The Drop Zone: Very Bad Trader Alert

Doctor Thunder · Post by **Doctor Thunder** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:04 pm

More then Six weeks after receiving money and nothing has been received. The Drop Zone refuses to respond to the emails, personal messages, and phone messages I have been sending for the last three weeks. It is beyond unprofesional to ignore customers like this, and I regret that this is the only course of action left to me. I would have been glad to resolve the matter another way, but nothing can be done when a seller refuses to respond.

Here's the transaction details when the money was sent to The Drop Zone

Transaction Details

Payment Sent (ID #4R426233WF0012357)
Business Name:
rlecomputers
Email:
rlecomputrers@bellsouth.net
Business Contact Information

Customer Service Email: rlecomputrers@bellsouth.net
Customer Service Phone: 803-802-5280

Total Amount:
-$37.20 USD
Date:
Nov. 14, 2006
Time:
05:16:18 PST
Status:
Completed
Subject:
Wave Serpent Sprues and Mekboy Backpack

Funding Type:
PayPal Funds
Funding Source:
$37.20 USD - PayPal Account

Here's the Personal Messages that lead up to the transaction:

From: The Drop Zone ( 110 )
To: Doctor Thunder
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:19 am
Subject: eldar bitz
i have a store and i offer 20% discount on bitz with free shipping on a 20.00 order
if i can help let me know
thanks
robert

_________________
The Drop Zone
3700 Avenue of the carolinas
Ft Mill SC 29708
www.dropzoneonline.ecrater.com
thedropzoneonline@gmail.com

From: Doctor Thunder ( 30 )
To: The Drop Zone
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:43 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz

Do you allow bitz orders of plastic bits? If so, you can help.

Let me know how much the bitz in question would be, so that I can start putting an order together.

Thanks.

From: The Drop Zone ( 100 )
To: Doctor Thunder
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:23 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz
you can go online and find out the bitz that you want if you send me the part numbers of what you want i cna order them from gw
direct
disocunt price is 20% off of what they list
i do not break up boxes

free shipping on a 20.00 order thanks
Robert

_________________
The Drop Zone
3700 Avenue of the carolinas
Ft Mill SC 29708
www.dropzoneonline.ecrater.com
thedropzoneonline@gmail.com

From: Doctor Thunder ( 30 )
To: The Drop Zone
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:05 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz

Okay, I think we may be able to work something out here. I'm assuming that you can get sprues so long as there is a part number associated with them, and I'm guessing that you take paypal. Let me know, and, if the answer to both questions is yes, then I'll put together an order.

From: The Drop Zone ( 100 )
To: Doctor Thunder
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:51 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz
yes and yes
hehehe see that was easy

now just so you are aware i dont make much off of bitz orders at all usually just enough to cover the shipping so this is a bonus type of deal
if you use paypal as a business paypal charges me 4.5% so i have to add that or else id lose money sorry

im able to take your order anytime.. usually its 5-8 days to gte bitz orders from gw

regular stock stuff from them is 3 days
Robert

_________________
The Drop Zone
3700 Avenue of the carolinas
Ft Mill SC 29708
www.dropzoneonline.ecrater.com
thedropzoneonline@gmail.com

From: Doctor Thunder ( 30 )
To: The Drop Zone
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:41 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz

Okay, I'm fine with all that. Let's get this ball rolling, then.

Here's the list of what I want to order:
3 Eldar Wave Serpent Sprue 99390104004 $6.00 each subtotal $18.00
6 Eldar Wave Serpent Weapon Sprue 99390104005 $4.00 each subtotal $24.00
1 Mekboy Backpack 1 9947040300503 $2.50 each subtotal $2.50

Total retail from GW website: $44.50

Let me know what my total will be and what paypal address you'd like the money sent to, and I'll get you the money right away. If everything goes smoothly, I'll definately use your services in the future.

From: The Drop Zone ( 100 )
To: Doctor Thunder
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:43 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz
Aaron
your total is
35.60 after disocunt
with paypal total is
37.20

rlecomputers@bellsouth.net
is my paypal account

Ill order the bitz tomorrow should be here by end of next week
Thanks
Robert

_________________
The Drop Zone
3700 Avenue of the carolinas
Ft Mill SC 29708
www.dropzoneonline.ecrater.com
thedropzoneonline@gmail.com

Here are just a few of the numerous emails I sent to The Drop Zone regarding this transaction:

From: Doctor Thunder ( 30 )
To: The Drop Zone
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:34 pm
Subject: Re: eldar bitz
Howdy, just wanted to touch bases with you and see if my sprues got sent off to me yet.
Thanks a bunch.

Sent : Monday, December 25, 2006 4:13 PM
Subject : Need Update on Unreceived order, a month and a half overdue

Hello.

On November 14th, I sent in money via paypal (ID #4R426233WF0012357) for three Wave Serpent hull sprues (with the extended hull bit), and six Wave Serpent weapon sprues (with all the weapons options for the Serpent), and a single Mekboy backpack.

Please contact me immeadiatly regarding my order. If I have not heard from the Drop Zone by the end of the year, then I will be forced to initiate the recovery of the money, but I'd really rather not have to do that. I'd rather just get what I ordered.

From: Doctor Thunder ( 30 )
To: The Drop Zone
Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:59 am
Subject: Re: eldar bitz

Can you please contact me regarding this order that I paid for. I have left phone messages, I have left pm's, and I have sent emails. There is no reason why you should not have gotten in contact with me yet. You have posted several messages today, so I know that you have been logged in. Please contact me, there are only 24 hours left in the deadline I gave. After that, I'll have no choice but to reclaim the money and post a thread in the bad trader forum.

What is particularly troubling for me is that The Drop Zone used PM's as a way of solicting that eventually lead to fraud, since his original contact was not in regard to any particular listing, and I would appreciate the Mod's looking into this matter.

Alsiaie · Post by **Alsiaie** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:40 pm

Doctor Thunder wrote:More then Six weeks after receiving money and nothing has been received. The Drop Zone refuses to respond to the emails, personal messages, and phone messages I have been sending for the last three weeks. It is beyond unprofesional to ignore customers like this, and I regret that this is the only course of action left to me. I would have been glad to resolve the matter another way, but nothing can be done when a seller refuses to respond.

I can tell you right now that Drop Zone has several active logs and posts on this site within the last six weeks. However it appears you have only included PMs/emails that have been sent by dropzone. I would suggest including all correspondence that you have sent as well. Having active logs, I can not think of a single excuse for dropzone to not reach any contact with you. I don't give a flying fairy if there's actual issues with GW/distributor shipping. If dropzone is unable to acquire the items for your order, he should have contacted you.

now just so you are aware i dont make much off of bitz orders at all usually just enough to cover the shipping so this is a bonus type of deal
if you use paypal as a business paypal charges me 4.5% so i have to add that or else id lose money sorry

This is a 3/4-lie. I did some research on this. Regardless of account type, pay pal will charge no more than 2.9% on transactions. I have contacted other people who own online stores reguarding this. I have no doubt most if not all business use the higher end paypal accounts. However on top of the 2.9%, there is that $0.30 fee. Depending on the amount received, the additional $0.30 could become 4.5%. It would take a pretty small transaction to increase that percentage that high. (Less than $20 may do it) But that's not the point. 30 cents hardly breaks the bank. I too questioned this gimic when I had placed a personal order with him. I did it anyways due to the fact I already had the funds and the extra charge was only about $1.50. This is simply another method of profit. Illegal? No.

What is particularly troubling for me is that The Drop Zone used PM's as a way of solicting that eventually lead to fraud, since his original contact was not in regard to any particular listing, and I would appreciate the Mod's looking into this matter.

Dropzone is a paying advertiser with bartertown. This does give him the right to solicit his product within a reasonable amount on this site. This may include PMs. But in my actual opinion, all members have the right to use their Inboxes for strictly PMs. PM stands for Personal Message. Not advertisement dropbox. I will bring this issue up with the mod group to see if there is a way to add "ignore" features to their PM boxes. I'm not quite sure if bbPHP has the ability to do this.

Meridian · Post by **Meridian** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:21 pm

Wow As of late I have been seeing The Drop Zone talked about alot here in the Bad Trader forum by several very unhappy people. ADMIN EDIT

Thanks: Meridian

Alsiaie · Post by **Alsiaie** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:37 pm

To keep things fair, I do ask that people refrain from excessive bashing. We of course always encourage support from all members to give opinions on bad situations, but use common sense on keeping this on topic to the author's transaction. If you have your own personal dealing with this store it may be to your advantage to create your own thread. (Don't forget proof!)

Datadep5 · Post by **Datadep5** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:21 pm

In agreence with Alsiaie, get the PM's you sent to drop zone up here.

Don't forget to check out the other bad trader reports. Most recent was a created by nitsky, which is about two posts down.

Spire_182 · Post by **Spire_182** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:42 pm

Doctor Thunder wrote:Here's the Personal Messages I recieved from The Drop Zone that lead up to the transaction.

Doctor Thunder wrote:What is particularly troubling for me is that The Drop Zone used PM's as a way of solicting that eventually lead to fraud, since his original contact was not in regard to any particular listing, and I would appreciate the Mod's looking into this matter.

So, you didn't have an ad up somewhere looking for Eldar Bits??

I know I got a PM from the Drop Zone offering a 20% discount after I put up an ad looking for Landspeeders. When this thread popped up, I responded to his PM and sent him the link and a "you might want to take care of this" and got a quick response to both. So somewhere along the line, communications are breaking down between buyer and seller again. Not making excuses for him or anything.

You can also consider PayPal's claim resolution system to try and get your money back.

Good Luck getting this resolved.

Mark

starslayer · Post by **starslayer** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:46 pm

He did state previously he was having problems getting messages/emails. But I understand that will only get you so far, for so long.
Give him a chance to reply to this here and correct the problem.

nitsky416 · Post by **nitsky416** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:35 pm

ADMIN EDIT

Alsiaie · Post by **Alsiaie** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:43 pm

Wow that is a surprise actually nitsky. I had thought DZ had followed through on fixing his previous BTR. This has become interesting indeed. Has he not even given you any contact in two weeks?

nitsky416 · Post by **nitsky416** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:18 pm

ADMIN EDIT

Alsiaie · Post by **Alsiaie** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:32 pm

nitsky416 wrote: and as I said, I poked Lin but haven't heard back from him yet.

Sometimes you have to smack him with a baseball bat to get his attention. With Lin being on baby doodie duty, he can be very busy.

horthgar · Post by **horthgar** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:54 pm

Let s not forget also that it is a holiday season. I m sure the folks here would like a little time with their families also.

Horthgar

( 108 ) · Post by **Linrandir** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:41 pm

Yes yes yes, Lin is around. I did say I *generally* get back to people within 24 - 48 hours of their contacting me.

I just sent nitsky a reply, so put the bats away.

I called Robert Saturday and we talked for rather a while about Nitsky and other 'late-shipping' issues, all of which center around ordering bits from GW. I would not be surprised to hear that Drop Zone cancels his bits ordering service, but that's neither here nor there. He's stated that he had placed the order for Nitsky's bits but has yet to hear back from GW, at all.
I've heard a similar story from several retailers both local and online that GW has pretty much ceased responding to them in the month of December. My LGS owner told me that GW actually closed their doors for the week preceding Christmas, no explanations given. Obviously, I can't confirm the story but I thought it might be relevant.

I would ask that, following my post, people refrain from replying until Drop Zone gets a chance to defend himself.

Thanks!
Lin

kturock · Post by **kturock** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:53 am

i got bits from DZ. along with an order for box sets. the box sets took a week. the bits almost 4. why? because it took GW about 2 to get them to him. and about a week for him to get them to me. [average turn around time].
this is the way i see it, and what rob mostly confirmed to my on the phone.
he orders bits from GW, i'd GUESS once a week.
then they fill them when they can, how they can and as they can.
then he has to check the order to verify he got all he ordered.
then he has to sort all the bits out, and fill others orders with them.
then pack and mail them.

i THINK DZ and bits isn't his primary business. from the name on the charge card receipts, he does something with computers. so that would mean, at least to me, he has other customers with orders to fill.

ADMIN EDIT

The Drop Zone · Post by **The Drop Zone** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:42 am

Name:
Aaron Yeager
Email:
aaron_yeager15@hotmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Amount:
-$37.20 USD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:
Jan. 1, 2007
Time:
17:33:54 PST
Status:
Completed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note:
Bitz Refund
Shipping Address:
rlecomputers
622 saratoga dr
clover, SC 29710
United States
Confirmed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Funding Type:
PayPal Funds and Instant Transfer

He has received his full refund

yes i am no longer taking any bitz orders

Fyi for a follow up

Aaron do not exxagerate you trying to contact me for 3 weeks i have recieved the first email from you dated december 25th
here is the copy of your email

i dont know what math you use but seeing as how today is january 1 and you sent this dec 25 th how do you get 3 weeks from 8 days?

from Aaron Yeager <aaron_yeager15> hide details 12/25/06
to rlecomputrers@bellsouth.net
cc thedropzoneonline@gmail.com
date Dec 25, 2006 6:13 PM
subject Need Update on Unreceived order, a month and a half overdue
mailed-by hotmail.com

Hello.

On November 14th, I sent in money via paypal (ID #4R426233WF0012357) for
three Wave Serpent hull sprues (with the extended hull bit), and six Wave
Serpent weapon sprues (with all the weapons options for the Serpent), and a
single Mekboy backpack.

It has been a month and a half, and I still have not received my order. I
had called over the phone and been assured that the order was about to be
sent, but that was three weeks ago and I have still heard nothing. Please
give me an update. The event I ordered the parts for is rapidly
approaching.

Please contact me immeadiatly regarding my order. If I have not heard from
the Drop Zone by the end of the year, then I will be forced to initiate the
recovery of the money, but I'd really rather not have to do that. I'd
rather just get what I ordered.

you have your refund

Nitsky
go ahead and call the BBB after you tell them you got your refund what are you going to tell them you want your free product on top of it
your lucky im even going to go that far

and after talking to lin on saturday about just this thing i have been out of town and just returned home this evening

so if i didnt get back to you.. im sorry im just one man.

Bartertown.com

The Drop Zone: Very Bad Trader Alert

The Drop Zone: Very Bad Trader Alert

Re: The Drop Zone: Very Bad Trader Alert