Cavet Emptor -- Immature Kids Have Keyboards Too!

[MtMike]

(Yes, before I wrote this I went back and re-read Sparks Important Notice)

Last week I almost got burned by an immature lurker offering a trade for a knife he claimed was made by a well known maker of hi-end folders. I received the knife this week, and immediately saw that it was a homebuilt, NOT as advertised. A quick fonecall to a maker I know lives near the offeror clarified everything, suspicions confirmed.
I did get an evaluation period, but ONLY because he said he was going on a hunting trip, and asked that I hold my knife a week before I mailed it. I had become too comfortable with previous purchases and trades, and did NOT insist on inspecting the knife. Just pure dumb luck on my part. Follow up emails from the offeror have been extremely apologetic, lesson learned, blah blah blah -- but I've re-learned a valuable lesson. Caveat Emptor, and Spark's Rules for this Forum are there for a reason --

Mike

 

[TOMBSTONE]

sounds like you should disclose his name, address,so no one gets burnt by this person.

 

[MtMike]

Nope, I've handled the deal, and I'm pretty sure this was a case of immaturity rather than malice. I don't see a point ot burning the kid any more than I've already burned him. Nevertheless, it pays to be careful.
Mike

 

[TOMBSTONE]

Thanks!Comforting thought when one of us gets burnt by this kid.I'm not saying to go to his house and lynch him,but why make posts like this and turn around and protect a person at whatever age with integrity difficulties??You could be saving someone alot of heartache,in exchange for hurt feelings of someone that claimed a knife to be a certain knifemakers custom,all along knowing what he had shipped was anything but.Maybe next time he will get over his last moment of a guilty conscience.

 

[Walking Man]

Tombstone, there is a difference between immaturity and inexperience. Perhaps he learned his lesson. I think there is always times when anyone of us just happens to forget an important detail that makes someone else a little unhappy.

 

[MtMike]

Tombstone -- there are 2 warnings in my post. the first is that there are folks out there that we would prefer not to deal with -- but we should have known that. The second, and more important as far as I'm concerned, is to avoid complacency when dealing with newguys. I say again,if I'd reminded myself to practice common rules of net security this probably wouldn't have happened. If you really want to know who the bad guys are, by name, just do whatI did, and they'll find you.
But I've been as specific as I'm going to be for now -- sorry if that puts a burr under your saddle.
Mike

 

[TOMBSTONE]

I understand the warning,but if we knew whom this person was,we could either not deal with him or at least have him ship first in a trade.An error in judgement should not be confused with all out fraud.If I sell a ring as 14k solid gold,but in reality I know it is just gold plated that is more than just "forgetting an important detail" Well Mike it's your call,but I think it is a mistake to protect his identity,cause this deal definatly falls in the bad category.just my two cents.

 

[MtMike]

Tombstone, I understand your point. But I've told the kid I wouldn't bust him, this time, but would watch his transactions. The whole story is also known to one of his co-workers, the knifemaker I referred to in my original post. So I won't go back on my word to him -- I didn't intend to get into a long back and forth thread on this issue. If I thought here was a chance of another occurence from the same guy, believe me I'd post his name, SSN, home phone number, and identifying birthmarks. I'm not a pollyanna, but as you said, it's my call.

Mike

 

[u812]

Can you describe the knife he tried too trade you.Maybe this could help if anyone gets a offer with that description.

 

[MtMike]

No. I know how to use the Search Function, too.

Does anybody on this Forum know the meaning of the word "No"?

Mike

 

[u812]

Sorry,I didn't think about being able to find out who it is that way.

 

[MtMike]

Okay -- no harm, no foul
Mike

 

[jsciii]

Why bother warning everyone of potential ripoff artists and withhold who they are. Didn't think we knew we could get ripped off? It's like posting there's a child molestor in the neighborhood and not saying who. Now I can either become paranoid and challenge every person I deal with here to prove they are not going to rip me off (nothing like a friendly community) or continue my generally trusting nature and probably get taken. Thanks for nothing.

 

[GigOne]

Posted by jsciii:

Why bother warning everyone of potential ripoff artists and withhold who they are.

This particular portion of the forum is also an excellent avenue to let out some of our bottled up frustrations and just simply vent.


Man. . .maybe Spark needs to change the name from GB&U to the Therapy Zone.

 

[GigOne]

. . .forgot to add. . .

Posted by jsciii:

Now I can either become paranoid and challenge every person I deal with here to prove they are not going to rip me off (nothing like a friendly community) or continue my generally trusting nature and probably get taken.

Prior to you reading this thread. . .you ran a certain risk of someone taking advantage of you during a blade sale or trade transaction.

It doesn't sound as if you were paranoid or saw a need to challenge the people that you were dealing with.

So why start now ?

Posted by jsciii:

Thanks for nothing.

In this post. . .if I'm assuming correctly. . .MtMike was just trying to get some excess baggage off of his mind and heart.

He's not the bad guy.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Besides, with all the clues he left it took me about 30 seconds to find out who he had posted about.

Mike was just trying to vent a little and at the same time was reminding us that we should always do our homework when dealing with someone that we don't know.

People should now stop