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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 28, 2009 15:55:12 GMT -5
I hate to write these kinds of notices. But it seems, Mojave Joe has disappeared without mailing his boxes of rocks. I placed an order on 12/7 for a small FRB of the bacchus jasper, and paid with paypal. I have since sent 3 emails, as to the status of the shipment and none of them have been returned. I only spent $12, but still I hate to see others ripped off. Should have learned my lesson about buying from unknowns, but I did see that others had ordered when he first appeared, just wanted to give everyone a heads up.
Amber
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Post by Toad on Dec 28, 2009 16:41:43 GMT -5
Hope you're not right, Amber. I got a box from him - ordered from him when he was brand new. Guess he could have been salting the mine, but I don't know. He could be out of town or otherwise indisposed, but replying to e-mail is a pretty simple thing - especially if the delay was foreseeable (or however you spell that). Maybe it will clear up after the holidays???
But if you're on some kind of deadline with paypal, you may want to file a complaint now so you don't lose that option.
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 28, 2009 16:49:33 GMT -5
Okay, I'm gonna say it. What the heck is going on?
When Mojave Joe first came on, I thought he sounded alot like Michael John, but there were a couple of discrepancies, so I let it go. Then, in his last thread (End of November Sale) Mary Ann asked if that's who he was and he answered "No comprende" and hasn't posted since.
Michael John, if this was you then stand up and make things right with the wonderful people on this board. People who were so kind to you. People who couldn't spare the money to help you did so repeatedly. And you come on with a new name and do it again? What the hell? Steve and I are so upset over the possibility that you might have done this, that our ability to trust people has been jeopardized. For God's sake come clean.
If Mojave Joe is not Michael John, then I apologize and you need to explain and make things right also.
There, I'm done. Everybody go back to your regularly scheduled program.
Jo
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snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Dec 28, 2009 20:49:17 GMT -5
I perked up when Michael John's name was mentioned, as he remains the only one who has screwed me on an order in my sixty years. I have compared both M J's and joemojaves posts,some are similar in a way,but joemojaves seems to have more misspellings than MJ's,especially the word pieces,as MJ spells it, joemojave spells it peices every time.It doesnt seem to me to be the same person,but I could be wrong. I feel bad for the ones who paid and didnt get their product, you feel betrayed.I've ordered from almost every vendor on here with excellent results,except for MJ.
snuffy
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Dec 28, 2009 22:40:40 GMT -5
Sorry for those that may have got burned. Especially around this time of year when money is already tight, it hurts that much more.
As to the MJ reference... I was lucky enough to be maybe the last person to get the box they ordered from him, so I was treated fairly, even got a great deal. The main thing that makes me think these are different people is that MJ admittedly was not a rock guru. He knew what he found because he found a bunch of the same thing but he had a tough go looking at something strange and trying to ID it. What I'm getting at is joemojave's posts go beyond the "it's a nice rock that will make pretty cabs" that MJ used and is way more descriptive.
I guess it really doesn't matter who's who but it sucks that this stuff happens. I've been fortunate enough to have gotten great service from everybody I have ordered from here. What it does it kills it for newcomers that are completely honest with a great product and price.
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 28, 2009 23:12:46 GMT -5
Well I certainly hope that he makes it right, it was only $12, but I didn't want people taken for a $30 or $40 box, and maybe some were too shy to post that they were taken, unlike me, LOL
I noticed the reference to MJ and I really don't think it is him, I certainly pray it isn't. He was going by the name Julian, and made reference to keeping his name private. If there is a problem, I will certainly post on here that it has been corrected. I just feel that almost 4 weeks and several unanswered emails raises a red flag. And if Paypal or something didn't go thru I will really feel like an ass, but I got my confirmation. Now that you mention MJ though, in one email he wrote that he was using a library and I think MJ used to do that for internet. I just really don't want to think it is him.
Larry raises a good point, members are often quick to jump on newbies selling things for this very reason. I took the chance and maybe got burned, all for purple rock, LOL!
Certainly makes this thread invaluable for dealing with people, and worth the effort to mention those who do provide great service.
Amber
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Dec 29, 2009 0:09:55 GMT -5
I ordered a box of the rootbeer agate, which he told me it would be after Thanksgiving before he could get it to me. I emailed him a week after to let him know I was home to see when he was shipping. He was slow to respond, but he did and mentioned that he had had a run in with an ax cutting kindling. He finally did send me my rocks and apologized for being so slow and offered to send me something better than the rootbeer. When I did get my order it was a lot of rose quartz which I was very happy to see. Mind you, I only paid for shipping, the rock were free. He did say he was a procrastinator. He was slow to respond to emails, but he did respond!
Donnie
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 29, 2009 0:53:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the input Donnie, and everyone else. Steve mentioned that MJ had met another rockhound with whom he was hoping to collaborate. Just another possibility.
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Post by sandsman1 on Dec 29, 2009 5:38:10 GMT -5
I'm glad you spoke up about this when i and earth said newbies need to get known before they start selling here we got jumped on from a few people mostly newbies there are one or two people right now i have restrained from telling to wait before they start trying to sell on the forum but i have held my tongue one as little as 6 posts -- we all have to be care-full cause anybody can use a fake name and keep coming back to rip off people -- i still say anybody who sells on here needs to be a regular and anybody who don't agree can just read this post from the start -- it should raise a flag when somebody comes on and starts out with i am selling this and this after a few posts when i see that i usually just delete the post and let them know why but its hard to know the good guys from the bad unless they have been here for awhile -- i hope everyone will be care-full and check posts and wait till they get to know people -- cause the first rule is we are not the daily news we don't allow just any rock stores or people to come and advertise and sell on our board ----this is for long time members with overflow to do some trading or selling to friends and members -- please everyone watch and be care-full
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CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
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Post by CUL-Ann on Dec 29, 2009 8:18:06 GMT -5
Sandman and other's that do with they can to keep the good members safe==I want to say a big thank you,what you do is not easy!!
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bobh
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 55
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Post by bobh on Dec 29, 2009 11:31:32 GMT -5
I had a similar bad experience with Mojave Joe. Eventually, I filed a paypal complaint and money was restored. I was reluctant to post because critical comments from newbies are not well received by many in this forum. Hats off to Amber for saying something about this.
Bob
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Post by Toad on Dec 29, 2009 11:56:47 GMT -5
Thanks for posting, Bob. I think comments by newbies will be taken as well as any other - sorry if you found this not to be the case.
Negative comments in general are not taken well here by some. Whether it be criticism, suggestion, or just saying you don't like something. Some folks have thin skins, and that is okay - it takes all kinds. Some are unintentionally callous (looks innocently around room).
But I think most everyone here would appreciate feedback when you buy from someone on this site. Most of the times it will work out fine, occassionally there is a bad apple, and sometimes there is a misunderstanding. But if you stick to the facts and keep as much emotion out as possible - no one should jump on you. And if someone does, you will likely have defenders as well.
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 29, 2009 12:32:38 GMT -5
I agree with Todd that objective reports from newcomers won't get much push back, or I hope not. Some here can be very protective of regulars, or just hate to see any discord, and I have spoken up when the impression was given that newbies' reports were not valued.
It is good if someone new that has some great local rock, or an old collection, can sell off what they don't want. It can be win-win. But sales here do not have the backing of a ongoing commercial enterprise, or even some of the buyer protections of ebay. Fortunately, PayPal offers some recourse. The situtation is still ripe for fraud. The purpose of RTH was never to hook members up with great buys, but to hook them up with great information, or opportunities to pass on what they know.
I tend to agree with Sands that this section was never intended to be a marketplace and was meant for regulars, with some staying power, to trade and sometime sell stuff. Aside from sort of knowing the person, you can sorta count on the idea that they will not want to trash their long-standing reputation on the board just to screw you out of a few bucks.
When someones 1st or 2nd post is an offer to sell something, I feel a little exploited. Like they pretend to join our conversations but only to sell stuff. I would recommend those folks use the classified section of Bob's Rock Board. ... but who knows, that person may go on to become a very regular and valued member.
Also, there are long time members, who are good guys, and honest merchants, that only post here every week or 3 to announce their latest sale. IMHO if you do not want to be in conversation with other rockhounds and giving and getting advice, then do not use RTH for free advertising - or make the effort to be less obvious about it.
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 29, 2009 13:10:14 GMT -5
Bob:
I for one, hate conflict!! And that is why I debated saying something but I knew there had to be others who had a problem. Good for you for speaking up and I hope this one bad incident doesn't make you refrain from commenting and posting on here, this site contains some of the best rockers around, who will help with anything you need, so welcome! Thanks everyone for your points to consider. Hey its $12, knowing me if the guy had a hard luck story I would have given him $20, just don't lie to me, I hate freaking liars!
Amber
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bobh
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 55
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Post by bobh on Dec 29, 2009 18:02:39 GMT -5
Appreciate the constructive comments on newbie posts/criticisms. Quite a contrast to some of the comments in the Rhode's Cabin discussion from a few months ago.
Bob
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Dec 29, 2009 18:51:26 GMT -5
I'm glad to see these kinds of comments. Even though they may start out heated as they are usually posted when the OP is still frustrated and angry, and that tends to lead to angry posts. Helps keep some of us newbs away from some of the less savory vendors out there, and there are many. Let the vendors sign up and come post their responses, see what happens then. Doubt many would do that though.
This post is paid for and supported by the Society to Help Insensitive Traders. S.H.I.T. keeps a list of these vendors and updates them frequently. If you would like to see our SHIT list, please contact us at our website, International SHIT List of sub-standard vendors. |
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 29, 2009 22:37:43 GMT -5
Chrome - While I understand your point, let me clarify. There are "vendors", people who are in business, maybe sell on ebay or have an actual store or an established website. Then, there are RTH members who happen to sell something in the Buy-Sell-Swap section. I would not call them "vendors".
While there are some valued members who make their living with rocks, and some who over time have a pretty good side business, this is primarily a hobbyist board. The Good-Bad-Ugly section is for consumers to share information - mostly about "vendors", sometimes another member. I would speak unkindly to any "vendor" who registered here only after a complaint was posted and only to rebut. That would be like a store owner who overheard two customers speaking in the coffee shop across the street from his store, and him butting into their conversation to argue. Just plain tactless.
When a member-member sale resulting form a post in the Buy-Sell-Swap section goes bad, a good place to post a concern or a response is in the original thread offering the item. This is also a good place to post news of a smooth and successful transaction.
If nothing is resolved, if there is no response, a reasonable next step - in the interests of protecting other members - is to also post in the Good-Bad-Ugly section.
This last scenario is what is going on here.
Maybe I'm splitting hairs between "vendor" and member-who-sells-something, but to me it goes to the heart of keeping this a primarily hobbyist/consumer place where the advice is free and half the time folks give things to each other.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Dec 29, 2009 22:45:30 GMT -5
Gotcha... I understood that from the beginning, just didn't separate "vendor" from "member who sold me something"... to me it's all "they got the gold mine, I got the shaft"...lol
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Jan 2, 2010 2:50:02 GMT -5
Good Luck! - Hope it's just something got got over-looked and not another crook in the rock world. We already have a few too many of those right now in our hobby!
Hope he does the right thing and make it right and at least explain himself with honesty and not some pity excuse like many crooks use.
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on Jan 2, 2010 4:00:50 GMT -5
I also am hoping that"Joe" is just on holiday or such, I am his secret santa and sent a nice present and had also included a package for him to forward on to Weeshan. I haven't seen anything about it yet but still hope to hear something soon...pporky
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Gotta lick those rocks to see if they shine!!
