Your input on parts scams

[wawazat??]

Though we have been relatively lucky in our little community, we have suffered through some parts scams. Aredub's thread made me think of how I got ripped off by CopsodyX/Joseph and how others here have been ripped off by Doug Rudd.

I would like to start discussion on a stickied thread in the For Sale forum entitled "Known Scam/Scammer" with as much detail as possible about the scam/scammer (actual name and address if an individual, name and place of business if a yard or shop, screen names, ebay name, etc). It may help someone avoid a problem before it occurs.

What are your thoughts?

Todd (the lawyer I live with is gonna hate this thread )

Sounds shiney to me, lets keep 'em honest!

[Chiketkd]

Agreed, that's an excellent idea! If the vendor doesn't refund or correct the problem, then we should boycott their products.

Everyone here works hard for their money...

-Chike

[Seraph]

I don't see why not? Why is it also not legal? I know a few forums have those lists.

[Earthworm]

I'm all for it as well. I'm lucky to not have been scammed and I would never think of scamming anyone.

Once a seller has redeemed himself he should be removed from the list or at least moved to a separate list.

[SubaSteevo]

I have been scammed (although I did eventually recieve a refund 4 months later), I too would like to see a list.

[SVXRide]

Todd,
Just Do It! Maybe that Lawyer you live with might be able to provide some Pro Bono support for any "legalize" we'd need to add to the thread?
-Bill

[n00b on demand]

I think thats a great idea.

[Subafreak]

Why not? They do it on NASIOC!

[NikFu S.]

This is the kind of initiative that could actually reduce scam rates.
Doitnow.

[ensteele]

It may help. Lets try it.

This is a very good idea, I know here in rockford The only place you dare take your Subaru to is the Dealership "who are just high priced in labor" if you are unable to do the maintinace yourself. other shops around town say the work on Subaru as a whole never gianed my trust with the way they presented there job skills or with their part suppliers.

I would gladly put those places on black list any day.

[sanchius]

Todd,

Please trust your first instinct, there's a very good reason that your lawyer roomie would hate this. While what you are proposing is just the thing that these lists are good for, it would be an extremely dangerous thing to implement it as you describe it.

Such a list would guarantee that sooner or later, both the list moderators and the poster who made the complaint would get threatened with a suit. While such threats are usually only bluff, the moderators would have to take it seriously and respond to it. And no moderator will stay in their job long when like stuff this is hanging over them.

I speak from experience on this. Another list I was part of got caught in the middle of one of these and it was almost the death of a great list. In this case, it wasn't even from a list like you are proposing, it was from a single negative vendor comment posted on the forum. The poster was probably right that the guy was not to be recommended. But the vendor knew the law well enough and was sufficiently aggressive that he made life miserable for the moderators for months. We ended up having to take drastic damage control measures and seek legal advice. It was a horrible experience and I'll certainly never moderate a list again, life's too short...

I hesitate to even suggest hosting a "recommended vendor" list that only allows positive comments because of the exposure of the forum moderators to having someone say "what the hell, i'm pissed off and I'm going to post my accusations anyway."

Sorry to throw cold water on a good idea...

[mbtoloczko]

I think a sticky thread is a very good idea.

I'd love to see something happen to the crooks. Sent money out a while ago to a thread ad, have'nt seen squat yet, it would help to point the finger socially, the middle one.