Caveat Emptor! Buyer Beware!

[Boingo]

It has been a very VERY long time since I last posted here. For those who don't remember me, I am not a trooper, but I was working on a full sized MG34 prop for making photo based sprites for a game project I was working on (details here). The project bogged down due to a lack of proper tools and measurements and went into hibernation for a few years.

Earlier this year I decided to revive the game project and resume work on the MG34 prop.

In January I became very excited when I found a user by the handle predalien64 selling resin casts. One of the casts he was offering was of an MG34 barrel shroud (screen shot here). Because this would have completed more than half the length of my prop, I purchased one on January 24th of this year. I paid $125.00 US plus $26.00 US for shipping.

The item never came.

It usually takes about two weeks for an item from the US to reach me. After three weeks there had been no update on the tracking number for the item. I became nervous and began corresponding with predalien64 to find out what was happening.

The first two times I wrote, predalien64 claimed that he was having trouble with a damaged mold. This was irksome, because the there was no indication that the item was made to order. It was implied that the item was already made and ready to be shipped. It was doubly irritating that predalien64 continued listing auctions for the same item despite not filling my existing order. When I asked a third time where my order was I was told there was a computer problem.

Unfortunately, these excuses delayed me long enough that I missed the 45 day deadline for filing a claim with eBay. I was still able to leave feedback however. After telling predalien64 that I would leave negative if the item did not arrive or if I was not refunded, I was given the excuse saying that the post office had not sent the item because it resembles a gun part. I have had several real MG34 parts sent to me in the past, including a trigger assembly which actually resembles a pistol (photo) so I was skeptical and decided this was one more delaying tactic, so on the final day I was able to leave feedback I was forced to leave negative feedback, the first time I have ever had to do so on eBay.

For those who are interested, I posted nearly all of my correspondence with predalien64 in a thread on another forum. Only the reaction I got from leaving negative feedback is missing. (The thread also starts with details on what I was making my prop for.)

Since I left my negative feedback on March 25, six more users have left negative feedback (screen shot). All have been for non delivery of items. My feedback is at the bottom of the screen shot. There is also earlier negative feedback for non delivery from another user, and neutral feedback from a user for an item that was not sent to him for over a month.

Since many of predalien64's items are aimed at Star Wars buffs (i.e. blaster parts, greebles, etc.,) I decided it was important to post this as a warning to to any other would be buyers. predalien64 took down all of his auctions shortly after I left my negative feedback, and it is unknown if or when he will resume. Be aware of this seller in case you come across him. He has burned me and he has burned others. Caveat Emptor!

[JohnBlackk]

Thanks for the heads up. Has eBay suspended his account yet?

[Mullreel]

I remember seeing a warning about him on TDH