TRamp Trooper Amp Paul Whitrow Disappeared After Taking My Money a Year Ago. Anyone Else?

[Ron]

Assuming he does have personal issues, why is it so hard to stay in communication? You have other peoples' money. Is it too much to ask to just take a few minutes to respond and explain what's going on? I lose sympathy at that point.

 

[Jediwannabe]

Assuming he does have personal issues, why is it so hard to stay in communication? You have other peoples' money. Is it too much to ask to just take a few minutes to respond and explain what's going on? I lose sympathy at that point.

I totally agree! I don’t understand how someone can take people’s money and not feel a sense of responsibility. It’s not hard to update people.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

I don’t mean to Monday morning quarterback this issue. I have no personal experience with this seller but over the past 25 years hearing similar problems and having my own close calls, I have set some personal standards on how I buy from a seller.

First of all, I don’t make exceptions for any seller no matter how good previous experience personal or other have had. There is a long history in those community of trusted sellers with years of dedicated service just disappearing and/or flaking out without warning.

I always pay in a way I can get refunded if the item is not sent like PayPal goods and services (never a gift). Never a money order, gift cards, etc.

I always mark on my calendar a reminder to the date when I may need to ask for a refund. For example. PayPal is 180 limit. So I might put a reminder at 150 days. This gives me time to notify the seller that I will be starting dispute processes if they do not send the item. If for some reason they need more time and I agree, then I ask them to refund the money and I will start a new transaction in order to reset the 180 day refund limit. Usually they agree because at this point they don’t want to lose the money outright in a dispute process.

In your case, I think a red flag for this seller is the 16 to 20 week timeframe. It doesn’t take that long to make one of these. He might be backlogged but most trusted sellers who deal with made to order items will add your name to a list and contact you a little bit prior to finishing up their customer ahead of you.

 

[blewis17]

I totally agree! I don’t understand how someone can take people’s money and not feel a sense of responsibility. It’s not hard to update people.

This has been the bane of the independent prop/accessory maker scene for years. A talented artist creates beautiful product(s), initially does well and establishes a reputation, then falls of the radar due to "personal issues," leaving customers out of their money... with little to no recourse. And the rote: "Sorry, but I've been swamped with my real job/family issues/personal issues/money issues/supply chain problems/sick pet/moving to a new house/recent liver transplant/lunar eclipse destroyed my fab table/no internet so I can't respond to emails" is ludicrous.

I almost lost my $$$ for a BSG Cylon helmet I purchased through eBay. The maker had a solid product, but when deadlines slipped by (and past the eBay guarantee) with no delivery and no info or updates unless I reached out, I demanded my money back. Then I paid the extra $$ to order one from Kropserkel, which is what I should have done in the first place.

 

[blewis17]

I don’t mean to Monday morning quarterback this issue. I have no personal experience with this seller but over the past 25 years hearing similar problems and having my own close calls, I have set some personal standards on how I buy from a seller.

First of all, I don’t make exceptions for any seller no matter how good previous experience personal or other have had. There is a long history in those community of trusted sellers with years of dedicated service just disappearing and/or flaking out without warning.

I always pay in a way I can get refunded if the item is not sent like PayPal goods and services (never a gift). Never a money order, gift cards, etc.

I always mark on my calendar a reminder to the date when I may need to ask for a refund. For example. PayPal is 180 limit. So I might put a reminder at 150 days. This gives me time to notify the seller that I will be starting dispute processes if they do not send the item. If for some reason they need more time and I agree, then I ask them to refund the money and I will start a new transaction in order to reset the 180 day refund limit. Usually they agree because at this point they don’t want to lose the money outright in a dispute process.

In your case, I think a red flag for this seller is the 16 to 20 week timeframe. It doesn’t take that long to make one of these. He might be backlogged but most trusted sellers who deal with made to order items will add your name to a list and contact you a little bit prior to finishing up their customer ahead of you.

This.

 

[Jediwannabe]

I don’t mean to Monday morning quarterback this issue. I have no personal experience with this seller but over the past 25 years hearing similar problems and having my own close calls, I have set some personal standards on how I buy from a seller.

First of all, I don’t make exceptions for any seller no matter how good previous experience personal or other have had. There is a long history in those community of trusted sellers with years of dedicated service just disappearing and/or flaking out without warning.

I always pay in a way I can get refunded if the item is not sent like PayPal goods and services (never a gift). Never a money order, gift cards, etc.

I always mark on my calendar a reminder to the date when I may need to ask for a refund. For example. PayPal is 180 limit. So I might put a reminder at 150 days. This gives me time to notify the seller that I will be starting dispute processes if they do not send the item. If for some reason they need more time and I agree, then I ask them to refund the money and I will start a new transaction in order to reset the 180 day refund limit. Usually they agree because at this point they don’t want to lose the money outright in a dispute process.

In your case, I think a red flag for this seller is the 16 to 20 week timeframe. It doesn’t take that long to make one of these. He might be backlogged but most trusted sellers who deal with made to order items will add your name to a list and contact you a little bit prior to finishing up their customer ahead of you.

Excellent advice! I will certainly be adopting these into future transactions. I do keep a running list and I add the expected dates to my calendar for a check in but you are definitely taking it to the next level. Thank you!

 

[Jediwannabe]

This has been the bane of the independent prop/accessory maker scene for years. A talented artist creates beautiful product(s), initially does well and establishes a reputation, then falls of the radar due to "personal issues," leaving customers out of their money... with little to no recourse. And the rote: "Sorry, but I've been swamped with my real job/family issues/personal issues/money issues/supply chain problems/sick pet/moving to a new house/recent liver transplant/lunar eclipse destroyed my fab table/no internet so I can't respond to emails" is ludicrous.

I almost lost my $$$ for a BSG Cylon helmet I purchased through eBay. The maker had a solid product, but when deadlines slipped by (and past the eBay guarantee) with no delivery and no info or updates unless I reached out, I demanded my money back. Then I paid the extra $$ to order one from Kropserkel, which is what I should have done in the first place.

I had to laugh a little about the cat excuse. You are so right! BTW, I just ordered the Kropserkel Cylon helmet. So excited to get that one!