Too good to be true?

[mjsdwash]

we have a long established windshield shop in my town that refuses credit cards, only cash/check. I hade a windshield put on that failed before they drove it out of the bay. Shattered when they closed the door. They replaced it again 4 days later. It shattered in my driveway on the first sunny day after that. They refused to fix it, refused a refund, refused to acknowledge they did anything wrong. They even had their installer pretend he couldn't speak English... the same one I talked to extensively about the first broken windshield.... in English.

I took it to a newer, less established shop, and they confirmed, the original OEM seal had not been removed fully, and pushing the glass down on a less than even surface caused the failure. THAT shop took credit cards.
After that I looked up their review that Google/Yelp suppresses and found they screw up installs somewhat frequently, and refuse fixes. The solution was to dispute the charges, so they stopped taking credit.

Now, I just don't trust any business that has no credit option for high cost products.
Sorry for the non THR specific rant, but it seems relevant.

 

[CodeSection]

we have a long established windshield shop in my town that refuses credit cards, only cash/check. I hade a windshield put on that failed before they drove it out of the bay. Shattered when they closed the door. They replaced it again 4 days later. It shattered in my driveway on the first sunny day after that. They refused to fix it, refused a refund, refused to acknowledge they did anything wrong. They even had their installer pretend he couldn't speak English... the same one I talked to extensively about the first broken windshield.... in English.

I took it to a newer, less established shop, and they confirmed, the original OEM seal had not been removed fully, and pushing the glass down on a less than even surface caused the failure. THAT shop took credit cards.
After that I looked up their review that Google/Yelp suppresses and found they screw up installs somewhat frequently, and refuse fixes. The solution was to dispute the charges, so they stopped taking credit.

Now, I just don't trust any business that has no credit option for high cost products.
Sorry for the non THR specific rant, but it seems relevant.

I'm not sure how long ago this occurred, but two additional steps you might consider:
1) Report to Better Business Bureau (https://www.bbb.org/). While the business you are complaining about may not respond to BBB's inquiry, at least your complaint serves as a warning to others.
2) File an online complaint with your State's Attorney General Office - Consumer Affairs Division. These folks are pretty good at resolving matters.

 

[230RN]

"I said I do not have enough funds on my PayPal and been told to pay as much as I can."'

That's all you should need. Brappp-brappp-brappp ! Dive, dive, dive !

That exactly what I did, just want to post here to advice people of this site.

Yes. yes. I was just trying to point out their stupidity in saying such a thing. Maybe I should have used "anybody" instead of "you."

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

As soon as they said PayPal Friends and Family...RUN RUN RUN.

 

[230RN]

I wonder how much of that 40% approval rating was due to shills faking a good report.

Stage magician to "volunteer" from the audience: "Have we ever met before, sir?"

Shill: "No, Uncle Joe, never."

 

[Poper]

The solution was to dispute the charges, so they stopped taking credit.

Actually, if they had the number of disputes indicated, the chances are the CC companies pulled their association with the windshield guys.
I had a similar experience with a well known on-line only auto parts company that has cheesy annimated TV commercials and NO customer service. In order to utilize the "credit" they issued for an erroneously filled order, my only alternative was to go to my CC service.
A friend with extensive experience in the CC industry said this company was probably skating on thin ice and if the unusually high incidents of complaints continued, they would lose their "accreditdation" (or whatever term CC companies use to certify a business) and they would lose their access to process credit card transactions. I wonder if that is why the W/S guy is a cash-or-check-only biz now?

 

[mjsdwash]

Actually, if they had the number of disputes indicated, the chances are the CC companies pulled their association with the windshield guys.
I had a similar experience with a well known on-line only auto parts company that has cheesy annimated TV commercials and NO customer service. In order to utilize the "credit" they issued for an erroneously filled order, my only alternative was to go to my CC service.
A friend with extensive experience in the CC industry said this company was probably skating on thin ice and if the unusually high incidents of complaints continued, they would lose their "accreditdation" (or whatever term CC companies use to certify a business) and they would lose their access to process credit card transactions. I wonder if that is why the W/S guy is a cash-or-check-only biz now?

You are correct, Its entirely possible. It seem strange that a windshield shop would not accept credit, considering the nature of the business. The only reason it wasn't a red flag initially was that this town has many places that didn't accept credit. It was strange first coming here, and seeing restaurants , and store that said "no debit" -they just didn't have the machines. That was in 2010 or so, everyone does now, except them. I also used to buy primers from a "cash-only" gunshop in Auburn, WA. Totally legitimate, he just opened and didn't have credit set up yes, and prices were low enough, people were fine paying cash, so no incentive to jump on it.

All that said though, its hard to imagine any legitimate shop not taking credit at this point. Individual seller, sure, and I bet the more successful scammers are selling as private sellers on Gunbroker.

 

[230RN]

Poper said

A friend with extensive experience in the CC industry said this company was probably skating on thin ice and if the unusually high incidents of complaints continued, they would lose their "accreditdation" (or whatever term CC companies use to certify a business) and they would lose their access to process credit card transactions. I wonder if that is why the W/S guy is a cash-or-check-only biz now?

Aha! That would explain why a certain indpendent gas station nearby only took cash or checks. She (the owner) stiffed me twice by giving me change for a ten when I had laid a twenty on the counter. The first time. I figured well, I had made a mistake... unlikely, but possible.
The second time was ~18 months later and I was off my guard. She again swooped the twenty into the cash register and claimed I had given her a ten, and this time I accused her directly and she said she would call the cops about me being a fast-change artist. I figured it would be a he said she said issue and I was packing my .380 so I let it go and decided to call it tuition without complicating the issue.

I live on the same street about a quarter-mile away so I drove by the store frequently. Every time, I muttered to myself "I want my twenty bucks back, bitch," (2 X $10) and she closed up about a year later.

The store was apparently hard to re-purpose and had two lessees move in and out in short times, but I don't know if she still owned it or it was just one of those inherently evil places where two negative ley lines crossed or something.

Cue Twilight Zone theme.

Right now it's vacant and up for lease again.

But that denial of CC services Poper mentioned sure would explain something to me if she was so crooked, so thanks.

Terry, 230RN

 

[Styx]

You have to ask? That's as obvious as anything that they're preying on room temp IQ people. If they change the price privately you should question if the deal is legitimate.

Bingo

 

[gobsauce]

My Grail gun was a tokarev. Found one "locally", I went to the place where we set up to meet. Told him I'm here, mind you it's 9 am and there's nobody in the lot but me. Guy has the audacity to call me and say "I see you. But if you want to see the gun, you have to wire me $100 first. " I guess he didn't know that gun guys usually pay cash? He said something along the lines of "No American uses cash anymore, I'll send you my Cashapp."

 

[CodeSection]

Poper said



Aha! That would explain why a certain indpendent gas station nearby only took cash or checks. She (the owner) stiffed me twice by giving me change for a ten when I had laid a twenty on the counter. The first time. I figured well, I had made a mistake... unlikely, but possible.
The second time was ~18 months later and I was off my guard. She again swooped the twenty into the cash register and claimed I had given her a ten, and this time I accused her directly and she said she would call the cops about me being a fast-change artist. I figured it would be a he said she said issue and I was packing my .380 so I let it go and decided to call it tuition without complicating the issue.

I live on the same street about a quarter-mile away so I drove by the store frequently. Every time, I muttered to myself "I want my twenty bucks back, bitch," (2 X $10) and she closed up about a year later.

The store was apparently hard to re-purpose and had two lessees move in and out in short times, but I don't know if she still owned it or it was just one of those inherently evil places where two negative ley lines crossed or something.

Cue Twilight Zone theme.

Right now it's vacant and up for lease again.

But that denial of CC services Poper mentioned sure would explain something to me if she was so crooked, so thanks.

Terry, 230RN

I would be pissed too. Many agencies have various video recording devices that are used to catch fast-change artists. It used to be a frequent complaint when a carnival would drive into town and stay a few days. Heck, one could Google "camera glasses" and find various items to buy if one was inclined to do so or they could even use their cell phone nowadays to record transactions.

 

[230RN]

Well, this was a case of "fast change vendors." I might have made a bigger fuss about it except for my carrying. Legal permitted carry, but just didn't want to get into it and establish a police "contact," involving her counter-charge of being a fast change artist. Best defense is a good offense, and I reckon she was pretty practiced at that. Besides, I wanted to get home to take a leak. Priorities, priorities.

I remember the spark of schadenfreude when I drove by one day and saw them pulling out the tanks and pumps.

But enough.

Terry, 230RN

 

[Kano383]

Had a "Russian" site with prices too-good-to-be-true. The guy was writing with a thick Indian accent, and just to mess with him I sent him a mail inquiring about Tokarev pistols in 9x18 (9mm Makarov), and SKS rifles made in Grozny Arsenal.

I was so lucky, he had them in stock, exactly what I wanted, ready to ship, delivery in 92 hours, no need of Export permits, EUC, Import licenses, nothing, easy-peasy, pay in Bitcoins or bank transfer. He trusted me so much that I could pay 50% on order, balance after delivery and inspection, just send the money Sir, thank you.

Sorry, but are people really that dumb?????

 

[Poper]

Sorry, but are people really that dumb?????

Uhhhh, Yeah, some are. Otherwise the scammers wouldn't keep using that tactic.

 

[ACES&8S]

Went to search for Sierra #1390 55 grain BTHP.
The site I first saw drew me in with in stock.
Got on the site, Rainer or Rinner something like that had prices from 15 years ago like $16
for a box of 100.
Poor kids just starting into loading would jump all over it & get stump jumped.
Glad to see -you- have enough gumption to speak up.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

"GunsAtlantic" ........ Showing a business address in the San Francisco Bay area?!?? Yeah, okay........

.....and, FYI here is the PayPal policy concerning firearms purchases etc. For them to recommend using PayPal for purchase(s) is a dead giveaway. PayPal will cancel your account and make you wait for them to return any balance you may have.

Acceptable Use Policy

Last Update: May 6, 2021

You are independently responsible for complying with all applicable laws in all of your actions related to your use of PayPal's services, regardless of the purpose of the use. In addition, you must adhere to the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy.
Prohibited Activities

You may not use the PayPal service for activities that:

1. violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation.
2. relate to transactions involving (a) narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances or other products that present a risk to consumer safety, (b) drug paraphernalia, (c) cigarettes, (d) items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity, (e) stolen goods including digital and virtual goods, (f) the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory or the financial exploitation of a crime, (g) items that are considered obscene, (h) items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction, (i) certain sexually oriented materials or services, (j) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (k) certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.
3. relate to transactions that (a) show the personal information of third parties in violation of applicable law, (b) support pyramid or ponzi schemes, matrix programs, other "get rich quick" schemes or certain multi-level marketing programs,(c) are associated with purchases of annuities or lottery contracts, lay-away systems, off-shore banking or transactions to finance or refinance debts funded by a credit card, (d) are for the sale of certain items before the seller has control or possession of the item, (e) are by payment processors to collect payments on behalf of merchants, (f) are associated with the sale of traveler's checks or money orders, (g) involve currency exchanges or check cashing businesses, (h) involve certain credit repair, debt settlement services, credit transactions or insurance activities, or (i) involve offering or receiving payments for the purpose of bribery or corruption.
4. involve the sales of products or services identified by government agencies to have a high likelihood of being fraudulent.

Its not very common, but I DO see people accept PayPal for some things sold on GunBroker. Pretty sure I've even seen guns sold that way occasionally. I think in most cases it was a magazine or ammunition. I wonder when that policy was put into writing. I think I even used PayPal to pay for something on there once. I did think it was odd because of everyone talking about "anti-gun PayPal", but there it was. Obviously on eBay you would almost always use PayPal, and I have bought magazines and grips and all kind of stuff like that on eBay...using PayPal..They even sell barrels for guns on eBay, and PayPal is...or was...used. I used to look at barrels for a Dan Wesson model 15 that I had. It had the interchangeable barrel system. At any given time I could find DW barrels there, purchasable through PayPal. Maybe things recently became more strict(?)

 

[Ranger Rog]

Should have been posted as a warning not a question.......even the most gullible could see this is a scam.........

 

[Don_P]

Its not very common, but I DO see people accept PayPal for some things sold on GunBroker. Pretty sure I've even seen guns sold that way occasionally. I think in most cases it was a magazine or ammunition. I wonder when that policy was put into writing. I think I even used PayPal to pay for something on there once. I did think it was odd because of everyone talking about "anti-gun PayPal", but there it was. Obviously on eBay you would almost always use PayPal, and I have bought magazines and grips and all kind of stuff like that on eBay...using PayPal..They even sell barrels for guns on eBay, and PayPal is...or was...used. I used to look at barrels for a Dan Wesson model 15 that I had. It had the interchangeable barrel system. At any given time I could find DW barrels there, purchasable through PayPal. Maybe things recently became more strict(?)

PayPal policy states you may not use their service to purchase ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories

I never received a response when I asked them which specific "certain firearms parts or accessories" they would allow to be purchased using their service. If you are going to use their service I would suggest you NOT carry an account balance should they deem the parts you purchase to be on their undisclosed "banned" list.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

Thanks for the heads up. I rarely use them for gun related stuff, and I never keep a balance for more than a day or so.