Bad Trades – UK, the US & Canada
We get nearly 1,000 posts and responses on trades every month and after 3 years and literally thousands of transactions, there has fortunately only been a handful of bad trades where it turned out to be a one-way deal.
Recently we’ve had two issues with UK traders (of course, not the old friends we know from the UK who are always cheerful and make great trading and selling partners).
Three things.
A) when you begin a trade with someone overseas, check the feedback forum (you can search) by name or simply ask for references. If they have not done a lot of trades and the trade is a “fair sized in value trade,” you might use paypal as an escrow service. Agree to Aassign a fair value to the item and you “pay” them via paypal. They transfer the funds to their account. They ship the items to you. Do not ship out your stuff yet. Once you have received the items, you repeat the process the other way. They put money in your paypal account, you transfer and you ship. This way there is a legal and assigned value to the ‘trade.’ After you are comfortable trading with them or there is a lot of feedback, then you can skip the escrow part.
B) We will try and help you resolve the issue but there is only so much we can do especially if it’s just someone who is not a regular and getting banned holds no real value to them anyway, they got their scammed goods and are moving on.
C) Point out to the scammer that you will file a police compliant. Mail fraud is a FEDERAL crime.
In the US, you can file a file a complaint with the USPS Mail Fraud Department, the FBI and the Attorney General of the state they live in (search Attorney General by the state). You should be able to file a complaint online. If you really want to, you can even call their city and see if you can file a compliant by phone. Clearly anything below $100 is probably not to garner much action but you never know and most people do not want to know there is an official fraud complaint filed against them at the USPS, FBI, their State Attorney General’s office and their local police. Who knows, maybe while you are filing the complaint, they actually look this person up and maybe he’s got other complaints, unpaid traffic tickets or is on probation or they owe child support – they might not want the attention of an outstanding complaint filed against them.
You can also report them to their email provider whether it’s Gmail/hotmail, etc but particularly if they have a work address (call up their boss!) or an ISP like AT&T or Comcast that one of their customers is scammer.
If the transaction is an overseas one, obviously they think distance will give them safety in ripping off people but you can also file complaints online for Canada and the UK. I this is just for the Greater London area so if it’s another city, just try doing a direct search or ask one of our UK residents who might be able to give you more info on how to file a complaint. Again, most people presumably would not prefer their local police to have a fraud complaint filed against them.
I will move this post over the right hand column eventually.
Post any bad trader info in the comments.
Post their name & email address and your transaction in brief summary. No name calling, please. Please do not post any addresses.
You may comment but I will moderate any off topic comments.
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2 June 2011
48 Comments
I just have to say that without this site and the newly formed friendships developed through trades / buys, my son’s collection would not even be close to what it is today. Thank you to all of you, and you know who you are
I had a NEGATIVE trade experience with a member named DEREK “LEADMAN” IRVINE from the UK, sent him some Chick Hicks sets which he received and I NEVER received his package…He claimed he would re-send and has not responded to any e-mails or sent any shipping information, another month gone and nothing, so I am sure he is a RIP-OFF….the type of person who gives other great UK traders a bad name…..Paul (D O M)
After numerous emails to Derek last year, he FINALLY mailed my items to me, so maybe there is some hope for your deal. Would I trade with him again? No.
I had multiple trades/sales with Derek many times at least for year or so. I never had any problems.
I really do not know what went wrong…
Paul ( DOM ) is a great trader- we had few trades,very nice and great guy to trade with.
Yeah me too, never had a problem with Derek…this is weird! 😕
I thought maybe we had it worked out 2 months ago where he would pay me Paypal for the items I sent and shipping…He never followed through……Is not replying to e-mails……..He said he insured the ‘second package’….then why not reply and send me tracking, a receipt copy, anything…I call BOGUS…….
D O M
I had a bad transaction with an UK member, james.36@hotmail.co.uk, nickname “jambouk”, once lived in Kirkliston, Scotland. He confirmed receipt of the items I have sent but he never finished his end; he only shipped the half of the items he promised to trade. I can say that I lost some $100 to $140 based on ebay price level.
I know this guy has stolen from at least two more valuable members here.
It is better if we keep this topic limited to bad trades and post thanks messages to the related topic.
IDEM!!!
IDEM??????
IDEM ?????
Maybe it’s Italian for “Neat!!!”.
Nope…it means SAME, right Luca?
Right Mariela!! In Latin IDEM = SAME
The SAME thing happened to me..
We use that in Spanish also.. 😉
Ah. ditto.
Hasta la vista chica!!
I have met a bunch of great people on here through trades but unfortunately, I am dealing with a bad trade right now with a UK trader. Please do not trade with Taylor Cameron, aka martha mullen, taylorcameron1@hotmail.co.uk.
Long story short, we agreed on a 5 for 3 cars trade. He received my cars sent with tracking (and he acknowledged receiving it) but it has been 2 months and I have yet to receive anything. He could not provide tracking number and gave me the run around for the first month. Now he wont even reply back. I have submitted a action fraud complaint through the UK. What get me mad is that he is ripping off my 3 yr old son.
Please do not trade with TAYLOR CAMERON.
I have been waiting for photos for a few items from Taylor and never received the photos yet.
Sent several replies
I sent an email to Taylor back in April about a trade but he never responded either.
Wow! It appears I dodged a bullet with regard to Taylor Cameron. I emailed him/her back a few months ago about making a sizable trade and even had the items boxed and ready to go but never heard back.
It’s officiall 2 months and still nothing 🙁
Ive traded only twice so far, and as far as i know everything just peachy! yea i just said peachy. it was very convient when you have no target, and the exclusive packs were so cheap!
I don’t think I’m just lucky, but I’ve traded with many of the frequent posters on this site and the other and never had anything but great experiences. Jestrjef, jack, diecast rob, just to name a few off the top of my head. Many like Jeff and jack have even given me great trading and collecting info and advice as well as people like Jeff literally goIng out of his way to see if there was anything I needed when he was headed out on some rounds. Absolutely great people on this board so don’t let a couple of morons scare you into not trading with many of these fellow collectors here. Me and my son’s collection would be pretty thin, but instead it’s pretty awesome, because of you all here. Thanks to all that have traded with me here. I can’t even begin to list the scores and favors I’ve received. The kindness of many traders here has caused me to follow their lead and help out others when I can. It has a real community feel here and that’s amazing given the crazy world we all navigate on a daily basis.
Thank you for the kind words, John. Just glad to help you and the little man find some cool cars!! Hope to help again soon. 😀
I have never traded, but have on three occassions had take5ers purchase KMART Day cars for me, as we do not have them in Houston. Senorita Mia once, and John in Missouri twice.
Both times, it was a fantastic experience, where both were in constant communication and took more than the necessary care when shipping the cars.
On top of that, one of the cars (Transberry Juice) actually had a tire defect (not something you would be able to see without opening and actually playing with it), and John offered to send me a different one (which I refused, as my son would create numerious “defects” on his own.
Great experiences with two great collectors. Thanks again to you both!
Thanks for the kind words Charlie!
As a late player to this game (October 2009), without this site and the great traders/sellers my collection would have about a 100 or more holes to fill. I think I have done deals with most of the “regulars” on here and have had good experiences except for one trader. In that case the card was not as “mint” as it was advertised…but I moved on. All the others have been “All-Stars” that I would vouch for over and over. Two that I can think of off the top of my head…
jestrjef & oldhippy – fair, awesome packers, and super fast turnaround! I think Jeff slips the clerk $ because his packages can make it from FL in what seems like overnight 🙂
I try my best!! Thanks! 😀
Kd. Wow. You remembered that. It was almost a year ago.
It is unfortunate that of all the good people on this site that are willing to go out of their way to help others, there are others who are willing to take advantage of that.
As Jestrjef said, thanks Met and Tiz for giving us the option to be able to trade, sell and buy on this site. Without this, so many people would collect just the pegwarmers at stores only.
Speaking of which Jeaks / HTB:
Your box is headed out tomorrow. Got the last donation box this afternoon.
I’ve only been burnt once.
Thankfully I’ve bought lots from members with no issues.
Well I am happy this topic came up because I have a problem myself.
I agreed on a trade last month. I received The cars I was supposed to but The other trader says they never received their package from me.
I have proof of postage. I printed The label for priority shipping with signature confirmation and dropped The package into shipping box at The post office like I have done a thousand times. Neither of us insured.
I guess after so many sent packages without ever a problem I didn’t think to insure. I did put signature confirmation because I wanted proof of delivery. Did not foresee the Post office to mess up like this.
In any event The post office can not find the package. For some reason it never got scanned. I didn’t even know to get it scanned until this happened. I figured as soon as they emptied their package box in the lobby they would scan it but I was told often they don’t and just send it to the next post office.
Ever since this happened I am standing in line and waiting with my packages. I want every package scanned.
I had two postal investigations into this and both turned up nothing. They said it’s always a good idea to put a note inside The box also because if it got sent to The unaddressed mail due to damage to the label they would open it and look for identification.
It’s good to know now and a good tip but I never thought to leave identification inside the box.
I have done so many trades and transactions and have never had a package disappear before. I would expect if it’s going to happen it would probably be an international package but it was a domestic priority package.
The Post office said if the scan part got a bit damaged but they could still read The address they would have delivered it without scanning.
In any event this stinks and I don’t really know what to do about this. I did everything I could do on my end. We are both going to lose on this.
I want to resolve the issue and move on.
So any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
I still cannot believe that people send stuff uninsured.
Jack, this is not a slam on you or your trader….
All it takes is ONCE for friendships to die and a lost article in the mail to never be recovered.
I never send anything without Delivery Confirmation and or insurance period.
It keeps friendships “friendly”
I even ask people to send it with Delivery Confirmation and or insurance. I don’t want to loose it coming here or have a shady neighbor get the bright idea they can start collecting the “easy way”
Just safe practice to send it and receive it with both.
I had a UK trade with this same circumstance. No insurance. Buyer wanted cheap shipping. Package never arrived according the the PO. I have tracking number and all but since it never arrived paypal gave the person their money back. I lost over $500. Super stupid on my part not to insure or to allow the buyer cheap shipping. I thought having the tracking was enough. Post office told me they are not required to scan priority international packages. Only express packages are required to be scanned. This is why I will no longer ship internationally. Bottom line, even if you can prove you sent it, you are responsible, If you cannot prove it was delivered. The PO will refund you the shipping cost though if you have your receipts and you file a claim.
Sorry you had a bad experience. International Priority service is supposed to automatically include some insurance, I think it is limited to $70 or so. In the event of a lost or damaged package you are supposed to use the “CP” number on the Customs Declaration note to file the claim. Perhaps you have to fight with the USPS to actually get the $ back. Hopefully less stuff is being lost and/or damaged internationally nowadays, since slow-boat service was axed.
Return the money or what he sent you or pay him for it. Write it off as a loss and insure next time.
I am in Canada and not sure if everyone is aware but our country’s Postal service has served strike notice; it is supposed to take effect today at midnight.
What that means is if any of us from Canada have made a trade with you and the package is still in transit on the Canadian end, it will not be delivered until after the strike is over; vice verca anything you send to us will not arrive also
If we strike, it could take along time to get through the backlog of parcels once its finished. So patience is important to suspend any assumptions about bad trades.
Just a note Met – TrendMicro is now blocking this site “due to confirmed malicious software and/or fraud.” I’ve requested they take it off their list, but my guess is that someone who got a bad trade reported it to them.
I get the same message
May I also add:
If you do not know the person you are trading with….
ASK for references, I have given references for several people several times, it is not a big deal. Losing things and or getting stiffed is.
cac1959 is quite correct. Some packages blaze through in 8 days and other languish for weeks.
Im new to this particular forum but not new to international trading. My first couple of trades here I tried to instill confidence by sending photos of the items, packaged items and certificate of postage. This is my tip to new traders. I tried to get my stuff off first but Rob and Ryan where like lightning!!! Another tip is inform the local Police (for the larger transactions) and always pay if possible by internet protected credit card. In my experience they are always happy to follow up on a complaint.
I am aware of several packages from the UK to the US taking up to 6 weeks to arrive as a result of increased shipping times since an incident in November 2010… for awhile, packages were not permitted to be shipped on passenger flights… If you live in the US and are in a hurry to receive your package from a UK trader, you may want to pay extra for FedEx or DHL shipping.
Packages from the US to the UK do not appear to be delayed.
You can read more about this on the Royal Mail website:
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm
Although I’ve never done this in practice, I’ve always preached that a real test of trading fortitude would be for BOTH parties to make PayPal payments in a 2-way trade. That way you’re putting the same trust on the line that your asking the other person for.
Met and Tiz, thank you for giving us this awesome place to talk and trade Cars. I have had hundreds upon hundreds of great trades, sales and buys with the family we have here. Thankfully, there has only been a time or two when things did not work out the way it was planned. I look forward to many, many more helpful transactions and tons of wonderful discussion!! 😀
Interesting..and great post!
Oh, and I’m First! 😛
Looks like you are last…or at lest 2nd from the bottom, thanks to this post.
🙂