming a little more commonplace.
So, I guess that this ends a sorry little chapter in my ebay experience.
Tom, if you are reading this, I am still disappointed and if there is anything that would possibly placate me, it would be a full refund and maybe an apology.
I won't hold my breath for either.
2 months ago, I won an ebay auction for a Studio Scale X-wing which was being sold by someone with the username tomg981. A little bit of internet investigation and it turns out that this is Tom Gallo AKA Houdiniguy.
The SS X-wing kit is one which I have been after for a while, however there was no indication as to whether it was a Mike Salzo kit or a Captain Cardboard version or a recast of either. Also, shipping overseas was not specified - so I asked the question and the response (as seen in the auction) was yes, it is a Salzo and yes he ships overseas.
I paid straight away and heard no more from the seller until two weeks later when the kit still wasn't marked as shipped.
Tom assured me it had been shipped and that he would find me the tracking number.
Nearly two weeks later... no kit and no tracking number.
After several more emails Tom replied;
Hello,
I have been unable to locate the tracking numbers for this. I can
offer two options here for you. (Please check my feedback, I am an hoenst
collector and seller all at 100%) I am highly concerned this has not
arrived yet. I originally purchased 3 of these*, I will be more than happy
to send you the final kit I have, get tracking numbers and expidite the
shipping right to you. I of course will fully pay for the shipping etc.
Last resort... I can refund the balance to you. Let me know aqnd again my
sincere appologies on all of this.. Tom
* Bear that comment in mind for later...
I responded that I would cover the shipping costs if and when the replacement kit showed up.
Two weeks and several more unanswered emails later, I received a UPS tracking number. The kit was being shipped from Katy, Texas...
The seller resides in Tacoma, WA.
Another week later the kit arrives and it is obvious as soon as I opened the box that I have a recast on my hands, something which Mike Salzo himself confirmed.
I started back-tracking through posts on the RPF and the name Mike Tait (fairly synonymous with recasting) kept coming up.
On a whim, I Googled 'Mike Tait, Katy, Texas' and the senders address matched that of the Google listing for Mike Tait on the shipping label on the recast which I received.
Except that the senders name on the label says Tom Gallo.
By now, it was far too late to open an ebayclaim and Tom did not respond to my final email letting him know how disappointed I was.
I think that now, that disappointment has progressed to a case of being severely pissed off, not just because I received a recast, but because I was lied to by Tom throughout the whole process.
If the latest feedback on his ebay profile is to be believed, that is now something that may be becoming a little more commonplace.
So, I guess that this ends a sorry little chapter in my ebay experience.
Tom, if you are reading this, I am still disappointed and if there is anything that would possibly placate me, it would be a full refund and maybe an apology.
I won't hold my breath for either.
