Ebay and other online Scammers

Stryker2012 wrote:The number email sounds ridiculous. I’m guessing they either got hacked and that’s what the hacker is using now, or they are defunct.

I’ve gotten scammed by Rogerbee’s favorite head sculpt artist, Darren Carnall. I sent that guy 3 head sculpts to be painted up 6 years ago. Paid upfront $1500 USD total (this was before I found other artists), and despite inquiries (about 1 a year, but more, especially over the last year and half), can’t get that piece of $#@t to respond. I saw ONE in-progress update (I think) 2 years ago, and then nothing. I saw that he was active on the Freaks not that long ago, and tried PM’ing him there — no response. At this point, I’m assuming that that (censored) isn’t going to return my stuff.

$1,500 usd for 3 head paint jobs??!! Is that a typo? And that was 6 years ago, seriously, wow. Sorry for what happened but jeez a guy asking for that kind of money would be targeting newbie collectors with way too much money! You can buy two HT IM Hulkbusters for that, crikey. You're a very experienced collector, didn't you 'smell a rat' and how is Roger involved? He always says he's broke (we're friends on FB) so him buying an unpainted head for $30 would even surprise me lol! (no offence Roger but you know you're a tight git with Scottish and Yorkshire ancestry ) so him paying $500 for painting a head is unthinkable lol.

No. As far as I know, Roger never paid him for his services, but he was a subscriber to his Patreon so he could see all of his in-progress videos (some of those can be found on YouTube). And, no, $1500 isn’t a typo. To say that I’m pissed is an understatement. At the time, I was having a hard time finding a painter, and Roger recommended him. Darren has been around for quite some time, so didn’t think I’d be throwing my money away (lesson learned). I’m ready to put on YouTube, his website, and anywhere and everywhere I can blast him for essentially screwing me over.

Stryker2012 wrote:No. As far as I know, Roger never paid him for his services, but he was a subscriber to his Patreon so he could see all of his in-progress videos (some of those can be found on YouTube). And, no, $1500 isn’t a typo. To say that I’m pissed is an understatement. At the time, I was having a hard time finding a painter, and Roger recommended him. Darren has been around for quite some time, so didn’t think I’d be throwing my money away (lesson learned). I’m ready to put on YouTube, his website, and anywhere and everywhere I can blast him for essentially screwing me over.

I don't blame you! Now I think about it I remember Roger recommending YT videos of a hs painter some years back and to be fair the guy was pretty amazing but not $500 amazing but that's in the eye of the beholder. Talented or not, a thief is a thief.

He’s in the Uk, too. So maybe you can hunt him down for me….

Ouch! Mark, that's horrible. I mean... I've been in the situation of offering my services and then getting a bunch of orders (for character concept art) that completely killed my muse. But of course I'd give a refund. And even if life circumstances are that bad that you just had to spend the money that badly... just be a decent human being and own it! Geez... Most people are actually kind when you own your s**t with humility. This is idiocy.

I would send him a last warning, maybe in an open letter on a site that you know he frequents. If he doesn't get back to you then blast away! People need to be warned of this level of... f***ery.

Stryker, that is INSANE. I am really disappointed in Darren Carnell and angry on your behalf. Yes, it's a lot of money, but he was also quite a 'big' name several years ago so I can understand why you would think it was not such a risk.

I had a really upsetting situation years ago with a fan artist (not 1/6 scale, just a 2D artist) who I had actually commissioned from several times before(!) and thought I'd had a good relationship with. I'd commissioned two very nice pieces from them, and everything was fine. But then for the third one, this person told me they needed the payment upfront this time so they could get a new computer (it was a digital artist). I was like, ok, fine , why not? I don't mind helping them out. But then they disappeared. They would respond to my emails periodically for several months, then it got to be a year.... and more. And then nothing. I know they are still active in the art world, I stiill see them posting their art elsewhere. It broke my heart becuase up til that point, they were one of my favourite fan artists. In my case, it was 'only' about £300, so I cannot imagine losing the amount you did that same way.

Honestly, I would have no issue paying artists upfront otherwise (and I strongly believe artists should be fairly compensated for their work), but situations like this make me wary of ever doing so again.

Yeah horrible situation. There are always big scumbags around sadly. I wonder how an artist gets away with this. They live more of good mouth to mouth or board to board recommendations than actual commercials i think.
Does he still do stuff?

Stryker2012 wrote:The number email sounds ridiculous. I’m guessing they either got hacked and that’s what the hacker is using now, or they are defunct.

I’ve gotten scammed by Rogerbee’s favorite head sculpt artist, Darren Carnall. I sent that guy 3 head sculpts to be painted up 6 years ago. Paid upfront $1500 USD total (this was before I found other artists), and despite inquiries (about 1 a year, but more, especially over the last year and half), can’t get that piece of $#@t to respond. I saw ONE in-progress update (I think) 2 years ago, and then nothing. I saw that he was active on the Freaks not that long ago, and tried PM’ing him there — no response. At this point, I’m assuming that that (censored) isn’t going to return my stuff.

Ouch! ..how did you make payment?

I was scammed a while back to the tune of 500 Euros ($548.00 USD). Not for a figure, for a staute.
Like a fool i sent the Payment using an IBAN number. There was no come back, no way to get my cash back. I even contacted the sellers bank and spoke with them. They could offer no help. If i had paid using PayPal i would have been protected. I noticed the same seller had an ebay account. I contacted ebay and his account appeared to vanish?
The company i used (to send the 500 Euros over seas) https://www.globalwebpay.com/ and they advised against attempting to get my cash back, as in their words 'it rarely pays off..' ..and that i would be throwing good money after bad. I felt the system favours the scammer. Part of me wanted to jump on a Ferry and pay the seller a visit.

It was thru PayPal, but you only have so long before there isn’t dick they can do (something like 180 days).

Stryker2012 wrote:It was thru PayPal, but you only have so long before there isn’t dick they can do (something like 180 days).

I see..

Ouch, Mark, that was quite horrible. Sheesh! He does a beautiful job but that amount should have deterred you right then and there -- even assuming a perfectly honorable behavior on his part. But to ghost you like that and neither return your sculpts nor your payment, that is beyond the pale. Now if we can get Alex to advance from Wales and Sky to advance from the north, maybe we could pin him down and demand satisfaction.

So bad we have to open up this section again.

I've made an order for the Verycool MTF figure on feb 05.


A month have passed and no update on the order. I know that it is Lunar new year and a loot of mess happening in China right now but it makes me nervous, right after I was being able to expand my collection after so much time.

Is anybody else having issues with orders from ebay?

venator5 wrote:So bad we have to open up this section again.

I've made an order for the Verycool MTF figure on feb 05.


A month have passed and no update on the order. I know that it is Lunar new year and a loot of mess happening in China right now but it makes me nervous, right after I was being able to expand my collection after so much time.

Is anybody else having issues with orders from ebay?

Not yet but we will, not the sellers' faults in the scenario I envision and might already be affecting you but the Suez Canal being disrupted by the Houthis is a big supply issue with anything from China to the West. On the other side, the Panama Canal doesn't have enough water in its lakes (lack of rainfall) to operate the the locks that lift the tankers through the canal system, admittance to the canal was down 30% per day last time I checked causing the world's biggest traffic jam!! Your purchase could be on either route or forced to go down and around the longer route of the south of Africa.

shovelchop81 wrote:

venator5 wrote:So bad we have to open up this section again.

I've made an order for the Verycool MTF figure on feb 05.


A month have passed and no update on the order. I know that it is Lunar new year and a loot of mess happening in China right now but it makes me nervous, right after I was being able to expand my collection after so much time.

Is anybody else having issues with orders from ebay?

Not yet but we will, not the sellers' faults in the scenario I envision and might already be affecting you but the Suez Canal being disrupted by the Houthis is a big supply issue with anything from China to the West. On the other side, the Panama Canal doesn't have enough water in its lakes (lack of rainfall) to operate the the locks that lift the tankers through the canal system, admittance to the canal was down 30% per day last time I checked causing the world's biggest traffic jam!! Your purchase could be on either route or forced to go down and around the longer route of the south of Africa.

Well my order is shipped yet. And I personally assume that it has more to do with the current mess in china. Well not like I can do much about it but Waiting until May 8 for a refound and probably buying the figure from an Eu supplier meanwhile.

This is just.....

venator5 wrote:

shovelchop81 wrote:

venator5 wrote:So bad we have to open up this section again.

I've made an order for the Verycool MTF figure on feb 05.


A month have passed and no update on the order. I know that it is Lunar new year and a loot of mess happening in China right now but it makes me nervous, right after I was being able to expand my collection after so much time.

Is anybody else having issues with orders from ebay?

Not yet but we will, not the sellers' faults in the scenario I envision and might already be affecting you but the Suez Canal being disrupted by the Houthis is a big supply issue with anything from China to the West. On the other side, the Panama Canal doesn't have enough water in its lakes (lack of rainfall) to operate the the locks that lift the tankers through the canal system, admittance to the canal was down 30% per day last time I checked causing the world's biggest traffic jam!! Your purchase could be on either route or forced to go down and around the longer route of the south of Africa.

Well my order is shipped yet. And I personally assume that it has more to do with the current mess in china. Well not like I can do much about it but Waiting until May 8 for a refound and probably buying the figure from an Eu supplier meanwhile.

This is just.....

Did you use PayPal? You can ask them to investigate and ask eBay to contact the seller etc..

PayPal is a good place to turn to, within 6 months. But they do want you to try to figure things out with the seller first. So what does one do with an uncooperative seller?

GubernatorFan wrote:PayPal is a good place to turn to, within 6 months. But they do want you to try to figure things out with the seller first. So what does one do with an uncooperative seller?

One you open a case in the 'help' section, eBay ask you to contact the seller, if they haven't replied within 7 days, eBay will ask if you want them to intervene, say yes, they then contact the seller, if there is still no satisfactory reply from the seller after a further 7 days they will conduct an investigation that usually ends up with you getting a full refund within a few days or so. That's been my experience in the past.

venator5, did you try contacting the seller?
Most likely you'll get the standard "don't worry friend, we'll ship it soon" response, but there is a chance the seller admits it's not in stock and offers a refund.

Visisonor wrote:venator5, did you try contacting the seller?
Most likely you'll get the standard "don't worry friend, we'll ship it soon" response, but there is a chance the seller admits it's not in stock and offers a refund.

Well the seller just responded in the morning. According to him the lunar new year just ended and he was in holidays which resulted in that orders gotten piled up.

He said the order will be shipped within 48 hours. Which would be Marc 06 8:11 for me (central european time)

So I will wait for a bit I guess.

None of you meet with such issues recently? Delays?

venator5 wrote:None of you meet with such issues recently? Delays?

My February orders were delayed, some by a week, one has been returned to sender, according to the tracker.
One package has been lost a few years ago (but it was Giantoy, and they've sent a replacement).
I also remember seeing mentions of shipping disruptions on this forum around this time, so it seems to be common.

I had something similar with my latest order. Two weeks after my order was confirmed and payment received it still hadn't shipped. When I inquired it was shipped later that day, and that same day I got an email that they were understaffed and very busy, so there were delays. I've got the feeling there was some hiccup in the process, and my order was forgotten.

Incidentally with that same order there was an error at customs. Since it was from Japan, I had to pay taxes. When I did that, I didn't get confirmation it was paid. So a day later I called customer service (from the shipping company, who handles the customs), which didn't really get me further, because they said my payment wasn't registred, and if it still wasn't registered in a few days, the package would be sent back. But if I had proof of payment I could request a refund. That was not really helpful, because the webshop had already mailed me when the package was in customs, that if it was to be sent back because I hadn't paid the taxes, they'd only resend if I paid shipping costs again.

So a day later I decided to try to pay again, which thankfully worked. I then immediately filed for a refund. A few days later I was called that indeed there was an error in the system and I would get a refund, which would take week or so, because there were a lot of people who had the same issue, and there were even people who paid 5 times. Kinda weird they hadn't noticed it yet when I first called them.

The joys of buying internationally.

Quick update: Today was the deadline of the 48 hours given. I have sent a message to the seller who responded within 15 minutes: According to him the order was just being sent to the China post but Ebay has not received the tracking number yet

Update: My order has been shipped, I received a tracking number and ebay marked it as shipped.

Visisonor wrote:

venator5 wrote:None of you meet with such issues recently? Delays?

My February orders were delayed, some by a week, one has been returned to sender, according to the tracker.
One package has been lost a few years ago (but it was Giantoy, and they've sent a replacement).
I also remember seeing mentions of shipping disruptions on this forum around this time, so it seems to be common.

After having good success on eBay, I went a little crazy in early February.  About six orders went two weeks or more without shipping and three were "returned to sender" according to the tracking service.  I contacted sellers of those three and received the standard email response (Sorry friend, yada, yada, yada...), a partial refund and a promise to enclose a "gift" along with the item.  One is still checking.  It's been over six weeks and tonight I requested refunds for the undelivered items.  One refunded right away and the other is asking me to wait another few days claiming it is in my local post office (but he gave me a bogus tracking number a few weeks ago).

The three orders that were not returned to sender were a few weeks late, but they did finally come in.  In my limited experience the order is shown as "Shipped" when the seller creates the label, but it may not actually be taken to the shipping center until a week or two later.  Once the shipping service actually gets the item, the transit time to delivery is surprisingly fast.

I'll need to remember this experience next February, if I'm still picking up things on eBay.

Wow, that's quite unfortunate re: multiple returned to sender orders.
I am quite sure you are right about shipped status meaning "label created" (not just with eBay).
There were 1-2 week delays for me with other statuses (statiii?) this time. Yeah, not the best time for ordering from China.