First, I'm not going to post the user's name yet because I'm going to send them a link to this post to let them know I want my part, or my money, ASAP, or they will be revealed.

Here's a basic overview of what happened:

I needed a cheap part, a member came forward and said they would mail it out if I covered shipping. We agreed that $5 would be more than enough. I sent a money order out(six weeks this coming Thursday, July 22nd), and proceeded to wait. After about 2 1/2 weeks I sent a few other e-mails asking where this thing was. The last one of that series was fairly blunt, in that I told the member I honestly wished I would have made a greater attempt to get it from somewhere else and avoid this hassle. The member e-mailed me back obviously perturbed by what I had written, saying they were doing me a favor, etc. I still expected to get my part soon after that, but I guess I was wrong. I know it's only $5, but the fact is I sent someone money for something with the thought that as soon as they received it they would send my item. And if I didn't say anything about it, then read about a member getting screwed out $50 or $500 I would feel horrible. Bottom line, Member X you have until Thursday morning to write me/PM me/etc and let me know what's going with the part I sent you money for almost six weeks ago or else I'm putting your name in here and making a complaint to the FBI Internet Fraud Division.

 

um if you even get ahold of the FBI they'll most likely laugh at the situation. im not 100% sure, but doesn't it have to be over a certain amount in order to be fraud?

 

You know, I had that same feeling. Someone else suggested it to me, and it sounded very scary and somewhat official, so I threw it in there

 

I think if I were you I would have just chalked that $5 up to a learning experience and moved on.

Then if the member was selling anything else... I would warn the members.

In my oppinion $5 is worth losing sleep over.

I can understand the being mad for not getting your part though.

 

Yeah, I was hesitant at even posting this because it is $5, but part of me is pissed at never receiving something I sent money for, and another part feels somewhat responsible for at least letting others know how this member interacted with me. Like I posted, $5 isn't a big deal, but if I saw someone get taken for $50 or $500 I would feel bad that I hadn't said anything(and I don't want to have to "police" the for sale section watching to see if he was ever buying/selling something else).

 

I'm sure he doesn't lose any sleep over this thing and will get over it quickly if he doesn't get his part.

However, by making this public he is making a favor for us so that we can try to avoid this particular seller if he/she doesn't come through with the sale.

To me it doesn't matter whether it is $5 or $500, it is the principle that counts. When somebody wants your part and pays for it, it is time for the seller to ship the part right then and there and not to stall. Very, very simple.

Hopefully this seller comes through and things will get cleared.

TS

 

well in the state of ohio $5 is the same as $300. So yeah, you can still try and make a case about it. They are not felonies but they a crimes and you can press for prosecution.

 

It would be considered mail fraud and that is a felony! No matter what the amount is.

 

Thats right, since it was through the mail and you never got anything in return, you can press felony mail fraud.

Never was good at federal laws.

 

I learned my lesson on this board already. It seems once you send someone your money that they seem to lose any motivation of shipping what you bought from them in a timely manner. I'm sorry to hear your out $5 for now. It's hard to believe that someone would rip you off for pocket change. I hope they come through.

P.S. COD is the only way to go...

 

Well I was contacted by the member this afternoon, and told that the item was sent 2 weeks ago, though it helps if my e-mails are responded to in a timely manner to let me know this. They also said my MO has not been cashed yet, and that I could go ahead and cancel it(sort of weird since the reason I sent the MO was to pay for it to be shipped in the first place). And I was also told "Next time if you want something for free, don't expect it to get to you next day!!" To make something very clear, if I wanted this thing "the next day" I would have paid to have it overnighted. It didn't become a big deal until days would go by without hearing a response to whether or not my item had been sent, and weeks went by without me actually receiving it. I'm not going to post this user's name as they did contact me before Thursday morning. That's not to say I won't answer any PM's about this matter Guess I'll just go ahead and cancel my MO tomorrow, and put my $5 to better use at Wendy's or something...lol.

 

Glad to hear it worked out ok for you.

... but I would wait till you actaully receive the item before you cancel that money order. Err on the side of caution.