Warning: Fraudulent Seller in the Classifieds

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1. Consider Yourself Warned

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I'm just too sick and tired of being scammed so I'm sharing with you all my experience with a seller who goes by the monicker "GL" or "Coffeegeek".


And just so you don't confuse him with anyone else he's a Chinese guy, body type: chubby, about 5'6" tall and wears black eyeglasses. Speaks good english with Chinese-American accent, and for some reason prefers to trade in Causewaybay (hint hint).


I've purchased 3 laptops from this guy before. Although the prices were what you may consider "cheap" the conditions of the computers were not so good. Of course I understand they're already used computers so some discoloration or slight scratches is acceptable.


The first one I bought from him was pretty ok - slightly worn out only. So when I needed more I decided to buy from him since I had already bought from him and everything went smoothly.


Then the second computer from him - it had so many ugly scratches that he had to buy a cover sheet to cover it up. I wasn't really that happy but since I was already on the spot, I went ahead and bought it.



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2. Last Saturday Night

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Then comes April 9 (last Saturday) I meet up with him in the MTR for a 3rd computer. Slight aesthetic issues like discoloration, scratches etc... thats fine. I already knew what to expect.


I also noticed the LCD screen hinge is a bit wobbly. So I negotiated a lower price, he lowers it, I pay him and we went on our merry ways... until I came home to find some very serious issues with the item he sold me.



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3. Big Problems [Video included]

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Here's a "brief" list of problems I found:


I've already mentioned before the wobbly screen, slight discoloration and some scratches.


And then I found that there are BAD SECTORS on the hard drive. I ran a scan and found numerous bad sectors, simply too many to be ignored. This is a sign of a failing hard drive. And once it fails, bye bye precious data! How can a non-tech savvy person know this? If someone else had purchased it then he/she's really f#@!ed.


Next, it's simply TOO HOT. I installed a temperature-reading program and the computer would be at 60 degrees when not in use! And when using it like watching Youtube it would reach 90 degrees!


NORMAL TEMPERATURE range should be about 40 degrees on idle and 60 degrees when in use. No wonder the laptop would SHUT DOWN AFTER 2-3 hours of use. It's OVERHEATING.


Next, the picture on the LCD screen has turned yellowish (either screen is too old or replaced with low quality screen). When looking at websites or documents on what should be a WHITE background, instead looks YELLOW.


Next, the DVD drive will not read about 30 percent (that's 3 out of 10!) of my discs. These are discs that I use everyday on different computers without any problems.


Last but not least, USB PORT IS NOT WORKING. There are a total of 3 USB ports on the laptop. The two works like it should but the 3rd one won't.


I've uploaded a video on youtube of me demonstrating the above problems:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwJiEQA4-dM



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4. Trying to Contact Him [Pics included]

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After discovering all these problems I wasn't at all happy so I called him on the phone, and in a respectful tone, asked him to help me resolve this issue. He said, "give me a minute to think" (as if to say shoo don't bother me) and that he would call me back later.


So I waited until later that night. 10:00 PM came and still no call so I called him instead. No answer. A few minutes later I recieve a text from him asking for my email so he can send me some "proposals".


Imagine that, I'm the one who purchased hissh*tty computer now he wants to give ME options. I thought to myself, Um how about I give YOU the options since I'm the buyer?


Ok whatever fine, I send him my email. Here's our very brief communication via email: (Names blurred for privacy.)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/61967363@N02/5637554977/


Noticed the defensive tone of his email? NEVER did I ask him to take back the laptop. But as you'll see later, there's a reason why he was so defensive.


Since my last email to him he hasn't replied me to this day. When I try to call him, he rejects my call. I texted him pleading with him to reply to me in a last ditch effort to avoid a larger conflict. But still no reply.


I'm the kind of person who'd avoid conflicts as much as possible. But I'm not going to stand for this.


This jerk GL/Coffeegeek continues to sell items to this day:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/61967363@N02/sets/72157626415129109



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5. Suspicions Confirmed [Pics included]

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Then today I found out something that really pissed me off! While looking at his other items for sale, I notice that he'd already sold this particular laptop (HP dv1000) back in April 4. Curiously, he posts it back up for sale again on April 9... Why?


Screen Captures:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/61967363@N02/sets/72157626539881534


There could be 2 reasons for this: Either he has two of these exact same laptops OR... someone else had already purchased it from him and, like me, found problems with it and promptly returned it to GL.


It adds up perfectly and explains why GL was so defensive in his email.


THIS ALSO PROVES THAT HE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LAPTOP BUT STILL WENT AHEAD AND SOLD IT TO OTHERS!



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6. Your Advice Please?

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People don't just pick up a few thousand dollars off the street, we work hard for it! I'm posting this out of frustration and also to help others avoid getting duped (and then dissed) by this cheater.


I'm thinking of reporting this matter to the Police and the Consumer Council. I don't know what else to do. Can you guys give me some suggestions? If you have, please send me a reply here.


REMEMBER: He's selling these computer items cheap because there are problems THAT HE'S NOT TELLING YOU ABOUT. Keep this in mind if you still want to deal with with this crook.



* NOTE TO GL/ Coffeegeek: Although I blurred our names here, I will happily submit your complete details to the Police when I file my case against you for FRAUD.

I think I missed something here. You bought computers at a MTR station, you bought one of them even though you didn't like it (because you were there). and now you are angry. Didn't you ever think?


Maybe the saying "buyer (you) beware" or at least think before you buy would apply here.

oh great, blame the victim. have for once tried to put yourself in another's situation? who was wrong here? me? yes i regret buying from this guy. im asking for advice here not your misplaced indignation.

I think buying any electrical things at an MTR, from an unknown to you seller is very dodgy, these 'goods' have either been used and thrown away, because they are no good, or stolen, lots of laptops have been stolen in Db I wonder where they went?. The sooner the police check on these guys the better.

Don't go near sellers like that, you are just encouraging fraudsters and probably theives.

HK fraud, perhaps you are right, you need some / a lot of advice.

My advice is THINK before buying something over the crowd barrier at a MTR station.

Think about....

1) Why won't he let me go to his home and buy?

2) Why is he selling the computers? Do they work? I cannot test it in a MTR station

3) Why does he have so many to sell? He seems to have many of the same model

4) Where does he get all these computers from? legitimate source?

5) Why did you negotiate a cheaper price when you KNEW there was a problem?

6) If you need to purchase a computer and need it to run perfectly well and would like some form of guarantee in case it does fail, then do not buy from some guy in a MTR station but purchase a new one in a shop (simple isn't it?)


I hope my advice helps you in your next purchase of a second hand computer from some guy at a MTR station.

I forgot something but I couldn't edit my original post. So I'm placing it here:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/61967363@N02/5639108911/

bob, ive realized all that you've said already and thats NOT the kind of advice i need right now. i think you know that but you still just want to continue attacking me, its really puzzling isn't it?


like i said i went ahead and bought them since they weren't huge issues but merely superficial. i understand these are used and im not expecting them to be 100% new condition cuz that would be unreasonable.



at the same time though, thanks for making the outline on what to look out for (except number 5, pls read above). this will definitely help others avoid crooks like these.

I don't think there is much you can do about this dude, the police etc will just laugh. What else are they going to do, it's not like you have a receipt from a shop.


All the police are going to do is say "be careful next time".


It's good you are warning people about this guy, but that's about all you can do. Legally there is nothing you can do, at all, because legally this guy has done nothing wrong (from the information you have given so far). And the ball is in his court, so it really is up to him to make a proposal on what to do, he is the one with the money and you are the one with the laptop.


I also don't think this guy is really setting out to defraud people, after all, you did buy 2 other computers off him before. If he was defrauding people then you would have been defrauded the first time. The main thing is, he sold you something (I presume "as is") and you don't like it. He has every right to not even offer you any options.


I can understand you feel bad, but really the only advice anyone is going to be able to give you is "be careful next time".

Really? The thing is he did communicate to me that he intended to help out, and then... nothing. He even at one point harassed me by posting my full name in a forum but its gone now cuz the forum owners shut down his account.


"be careful next time" - I'm always careful but I'm also choosing to have faith in my fellow humans. I refuse to live in paranoia, always worrying and treading carefully. Is this how you like to live your life?


"Legally there is nothing you can do" OK then I'll just have to take matters into my own hands and do something else cuz I'm not taking crap from anyone. Thanks for your insight.