Auctions for Chartplotters

[CPN]

A word of warning for anyone interested in bidding for chartplotters or up-market fixed GPS on Ebay. I have recently been defrauded, in that I paid for a chartplotter and never received it. Since then I have discovered a number of similar transactions that all have the same pattern:
The fraudster registers with Ebay using a christian name with 4 numbers attached as his ID. He advertises a chartplotter or GPS - usually Lowrance - on a 3 or 5-day auction. Payment method is usually cash or wire service. As soon as the auction closes and the cash is paid, he de-registers so that no feedback can be given and he hives it with the cash.

I have discovered at least 6 similar cases this year, so beware of any auction, where the seller has recently registered, has zero feedback and is not prepared to accept payment through Ebay's Paypal system.

 

[Talbot]

no feedback posted, recent ebay member, no use of paypal, wants to use wire service, - These are the hallmarks of a fraudster!

This was all discussed a few months ago on this forum. People need to be aware that the wire service is notorious for being the fraudsters means of swindling.

 

[doug748]

Not familiar with auctions. How does paypal work then? Brian

 

[petery]

Having nearly been caught out myself, a high positive feedback score is no real guarantee as there have been several cases where a fraudster has hijacked the ID (and high feedback) of a genuine E-bay member.

Luckily I got 6 warning e-mails from all over the world when I put in a bid for a 'too good to be true deal' .... it was!!

As suggested by Talbot, ignore any deal that insists on cash or wire tranfer - irrespective of the feedback score.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The real pisser on this is that eBay has absolutely no interest in this scam, either in stopping it happening, or in resolving problems when they arise. IMHO eBay is just about as guilty as the fraudster, with the same attitude - take the money and run.

Incidentally, West Marine has a fantastic $349 price on a Magellan plotter at the mo - don't know if the product is up to much but it was being sold at £500+ at LIBS, Magellan <font color="red"> at West Marine </font>

 

[Stingo]

Yes, TK it's very cheap but what sort of charts does it take besides MapSend?

 

[Twister_Ken]

>what sort of charts does it take besides MapSend? <

Dunno.

Reason I'm a bit off plotters is that the software side of the equation always seems to smell ike profiteering.

 

[Robin]

The C-Map chart cartridges we use (won't fit the Magellan) are better priced than they used to be and bigger areas covered. What you don't realise until you look closely at them is just how many charts are included, many many more than you would ever dream of buying in paper format for the same trip. This means that when you zoom in that it is not just a magnified picture you see but is a true chart at a much larger scale. Harbour charts for example that are much more detailed even than those on paper chart insets or in pilot books. There is also a cheaper option of only having 'passage' chart cartridges without all the harbour detail.

Plotters with their own GPS now are not that much more expensive than fixed GPS sets so IMO you might as well have the ability, even if it is not immediately used, to display charts on screen. Some B&W plotters are even cheaper than straight GPS sets, Force 4 had Navman B&W ones at £285 I believe last month.

 

[oldharry]

[ QUOTE ]
The real pisser on this is that eBay has absolutely no interest in this scam, either in stopping it happening, or in resolving problems when they arise.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not entirely. I was 'scammed' trying to buy a DVD. Sent off the money (by Paypal), and nothing back. After a long delay, contacted by Thames Valley police investigating an Ebay scammer, who they expect 'will be locked up for a long time'. They reckon he had raised over £20k on this particular scam.

But I am sure for each scammer investigated and prosecuted, there are several others who get away with it.

And I still do not have my money back either.

At least using Paypal gives some comeback.

 

[CPN]

Tend to agree Ken. I have warned Ebay of at least six scams that all follow the same pattern; two auctions were I think cancelled, but the rest went ahead. Some sucker like myself got stung!

Problem seems to be getting hold of someone in Ebay- lots of automatic replies followed up by friendly email signed by someone on one side of the world, but my reply goes to someone else at another call centre at the other side of the world, who then has no clue as to what's gone on.
I suppose one can't expect more with the millions of transactions that get doen every day.