Charvel Demartini Drama

brett8388 · #1 05-12-2009, 09:25 AM

I recently purchased (or attempted to purchase) a guitar from a fellow in the classifieds named "jems4life". Even though he was relatively new, after I spoke to him on the phone I felt comfortable enough to send $1100 via Fed Ex to his home for the guitar. He received and cashed my cashier's check on 3/24.

Fast forward to 4/24 and I still had no guitar. I was told the delay was because of a flood, hospital stay, death in the family, UPS closing early, the guitar was at "my mom's 3 hours away", etc. In other words, I was getting lied to. Several calls to the local police did nothing really because this guy lived in a county where internet theft is considered a Civil issue.

Fortunately, I live in Harris County and the ADA is very aggressive to this type of theft. One call to HPD and they had a deputy at my home taking my statement and copying my evidence (cancelled check, emails, the Classified post on this forum, etc.). A detective assigned to the case called me 5 days after my initial filing and gauranteed me a guitar by May 1 or felony theft charges would be filed in Houston.

On 4/30, a guitar arrived. It wasn't the particular model Demartini I paid for, but its value was equal so I'm not complaining.

I've owned 300+ guitars and this was the first time I felt like someone truly intended to rip me off. My advice to others would be to use Paypal if possible, or at least check with your local laws to see what kind of enforcement is available to you in case something like this happens.

I still pay buyers with cashier's checks if they don't want to take Paypal, but I also know that the laws here will help me if something like this happens again.

Brett

The Euphor · #2 05-12-2009, 09:44 AM

Sorry to hear.

Very confusing for people like me, from Europe, that your laws are very different. It's hard to keep track of it all. Probably why the bay feels safer, for some reason.

Good thing it didn't stop you from buying guitars. You got a great collection, and I really enjoy staring at those pink EVHs.

fractionallz · #3 05-12-2009, 05:39 PM

Thanks for sharing that story and thats one hell of a nice collection ya got.

**jim777** · #4 05-12-2009, 05:51 PM

which DeMartini did you end up getting? And, $64 question, are all of those your guitars?!

metalgod72 · #5 05-12-2009, 09:32 PM

Brett...I myself almost became a victim to our friend "Michael Leonard Whitefeather Grunkowski". He wanted to do a trade for my 1992 Jackson RR-1 for his supposed Ibanez USA custom Serpent. I was about to send the guitar out but before I did, I remembered Uberthrall was doing a deal with him and I called him to compare notes about him, and realized he gave me a different last name. Michael Leonard checked out on the google test, but the name he gave uber brought up tons of crap, this guy is a crook.

Check him out over at the ESP forum where he had a bad deal with a guy called "Oz" He goes by different names, but over there he was called espdegarmo. Also check him out on various snake & reptile forums.

Luckily, I did not send the guitar out and Uber was able to turn his around via fed ex, but to my knowledge, he is still owed $400 or a BC Rich by this scumbag...

People, be wary...

uberthrall · #6 05-12-2009, 09:52 PM

Bigtime crook, he got all butt hurt when I was lucky enough to intercept the Ibby I sent him. I wasn't so lucky with the money order though. Luckily for him I've had alot of real life stuff I'm dealing with, and I haven't gone after him yet. Seeing this thread is getting my blood boiling again though....tomorrow I'm calling the local PD. I did call the cops in his town, but what Brett said is indeed the case. They told me I have to get the locals here involved.

I saved all my PM's and phone messages from him as well as the stub from the money order I sent him. As I said, my plate's been full lately and I've let it slide for a few weeks, but that's over. This dude's already done a stretch or two in the old Stony Lonesome for pretty much the same thing. Just a chronic liar and dirtbag as far as I can see. Tomorrow the heat gets turned up.

brett8388 · #7 05-13-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

which DeMartini did you end up getting? And, $64 question, are all of those your guitars?!

Yes, those are all my guitars. I ended up getting a Bomber graphic Demartini instead of the Blooddrip I paid for.

Honestly after all the bs I went through to get the guitar, I ended up selling it to a friend 3 days later. Every time I looked at it, as cool as it was, I got pissed off because of all the drama and I needed it to leave my house (I know, that sounds weird). I took a loss on it but it made someone else happy.

brett8388 · #8 05-13-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberthrall

Bigtime crook, he got all butt hurt when I was lucky enough to intercept the Ibby I sent him. I wasn't so lucky with the money order though. Luckily for him I've had alot of real life stuff I'm dealing with, and I haven't gone after him yet. Seeing this thread is getting my blood boiling again though....tomorrow I'm calling the local PD. I did call the cops in his town, but what Brett said is indeed the case. They told me I have to get the locals here involved.

I saved all my PM's and phone messages from him as well as the stub from the money order I sent him. As I said, my plate's been full lately and I've let it slide for a few weeks, but that's over. This dude's already done a stretch or two in the old Stony Lonesome for pretty much the same thing. Just a chronic liar and dirtbag as far as I can see. Tomorrow the heat gets turned up.

Good! Don't let this clown get away with your money. Hopefully your local PD will be able to get him motivated. Let us know how it turns out.

Brett

WMerkert · #9 05-13-2009, 01:44 PM

Wow, stunning collection, how often do you change the strings ?

markg5150 · #10 05-13-2009, 02:10 PM

Great collection of EVH's

southpaw_lefty · #11 05-13-2009, 02:31 PM

glad the situation ended ok.

btw, I really like the warmoth, second to the last on your page.

I bet you get a lot of comments about that one.

**jim777** · #12 05-13-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberthrall

Bigtime crook, he got all butt hurt when I was lucky enough to intercept the Ibby I sent him. I wasn't so lucky with the money order though. Luckily for him I've had alot of real life stuff I'm dealing with, and I haven't gone after him yet. Seeing this thread is getting my blood boiling again though....tomorrow I'm calling the local PD. I did call the cops in his town, but what Brett said is indeed the case. They told me I have to get the locals here involved.

I saved all my PM's and phone messages from him as well as the stub from the money order I sent him. As I said, my plate's been full lately and I've let it slide for a few weeks, but that's over. This dude's already done a stretch or two in the old Stony Lonesome for pretty much the same thing. Just a chronic liar and dirtbag as far as I can see. Tomorrow the heat gets turned up.

If you sent him a Post Office money order, then there's Federal law involved here as well, and possible mail fraud. I'd look hard into that...

metalgod72 · #13 05-13-2009, 03:38 PM

I think that is the angle that Uber is going to pursue, I have already checked with credible sources and it is some sort of mail fraud if you steal "federal funds"

Hikey Mikey · #14 05-13-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett8388

. . . as cool as it was, I got pissed off because of all the drama and I needed it to leave my house (I know, that sounds weird). I took a loss on it but it made someone else happy.

Not weird at all. Bad juju, tainted memories, we can all understand. Good to hear you were assertive and didn't get totally ripped of by a fraud.