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 Where "not" to buy marine electronics		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/16/2005 :  16:02:24  Show Profile
This past Father’s Day my wife and kids asked me what I would like for a gift, and I pointed them towards a Humminbird Matrix 17 Fish Finder for Utopia, as I tend to do a lot of fishing when I am out. I directed them to a web site that specializes in marine depth finders and GPS which always seems to have the lowest prices called “Mall24-7.com”. They had the depth finder for $162.99 which was quite a bit less than West Marine and without tax. Shipping was only $4.95. I decided to ignore the fact they did not take credit cards or PayPal and required an electronic check and ordered from them anyway. Long story short, here I am in September without any depth finder and out $167.94. I have received numerous emails promising a refund but none are ever followed through on. This guy (this is a single person) works out of Salem, Oregon and I have contacted their police department and my local department who both directed me to the online FBI web site to report internet frauds. But all they do is report it to the local police departments for action.. There is no guarantee anyone will even read the report less act on it. Someone scammed in a state a thousand miles away does not carry much weight. So be warned, if you need marine electronics, stay clear of Mall24-7.com.
Lessons learned:
- Never purchase anything online from a company who cannot handle credit cards. If the bank does not trust them to setup an account, why would you.
- Take a quick google to see if the company you are attempting to do business with has a bunch of problems reported. If I had done this I would have seen other people who have been defrauded.
- Companies like West Marine may seem a bit more expensive, but at least you have someone you can talk to face to face if there is a problem. Trying to collect money from someone over the internet is a lesson in futility. Don’t be penny-wise and dollar-foolish.
Joe Wergers
Utopia
Fleet 7/Oceanside, CA
78 C25 FK/SR #381
Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts
Response Posted - 09/16/2005 :  22:16:23  Show Profile
Thanks for the heads-up. Too bad you had to learn those lessons the hard way. Hope you eventually get some satisfaction from them. Have you posted this info on other sailing/boating forums?

Steve
Edited by - Lightnup on 09/16/2005 22:18:09
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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 09/17/2005 :  09:19:42  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
If you go there now it reads:

"Currently the online store is closed. Please check back again later. Thank you."

Well . . . . . . Thank You! Idiot!!
Turk
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Grego5
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts
Response Posted - 09/21/2005 :  19:03:46  Show Profile
Did you mail them any money. If you mailed them any money they may have committed Mail Fraud in which USPS and the FBI will hound them to the grave. I had an issue where I got scammed by mailing a payment. It was long and drawn out but the perp got 5 years for scamming me (and others) for $125 each.
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2005 :  10:43:13  Show Profile
I did not mail them anything but used their online e-Check service. Its pretty much out of my hands as the only recourse I seem to have is the online FBI site which with I already filed a report. Unless I want to spend money on a lawyer which would be, in my mind, throwing good money after bad. The money is actually a small amount when you consider how much I spend on the boat anyway, but the dishonest way which I lost it is a hard pill to swallow.

Steve, I have been posting fraud reports at random. You have to join all of these sites to post and that is pretty time consuming. Given the fact the money was for a fish finder I am going to post it on some of the fishing sites I frequent.
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bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2005 :  20:10:12  Show Profile
Joe
I may not have to say this but if you gave them your bank account info for e-funds transfers you better watch your bank acount - and your credit report. I don't know what all the info was that you provided but identity theft is a growing problem. Just a heads up...
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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2005 :  22:07:18  Show Profile  Visit Oscar's Homepage
Sorry you got hosed....

There ARE mailorder companies that are above board, provide good customer service and beat West Marine hands down......

I use http://www.defender.com and http://www.boatersland.com a lot. When you go there you will see professional e-tail stores, and yes, they take credit cards.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL
Edited by - Oscar on 09/22/2005 22:07:48
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jlguthri
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts
Response Posted - 09/25/2005 :  16:31:41  Show Profile  Visit jlguthri's Homepage
have you contacted your state's attny. general's office?
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.