DID I GET SCREWED?!

Okay, I just recieved a so called "Mystery" helmet in the mail that I ordered from ebay. And I am a little unhappy with it. It was promised to have been sanded and smooth, but in fact there were many "tags" on it that need to be removed. These pictures show the helmet AS IS, right out of the box, so I didn't monkey around with it or anything. AND, the ears, rangefinder, etc, didn't come, as they were promised. So I don't know what this clown on ebay was thinking. I have slim to no modeling skills. So I am going to need all the advice I can get. First question, should I try to get my money back? Or should I try fixing it? Here are the pictures.

im pretty new here, but i would say get your $'s back. i think you can find allot of lids that are ready to go and not requiring repair before you get started.

just my 2 cents

slaveR5

WOW. Definitely do what you can to get your money back. That's recast, and terrible one at that.

Depends.....if you got it for a steal then i would say do a bit of sanding and it should be alright....Most of the damage looks to be in the right visor area and above which will be removed and you can sand up that area and it wont even be noticable once's you've painted it....But....if you payed a handfull for it i would say return it and get your money back

woa how much did u pay for that thing?! get your money back as soon as possible! thats a piece of ****, and thats no mystery sized, looks like don post. contact that guy as soon as possible

DID I GET SCREWED?!

Yes....yes you did Seriously dude have some serious words with the seller, that is not only poor craftmanship, thats just plain not right! How much did you pay?

DA

I payed $165.00 for this monstrosity. So do you think that there is any hope for this helmet?

Originally Posted by cookiemongoloid

I payed $165.00 for this monstrosity. So do you think that there is any hope for this helmet?

geez u could got a really good mystery bucket for about that much on here, return it as soon as possible.

$165.00

If you paid anywhere over 100 to 150.00 for this I would get my money back, but good luck on that. It might be easier just to count your losses and practice painting on this 1st bucket. Later you can get a way better bucket, and by that time, you will have some skills under your belt.

Sent it back!

If seller reinburses you $120 keep it, the way it is.. its not worth more than $45..too much of your time to sand and fill.

Just looking at it i can tell you that once you start to sand it there will be air pockets and thin layers...

Should have talked to Marrow Sun....

Yes. I payed $165.00 for this. Once again, it was promised to come with all the other pieces (except for the stalk), and it came with none. I got it on ebay. Here's the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

yeah this seller in my opinion is bad JU JU!!
Luckily for me a fellow THD'er warned me about these sellers bad recast. Sorry man. If you paid with Paypal just open a dispute as 'recieved item, but was not what was described'. Go that route if the seller is a ********* and won't give you a full refund (including shipping)

Also be highly suspecious of ebay auctions that are private.

did you use paypal? i would contact paypal and file a refund on it...

A terrible shame....$165 is pure rape....the seller should be utterly ashamed of himself. If you get stuck with it,I've got some ears and a stalk I might be able to help you with. They're for a DP Deluxe,but should fit a "Mystery" (even a recast).

Good luck with the refund.

Steve

WARNING!
Paypal will likely NOT help you at all if you say that you "Got the item but it was not as described".

They'll say that you got something, so the dispute is between you and the seller.
How did you fund the Paypal transaction?
If credit card, you may have some comeback through your CC company.

Looking at the auction, the helmet you recieved is NOT the item pictured.
You might want to email eBay themselves, and point out that this is in breach of *Insert local trading standards laws here*.

Okay thanks.

or what you can do than...is play his game, say you didn't get nothing at all (does he have a delivery confimation on the box? it is a neon green slip)
In fact there is an opition there in paypal that you can mark as getting 'a box of bricks'
Just say you got a fiberglass dome that doens't look like anything!
BTW you wouldn't really be stretching the truth by much

Try this means of course if the seller doesn't want to work with you.

This guy's story has changed a bit over the years. It used to be that he had only a limited number of helmets from a fan film that never happened. Then he bought a bunch of how-to mold/fiberglass kits (someone went into his feedback and saw the ebay purchases lol) and started selling a couple each month. The quality hasn't improved at all apparently.

I have to admit that I bought a helmet from him a while back before I knew better and it arrived crushed. He sent me a new one and I kept the old one. If you can get your money back and return it i'd go that route- he is reasonable and that helmet doesn't look like the one in the auction at all! No sanding... paleeeeze.

If you are stuck with it I think you can beat it into shape with a dremmel, bondo, and some tlc.

Good luck!

And I would wait to get your money back and then give him some very negative feedback on ebay. That helmet is brutal.

pay pal will not help you with items "not as described" ebay will be more help if you had some type of protection or insurance. Otherwise if you want a refund he most likely will want the item returned - and this is the risky part - he can no longer be trusted, and may say the box came empty.... eat the loss and chalk it up to expierence - (and buy some clay to scratch build....)

screwed is an understatement

I hope he bought you dinner before that!

or at least gave you some helmet

looks like it was made from custard......seriosly....not that bad apart from the warped mandibles...........it will take a lot of work to sort them out...buy lots of bondo & sand paper................good luck........ :moon

Haha. It looks like a birthday cake.

So should I email the guy first with the problem? or just go straight to ebay?

Was the box beaten up when you got it?
Email him first, and do it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The box is fine. I really doubt the problem was with the shipping. It's hard to see in the photos, but it looks to me like the seller dropped it, and tried to repair the dmage with some sort of gunk, and did the SLOPPIEST job at doing it. The helmet isn't really so bad aside from that big error on the left mandible and the all-around roughness of it. I am just pissed off becuase it was clearly NOT in the same condition that it was said to be in, and it did NOT come with everything it said it would.

I just sent the seller of the defective helmet an email. here is is


"I recieved your helmet today, and I couldn't help but notice that it is in pretty poor condition. It said that no sanding or anything was requierd, but there is in fact a LOT of sanding that is required. Above the left cheek (mandible), there is some severe damage. Also, all of the parts that were supposed to come with the helmet were not there;
-the hollow rangefinder
-the resin ear pieces
-the refrence CD
-the color list
-and the stalk we agreed about via email
Please e-mail me back ASAP. Thanks.

Jim "

the hole is nothing....it the warped front that will be hard to work out.......

id send some pics as well, but I hope you hear back from the guy. If not ill add him to my list of bad sellers. I have a link on my web site at the bottom such and such list (can't have the real wording here). But I hate people like this guy that are just out there to burn others.

"This helmet requires no sanding or removal of unsightly seams. Who knows what you'll get from someone else"

Just plain Dishonest!!!! 0 tolerance

Be descriptive if you leave negative feedback. To save others from your mishap.

Aside from the crappyness of the helmet quality, how is it as far as the shape goes?

Again another one of our members duped by this guy. FYI he is a member here at the TDH. Funny how he never speaks up to defend his unreal workmanship. To take a quote from his auction, " Who knows what you'll get from someone else!"
Man if this is the good stuff I hate to see what the **** is!

Originally Posted by MARROW SUN

Again another one of our members duped by this guy. FYI he is a member here at the TDH. Funny how he never speaks up to defend his unreal workmanship. To take a quote from his auction, " Who knows what you'll get from someone else!"
Man if this is the good stuff I hate to see what the **** is!

wait hes a member here? COME ON OUT YOU COWARD!!! FESS UP AND TAKE YOUR WELL EARNED BEETING!!!!!

Cookie, can you tell me more about your "deal" with the RF stalk? Is it the same one he has pictured in his auctions? If it is, it is a recast from the aluminum ones I have offered to the board. I contacted that seller & asked that he not make copies of these & sell them anymore which he agreed to. I have noticed that he has not changed his auction pictures & that the RF stalk is clearly visible. Is he offering these outside of ebay? PM me if you don't want to go into it here.

To bigkidbiggertoys. Let me apologize in advance because I had no idea this douche was copying your stalks. What happened was after I purchased this guy's helmet, I was thinking that I'd need a stalk. I saw that he had one in the picture, and I asked if he would be willing to sell one to me for an additional cost. He told me he'd throw it in the pack free of charge. That's all. But not only did he NOT throw in the stalk, he didn't even send me the items that he said he would. ( sorry to sound repetitive I am just pissed).

If this guy (amiadfilter) is reading this, I'm not going to give you bad feeback. Just make things right. I'll send the helmet back, you just send me the $185.00 back. In fact, I'll even pay for the shipping, just give me $165.00. I'll give you good feedback for making things right if you follow through. As for helmets, Marrow Sun, I believe I sent you a PM. I'm going with that. Oh, and anyone know what kind of airbrush I should get? I have a Rubie's Jango helmet that I want to test paint on. So im going airbrush shopping this weekend. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by cookiemongoloid

I payed $165.00 for this monstrosity. So do you think that there is any hope for this helmet?

OUCH! RETURN THAT! For close to the same price you can buy a VERY nice bucket from one of the members here ready to go with ALL the parts minus the t-visor.

Pm sent.

It's probably not my place to say, but many of our own members here have fallen prey to this guys auctions and have complained about the poor craftmanship,... yet still leave positive feedback. Perhaps you might be able to stop someone in the future from being ripped off by leaving the apropriate feedback. Unfortunatly I can understand there is the fear of retaliation from the seller which is an issue Ebay really needs to deal with.

You are absolutely right MS. Because honestly, that is one of the reasons I bought from him. He had all positive feedback. If someone had the sack to give him negative feedback, I wouldn't be in this postition I am currently in. But I do understand why they gave him positive feedback, as you said, retaliation. You can't give someone negative feedback without getting negative feedback from them. Oh well. If he makes this transaction smooth and is very nice about returning my money, I'll consider neutral or positive.

Crikey and I was considering this helmet too. Sorry you had to deal with this but at least there are those who will learn a lesson, for that - thanks. I hope it all gets resolved well. Too bad these things sell every other week. Ebay is a tough place to trust in what you're getting with props of all sorts.

Yeah dude. Do NOT buy this helmet, get one from Marrow Sun, that's what I am doing. I really wish I could warn everybody not to buy this guys helmet without giving him negative feedback. Oh well. This website should just have a banner saying "Do NOT buy helmets from ebay, unles they are from Marrow Sun." And show a picture of me and my helmet looking pissed off.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LET IT RIP BABY.LOL

CAST IT INTO THE FIRE!!! DESTROY IT!!!!!

Why don't we have a "sticky" Sellers to avoid for present and future members?
Perhaps this is something the Mods could discuss.

a what?

A sticky goes up on the top and stays there as a thread so it never drops...I think that is a great idea!

Originally Posted by MARROW SUN

Why don't we have a "sticky" Sellers to avoid for present and future members?
Perhaps this is something the Mods could discuss.

Ill bang on that drum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by MARROW SUN

Why don't we have a "sticky" Sellers to avoid for present and future members?
Perhaps this is something the Mods could discuss.

YEAH, what he said!

OH okay. Yes please do. I wish you guys had this 2 weeks ago. That would have saved me a bundle of trouble.

Take it home skillet has not answerd yet

Originally Posted by MARROW SUN

Why don't we have a "sticky" Sellers to avoid for present and future members?
Perhaps this is something the Mods could discuss.

I agree totally with this, its thanks to Jordy that I avoided getting one of those helmets, he the man

How can someone live with themselves, KNOWING they're selling highly missrepresented, seriously sub-standard items, for soo much money? If it looks that bad on the outside, I hate to see what the lamination looks like.


I'm not sure the mods could put up a "black list" sticky, without reprecussions of some sort, but it may be helpfull in avoiding these types of dissapointments.

Originally Posted by cookiemongoloid

You are absolutely right MS. Because honestly, that is one of the reasons I bought from him. He had all positive feedback. If someone had the sack to give him negative feedback, I wouldn't be in this postition I am currently in. But I do understand why they gave him positive feedback, as you said, retaliation. You can't give someone negative feedback without getting negative feedback from them. Oh well. If he makes this transaction smooth and is very nice about returning my money, I'll consider neutral or positive.

Sorry to butt in here, but I really think you should give him NEGATIVE feedback if he doesn't try to sort this out and gives you a refund. To heck with the fact that he may give you negative feedback in return - you can always reply to the negative feedback he left to explain your side of the story for other eBay users to see and you can dispute to eBay that you think the feedback left was inappropriate and may be able to have it removed.

Why be so afraid of a leaving neg feedback... that will only ensure that others fall into the same situation as you.

Just my 42 cents - from a guy who got screwed and left neg feedback and had neg feedback left basically blaming ME of the whole situation. (Before I knew the deadline for PayPal refund claims)

GIVE HIM THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, SO OTHERS WILL KNOW WHAT HE IS: A SCAMMER!

(Sorry for yelling.)

It turns out, this whole time, the guy was emailing me responding to my messages VIA email. I was expecing mail from ebay, (becaise I didnt resognize his email address.) Anyway, he was really nice about me wanting to return the helmet. He apologized that I wasn't happy with my helmet. He also told me that he hopes that I find a good helmet in the future. Now that is good customer service. I think I'm going to give him a postive, but my mesage will say that I returned the helmet because it was in **** condition. At the least I will give him a neutral. I am not a believer in revenge, especially when the other party tries to make things right. Sorry that I am probably dissapointing most of you, if there are any objections, please let me know. And for Marrow Sun, I will be purchasing one of your helmets when I get my money back. And I told him not to reproduce your helmets. Thanks.

Nah, not disappointed. Actually good service... it would just have been a better service if he had sold a better helmet instead of something that looked like it had been run over.

Well it's been months, has the Seller come through with your Promised Refund?

If not, please do everyone a Favor, mention his name here as a Warning to others, and save them from the hassle you went through!

Well, here's how it all went down. In short, no, that SOB didn't gieve me my money back nor did he EVER send me the parts he owes me. What happened is he initially agreed to do a return. So that was all fine and dandy. But we didn't really work out all the details concerning shipping. We just confirmed that he was willing to refund me. Well, a week later, I get really sick, and I am out of commission for a week. I didn'e send the helmet yet (because we didn't work the details out about shipping and all). So I email the guy asking about the details. I get no response. 2 days later, I mail him again. Still, absolutely no response. And then after trying maybe 3 more time, and still getting no response. I tell him I'll keep his crummy helmet, but I want the stuff that was promised to come with it in the auction (it was supposed to come with earcaps, a hollow RF, a RF stalk, and a refrence CD. I got none of it. And evrey month or so, I email him asking when is he going to send the parts, but he of course never responds.

So for those who didn't feel like reading all of that, here is what you need to know; he screwed me, and will probably continue to screw more of you. He will probably try to screw ALL of you. His name on ebay is amiadfilter.

Here is the EXACT auction I won. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1

If you buy using paypal... REPORT HIM!!! Paypal is quite strict if they get complaints.

I did use paypal, but this was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.

Once again I probably just got lucky. I bought one of this guy's helmets too. Mine wasn't in as near as bad shape as cookie's and I got all of the parts.

Be that as it may, although the paint job I have put on this thing makes it look like an MS helmet, the clean up job has been nuts for a helmet that shouldn't have taken the effort it has to make wearable.

I'm hoping to be able to finish mine and then sell it in ready to go wearable condition and also get an MS helmet. My real problem is this thing is too big for my head.

Did you put padding inside? If it's too big, perhaps you should look towards a smaller model of helmet, perhaps a Don Post?

Was this your feedback to him?

Helmet not quite as clean as advertised, Nov-14-05 22:02
but decent piece overall.

Of so, why not Name him here since someone already mentioned that he's a member here? He should be held accountable since he can't keep a simple promise!

If you don't feel like "Outing" him, then I suggest that you contact someone from the Dented Helmet like Mirax H (Admin Staff) and explain what transpired and who it really is, then let Staff deal with him.

Originally Posted by cookiemongoloid

I did use paypal, but this was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.

You can get the extra pieces from MS for that, and I'll still help you fix it if you want. All hope is not lost, with some effort that actually can be made into a pretty darn good bucket.

BEWARE trying to get free stuff, after we agreed they then left us negative


Reply by amiadfilter: Wrong. Tried to resolve, seller changed story multiple times, slow to respond.

I'm guessing that was your rating

Dude, out him. AND report him to the mods.

Wes

Junst an FYI that exact one was on my watch list and I was kinda bummed when I saw that the auction was ended early with buy it now, now I am SO glad that I didn't

Originally Posted by judz dwedd

How can someone live with themselves, KNOWING they're selling highly missrepresented, seriously sub-standard items, for soo much money? If it looks that bad on the outside, I hate to see what the lamination looks like.


I'm not sure the mods could put up a "black list" sticky, without reprecussions of some sort, but it may be helpfull in avoiding these types of dissapointments.

Agreed, noone who has any pride in there work sends a bondo'ed up sloppy mold such as that. Looks like another Marrow dupe at that. do yourself a favor and try real hard to get your money back, if not take a hard pill and get another helmet, I know it sucks but it happens. I have payed 400 for a jet pack I never got and eBay didnt even care.

Besides even if you fix it up you will always know everytime you put it on that a thief made things you are wearing, I just couldnt do it.

Marrow Sun, is that Helmet a recast of one of yours?

Originally Posted by cal196

Agreed, noone who has any pride in there work sends a bondo'ed up sloppy mold such as that. Looks like another Marrow dupe at that. do yourself a favor and try real hard to get your money back, if not take a hard pill and get another helmet, I know it sucks but it happens. I have payed 400 for a jet pack I never got and eBay didnt even care.

Besides even if you fix it up you will always know everytime you put it on that a thief made things you are wearing, I just couldnt do it.

Just looks like an MS1 is all. same mandible cut and everything, could be its not. I dont have as sharp of an eye as some people for these things though.

How well was this item packaged?

Originally Posted by propsculptor

Was this your feedback to him?

Helmet not quite as clean as advertised, Nov-14-05 22:02
but decent piece overall.

Originally Posted by Satxer

Quote:
BEWARE trying to get free stuff, after we agreed they then left us negative


Reply by amiadfilter: Wrong. Tried to resolve, seller changed story multiple times, slow to respond.


I'm guessing that was your rating

No, niether of them were my ratings or responses. I unfortunately gave him the benefit of the doubt, I waited for him to send the parts that the owed me (that never came). And unfortunately, ebay's policy, is that after a month without giving the other party a rating, it won't let you do it anymore. I waited a month, and one day, "My ebay" did not give the option of leaving any kind of feedback...as if the auction suddenly dissapeared. Weird aint it?

Originally Posted by propsculptor

Was this your feedback to him?

Helmet not quite as clean as advertised, Nov-14-05 22:02
but decent piece overall.

Of so, why not Name him here since someone already mentioned that he's a member here? He should be held accountable since he can't keep a simple promise!

If you don't feel like "Outing" him, then I suggest that you contact someone from the Dented Helmet like Mirax H (Admin Staff) and explain what transpired and who it really is, then let Staff deal with him.

I don't mind outing him. His name is Geoff Higgins, and his ebay user account is amiadfilter. Never buy from him. Here's what the auction looked like. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1

Woah is that bad!
I’m so sorry to see that!
Some people really aught to be ashamed with the **** they try to sell!

I really hope it all works out for you.


If you cant get your money back, you can fix it - it will just take a lot of work.

Cookie, we can go know on his door.... it will cost you some cookie tickets though

Originally Posted by cookiemongoloid

I don't mind outing him. His name is Geoff Higgins, and his ebay user account is amiadfilter. Never buy from him. Here's what the auction looked like. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1

Isn't "outting him" against TDH rules?

Mentioning the guys name?! heck yeah! His ebay handle? perhaps...

I don't think that they've changed that part of the CoC...

I am sure the mods have seen and monitored this thread so hopefully they can apply some pressure to this apparent TDH'er.

In all fairness I don't think this guy should be able to hide behind the COC, however that being said should it have been the mods to "out" him? I guess that is the mods call, although I think the more light on this situation the better.

As I heard in a movie once "There's no sense in getting all riled up when the world wants to play a prank on you, in the end the universe tends to unflod as it should." But about the bucket, it is fixable, but at the price you paid you should't have to fix it up.

BTW, he is no longer a member here. Someone, (I forgot who) confirmed that was not a member here any longer. Giving his name isn't really outing him, it's only fair. He scewed me, and I just want to make sure this never happens to anyone ever again. hell, if I screwed someone, I wouldn't expect anything less from the person I screwed. And being that I have his address, and he lives in the same state as I do, I should go drive by and **** on his porch, but I'm not. And TRULY outing him would be to give his address here, which I am not...unless someone want it...PM me for details lol. JKJK.

PM sent.

j/k! ell oh ell!

How did that bucket turn out?

Lucky, you got all your stuff.

Originally Posted by t_bone9600

Attachment 10015

wow, you got lucky! the keyholes in the back look great. mine were more blobs than anything else.

so glad to have gotten rid of that thing...

Originally Posted by t_bone9600

I too bought one of these helmets a while back. However mine wasn't that bad. It was packed very well and he even threw in a RF Stalk, a BKBT stalk recast. Here are some pics of the helmet after some cutting, cleaning off most of the "gelcoat" primer, bondo and sanding.
Attachment 10013

Attachment 10014

Attachment 10015

So what your point, he's not a 100% A-hole?

Originally Posted by GCNgamer128

How did that bucket turn out?

I'm not sure yet. I've been toying with a lot of other projects. I just recently got around to starting the paintwork. I think it looks pretty good so far. I'm doing the layer thing. When I'm done putting all the coats of paint I'm gonna start chipping and scratching. I'll post more pics when I'm done.

Originally Posted by t_bone9600

I'm not sure yet. I've been toying with a lot of other projects. I just recently got around to starting the paintwork. I think it looks pretty good so far. I'm doing the layer thing. When I'm done putting all the coats of paint I'm gonna start chipping and scratching. I'll post more pics when I'm done.

Yeah keep us ubdated.