I have had great luck with everyone on this forum, the ST forum, and a few folks on the Ninja 250 Riders Club.  However....a young fellow on the Ninja site has apparently taken me for $ 75.  He listed some engine parts for sale, I bought a cylinder head with shipping from him and sent the money through PayPal just as he requested....and unfortunately I sent the money as a "gift".  I have purchased a lot of stuff from Forum folks this way without problems - but evidently not this time.

This fellow was very nice by email, and he even gave me his cell phone number and was perfectly willing to talk about the parts I needed.  In one email he even sent a photo of the cylinder head all packaged up and ready to ship.

However - he never did send the cylinder head and 4 months have passed by.  Because I sent the money as a "gift"....I can't file a complaint through PayPal.  The fellow has stopped answering my emails, he no longer accepts my calls to his phone...and since the phone directs me to his voice mail with only a single ring...I suspect he is blocking my calls.  I sent him letters to the addresses I found on the internet, and he has moved without a forwarding address.  I sent a message to him on Facebook - and he evidently has blocked me there as his page will no longer show up if I do a search for him on Facebook.  The man is 26 years old - but in my last ditch effort I sent a letter to the man's parents and I have asked them for their help.  They seem like straight forward honest folks from what I can see on their Facebook pages - they evidently have an adult son that has a problem with honesty.

So...my advice to you is although it may cost the seller 3% in PayPal fees, always send money to the seller for items being purchased - never as a gift.  PayPal will follow through when you file a complaint for goods that were never sent or sent damaged - but never for gifts to "friends and family".

So...anybody have an idea how I file charges against this man?  Since it was done on the internet, and he lives in Ohio and I am in Kentucky....I have no idea where I would even begin to file a report.  I also don't know that $ 75 is worth filing a report....I am sure it is a misdemeanor - but if this guy is a thief I want there to be some record of it with the proper authorities.

Dave

I don't think so, no actual mailing involved
I might be wrong though
unfortunately most of my ways of dealing with such persons aren't strictly legal

A few years back I ordered an aftermarket seat for my Explorer from a guy.  Had good contact on the phone, etc.  He said that due to credit card fees he could give me a discount if I paid by check.  Like a dummy I did.  Seat never came, he made excuse after excuse, he's sick, daughter's sick, etc.  

I called the local sheriff's office, they were actually very helpful, went to his ostensible place of business, etc.  They filed charges but I was unable to travel from Pa to Georgia to testify so the case was dropped.  

About the only satisfaction I got was going on "ripoff report.com" every few months and posting a warning.  

Last time I checked up on him, I found an obituary.  It said he was a fine Christian businessman, but I suspect he's in hell.  

rl153 wrote on 02/06/15 at 12:03:05:


Nope....the PayPal account is linked to my bank checking account.  No Credit Card is involved.

I have had such good luck with all the Motorcycle Forum folks....I got sloppy.  I have emails that confirm our agreement - but nothing that requires or allows PayPal to intervene.

Stew makes a good point.. This place is a lot like one big living room where we all gather to visit.. Long as no one gets to being a real jerk..

I wonder if he didn't sell the same parts to several people..
It'd be interesting if you could do some digging around in the forums where you found this guy and"bought" stuff from him and found others who have been done wrong.

I was selling a C50 seat on the volusiariders forum and asked the buyer to make payment as a gift. He didn't know me and wanted to make it as a payment for goods. I told him I was fine with that but I upped the price to cover paypal fees and he had no problem with that. I could understand his point but I was giving him a smokin deal to begin with so I didn't want to pay the fees. So if it was me doing the buying, I would rather pay a few more bucks and make the payment for goods instead of gift so I would be covered just in case. And if the seller didn't want to do it that way, I would be suspicious and back out of the deal. Doesn't really help you with your current situation though.
Just my .02

AL

Another reason,  NOT  to use,  Pirate Pay !

Good old, U/S Postal Money Order.
NOW, you have recourse, against a 'scam-er'.

Sounds like you may be  S.O.L.

My brother had a similar situation, Dave he contacted the local authorities, who tracked him down and formally charged him with theft. My brother agreed to drop the charges if reimbursed in full which he was in payments over 6 months. It was for a computer processor worth 500.00 USD. Sorry to hear about it some people are just crooks.