For years I had faith that I could send my money safely to a ham and I would
receive what I paid for. That changed early this year.
I saw a Wavetek 3003 signal generator advertised. I received a photo of it.
The seller was KC8IHO in Detroit. I checked the address he gave and it
matched his callbook address. Further checking showed that he operated a
repeater in the Detroit area. Lastly, he had the same first name as I did -
a sure sign of honesty. A price of $200 was agreed upon plus $30 shipping.
I never got the item. E mails were at first contradictory, then are silent.
I spoke with him once on the phone and got a story conflicting with an
e-mail. Now, he will not asnwer the phone. I have filed a complaint with
the Detroit police and told them I would fly back there as a witness if they
prosecuted. They have a file but have done nothing. I filed a complaint
with the US Post Office, but they will do nothing unless there is a series
of complaints.
In short, I am out the money and now not as ready to send my money off to a
distance I cannot drive to knock on the seller's door and say bad things to
him.
Most hams are honest and I suppose it is good that I went over 30 years of
buying by mail without a loss - but I do remember this one loss and will
remember it in the future.
Perhaps the only thing that was suspicious, in hindsight, was that he often
did not place his name at the end of his e-mails, and they were always short
with no greetings. That give me an uncomfortable feeling.
73, Colin K7FM
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