Getting ripped off in a HALO B sale

[BobTheCow]

Okay, here's basically what's happened so far:

I settled on buying a black HALO B from somebody on PBNation. We agreed that I would pay $90, and he would pay for shipping. I sent him the money order, and he took almost a week after receiving the money before he shipped it. (This whole time, he was very hard to talk to...in fact, he ignored my e-mails and IM's until my "dad" talked to him and threatened him). When it finally got to me, the only thing i noticed at first was that the lid was broken off. I figured that wasn't too huge of a problem, but then I checked out Odyssey's website.

I found out what i had received was a HALO A. I IM'ed him, saying only: "hey, i got the halo." after a while, he hadn't responded, so i said: "hello?" He then "signed off," but I figured out that he had blocked me. I don't know what to do now, I'm stuck with the wrong model HALO i don't want/need.

Any ideas?? The person that's been helping me through all this thinks that if he can't get him to talk, I should file for mail fraud. That seems kind of severe; I guess what I would want to do right now is just trade everything back, get my money back, and find somebody else with a halo B!!

Sooo...any other suggestions/ideas??

[Evil Bob]

File for mail fraud. He sent you an item that the two of you did not bargain for, which falls under the fraud definition. He also appears to be purposely avoiding you, which is a clear indication of fraud. Make life painful for him and go the legal route.

-Evil Bob

[BobTheCow]

Is that gonna end up hurting me in any way though?? Also, i have a tourney on March 2nd...I'm gonna need SOME kinda hopper by then .
Argh, just another reason to stay away from PBNation.

[cledford]

Let the buyer beware. Next time use Paypal with your Dad's card. Then at least you'll have some built in "fraud protection."

In the mean time if you chose not to pursue it (since I doubt anyone in law enforcement will bother over $90 - since it's less then the typical $300 limit for felony level) is to send the HALO to odyssey for the B upgrade. I believe they charge $30 bucks and have like a 3 day turn around.

-Calvin

[fire1811]

its sucks but if u want a halo b
u can get it converted over.

i know its even more money u shouldnt have to pay
but u got screwed and its most likey going to stay that
way.

good luck

[BobTheCow]

Originally posted by fire1811
but u got screwed and its most likey going to stay that
way.

Yeah, it sure looks that way...

Does the upgrade that Odyssey can do turn it into everything that a B would be if you bought it new?? I mean...I payed for a B, and I just wanna make sure the upgrade isn't gonna turn it into just some half-a** B look-alike.

[cledford]

They *look* exactly the same. It the internals that are different.

-Calvin

[Evil Bob]

The upgrade is pretty much all the moving parts (swapping out all the gears for the belt drive) and a new board, you will still have the same external shells. I had them upgrade a pair of A's, which perform just as well as the pair of B's I have.

The only problem with going this route is you still got ripped off and the other guy still gets away.

Definitely use PayPal with a credit card in the future, you can always recall/cancel a payment, you can do the same with a money order as long as you have the receipt, its just a more painful route to take.

-Evil Bob

[la690]

if you dont have a pay pal or a credit card i would use COD. It wouldnt have helped in this case but it's still a better idea than sending money to someone when you dont know for sure if they will carry out their half of the bargain. I would file for mail fraud if i were you.

[BobTheCow]

Yeah, right now I don't have PayPal...I'm definitely gonna hafta fix that...

[rdb123]

At least when you sent 90 dollars, the guy actually sent you a hopper. =\

-Ron

[Timmee]

Originally posted by cledford
Let the buyer beware. Next time use Paypal with your Dad's card. Then at least you'll have some built in "fraud protection."

In the mean time if you chose not to pursue it (since I doubt anyone in law enforcement will bother over $90 - since it's less then the typical $300 limit for felony level) is to send the HALO to odyssey for the B upgrade. I believe they charge $30 bucks and have like a 3 day turn around.

-Calvin

Actually, since it was sent through the mail, it makes it mail fraud (which is automatically a federal felony charge). I do have to say, though, that you're at least lucky you got something. A friend of mine (also a manager of mine at work) got shafted on eBay for a Halo B (sent the money, and never recieved anything). He's filled out the mail fraud forms, and it seems to have helped to convince the other guy to refund my friend his money. It can't hurt to at least check out that route (even if you decide not to file charges).

[Evil Bob]

Here is the online USPS Mail Fraud Complaint form: https://www.usps.com/postalinspector...dComplaint.htm

Here is more info on the USPS Fraud Services: http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/welcome.htm

-Evil Bob

[BobTheCow]

Originally posted by Evil Bob
Here is the online USPS Mail Fraud Complaint form: https://www.usps.com/postalinspector...dComplaint.htm

Here is more info on the USPS Fraud Services: http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/welcome.htm

-Evil Bob

[rdb123]

Same here. I bought a HALO B off some guy two months ago; he later tells me that there was something wrong with it and sent it in to Odyssey for repair. A month later he tells me they are "out of stock" and will get them back within a week. It's been another month; still no HALO.

Anyway, the guy's name is Kevin Petsche and he lives in Valrico, FL. Watch out hehe.

Bob, I hope you are able to get your money back or at least a new HALO B.

-Ron