DIY Chassis ripoff on ebay

heathman · « **on:** 15 Apr 2010, 10:34 pm »

I have been ripped off yet again on ebay: I saw a really cool DIY chassis so I
emailed the guy in HK and asked about a configuration he had pictured, but not
listed. He emailed me back with a price and delivery time, and I was STUPID
enough to paypal him. So now over 2 months later all I have to show for my $170
is bad feelings about trusting people and being a moron.

BIGLAWHK took $170 from me and I have nothing for my money.
http://stores.ebay.com/Laws-Audio

in 12 years I have been robbed about a dozen or so times on ebay, and ebay has never done anything to help this member with fraud.
Heathman

decal · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:16 pm »

Fool me once,shame on you.Fool me twice,shame on me.Fool me twelve times.......sorry I can't think of anything nice to say to that!!!

jtwrace · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:24 pm »

I'm very sorry to hear about that. Take a look at my gallery for my DIY aluminum amp chassis that I'm offering. It's setup for the classdaudio.com amps but you can use your imagination.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=3189

Niteshade · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:36 pm »

You can get your money back through PayPal. I've done it a couple of times.

JoshK · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:40 pm »

I got ripped off from ebay, precisely once. It wasn't entirely the seller's fault, the package was returned because I was moving and then they dropped off the radar. I tried many times to contact them and they didn't return calls.

That said, I have done many many transactions on epay. Rule #1, don't risk (pay) more than you are willing to loose. Rule #2 do your homework and don't buy from seller with little feedback or low percentage of feedback (say <97%). I usually look through the comments before buying from someone where it is over $25 and see if they have positives that are really concealed negative FB, look at the negatives to see if there is many even if % is high, look at the neutrals as well.

I have bought from Russia many many times and yet to be burned. I think it boils down to knowing who you are transacting with.

Abby356 · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:40 pm »

Heathman, try to keep faith just a bit longer.

I have purchased 2 amps chassis from the very same seller and did indeed receive them. If you pay for the ground shipping (rather than air) , which is realistically the only economical choice , it will take a long time to get stateside. I even had an issue with 2 out of the 4 heatsinks i ordered which were smaller and didnt fit on the chassis and the seller made good and sent 2 more of the proper heatsinks. It probably took a total of 5 months to sort it all out. They aren't perfect but the choices are so limited for DIY amp chassis that I would probably do it again. I used one for a remote controlled 24v Aikido and the other for a DIY First Watt F1. If anyone has any other better options for a stateside option that will house a hotter than Hades class A amp I'm all ears...

Regards, Daniel.

jtwrace · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:42 pm »

Quote from: Abby356 on 15 Apr 2010, 11:40 pm

If anyone has any other better options for a stateside option that will house a hotter than Hades class A amp I'm all ears...

Regards, Daniel.

Did you see my post above?

Abby356 · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:49 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 15 Apr 2010, 11:42 pm

Did you see my post above?

Jtwrace, I have been following the class D audio amp thread and your chassis is exactly the type of option we need more of. If you ever plan to do a version with big heatsinks for hot amps I will certainly be interested. You might try posting your chassis on diyaudio where the hardcore (read zealots) spend most of their time.

Heathman, I forgot to mention that you can view both of these chassis in my gallery.

Regards, Daniel.

richidoo · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:50 pm »

Your chassis looks sweet jtwrace!

Ditto on the shipping. It's a 'slow boat from China.'

jtwrace · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Apr 2010, 11:51 pm »

Quote from: Abby356 on 15 Apr 2010, 11:49 pm

Jtwrace, I have been following the class D audio amp thread and your chassis is exactly the type of option we need more of. If you ever plan to do a version with big heatsinks for hot amps I will certainly be interested. You might try posting your chassis on diyaudio where the hardcore (read zealots) spend most of their time.

Regards, Daniel.

How about this. Purchase my case and then purchase these http://www.heatsinkusa.com/

I can make an all aluminum case with a heatsink but there would have to be enough interest...

Mariusz · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:00 am »

There is this guy from NJ that sell chassis on eBay.
Reasonably priced too (under $100 shipped).
Never bought from the guy tho, ......but at least he is local.

Sorry to hear that.
I was jerked on Audiogo ones (AKG 701)
It was my last transaction there. Withdrew my membership after Audiogon failed to protect members from shady characters.

wushuliu · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:25 am »

If a seller has a rating below 99.5%, I keep looking. ESPECIALLY anything from HK/China.

I would no be surprised if it showed up out of the blue one day, tho.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:35 am »

I see that at the bottom of the page describing various chassis, the seller does state a surface shipping time to UK and US of 80 days, so maybe all is not lost.

Bottom of this page: http://tinyurl.com/y3ebvkv

satfrat · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:46 am »

Paypal is your friend,, file a claim. I got ripped off last month from Vacuum Tube Valley who's been closed for a year now yet is still on the front page of any Google search for vacuum tubes or capacitors. I actually did a bank transfer of funds so there was no credit card to even fall back on. Well 4 weeks later, I got my money back after VTV wouldn't even reply to Paypal's inquiry.

Cheers,
Robin

wushuliu · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:53 am »

Quote from: satfrat on 16 Apr 2010, 12:46 am

Paypal is your friend,, file a claim. I got ripped off last month from Vacuum Tube Valley who's been closed for a year now yet is still on the front page of any Google search for vacuum tubes or capacitors. I actually did a bank transfer of funds so there was no credit card to even fall back on. Well 4 weeks later, I got my money back after VTV wouldn't even reply to Paypal's inquiry.

Cheers,
Robin

The owner of VTV passed away last year or so...

JakeJ · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 12:56 am »

One thing to remember about PayPal is the buyer has 45 days to file a charge back/dispute. I have had to do it once on a sale through Audiogon, seller never sent the items. He never responded to PayPal's inquisition so I got all my money back (no fees). I'm about to try it again but the seller is available and obstinate, we'll see.

Good luck!

JakeJ

satfrat · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 01:03 am »

Quote from: wushuliu on 16 Apr 2010, 12:53 am

The owner of VTV passed away last year or so...

Yea, I found out about that after the fact,, BUT the fact remains the website is still up and looking very much like it's still in business plus VTV is on the front page of every Google search on tubes and such. I found out after the fact that the posted yahoo address on that website belongs to a guy who's been kicked off of many a DIY/Tube forum. VTV is still a hot website for internet fraud!

Cheers,
Robin

wushuliu · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 01:17 am »

Quote from: satfrat on 16 Apr 2010, 01:03 am

Yea, I found out about that after the fact,, BUT the fact remains the website is still up and looking very much like it's still in business plus VTV is on the front page of every Google search on tubes and such. I found out after the fact that the posted yahoo address on that website belongs to a guy who's been kicked off of many a DIY/Tube forum. VTV is still a hot website for internet fraud!

Cheers,
Robin

so this dude bought the address and is taking the money from people still placing orders?

satfrat · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 01:25 am »

Quote from: wushuliu on 16 Apr 2010, 01:17 am

so this dude bought the address and is taking the money from people still placing orders?

I don't know the facts behind the guy other than his yahoo addy was the financial go between with the owner and he had been removed from more than 1 forum around the same period of the owners passing. The front page of VTV leads those to think that the site is down for the month and all orders will be addressed. It's a classic scam,,,,

Cheers,
Robin

sts9fan · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 02:52 am »

Ads belong in the industry section. Please don't swoop in everytime someone says case.