[jkxs]

Hey guys, I want to first thank you for taking the time to check out my thread. I made this thread because I recently dealt with a seller to buy a pair of Sennheiser HD 800s (Headphones), Sennheiser IE 80s (IEMs aka In-Ear-Monitors) and a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 15 (Limited Edition "Blue" Version - Headphones).
 
Market Price:
Sennheiser HD 800s - new ~$1100 or higher
Sennheiser IE 80 - new ~$200
Bose QC 15 Limited - new ~$200
 
Original eBay Auction Link for the Sennheiser HD 800s:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sennheiser-HD-800-Headband-Headphones-Silver-/111046135684?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=nBth1%252B8868ROpRh8UCWfuVY2zVI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
 
PayPal Transaction Screen Shots:
http://imageshack.us/a/img248/9019/200x.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img4/1453/430h.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img836/9562/850r.png
 
As soon as I saw the listing I messaged him through eBay messages to get the deal closed ASAP.
 
eBay Messages:
http://imageshack.us/a/img203/2034/ebay1k.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img545/8822/ebay2m.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img24/9039/ebay3e.png
 
Now we move onto text messages (Through my Google Voice Phone #)
http://imageshack.us/a/img209/8716/12757585.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img199/4871/54735298.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img5/6008/26642868.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img89/2599/text2gat.png
 
Emails:
http://imageshack.us/a/img266/2512/email1v.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img11/9208/email2x.png
 
ImageShack Album with all pictures:
http://imageshack.us/g/1/10116989/
 
You can read for yourself how the conversation goes but basically... *Please note the time stamps*
*I send him $850 for the Sennheiser HD 800s and Bose QC 15s
*I try to contact him after I send the $850. Mainly call before I send a large payment if I can to see if the person is shady or not. Guy does not pick up...
*Seller gets payment flagged by PayPal. Says PayPal suspects "money laundering" - I ask him to send me a screenshot so I can see for myself. Basically want proof.
*Seller says that he could work out something if I send him half of the money (because the $850 payment is on hold) so that he can ship, and then send the other half when I receive the items.
*I insist that he sends me screenshots of the PayPal claim. Seller sends pics. I request extra pics (pics of the claim in the resolution center page to see whether or not the guy can actually refund, or is bsing me) - seller does not send those pics.
*Seller says he has another PP account where I can send half of the payment. Note how he says the PP account is disposable and after I receive the items, I can open a claim because PP cannot remove money from a bank account even if your account has a negative balance (Called PP and checked - that is their policy. They cannot take money out of your bank account even if your balance is negative, so the seller is correct and knows what he is doing - fraud).
*I'm not really interested in the fraud, but let him know we could talk about it AFTER I receive the items. I just want what I paid for...
*Seller displays expertise in duping PP/committing fraud by saying that he only withdraws $150 per 24 hrs.
*I pay for the $425 invoice (half) for the seller shipping me the Sennheiser HD 800 and QC 15 (does not include the Sennheiser IE 80s)
*I ask if I can speak to him over the phone. I get annoyed after a couple of hours and threaten him saying that I will open a claim if he doesn't pick up. Seems to get his attention. When I talk over the phone, I can hear kids screaming in the background and the seller apologizes saying he is very busy. I ask him if he is serious about selling the headphones/IEMs because if he isn't I'm not interested. Seller says he will be in contact and is serious about the transaction. We end the call on good terms.
*I ask the seller if he can include the Sennheiser IE 80s so that everything comes in one package (wanted to save time). Seller says he can include them if I send $200
*I send $200 to a different PayPal account (Have sent payments to 3 different PP accounts now)
*Seller says he will ship on Monday
*I ask seller for tracking
*Seller says his colleague got into a car accident and that he sent me the tracking via email (a lie)
*Seller drops communication.
*I call every phone number/email every email I have on the seller.
*Refer to PayPal claim transaction screenshots above to see contact information. All are fake. One phone # is dead, one is for a lady in Canada who had no idea someone was using her phone number and another does not have a voice mail.
*I open PayPal claims on all 3 payments.
*I talk to a PayPal rep when I receive the refund for the $850 about the situation and let her know I suspect the seller is committing fraud and that he is screwing PP over. Let them know seller is using different emails for PayPal (although they all have "merevial" in the beginnings of the emails) and fake names/contact information. Customer rep said they would look into it.
*I call the BBB (Better Business Bureau) to figure out of the business Border City Audio and Ontario Warehouse are real.
 
Surprisingly Border City Audio had a BBB page (although they are not BBB accredited)
http://www.bbb.org/western-ontario/business-reviews/electronics-educational-kits/bordercityaudio-in-detroit-mi-1053412
 
*I talk to BBB representatives and they have nothing on file. They do not know if it is even a real business (I suspect it is not.)
*I ask if I can open a claim against Border City Audio on the BBB website, they say it would probably be better to open it on IC3
 
Presently:
*I am considering opening a claim on IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center)
 
What I'm asking you guys to do:
Find out who this guy is if possible (not really worried about the money because PP will take care of that). I understand he is using fake names/contact/information, but if somehow you can get him, that would be great! Basically I want to warn others about this seller.
 
 
Confirmed Contact Information Seller Has (Contact information the seller and I have communicated through):
519-972-3741 (Cell) - Seller MIGHT pick up if you call - He doesn't pick up my phone calls though (knows my phone #'s)
merevial@hotmail.com (Email)
 
 
I was on eBay a few days ago and noticed a VERY suspicious BIN ($475) for a pair of Sennheiser HD 800s. I suspect that this might be the same seller (same location – Detroit, Michigan)
 
Compare side-by-side:
 
Original Auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111046135684?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
Suspicious Auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200916647850?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
 
Thanks,
Jason

 

[jkxs]

Sorry for the double post.
 
Beware of purchasing anything on the following sites:
 
http://www.bordercityaudio.com/
http://www.ontariowarehouse.com/

Notice their phone # is identical:
1-877-666-1331

Both addresses have contact information that is fake.
http://www.bordercityaudio.com/contact-us/
http://www.ontariowarehouse.com/contact-us-3/

 

[bowei006]

Please contact ebay about it. 
 
Besides that, its very hard to really stop anything as people can change accounts, ip's etc etc.
 
the Internet crime establishment and BBC could be of some use but I really haven't heard of them having real power.

 

[jkxs]

Hey,
I'm not worried about the money, today is the last day the seller has to respond to the 2 claims left. I expect that I will be receiving a full refund tomorrow afternoon.
If nothing works out, at least this will let people know not to deal with Bordercityaudio and Ontario Warehouse.
I'm not expecting much, but hope that this will at least make it a little harder for the seller to scam in the future.
 
Thanks,
Jason
 

 

[3X0]

Quote:

I was on eBay a few days ago and noticed a VERY suspicious BIN ($475) for a pair of Sennheiser HD 800s. I suspect that this might be the same seller (same location – Detroit, Michigan)
 
Compare side-by-side:
 
Suspicious Auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200916647850?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

I was the buyer of that auction.
 
There's some shady stuff in my transaction too, but the selling party promised he'll refund me my money if I don't have the headphones by Wednesday (he allegedly shipped them on Thursday). I'm not particularly worried since I went through all the usual precautions (credit card over PayPal).
 
His phone number is different from the one you provided (area code 313, though I haven't tried calling) and he generally only responds to my inquiries after 10PM EST on weeknights.\
 
EDIT: On second thought, the name of this guy seems very close to the userID of the guy from your auction..
 
He sent me a bogus tracking number (LH954556112CA).
 
He alleges he's going to be in Canada until the end of the month and somehow shipped them remotely.
 
He used the exact picture from here: http://www.headphonestoheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sennheiser-hd-800-2.jpg
 
All red flags..

 

[jkxs]

Hopefully you have more luck than I did.
 
Did the PayPal email you sent the payment to have "merevial" in it?
If you are dealing with the same seller that I dealt with, I believe he would refund, but after he withdrew all of the money from his PayPal account. He isn't really hurting buyers, but PayPal.
Was the # 313-566-1991?
 
I would ask you not to confront him about my experience with him, but rather to wait and see what happens. I already have 3 PayPal claims against him, and if there are more.... who knows what will happen.
 
Also for IPs.... PayPal tracks IPs for your PayPal account.
For example, when you try sending large payments from "foreign ips" (ips that are not the same as the ip you signed up/use PP regularly with) PP asks you to confirm your phone # so even if he does change computers, it might lead PP to one of his devices (cell phone/laptop/etc). If he is using a proxy there's not much chance he'll end up caught, but one can hope he screwed up somewhere right?

 

[3X0]

Quote:

Hopefully you have more luck than I did.
 
Did the PayPal email you sent the payment to have "merevial" in it?
If you are dealing with the same seller that I dealt with, I believe he would refund, but after he withdrew all of the money from his PayPal account. He isn't really hurting buyers, but PayPal.
Was the # 313-566-1991?
 
I would ask you not to confront him about my experience with him, but rather to wait and see what happens. I already have 3 PayPal claims against him, and if there are more.... who knows what will happen.
 
Also for IPs.... PayPal tracks IPs for your PayPal account.
For example, when you try sending large payments from "foreign ips" (ips that are not the same as the ip you signed up/use PP regularly with) PP asks you to confirm your phone # so even if he does change computers, it might lead PP to one of his devices (cell phone/laptop/etc). If he is using a proxy there's not much chance he'll end up caught, but one can hope he screwed up somewhere right?

No, not that number. Added some more information though.
Quote:

EDIT: On second thought, the name of this guy seems very close to the userID of the guy from your auction..
 
He sent me a bogus tracking number (LH954556112CA).
 
He alleges he's going to be in Canada until the end of the month and somehow shipped them remotely.
 
He used the exact picture from here: http://www.headphonestoheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sennheiser-hd-800-2.jpg
 
All red flags..

His name allegedly is "Mark Williams" which sounds oddly similar to the mawilliams in the first ID. He also uses similar spelling/grammar and seems to be intentionally vague.
 
I'll wait and play this out. I've been defrauded on eBay dozens of times so I'm not too worried or surprised about this one.

 

[jkxs]

Hmm that's too bad. Shame to find out after you get a steal on eBay that it's not legit.
 
How did you find the picture? Reverse image search on Google?
 
Any information on who this "Merevial Gacani" is? When I received an email, the hotmail was connected to a Facebook. Supposedly it's the seller's wife's email.
https://www.facebook.com/mikes.shed.3?ref=nm

 

[3X0]

Quote:

Hmm that's too bad. Shame to find out after you get a steal on eBay that it's not legit.
 
How did you find the picture? Reverse image search on Google?

Not even. I searched "Sennheiser HD 800" on Google Images and it was one of the first hits within two pages of scrolling.
 
Hopefully I end up with a nice surprise box tomorrow or Tuesday but I'm not too hopeful.
 
He has been somewhat reassuring through the process though; has yet to fail to respond to an inquiry or message even though I've pretty openly called him out on his shadiness and likely fraudulence.

 

[jkxs]

I look forward to hearing back from you when if your package arrives this week.
 
http://www.packagetrackr.com/track/LH954556112CA
 
Seems like the last place your package was tracked, was on a boat near Africa...
 
 
Seller must have learned a lesson or two about responding to buyers after his experience with me...

 

[jkxs]

I received a full refund for the two remaining PayPal claims. I have received all of my money back, but would like to keep this thread open until I hear back from 3X0 to see if he has any luck, and receives the Sennheiser HD 800s.
 
Thanks,
Jason

 

[3X0]

The seller actually sent me this message today:
Quote:

[size=10pt]No problem, even if it doesn't come in for any reason I recommend the store I bought it from originally its on sale for 879$ new.they accept paypal and such.

http://www.bordercityaudio.com/shop/sennheiser-hd800-high-fidelity-headphones/[/size]

So I'm pretty certain they won't be coming in. I'll PM you the contact details eBay gave me when I get home, in case you want further information on the guy.
 
Glad to know your situation was resolved.

 

[seeteeyou]

.

 

[jkxs]

Thanks a bunch to both of you: 3X0 and seeteeyou
 
3X0: Please let me know as much info that you can get. I posted all of the information I have so perhaps you can file a claim with PayPal if everything doesn't go as planned. I will contact PP again and let them know the information you provide me.
 
seeteeyou: Ah! I was trying to find domain information on the bordercityaudio/ontariowarehouse websites, but couldn't find much. Thanks a bunch for helping out with that haha - more information on the seller is great! Guess this "Merevial Gacani" is another of his fake names. Will definitely add the information provided from those two pages to PP so they can nab this fraudster.
 
Do you think Sennheiser will take action against the guy if he is claiming that he is an authorized reseller when he is not?
Also... you said to report ToS violations on the Just Host link? Is that correct?

 

[dleblanc343]

I hate seeing this disgusting time of behavior; scamming. I hope everything gets resolved for you too, 3X0.
 
As someone who works in retail and tries to compete with online sellers, I sometimes sell at low margin and convince the buyer with a few things: If the price is too good to be true, don't risk your money and especially your time. You'll never find a brand new higher end item at 40% discount; it's virtually impossible unless it's a stolen good (no warranty). On top of that the seller loses out on shipping and insurance; there's no way the seller would make profit under any of these circumstances.
 
The lowest I've ever seen brand new HD800's go for about a year ago, was 1050$, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were like new refurbs; that's another problem with buying over the internet. You are almost guaranteed to be getting a store demo or window display model.