PSA - Be VERY WARY of Ordering a Used FM3 on Reverb

Variable

Variable

Inspired
Yep, I got scammed. I'm currently trying to get my money back. The scammers are copying previous listings along with their photos, and then they text you or call you saying there's an issue with their PayPal account and ask you to dispute, specifically asking you to tell them to unblock their PayPal account. They attach a fake FedEx or UPS or USPS tracking number to make it look like the item was delivered--in my case, FedEx took a picture and what was "delivered" clearly wasn't an FM3 (it was a document mailer). The "seller" will also claim the item was delivered to PayPal when you dispute it, and PayPal will close out the dispute so you have to open it up again. I can post a photo of the text message they sent me where I realized it was a scam, if people think that would help.

A couple of the existing listings there look similar to the one I got scammed by, so wanted to let everyone know.

Pending Reverb's response on this with buyer protection. Currently, the seller hasn't updated Reverb with the tracking info, just PayPal. I will post either favorably or unfavorably depending on their response.

Most likely I'll just bite the bullet and buy from Fractal new in the future.
 
Variable said:
… then they text you or call you saying there's an issue with their PayPal account and ask you to dispute, specifically asking you to tell them to unblock their PayPal account.
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The second any seller doesn’t accept the standard payment in the standard fashion, I’m done. That is an automatic scammer red flag.

Variable said:
… bite the bullet and buy from Fractal new in the future.
Click to expand...
A most solid plan.
 
That blows. I paid for a couple low back chairs on Etsy, owners of Reverb. Like a dumbass I didn’t look at the reviews which I usually do. So I got ripped off. I don’t know how they do the tracking scam. Gave me a number that plugged into UPS and showed a package delivered to my house complete with shipping history. There was no pic. I filed a lost package claim 6 weeks ago. No response yet. Fortunately I paid with a credit card and Wells Fargo covered me. I emailed Etsy about it which went nowhere. They don’t care. The chairs are still being ‘sold’ on Etsy. Different name same low price same pissed off customers and Etsy lets it happen.
 
skolacki said:
That blows. I paid for a couple low back chairs on Etsy, owners of Reverb. Like a dumbass I didn’t look at the reviews which I usually do. So I got ripped off. I don’t know how they do the tracking scam. Gave me a number that plugged into UPS and showed a package delivered to my house complete with shipping history. There was no pic. I filed a lost package claim 6 weeks ago. No response yet. Fortunately I paid with a credit card and Wells Fargo covered me. I emailed Etsy about it which went nowhere. They don’t care. The chairs are still being ‘sold’ on Etsy. Different name same low price same pissed off customers and Etsy lets it happen.
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Yeah, that sounds familiar. The same thing happened to me a couple years ago with eBay -- seemingly legit item, even had positive seller reviews (turns out the seller's account had been hacked), and the tracking number was for an item coming to my city, but not my house.

I'm not sure where they get these tracking numbers from either. It makes me wonder if FedEx and UPS are aware that people are somehow getting their tracking information and then using that info for fraud.
 
Rick said:
The second any seller doesn’t accept the standard payment in the standard fashion, I’m done. That is an automatic scammer red flag.


A most solid plan.
Click to expand...
That was pretty much my reaction when I saw the phone call and text message. No legit seller would ask me to go around Reverb like that, and do it in such a convoluted way with PayPal.

We'll see what PP says tomorrow when I call them. They're closed now. I don't know how useful Reverb will be since they make the problem PayPal's when you use them for payment.

This whole thing does make me wonder just how often these scammers are successful. I mean, when this last happened on eBay I got my money back even though it was a PITA. Are there people who don't dispute these scams?
 
Variable said:
Yeah, that sounds familiar. The same thing happened to me a couple years ago with eBay -- seemingly legit item, even had positive seller reviews (turns out the seller's account had been hacked), and the tracking number was for an item coming to my city, but not my house.

I'm not sure where they get these tracking numbers from either. It makes me wonder if FedEx and UPS are aware that people are somehow getting their tracking information and then using that info for fraud.
Click to expand...

The way I was provided with a tracking number that worked like that means all the info was entered into their system. One day it says shipment pending. Then enroute with appropriate city info. Then shipment arrived at station. Then out for delivery. Said it was delivered but no one came to my house. Blows my mind that all this can be faked. Its not like they lost a package. The seller said he mistakenly sent wrong tracking numbers then silence. The reviewers on the item said they never received a shipment so the seller is doing this on a regular basis. Maybe the seller works at UPS. There’s no way they’re not aware. Must not see it as a problem.
 
That's a bummer!

I've noticed a lot of eBay sellers (They are predominantly of one Jurisdiction, but operate in Australia) are becoming downright sleazy. Playing the system, drawing out problems for months, and just generally being shifty. I miss going to the shop.

Thanks
Pauly

Variable said:
Yep, I got scammed. I'm currently trying to get my money back. The scammers are copying previous listings along with their photos, and then they text you or call you saying there's an issue with their PayPal account and ask you to dispute, specifically asking you to tell them to unblock their PayPal account. They attach a fake FedEx or UPS or USPS tracking number to make it look like the item was delivered--in my case, FedEx took a picture and what was "delivered" clearly wasn't an FM3 (it was a document mailer). The "seller" will also claim the item was delivered to PayPal when you dispute it, and PayPal will close out the dispute so you have to open it up again. I can post a photo of the text message they sent me where I realized it was a scam, if people think that would help.

A couple of the existing listings there look similar to the one I got scammed by, so wanted to let everyone know.

Pending Reverb's response on this with buyer protection. Currently, the seller hasn't updated Reverb with the tracking info, just PayPal. I will post either favorably or unfavorably depending on their response.

Most likely I'll just bite the bullet and buy from Fractal new in the future.
Click to expand...
 
just buy this fm3 comes with fc6 ocd and temple audio 24!
 

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Variable said:
Yep, I got scammed. I'm currently trying to get my money back. The scammers are copying previous listings along with their photos, and then they text you or call you saying there's an issue with their PayPal account and ask you to dispute, specifically asking you to tell them to unblock their PayPal account. They attach a fake FedEx or UPS or USPS tracking number to make it look like the item was delivered--in my case, FedEx took a picture and what was "delivered" clearly wasn't an FM3 (it was a document mailer). The "seller" will also claim the item was delivered to PayPal when you dispute it, and PayPal will close out the dispute so you have to open it up again. I can post a photo of the text message they sent me where I realized it was a scam, if people think that would help.

A couple of the existing listings there look similar to the one I got scammed by, so wanted to let everyone know.

Pending Reverb's response on this with buyer protection. Currently, the seller hasn't updated Reverb with the tracking info, just PayPal. I will post either favorably or unfavorably depending on their response.

Most likely I'll just bite the bullet and buy from Fractal new in the future.
Click to expand...
Yea, Reverb is full of scams from buyers and sellers. Seems like every day I see another post on TGP about Reverb scammers. One guy even bought an out of state LP from Craigslist, and was surprised that it wasn't as described.

OP, What about the Reverb feedback? Did the scammer have any positive feedback?
 
Scams abound on the internet. I just fended off a classic - someone wanted to book a 3-day studio session, paid in full up-front. They also wanted to add ~$2,000 for the car service for the artists for the 3 days and wanted me to Venmo the "driver" because of some difficulty on their part (I'm in the hospital about to go into surgery and can't deal with this, the driver only takes Venmo, etc.).

Of course, the "driver" was the scammer himself with a stolen credit-card.

Had I gone through with it, I would have exchanged the extra $2,000 CC payment for cash sent to the "driver". When the owner of the card eventually disputes the charge, I'd get a chargeback for the full amount and I'm out $2,000.
 
I know there's a lot of folks that don't trust Guitar Center for used products, but they often have good prices on items (got my FM3 from them going on a year ago for $900), and they give you no grief for returns. And you can use your credit card, which helps greatly with scams. You can even get it shipped to the local GC to take a look at it before taking possession. Sounds better these days IMHO.
 
Welp, PayPal took care if it and refunded me after I reopened the dispute (and also emailed their executive team telling them what happened).

In case anyone IS looking for a used FM3, I suggest giving Guitar Center a call. All theirs are erroneously listed at 1299 and 1399, but when I called their Memphis store, they realized the error after I pointed them to Fractal's store and offered me a reasonable used price, and I took them up on it (and the guy I worked with, Grant, was super friendly, which I have to call out since it's GC).

Of course, no warranty, but I've been using Fractal products for years without an issue (Axe 2 and 3) and I'm not worried. Luckily everything was resolved.
 
I'm terribly sorry to hear about your trouble.

If you paid with a credit card, consider contesting the purchase with the issuer for "services not rendered" (or something similar) and let the professional hounds go after that bastard. Reverb's customer service in these matters is terribly ineffective. Don't ask me how I know. :/

Good luck!
 
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