2. misc-audio
  3. 1340838991

Help needed to recover costs please

Hi,
I ordered some cables to be made by a US manufacturer almost a year ago, cost around $650, paid via paypal (not an AudiogoN transaction, so hope it's ok to post about it?). The supplier originally said they were shipped 3 months later and supplied tracking no, but USPS apparently lost them. The supplier said they were fully insured and they would recover the cost and send me a refund, as I didn't want to wait further for the cables to be made again. After many, many emails from me chasing the supplier, including my agreeing to accept the cables as ordered rather than a refund, I still have no refund or cables.
Can anyone advise me how I can encourage them refund me or send the cables please? PayPal don't want to know as it is outside their 3 month window. I'm prepared to pay a local (US) lawyer to write a letter to them if folk think that would help, though I'm worried the cost of any legal action will soon exceed what I'm trying to recover.
Please help/advise if anyone has similar experieince or ideas.
Dave (from UK)
dandy
courant
119 posts
 
Did you pay through PayPal using a Credit Card?

If so, send a letter to your credit card company and request a chargeback, stating that the merchant took your money and never delivered the item. Further, that the merchant is now claiming that the item was lost by USPS and was insured for full value which they told you they would be filing a claim for.

So as of right now, the merchant has both your money, and money from the USPS for the lost item, which appears potentially to be to be wire fraud.

As such, because the merchant has received a double-payment, a chargeback would put you and merchant back to the same position prior to your attempted purchase.

If you used Paypal via a cash transfer, your only recourse might be to file a complaint of Wire Fraud with the FTC, FBI, and USPS Postal Inspector.

Also, I’m not an attorney, and never played one on TV. The reader will fully assume the risk for any and all of the preceding. Your mileage may vary.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Good luck in getting your money back. I can imagine how you feel.
My advice would be for the future. Surely any cable a reasonable person could desire can be found at Amazon, J&R, Crutchfield, Music Direct, Audio advisor or even Best Buy! Stick with the tried and true. The Cable and wire business, attracts crooks like some things attract flies.
dandy OP
5 posts
 
@Onhwy61
I tried a single silver balanced cable and liked it (home made). I did a search to see who made silver balanced cable and found White Zombie, I liked the price and they looked good quality. I ordered quite a bit (about $1200 worth) which was delivered (albeit after 3 months) and I have been using it happily since. This latest order that went bad was additional cable - I had no reason to doubt they would not deliver.

@Courant
I paid through bank account not credit card unfortunately.
dandy OP
5 posts
 
@Bgpowell
Thanks for the tip, I'll look into it. If you do get your cables, chances are you'll like them as I did mine, shame their morals aren't the same quality.
More to discover