8mm Forum: I smell a GS1200 Ebay scam, stay away.

This is topic I smell a GS1200 Ebay scam, stay away. in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 06, 2003, 02:04 PM:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2969666616&category=15255#Shipp ingPayment

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 06, 2003, 03:29 PM:

Hi Alan,
Maybe your nose is more sensitive than mine. Where exactly do you feel that this is a scam?

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on December 06, 2003, 05:53 PM:

I sniffed it like Beagle, but came up with nothing. I do have a slight cold. The seller has great feedback and I.D. history. Inquiring mindless collector wants to know. [Confused]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 06, 2003, 06:06 PM:

Dont get your drift Alan? They sell for between £1000 - 1500 in the UK depending on condition and age.

Kev.

Posted by Ricky Daniels (Member # 95) on December 07, 2003, 05:09 AM:

I've seen this one listed before (about 5 weeks ago) by the same seller with the same pix. Maybe the deal wasn't closed and it's relisted... if so the seller would do well to state the fact. Maybe that's why it looks like it could be a scam [Frown]

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on December 07, 2003, 09:11 AM:

Ricky

I remember seeing a couple of Argentinian Ads for GS's. I thought at the time it was a little unusual and I wondered how big s8 was in that country.

Where a buyer has a relatively low feedback and insists on a wire transfer or similar I am always suspicious. At least by paying via a credit card you have the ability to go back to the credit card company-pay cash and your on your own.

I did a cash transfer with a chap in Germany and all was well but I only did so because of his feedback and that I know it is difficult to use credit cards in Germany.

Buyer be ware!

Tony

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 07, 2003, 10:11 AM:

Guys anytime someone posts a sale asking for western union type payments,watch out. Im telling you this is a scam.

The Buy now for $15000 is another tip off. Send him the $1500 and you will get nothing. You also have no legal recourse.

The pictures are also blurry. They look like a scanned copies. I will bet he does not even have possession of this projector.

Ricky
These guys keep relisting the same adds ripping as many people off as possible until its reported and Ebay pulls it.

This one smells fishy.

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on December 07, 2003, 01:24 PM:

Hi

There is another odd one at the moment on ebay - Rsuarez I think. I have seen this guy list about 4 GS's on ebay yet I see no feedback from the sales and also he only accepts anything except paypal or credit cards! Surprise Surprise.

Tony [Eek!]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 07, 2003, 05:09 PM:

I had emailed this guy before this deabte started and this is his reply:

Hi Kevin:
This is the second projector that I sell. Have a voltage selector in the back, 110v to 240v.
If you use BUY IT NOW , shipping to UK is free.
Adrian

Shipping to UK Free and with an f1.0 lens [Eek!]

Now I do wonder.
I have in the meantime asked if the pics are of the actual machine on offer as that is important in determining which version it is.

Kev.

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 07, 2003, 05:49 PM:

I emailed the seller,I asked if I bought this I have a friend in Argentina and it would be cheaper for me if he picked this up for me as he visits the states once a year.
I ask what part he lived in and asked if he would ship locally or could my friend pick it up.

This was this morning. No answer yet. If I dont get one in a few days that will red flag the purchase for me.

[ December 08, 2003, 12:27 AM: Message edited by: Alan Gouger ]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 17, 2003, 11:31 AM:

Well guys, I have paid up fort his machine so fingers crossed that it does arrive. The guy does seem genuine in his emails etc and he has certainly answered all my emails even before my purchase. He tells me that it is the late version and comes complete with all its accessories. He even gave me the Serial Number which confirms that its slightly newer than mu own machine. Anyway I'll let you all know how it goes. Lets hope it has a happy ending.
Kev. [Smile]

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on December 17, 2003, 09:23 PM:

Kev,
In the true spirit of optimism I hope you enjoy your new GS with that great 1.0 lens.
Doug

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on December 18, 2003, 12:39 AM:

How about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2972344652&category=15255
If you are asking $1800 for that machine it would be better to show the machine as opposed to pictures taken off the internet or scanned from the manual? Also the comment that says includes all accessories. What accessories? I would be wary of that machine for sure.

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 18, 2003, 10:56 AM:

Alan Rik that is the same guy.

Kevin

I wish you best of luck. I truly do have a friend ( customer) in the same city and offered for him to go and pay for the machine and pick it up. Danny gave me all kinds of excuses and all he cared about was me pre paying via western union.

Now we see this new add with scanned images. Im telling you this is a scam.

I agree with Alan Rik be very careful. Never and I mean never send money via WU or any other method he has mentioned. Once you've sent the money ( its as good as cash) you have no recourse.

Kevin please let us know if you do indeed get the GS. I hope we are all wrong.

Thanks!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 18, 2003, 10:59 AM:

This is a real cliff-hanger. I hope for your sake Kevin, that Alan is wrong on this one.

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on December 18, 2003, 11:10 AM:

Kevin

Did he provide a tracking number?

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 18, 2003, 05:01 PM:

Thanks Paul, so do I. He hasnt shipped it yet Alan but I will push him on that score. I have to say I sent the money through to him on Tuesday but I havent heard from him since. He did say that he would be on hols on Wed & Thurs so maybe he emails from work. Fingers crossed because the details he sent me of the machine says it should be a good one. It has the f1.0 lens and all its original accessories and the pics although soft in focus were of the actual machine he has sold me. I checked some of the other items he has sold on ebay and all his pics look like that which suggests a cheap Digital Camera?
Anyway I'll keep you guys posted. Kev.

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on December 18, 2003, 05:49 PM:

Kev,

No worries as I have a bottle of champagne (and a tin of corned beef- for international readers this is an old UK joke- waiting for you) You can't go wrong here because if it arrives we celebrate and if not comiserate!!!!

Tony [Big Grin]

Posted by Ian O'Reilly (Member # 76) on December 19, 2003, 01:19 PM:

Nice One Tony!
We can always rely on you to bring a little humor to the Fourm even if it's is at Kevin's expense.
Just like I had from you when I lost (had Stolen) my classic American car. [Big Grin]

Regards
Ian

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 19, 2003, 02:11 PM:

Yes I agree with you Ian, there's a side of Tony we dont see very often. He will get his come uppance eventually and as they say "he who laughs fisrt, laughs last" etc etc. [Big Grin]

Kev.
PS not too fond of Corned Beef. [Confused]

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on December 20, 2003, 02:18 AM:

My goodness, a rare posting from Mr Super 8 himself! Welcome back oh great one....... [Razz]

I sincerely hope that this works out for you Kev and like the rest of the guys here will be chuffed to eat a load of humble pie (with cream though).

For large scale purchases like these I would advocate the use of either a letter of credit from a bank which can be made out in favour of the buyer or buyer's bank. This is basically a bank guarantee of payment to the seller provided he complies with the conditions of the letter of credit. In its basic form you would require the seller to submit shipping documents or airway bills to the bank as proof of shipping whereupon the money is released to him. You can get more sexy about this and ask for verification on arrival of the goods in the UK. In theory this is a no risk situation for the seller if he is genuine.

Alternatively, use an escrow service where the money is held by a third party and released to the seller once the buyer has confirmed he is happy with the goods.

Finally, FORCE the seller to accept PAYPAL or any means of payment where you use the old credit card since (for the time being) you will have full recourse to the credit card company if it is a fraud or the item is accidentally damaged. If necessary offer him an extra $100 or so as an incentive.

For those who already know this then please correct any mistakes inthe above.

Kev, I will be on edge all Christmas (except when drunk)(so I suppose only on edge for a short time). Let us all know asap

Tony [Frown]

Posted by John Whittle (Member # 22) on December 31, 2003, 06:44 PM:

Kevin,

Did you get the projector? Did I miss an update?

Would love to know if you got it and what the condition was.

Happy New Year

John

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on December 31, 2003, 07:22 PM:

John, He has told me that it will be shipped on the 2nd of Jan when he returns to work so fingers crossed.
I'll let you all know the outcome. Kev.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on January 07, 2004, 05:25 PM:

Well guys it on it's way from Argentina. Am tracking it's progress on the Fedex site. Should be here before miday on Friday. Suppose it could be a box of bricks or the GS in kit form after it's long journey. [Eek!]

Tony may just have to eat Corned Beef after all and give me that Chmampers (Not yuck) but a Whisky will suffice. [Smile]

Kev.
Just noticed that this guy is selling a Beaulieu 708 Stereo with optical sound! didnt know they did optical.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2976696503&category=15255

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on January 07, 2004, 06:11 PM:

Hi Kev, to start the new year off right, here's hoping for the success of your deal!(he said, as he downed another pint of Black & Tan....) [Smile]

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 07, 2004, 11:59 PM:

I emailed him earlier this week. He told me that it was a mistake and the machine is only magnetic. I guess he felt it wasn't important to change the ad however!

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on January 08, 2004, 02:18 AM:

Hi Kev,

Do you have any plasters? Just cut my finger opening the wretched tin........

Tony [Roll Eyes]

Hi Joe,

Pint of Black and Tan....haven't come across that one in years...what do you mix together in the USA to get that one?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on January 09, 2004, 02:35 PM:

Kevin,
Well?
Doug

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on January 10, 2004, 03:53 PM:

Well Guy's, Kevin has not posted on the Forum in a couple of days. I figure one of three things have happened:

1) The GS1200 arrived as advertized, all the way from Argentina, and he is checking it out.

2) He received a GS1200 and it is a piece of junk, and he collapsed and is in hospital.

3) Nothing arrived, and he is down at Heathrow airport checking the incoming air freight.

How does this Alan Gouger saga end? I can't wait for the conclusion of this cliff-hanger!

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on January 11, 2004, 12:25 PM:

Hi All,

I have the answer having spoken to Kevin over the weekend......

But should I reveal all? To do so might steal his thunder or yours....

Best to let Kev give you the update I think......

Tony [Wink]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on January 11, 2004, 06:30 PM:

Well Guys I wont keep you in suspense any longer.
The package was to be deliverd by midday on Friday and indeed the box was delivered at 10.45am.
I got home in the evening but had to wait till my kids were settled before plucking up the courage to open said package.
The box did not rattle but never the less I opened it with caution. So what did I find? well a very well packaged GS1200 which had suffered a slight knock to its handle causing a slight dent to the top of the machine. This has now been sorted and no one would ever know. Yes the machine is in very nice condition and once the voltage was moved to 240V I plugged in fired up and then ran an old test film. Yes it worked first time and quieter than my other machine.
I do need to sort wear out on the guides but then most GS's need that doing to them these days. Its now stripped down ready to have a 2 blade shutter fitted and also to give it a service and lube.
There was only one major letdown and that was concerning the lens. It was advertised as being the f1.0 but is in fact the 1.1. A bit of a shame but I can live with that especially as my other machine has the Xenovaron 1.1. I have sent the seller an email regarding this and will let you guys know if he responds.
So there you have it, No scam and he paid the Shipping from Argentina to the UK and it was delivered in 4 days. Ver 3, slightly newer than my existing machine. BTW its very clean inside too. [Smile]

Worth £900.00? Yes definitely. Here endenth the saga of this particular GS1200 Ebay auction. (scam!) [Wink]

Hopefully see Tony M eat some Corned Beef soon. [Razz]

Kev

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on January 11, 2004, 08:16 PM:

Kevin

This is one time I am so glad I was wrong. Congratulations on your win:)
Im glad I did not make any crazy bets:)

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on January 11, 2004, 11:12 PM:

Well done Kevin! So glad Alan was wrong this time. Enjoy your new GS1200, I'm sure with your expertise you will have it purring along in no time.

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on January 12, 2004, 01:30 PM:

Hang on a minute....

What bet was this???? If you look at my posting you will see I was only pointing out the obvious double benefit of the champers and beef scenario.

The way I see it we can BOTH enjoy the celebratory cow and grape

Congrats Kev

Rgds

Thomas (he of the doubting kind)

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on January 12, 2004, 05:30 PM:

Cow & Grape! Hee Hee. We will see next weekend when we all turn up at your house for the celebrations, sorry I mean cine day. [Wink]

Kev.

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