OK, I'm going to clear up a few things, and then I'm going to ask for this to be closed. Nothing but a flame-fest.
My friend told me what he was doing to earn some extra cash during a random conversation. I saw the product, and saw the money he was making. Keep in mind I've known this guy for over two years, and worked together at two different companies. He shows me the website, and I am skeptical. But he's doing it, and I can plainly see that is legit (at least in the respect that he is receiving the product he is ordering). So, I decide to wager a measely $500 on my credit card...through Paypal...through remit2india.com (a well-respected site). I have their bank information (this is how you remit it to them...it has to be a legitimate, registered bank to use this service), and I send the money.
During this time, my friend is placing orders of 20 at a time. That's $4900 a pop through Paypal...nowhere near my $500 that I wagered on two systems. After I got back in touch with him after he moved, I explained my problem. He got in touch with R2I and they mentioned that they had very recently had problems with this company (which might explain why R2I called me twice to confirm my remittance). Upon hearing of this, my friend cancelled his remittance and all future orders. I have a corridor to the proper authorities with the Indian Ministry of Commerce, and am sending them a general complaint as soon as I'm done with this. We also have a good friend from India in a very high caste that is going to be doing some investigating with his family back home.
At no point were we dealing with stolen property. We asked point-blank if it was stolen property, and the charge was refuted. That makes us innocent parties under US law, UCC and UNCCISG. If the sale was made, we received the items and had paid for them, if they were found to be stolen, we would at most have to give back the goods and receive our original money back. If they had already been sold, the most we would have had to do would be to refund the profit made to the original claimor. We wouldn't receive a fine, we wouldn't go to jail. So a $500 initial product and this idea that the goods were stolen would not be a risk to my children.
If you go to a casino and spend $500 with the idea of making thousands, there is the risk of losing your initial investment. Same thing here. Temporarily, I have lost that investment, nothing more. And I fully believe I will be able to have that money returned to me (perhaps minus a nominal fee) with no adverse consequences. If I can't get it returned to me, then that is life. Although my bank/insurance company will lose a lot more than that in a quarter by not having my business. I've never done a chargeback before, but I don't think it will come to that. Because I have their bank info, R2I and Paypal should work with me to get my money back.
Right now I am in contact with several different suppliers (some blatantly suspicious) to order merchandise...some are US-based and are traceable-albeit with worse prices. If I can't find a new supplier I am not out anything, just a little of the spare time I have while my girls nap. I quit my job to take care of them before all of this, with the knowledge that we would survive financially. My wife is an RN. We'll be ok. A $500 risk to try and get us a bubble is a tiny price to pay for such dividends. But like I said, I don't think I'll be out this money for long. But if I am, it's not life or death. I'm considering contacting the bank directly, as India is a direct party to the CISG. Informing them that one of their customers is comitting international fraud might solicit some help. If not, then they get boned by their government. Hell, I'd donate the $500 if it meant someone was going to a nice Indian prison.
All that said, I appreciate the people who showed genuine concern for my well-being. The original post was made when I could not get in touch with
anyone. Now that the ball is rolling on justice, I don't see the need for this thread to be open. I'm not going to ask for it to be deleted, because I want people to know my experience. If I get my money back or don't, I'll ask a mod to edit the original post to indicate it. To those of you being asses, there was no need. I might have come off as an ass myself, but sometimes you take on the personalities of those who confront you.
To those who told me I was lazy, here's a big
you. You have no idea what it's like to willingly give up your career to spend the best time of your life with your children. Perhaps some day you will. In a week, I was to transfer to my own store (store manager) with a medium-sized sporting goods company. A pretty good job, but when you make $25k for 60-70 hours a week and daycare looks to be about $250 a week, why do it? It wasn't worth it to me. No sense in paying half my salary to someone I don't know, when I can do a better job and be able to actually see them from time to time. If you have a spouse who works 12 hour shifts overnight, you can imagine what I'm talking about.
So, to some people I am sorry for being an ass. To some, I am indifferent. And to some, my ignore list has some new friends. If perchance I do come through with a reliable supplier, I will still post my auctions here, and I will still offer all CAGs a discount (unless you just joined or something). Thanks for an entertaining discussion.
