Scott Tichenor
May-28-2004, 5:28am
I promised I'd eventually follow-up on something that happened awhile back on the board. Those of you who are eBay mandolin hunters or participated in this awhile back please take heed, but if you don't know what this is all about, then don't spend too much time worrying about what it all means. I hope to be finished with this soon as I've spent way too much time on this matter.
There was a Sucek mandolin that appeared on eBay a couple of months ago. A board member claimed it was stolen and belonged to him, had been shipped from Europe paid in full and that there was proof of payment. A "posse" was tossed about using the board suggesting help "showing up at the sellers door" and shortly thereafter a nasty email campaign ensued.
Eventually the seller pulled the auction. Someone was able to email the seller her address, indicating they knew where she lived. She received a couple of threatening phone calls. This got out of control and got very ugly, and unnecessarily so. This was threatening and frightening to the seller and amounted to harassment, plain and simple.
The truth in this: the mandolin was never paid for as claimed. It was shipped to this country and was lost in transit for a considerable time. It was purchased legally at a postal auction. The police attempted to determine that payment was made by contacting this board member but this was never mentioned to the police by him or evidence of payment ever produced. Mr. Sucek has indicated the mandolin was shipped with no payment made. He (Sucek) has also indicated he has received a refund for the insured amount.
So, why am I writing all of this?
First off, the lady who purchased this is going to re-list it on eBay, is the legal owner of this instrument, paid a fee for that ownership, has legal proof of purchase, and I intend to see she be allowed to do so without the benefit of that previous experience--just as I would for anyone else in the mandolin community.
I won't pretend that everyone will listen to this, but it's free space they tell me so here goes.
I'd like to encourage folks to do some homework before you form your informal eBay lynch mobs and letter writing campaigns against honest retailers. Most of what goes on out here is fine. This really was an exception. This is an entirely a different matter than Indonesian sellers peddling 9-string mandolins. This incident was really a series of outright lies that a lot of people bought into without question. Unless you're very sure: pick up the phone and call to get your information. Ask questions. Check sources. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Be careful getting involved in matters that don't effect you personally. Taking punitive action on someone's behalf without all of the facts is a very risky thing to do.
Finally, I'll say I've had numerous phone calls from and emails with the current owner of this instrument. She has been forthcoming, consistent, and honest in every way that I can determine and has done everythying I've asked. I am completely satisifed she acted in good faith, was open and honest with me and to the Atlanta Police and is the legal owner of this instrument. And I have checked many other sources on this matter. The other party in this has a long and troubling record of business dealings in the mandolin world. For whatever reason for those troubles--and I'd like to emphasize I'm not standing in judgement--I'd already picked up the phone more than once in regard to this individual.
Let me emphasize this: this site will never be a place where people with questionable business dealings will be allowed to practice. I will take a stand and continue to do so. A couple of our current members got sucked into this scam and then blasted me personally via email for stepping in to stop it. I think in retrospect they'd likely see that was mistake now, at least I hope. My message to them is that I will continue to assist people doing honest business when it is warranted. In this case, an honest person was treated unfairly.
If you're going to get involved in doling justice on the web, make sure you don't hang someone by mistake in the process. I probably can't claim a perfect record myself, but I do wish to see that everyone in this community be allowed to do their business safely and legally.
Peace.
There was a Sucek mandolin that appeared on eBay a couple of months ago. A board member claimed it was stolen and belonged to him, had been shipped from Europe paid in full and that there was proof of payment. A "posse" was tossed about using the board suggesting help "showing up at the sellers door" and shortly thereafter a nasty email campaign ensued.
Eventually the seller pulled the auction. Someone was able to email the seller her address, indicating they knew where she lived. She received a couple of threatening phone calls. This got out of control and got very ugly, and unnecessarily so. This was threatening and frightening to the seller and amounted to harassment, plain and simple.
The truth in this: the mandolin was never paid for as claimed. It was shipped to this country and was lost in transit for a considerable time. It was purchased legally at a postal auction. The police attempted to determine that payment was made by contacting this board member but this was never mentioned to the police by him or evidence of payment ever produced. Mr. Sucek has indicated the mandolin was shipped with no payment made. He (Sucek) has also indicated he has received a refund for the insured amount.
So, why am I writing all of this?
First off, the lady who purchased this is going to re-list it on eBay, is the legal owner of this instrument, paid a fee for that ownership, has legal proof of purchase, and I intend to see she be allowed to do so without the benefit of that previous experience--just as I would for anyone else in the mandolin community.
I won't pretend that everyone will listen to this, but it's free space they tell me so here goes.
I'd like to encourage folks to do some homework before you form your informal eBay lynch mobs and letter writing campaigns against honest retailers. Most of what goes on out here is fine. This really was an exception. This is an entirely a different matter than Indonesian sellers peddling 9-string mandolins. This incident was really a series of outright lies that a lot of people bought into without question. Unless you're very sure: pick up the phone and call to get your information. Ask questions. Check sources. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Be careful getting involved in matters that don't effect you personally. Taking punitive action on someone's behalf without all of the facts is a very risky thing to do.
Finally, I'll say I've had numerous phone calls from and emails with the current owner of this instrument. She has been forthcoming, consistent, and honest in every way that I can determine and has done everythying I've asked. I am completely satisifed she acted in good faith, was open and honest with me and to the Atlanta Police and is the legal owner of this instrument. And I have checked many other sources on this matter. The other party in this has a long and troubling record of business dealings in the mandolin world. For whatever reason for those troubles--and I'd like to emphasize I'm not standing in judgement--I'd already picked up the phone more than once in regard to this individual.
Let me emphasize this: this site will never be a place where people with questionable business dealings will be allowed to practice. I will take a stand and continue to do so. A couple of our current members got sucked into this scam and then blasted me personally via email for stepping in to stop it. I think in retrospect they'd likely see that was mistake now, at least I hope. My message to them is that I will continue to assist people doing honest business when it is warranted. In this case, an honest person was treated unfairly.
If you're going to get involved in doling justice on the web, make sure you don't hang someone by mistake in the process. I probably can't claim a perfect record myself, but I do wish to see that everyone in this community be allowed to do their business safely and legally.
Peace.