Just a Buyers/Sellers Heads-Up!!

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Forum Staff, Please feel free to move this post to another location.

Update! Bank called, they made a decision to refund/un-freeze money. Thank y’all for all the wisdom and help. Seller will be happy and I can finally start getting to know this ol’ Fingertip!! It’s need a bunch of work but I’m looking forward to it.

Recently purchased a Fingertip project from a wonderful forum member/brother.
He packed and sent guitar as agreed.
I fed-ex'd bank check/cashiers check as agreed.
He received fed-ex BUT.... Envelope had been cut along the bottom seam and the check was nowhere to be found. I did place the check in the envelope in front of the fed-ex staff at the counter and sealed it myself. Note I sent was in there but check was gone.
He contacted fed-ex, as did I. Nothing could be done.
I contacted my bank and paid for a stop payment. I was told by bank that they'd issue an account refund after a few days if the check didn't show up.
Well bank notified me that the check showed up, cashed in Houston about 2 hours away at a check cashing location.
Bank fraud department got involved. Researched, and decided not to give me a refund. $1750.00 GONE!!!!
But wait.. There's more. Apparently these guys are able to recreate these checks somehow and did. 3 more checks were made from that original bank certified check and cashed at various locations in Houston and in San Antonio.
Needless to say I am dealing with the bank, had to close that account as they said it was "compromised".
I'm out the original $1750.00 and for the moment the additional $5250.00 as they've placed a hold on those funds until this is cleared up. I feel pretty good about getting all this resolved and not being out any additional money. This may very well become the worlds most expensive Fingertip!!
To add insult to injury while trying to connect my bank to paypal to pay seller it's literally taken 4 banking day so far and my account still isn't connected. I am wondering if the bank is delaying this while this is going on.

Meanwhile my forum brother/seller has lost faith in me but has been more than patient. Hoping to get him paid in full and better than new quickly. Those that know me know that I'm much more upset about disappointing a brother than I am about the money.

Just wanted to share the latest way they've found to steel what isn't theirs. Part of me misses the good ol' cash days.

Y'all have a blessed day. Look out for each other and pay it all forward.
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Steel Learnin'

'66 Emmons Bolt-On, Sho-Bud LDG, Sho-Bud Fingertip, Rus-Ler D-10, '70 Emmons, P2P Bad Dawg, Fender '59 Bassman, Fender Twin Reverb and Rick Johnson Cabinets. Evans 300 Hybrid, Evans SE-100, Evans FET500, Previous and Proud previous owner of James Blonde, Brownie, and Rosalee.

Will Brown · From: Oklahoma, USA

I have a friend who within the past 3 weeks has had this same thing happen to the T.This is why I only usps on all my shiping. It's gets there faster it's cheaper you don't have to worry about theft. I ship every thing from steel guitars to bank checks etc. All these guys who have these fedx accounts that think they are great because they can print a label have them pick it up is great. We'll it isn't worth the hassle of it not getting there.I won't buy any thing that's not shipped by usps

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Will Brown · From: Oklahoma, USA

Okla.I have have a friend who owns a Harley Davidson shop.He told me he had to tell his parts jobbers to quite shipping his parts fedx.Because at least 1/4 of the boxes would be empty by the time they got to him. Ha,all you fedx users you better watch out find another shipper it's only going to get worse.Fedx dosent care they really don't spend much time invesgationing. Also I have a friend who owns a. gun shop he said he can't tell you how many guns came up missing off fedx he went to usps

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

Few years ago I sold a guitar to gentleman in Texas who mailed me a cash via FedEx, when I received it the envelope was open and then taped back closed , money was gone . I’m never doing any businesses with FedEx again
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https://steelguitarsonline.com/

mtulbert · From: Plano, Texas 75023

Check your email
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Mark T

Revelation Octal Preamp, Fractal AZE III, Fender FRFR 12

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Bill McCloskey · Posted 30 Apr 2023 12:23 pm

There are any number of digital ways to send currency, Zelle, paypal direct transfer. It's immediate and you don't have to wait. I've sent cashier's checks by fedex and never had a problem but I may only deal in digital currency from now on.

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Bill, thank you sir. I’ve sent literally dozens and dozens of cashiers checks via fed-ex without issue. I’ve also used PayPal, Venmo, CashApp and Zelle. Stoped using PayPal for many reasons of which are mainly fees. Had to reconnect my checking account and reopen my PayPal which is taking a few days now.
No more money by mail for me. Have a blessed day.
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Steel Learnin'

'66 Emmons Bolt-On, Sho-Bud LDG, Sho-Bud Fingertip, Rus-Ler D-10, '70 Emmons, P2P Bad Dawg, Fender '59 Bassman, Fender Twin Reverb and Rick Johnson Cabinets. Evans 300 Hybrid, Evans SE-100, Evans FET500, Previous and Proud previous owner of James Blonde, Brownie, and Rosalee.

mtulbert · From: Plano, Texas 75023

Not sure why the email is not working.

Here is the text

Daymon,

Feel your pain brother, and to me having a Fed Ex agent watch you put a check in an envelope sends a lot of suspicion to me and I would pursue something at your local office.

In the future. If you need to send money to continue our passion of buying and trying new steels may I suggest using registered mail. When I was in the jewelry business we used it all the time. When you send something the post office puts a cancellation stamp on every part of the envelope that is sealed. Also everyone who handles the parcel has to sign a log as it goes through the process. Never had an issue with doing things this way. More of a pain to be sure but the paper trail of everyone who handles the parcel in invaluable IMHO. Just a thought if you don't use Paypal or Venmo.

Take care and good luck.
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Mark T

Revelation Octal Preamp, Fractal AZE III, Fender FRFR 12

Will Brown · From: Oklahoma, USA

That's fine but what about the rest of this stuff coming up missing. Parts etc it's not only checks its other cargo coming up missing.I mean there got to be a end to it. But it's not till fedx figures out that most of this is inside help. But that isn't going to happen

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Excellent advice Mark and thank you for your time. What’s so crazy to is is as you know I’ve bought more steels as equipment than I care to mention. Never had much of an issue. Delays here and there but nothing terrible. Have a lease day.
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Steel Learnin'

'66 Emmons Bolt-On, Sho-Bud LDG, Sho-Bud Fingertip, Rus-Ler D-10, '70 Emmons, P2P Bad Dawg, Fender '59 Bassman, Fender Twin Reverb and Rick Johnson Cabinets. Evans 300 Hybrid, Evans SE-100, Evans FET500, Previous and Proud previous owner of James Blonde, Brownie, and Rosalee.

Dennis Montgomery · From: Western Washington

Wow. What a nightmare...I can't believe the fraud dept of your bank wouldn't back you up on the initial $1750. That is completely outrageous and clearly the worst example of customer service I've heard regarding something so obviously fraudulent.

Thanks for the warning about FedEx...we live in rural WA state and do all our shipping from the local UPS Store where we also have a box and receive all our packages. Have sent and received a few pedal steels through our UPS store and luckily have never had a problem.

I hope since other checks were generated from the first stolen one that the bank reverses it's original decision and you get the entire amount refunded Winking

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Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Well that's pretty disturbing. Especially the part about the bank not giving you the help you need. Didn't realize thieves can dup your check for more theft. Sorry this happened to you. Guess I need to be more vigilant in my own dealings.

I'm sure hoping this gets resolved quickly.

Will Brown · From: Oklahoma, USA

They do what they call washing a check. We're they put it in a solution take off the amount name etc make exact to the T copy and cash them. My buddy had to close and open a checking account 3 times before all the fake checks came through at the sum of 15000.00 but his bank made all of it good. These scammers know all the tricks and catching them good luck almost impossable

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Not only time to dump FedEx, but time to switch banks.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Mark Shuda · From: Wisconsin, USA

Whoever the seller of the fingertip is……Daymon will do good by the transaction.
He is a trusted longtime forum member and he does what he says! Unfortunately, it looks like a good deal of his steel guitar funds have been frozen! A tough deal to swallow!

As a side note , in the last three weeks there has been a Nigerian fraud ring targeting the wider steel guitar Community on Facebook.

They have infiltrated Marketplace and most Steel Guitar interest groups have been compromised. They advertised deals that are “ too good to be true” and ask for payment through Zelle or Venmo, which offer no buyer protection.

They do return phone calls , and you can recognize their dialect as South African.

Moral of story, if it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true! Don’t buy a guitar online without talking to seller first, and if seller doesn’t know who Lloyd Green is, he’s probably not a real seller!

Be careful out there! It’s getting worse!
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Mark Twang

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

Dennis Montgomery · From: Western Washington

Steve Hitsman · From: Waterloo, IL

Venmo... no need to mail checks.

Keith Bolog · From: Wisconsin, USA

There is fraud practiced in every digital transaction method too and new diabolical schemes are being created every day.
I fear AI will really accelerate fraud, its the end of reality as we know it. I expect a post here soon about an AI fraudster that learned enough about you to sucker you into a transaction which parts you with your money. The phrase 'a fool and his money' no longer applies....these fake 'people' are incredibly authentic sounding.

I shudder to think that most digital accounts are interconnected to a bank account or two, so that if one is hacked, others may domino.

A thumbs up for FedEx here - when there is legitimate loss or damage they are way easier to settle than USPS, in my experience.

I hope you are able to recover the funds.
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Sustainability is unsustainable

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I won't give FedEx a thumbs up.
They damaged a guitar for me and I wound up having to take them to small claims court to get a settlement. The judge ruled 100% in my favor but they still didn't want to settle up. I had to send the sheriff after them. Whoa!

Erv

Will Brown · From: Oklahoma, USA

I won't use them period

Daymon LaPoint · From: Jasper, Texas

We’re working through this and it’ll get fixed quickly. Seller is being beyond patient and it’ll all be fine. Thanks for y’alls wisdom!!
_________________
Steel Learnin'

'66 Emmons Bolt-On, Sho-Bud LDG, Sho-Bud Fingertip, Rus-Ler D-10, '70 Emmons, P2P Bad Dawg, Fender '59 Bassman, Fender Twin Reverb and Rick Johnson Cabinets. Evans 300 Hybrid, Evans SE-100, Evans FET500, Previous and Proud previous owner of James Blonde, Brownie, and Rosalee.

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

That TRULY stinks. So sorry for you, and what you're dealing with.

I have to say, I guess because of the age demographic, so many here refuse to use Paypal for transactions. But, for me, the cost is well worth it, as there's at least some form of protection for both parties. (yes, yes...I know the exceptions, etc).

Everyone, please deal wisely and safely.......and hope this mess works itself out ok!

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