[FS: General] Buyer Beware: user Dsvile

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FrameLimits

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Hi guys,

Just a heads up to be cautious in dealing with dsvile. Here is a brief overview of my experience in dealing with him. On 04/05/14 I sent him money for the 3 CF cards he had listed for sale. He asked me to Paypal him to this email brooklynedutech@gmail.com, shortly after he canceled the transaction, refunded me the money & asked me to send the payment to his other email jonscaphotography@gmail.com. It has been 2 weeks now & I have not received anything from him.
Dsvile/John Sanders/Djon Scott hasn't replied back to my inquiries. The thread was closed soon after saying the cards were sold. I found out later that evidently he tried to sell the same item to multiple users.
Below is the link to his original thread where he also lists 2 other items for sale: a speedlight ( Canon 600EXRT) & a 70-200mm Canon lens. I suspect he might try to re-list them again & scam someone else.
Here is the original thread:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-Cards&p=1986424699&highlight=#post1986424699

Serge
 
At best, I had a shady experience with "dsvile". Similar MO to above, but I walked away when he wanted me (for the third time, first citing an accidental refund, then refunding everything instead of $20) to send the money to an alternate PayPal address.
 
I purchased the flash. It's currently in dispute in paypal.

He says his name is Jonathan. His # provided is 347-804-1739

maranfilms said:
Not to rub salt in the wound, but why In he world would you buy from a user with 5 posts?
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That's hilarious maranfilms. Maybe the salts stings, but yes, I would bet there was a time you had only 5 post. Does it mean at one point in time you were dishonest, and as you accumulated more post you became an honest gentlemen?
 
An active member has reputation at stake. An active member may be someone you personally interact with on the forums. A betting man might expect greater odds of honesty. Someone with a handleful of posts or with 100 posts over a few years has no stake in this site or their reputation. A betting might expect that deal to go either way.

And any refund/repay malarcky might trigger a few warning bells in the wiser head. At least you stopped it at the first hurdle unlike the OP. Hope paypal finds in your favour. Genuine sympathy to those that have lost money here but you have to take some responsibility for a risky purchase. Could be worse, I got ripped off on ebay for almost a grand. Got played for a real sucker and strung out until it was too late for paypal to step in. In the long game I'm still ahead over retail but you shift the odds in your favour if you maintain a healthy skepticism. A junior member buying off another junior member is a recipe for disaster.
 
I agree that you should be very cautious buying from someone with 5 posts. Especially if those posts are almost all "for sale" posts. I also think that we folks who buy and sell should use the feedback option on dvxuser. This would help all concerned and certainly put new members with only a few posts who have sold something honestly in a better position.
 
That was my point, someone with many more posts typically divulge info about themselves over time. If I were to burn someone, it wouldn't be hard to track me down as I've been a member for a long time, and have plenty of info about myself , business, and what I do out there, that's all I meant about post count. I feel bad for you guys as I hate a thief. Maybe this will make you feel less bad. I had my car broken into and had my 5d stolen, I then bought another 5d on ebay, which I got scammed on the deal, so twice on the same damn camera more less. its hard to imagine people just care about others feelings or situations.
 
Other forums I'm a member of lock access to the For Sale section until you've accumulated a few posts... Seems like a good idea to me.
 
BrianMurphy said:
I agree that you should be very cautious buying from someone with 5 posts. Especially if those posts are almost all "for sale" posts. I also think that we folks who buy and sell should use the feedback option on dvxuser. This would help all concerned and certainly put new members with only a few posts who have sold something honestly in a better position.
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Except that the way the system is set up, retaliatory feedback is a given.

I sold an expensive lens to a guy in Russia. Got it to him quickly and under custom's radar, no easy feat. Perfect condition. He emails me, fishing for $50, saying that he had to immediately take it to have dust cleaned out. No pictures, no receipt, nothing.

I issued him negative feedback and guess what? He did the same to me. I had to involve mods to mutually rescind.

In any case, the feedback function here is helpful but flawed.
 
Stuart Keasley said:
Other forums I'm a member of lock access to the For Sale section until you've accumulated a few posts... Seems like a good idea to me.
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Some measures to this end have already been recently put in place over this very issue. From the sticky noone ever reads:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...Marketplace-Use-Mandatory-Read-Before-Posting

Forum Rules said:
10. You must be a registered member of DVXuser.com for at least sixty (60) days before you will be able to create threads in the marketplace. This means, you are not allowed to sell items in the marketplace until you have been a member for 60 days. You may still buy and post in existing threads.
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And I want to point out that all this monday's expert advice shouldn't discourage victims from sharing their experience with the community. There have been a couple of repeat offenders in the past so when folks do take their chances it is good that they share.


Jordan_S said:
In any case, the feedback function here is helpful but flawed.
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I like the minimalist approach the mods take here. Whenever you give more protections to one group you inevitably reduce them for the other. If ebay can't get it right then what chance has a special interest forum? We rely on people being involved with the site and trading on their good name. Trade here is the virtual equivalent doing business in the carpark so better recognise the dude or take his numberplate!
 
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Man, I never thought of those simple things like the ones mentioned in this thread. . .a few posts over several years = mostly inactive user = someone with no reputation at stake. Simple but brilliant. Will keep it in mind if trying to buy off a message board member (anywhere, not just here).
 
A simple background check is something everyone should do before any sales, especially nowadays when you can find out pretty much anything about other person (if you can't, then maybe you shouldn't deal with a guy/girl).
 
A tactic I use for high value transactions, or transactions with unverified people is escrow. www.escrow.com is one such service. Essentially, having an impartial middle man hold the money tends to be pretty safe. And most scamsters will just walk away if you tell them you need it to be an escrow transaction.

Do be wary though if the other party suggests escrow (or demands a specific escrow provider) - make sure the escrow site they use is legit.
 
I think common sense comes into play, if someone is being sketchy with details or information about themselves, just play it safe and wait. I've only been a member for about 5 months and don't have that many posts, most of which involve selling or buying gear. I'd hate to miss out on selling/buying just because I don't have an online "rep" I just don't spend that much time on here. I love catching up on discussions, reviews, and gear for sale because of the great amount of combined knowledge this website has, I just don't feel the need to contribute to a lot of posts unless they really catch my interest (as this one did)
 
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