WARNING: thief STEPHEN HARBUCK

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greens

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Here's the story:

I was forced to sell some of my precious collection on E-bay to make ends meet due to current unemployment. A buyer by the name of STEPHEN HARBUCK (user ID: ramrodavenueenterprises) has bought 4 knives (busse family) from me on May 3rd and payed by Paypal. I sent him the knives by USPS priority with insurance which I was told was trackable and all.
A Few days later, this thief filed Paypal dispute claiming he did not receive anything. I contacted usps, they tracked the parcel as delivered and signed for. I was provided with copies of the proof of delivery as well as a scan of Stephen's signature for the parcel.

I submitted all this info to Paypal. After few days later, I get an e-mail stating the buyer won the dispute due to no online tracking. What a bunch of bull. I provided them with sufficient enough proof that the scammer recieved the items.


That scumbag never communicated with me and when I tried to call, phone disconnected. He closed his E-bay account too. It is evident he intended to scam me but somehow the paypal morons aided this thief to have the merchandise and my money. The way Paypal operate is frightning!

At this point, Paypal told me to take legal action against that thief which I may do but I feel Paypal is responsible for my money lost and I feel I should take legal action against them instead.

I reported this individual to e-bay, the postal inspector and I'm waiting for more advice from an attorney.


This scammer looks like he's heavily into knives due to his transactions which involved buying/selling knives. He is certainly no stranger to Busses. He may be on this knife forum and others trying to get rid of the knives he stole.

Knives (all mint) he stole from me:

Busse - Badger attack Tac (black/red black G10)
Busse- Fusion Steel Heart (black blade/logo w/ black micarta)
Swamp Rat - Ratweiler (old style - black blade/black micarta)
Scrap Yard - Dog Father CG

If anyone spots a seller from CA trying to sell these knives, Please contact me asap through PM or e-mail: greensBF@sbcglobal.net
I appreciate it!


So again, beware of STEPHEN HARBUCK (registered on e-bay as Stevie Harbuck)

Stephen Harbuck
251 Hilltop Drive #37
Redding, CA 96003

Phone# (530) 221-1002
 
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greens said:
I sent him the knives by USPS priority with insurance which I was told was trackable and all.
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I've been told this by USPS clerks in the past as well. Happened just yesterday in fact. However, in my experience in such a case, the package is only trackable internally (by USPS) if there's a problem. I generally pay the extra and get Delivery Confirmation.

IMO PayPal missed the boat on this one since the item was tracked to the recipient. You might seriously look into action against them. Good luck.
 
Exactly, Cougar, but I understood from the OP that PayPal awarded the buyer his claim because PayPal (and the buyer) couldn't track the item. Maybe I'm reading into this statement, however:

After few days later, I get an e-mail stating the buyer won the dispute due to no online tracking.
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You cannot track a USPS insurance label, even though USPS can do so internally. Clerks will tell you that insurance over a certain amount includes tracking, but it's not tracking you can do from your computer.

You can track other options such as Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation. These options cost extra on top of insurance.

Still, since greens produced the goods from USPS, including a signature, seems to me PayPal doesn't have a leg to stand on.
 
Over the years, I have had several insured parcels left in my rural mailbox -- and one left on the ground next to the mailbox. I have had others not delivered (Sorry we missed you) although I was at home all day. Most times, I get a knock at the door. All depends on the individuals involved.

PayPal doesn't really give a flying pooch about the right or wrong of a dispute.
 
I know I know, I should always include delivery/signature conf. It's a mistake on my part but I'm disguested with Paypal and their bullshit policy that only online tracking matters. Well, online or not, insurance tracking is still tracking and it should be valid proof of delivery. I've done hundreds of transactions through them but no more.
 
greens said:
I'm disguested with Paypal and their bullshit policy that only online tracking matters . . .
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That's outragous! :mad: Does PayPal state such in their policies and procedures relative to disputed transactions or did they just reveal it after the fact?

greens said:
I was provided with copies of the proof of delivery as well as a scan of Stephen's signature for the parcel..
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How the hell can they simply ignore that kind of proof of delivery? I take it that USPS finds it sufficient proof not to allow you file an insurance claim against them. :rolleyes::confused:
 
If you Google 251 Hilltop Dr in Redding, it comes up as the Sandpointe Apartments. There is a contact number. You might check with the manager for a forwarding address, then contact the Postal Inspector as well as Redding PD. Chances are the scumbag is know to the PD anyway.

Good luck,

Gene
 
You have his signature accepting delivery. And he denies receiving the item.

If the signature truly is his, this is mail fraud. Correct?
 
Although paypal mishandled this, your complaint is with the buyer/thief. Call the Shasta County DA's office as well as the Redding PD about filing a complaint. If the buyer didn't sign for them and then file his dispute, thus scamming you, someone signed for them and stole them. If you address it as stolen property, not a paypal dispute, you might get some questions asked. At the very least, the detectives in the area will have a description (and hopefully photos) of the knives, which will make it tough for him to sell locally. This individual may have a record locally as well, which would generate some interest by the gendarmes.
 
Sorry this happened to you. Dealing with paypal can be a bitch at the least when a buyer wants to file a dispute. I can't add to the recommendations already made by others for your next course of action. All are good and I would just consult my attorny and the authorities. I would think that paypal acting as a middle man would have an obligation to protect both buyer and seller equally but the reality is that getting money from them is going to be really tough as I'm sure they've gone to even greater lengths to protect themselves than either buyer or seller.
 
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That sucks. I've only ever had to file one complaint with PayPal, and it was in my favor. The seller never responded to them. I never got my money back though.

Hopefully your insurance claim will be accepted, and hopefully this douchebag get's caught.
 
Finally after dozen of phone calls to Paypal, they have refunded me half of the funds. I'm still out of $850 excluding ebay fees. I'll do everything I can to recover the whole amount.

Thank you guys for all your support and tips how to proceed with this matter. The battle is not over though so I'll keep updating this thread if there's any progress.
 
That is 50% great news! At least it limits the damage to 1/2 for now. Paypal clearly decided incorrectly and they should be fully accountable.

Paypal/ebay give themselves an out by stating that any shipment valued over $250 must have signature confirmation. I think that runs $1.80 currently and I hate having to pass that along to a buyer (and buyers complain about it, believe me). Personally, I don't know what's stopping the Post Office from providing a true tracking number standard (like UPS).
 
thx for posting his personal info, i will certainly notify you if i spot your knives or this buyer attempting more transactions.
 
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