SCAMMED by The Reef Hut aka SPSkid01(rc username)

[CT Reefer]

Hi folks. I just want to share a really unfortunate experience with a member of this site who actively sells items. I agreed to purchase a used light fixture from will@thereefhut, aka SPSkid01 for $375 shipped. He asked me to pay him via paypal and use the "gift" feature so he wouldn't have to pay the paypal transaction fees. I am always happy to help a fellow reefer or reef vendor out so I did this and paid the $375, unaware that when you choose the payment as "gift" you have no recourse through paypal if the transaction goes bad. Needless to say, this transaction went real bad. After several emails requesting that the item be shipped to me and initially received return emails guaranteeing that it would be shipped ""tomorrow", um got busy so "tomorrow ", its at the post office and they are waiting on a box, Monday the latests.." but nothing happened. I contacted SPSkid01 several times and finally asked him to refund my money...never responded. I contacted paypal to request a refund. Paypal told me that they do not guarantee transaction when using the "gift/personal payment" feature. Nonetheless, they contacted will@thereefhut who then proceed to tell paypal that this item was sold to me as an in store pickup. I live in CT, he is in PA. We agreed shipped (numerous emails and Reef Central PMs.). He lied to Paypal and this is going round and around. I know this is long-winded, but I just want folks on this site to know what can happen when you use paypal in the manner I just did. Thank God 99.9% of the folks on here are honest souls - but this one, not so much. Going to contact my bank and the local police in PA about this fraud. Bummer. :sad1:

 

[DgenR8]

All too often, people try to "save the seller from paying PayPal fees". Then, the deal goes south, and you ask PayPal to have your back, after you screwed them out of their fee.
I know it doesn't look that way at first, the seller says "hey, if you make it a gift....." it feels like taking the cheaper option, like ground shipping over air.
Reality is, the guy who's out to screw you would love to get you to screw PayPal, then you have absolutely no recourse.
There is no guarantee that PayPal would have taken your side, but as you described the situation, nothing was ever shipped. I think their charge here (+- $15.00?) might have been well worth paying.
Now, I see why you wanted this thread to be here, in this forum, but I suggest for more exposure, you post your experience here, in the Buyer/Seller feedback forum
This seller doesn't show up in a search in that forum. You would be his first negative feedback.
Be truthful, exaggerating has come back to bite people in the butt before.

 

[DgenR8]

I saw all that, and I understand why you'd want to make that info public, but we can't discuss private particulars about any member's account with other members, especially in public

 

[raynist]

Is this guy from Pittsburgh?

I don't recall seeing his username before.

 

[Misled]

I checked through his posts. He tried to buy something here once. He seems to be from the middle to eastern side of the state.

 

[raynist]

From Reading PA.