Please post up details about your transactions. Please put the name of the seller or buyer in the topic title! Only CIVIL feedback and discussions will be allowed.
Forum rules: Please provide clear and accurate feedback for a seller. Search for forum to make sure there isn't already a topic about a seller, if there is post in that thread. When posting please be careful as you will not be able to edit your post later.
By tobycj
#4974128
All of his stuff is shipped via a courier. He either has a tracking number that he's not given you, or he's still not shipped it yet, to be blunt.
CitizenBuster liked this
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4974130
Yes, I think you are right. Well I wait until November 15th and then I will demand a tracking number.
tobycj liked this
User avatar
By 33rdparanormal
#4974285
Yeah... that's pretty standard anymore. Either you are going to get a working tracking number and your item arrives within a reasonable timeframe, or you are only going to be updated on the tracking while it takes forever to get nothing.

If the item has been "in transit" for 8 months, has changed couriers multiple times while seemingly going nowhere, and he is able to give you updates on the tracking but refuses to give you the tracking number or gives you a tracking number that pulls nothing, then you are probably never going to get your item.

That being said, he may surprise everybody and ship out your item tomorrow and you may have it by the 15th and all would be well(ish). But the fact of the matter is, there is no way for Ben to track your package and update you on what is happening with it or when the estimated delivery date is without a tracking number. If he has one, he should give it to you with no hassle. If he keeps refusing to and just "gives you updates", then he is lying to you.
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4974648
Just to keep you updated: He wrote two weeks ago, that the package is delayed till end november, so I wrote him yesterday and asked for a tracking number. He sent me screenshots of his conversation with dpd local. Seems quite real (there appears my name, address and a case number)... the tension is rising also the hope (?)
User avatar
By 33rdparanormal
#4974667
I would be wondering why you were given a screenshot of a conversation instead of the tracking number that you asked for. It's a simple enough request that he has ignored while giving you some relief that you aren't being screwed with. This thread is full of experiences just like this. He has to have a tracking number to talk to a courier about your package, so why not just give it to you as you requested and let you track it yourself? Even if it is 100% legit, he is still gatekeeping you.
By tobycj
#4975353
Ackbar wrote: November 23rd, 2022, 2:38 am Just to keep you updated: He wrote two weeks ago, that the package is delayed till end november, so I wrote him yesterday and asked for a tracking number. He sent me screenshots of his conversation with dpd local. Seems quite real (there appears my name, address and a case number)... the tension is rising also the hope (?)
Any sign of this yet, or just more excuses?
Ackbar liked this
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4975370
Well, meanwhile he switched to DHL. Trackingnumber is not working (What a surprise) and he sent me a screenshot of an email from DHL which announces the package for January 6th
By tobycj
#4975372
So he's claiming he's somehow managed to switch courier companies once it's already been shipped?! I really hope it does turn up then, but I'd not be shocked if you get more excuses
Ackbar liked this
By webelieveyou89
#4975443
So my experience with ben was the same. The only way I believe I got my kit was to threaten to cancel. Then it magically shipped out and I had it the next week. I was looking for a complete kit when I purchased but if you want a decently accurate pack you are going to be replacing everything with better parts. I liked the shell. That was about it.
tobycj liked this
User avatar
By EctoLabs
#4975465
Ackbar wrote: November 23rd, 2022, 2:38 am Just to keep you updated: He wrote two weeks ago, that the package is delayed till end november, so I wrote him yesterday and asked for a tracking number. He sent me screenshots of his conversation with dpd local. Seems quite real (there appears my name, address and a case number)... the tension is rising also the hope (?)
Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit. Please don't fall for more of his excrement. I repeat, this is not how anyone interacts with couriers. Parcels don't suddenly switch companies mid journey either.

Would you care to share the DPD screenshots he sent you? Would love to see them.

How much more of people's hard earned money does he have to sit on before he is blacklisted?
tobycj, zeta otaku, wralex liked this
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4975550
Hi. Here are the mails from DPD and DHL.
This is his last chance, another delay will not be accepted...
Image
Image
Image
By Scottyk
#4975562
I recently received my BOK kit, after 2 years.

During that time, I also received the boilerplate “email responses” from DPD. When I traced the numbers Ben had provided, they stated “awaiting delivery from sender”. In other words, there was a tracking number, but Ben had not dropped the package off to the courier. He also said there were labor issues in the UK with the post and shipping, but I have ordered many items from the uk without issue over the past two years.

Truth is, His kit is extremely nice. His communication is prompt. Problem: what he is communicating just isn’t true.
By Scottyk
#4975563
Oh, and no, Ben never reached out to me with any type of update. It was only when I asked him. He would respond promptly, but never once did he take the initiative of contacting me first.

He also promised a number of “upgrades” because the process took so long. Needless to say, those never arrived with the kit, nor am I going to waste time trying to track those down.
User avatar
By EctoLabs
#4975585
Ackbar wrote: December 22nd, 2022, 3:47 am Hi. Here are the mails from DPD and DHL.
This is his last chance, another delay will not be accepted...
Wow, just wow. My fakeometer is beeping pretty loudly reading these. There's so many grammatical errors here, I'd be astonished if he hasn't fabricated these emails......


Dear Ben Smitu
I thought his surname was Smith. Can he really not spell his own name correctly?

...we have contacted the operations team on your behalf to resolve this on your behalf.
Probably only need half of the on your behalfs here, matey.

this is been held in a hold cage
A what? I've always quite liked DPD, but knowing that their parcels are caged and not free range is making me think twice about using them again. Thank god there's photographic proof... Wait, he did forward the photos too didn't he??

We will chase this up with the courier
Aren't YOU the courier??

Germany [...] we are undergoing great demand in this area.
Not surprising seeing as DHL are a German company. "Undergoing demand"? Strange turn of phrase there.

...and also because of this time of year, we are going through great demand.
Yeah, you already said that, boss. "Going through great demand"? Another interesting turn of phrase.

----

Ackbar, my friend, it's my belief that these emails are as genuine as a Gucci handbag from China. I'm almost certain he's lying to you again like he appears to be doing to many others. Don't give him any more chances. Demand the stuff you ordered or ask for a refund. Your money shouldn't be paying his bills.

And, Ben, if you're reading this thread, why not come on here and defend yourself? Oh yeah, that's right, because you've been caught out. Do you honestly think it's fine collecting people's money and feeding them lie after lie? You may be shipping the goods eventually but that doesn't make your behaviour any more acceptable. If you've taken on more than you can handle, then fine. Just be honest with people and give your customers realistic time frames. Failing that, maybe use the hours you're spending creating fake emails to instead make the props people paid you good money for.
tobycj, wralex, Ackbar liked this
By tobycj
#4975588
Searching for both customer service reps in those emails on Google doesn't bring up any hits at all, so makes me think they're made up names.
Ackbar liked this
User avatar
By EctoLabs
#4975590
tobycj wrote: December 22nd, 2022, 3:05 pm Searching for both customer service reps in those emails on Google doesn't bring up any hits at all, so makes me think they're made up names.
Absolutely. Dawn Westsent's real name is actually Dawn Notsent.
tobycj, AJ Quick, prodestrian and 2 others liked this
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4975626
That's what I thougt too. Especially because of those typos... well I'll enjoy the holidays and next year my patience is gone^^
Bye the way: January 6th is a holiday in Germany :-D
tobycj liked this
User avatar
By SpaceWoof
#4975825
Ben is a scam artist who lies to make up for not having enough product on hand like he claims.
I FINALLY got everything in from him recently, and left a review on his Etsy page, he then proceeded to message me saying I am "not allowed" to order from him going forward because of my honest review.

Why the hell would I ever order from you again, you snake oil seller?
zeta otaku, tobycj liked this
By webelieveyou89
#4975868
Not allowed to leave an honest review? Wow, that is a very shady and horrible business practice. I've never seen a bad review. I guess this is why.
SpaceWoof liked this
User avatar
By RichardLess
#4975890
Wow. I came so close ordering a pack from this guy. Once upon a time everyone I asked said he was the bees knees and absolutely on the level. But something….just didn’t feel right. So I held off. He use to have a good reputation. I’m thinking that like someone above mentioned, he got swamped, took on more business than he could handle and it got out of hand. Tho why you just can’t be up front with people is beyond me.
zeta otaku, SpaceWoof liked this
User avatar
By prodestrian
#4975900
RichardLess wrote: December 29th, 2022, 3:43 pm Wow. I came so close ordering a pack from this guy. Once upon a time everyone I asked said he was the bees knees and absolutely on the level. But something….just didn’t feel right. So I held off. He use to have a good reputation. I’m thinking that like someone above mentioned, he got swamped, took on more business than he could handle and it got out of hand. Tho why you just can’t be up front with people is beyond me.
He saturates every platform he sells on. 70% of the ghostbusters prop listings on eBay and Etsy are him, with all kinds of combinations of different parts together (with poorly written descriptions and photos of parts that aren't even included in the listing). But I've never seen him take down listings or pause his store, he accepts every order placed regardless if he has capacity, or he's sick, or taking a vacation. And then it's just a matter of prioritising the orders based on how important the recipient is.
If you live in the UK, if you know him personally, if you're someone well-known in the community, you get first priority above people who ordered before you.

The rest will get months of courier excuses and fake tracking numbers. If you complain in one of the Facebook groups, you'll get dozens of people defending him (because they received their orders and can't imagine him doing anything shady). If you complain (or even just ask for an update) in his Facebook group, he'll just ban you. Everywhere else (ebay, etsy, etc) he'd rather refund the money than allow you to leave a negative review, which is why he has high ratings everywhere.

I've only ordered from him once (a V-Hook a few years ago). It arrived in time, no issues. But I'm seeing the same issues come up over and over, and I definitely don't think I'm enough of a "VIP" to guarantee a larger order arriving in a reasonable timeframe. It seems like far too much of a gamble, which is why I never ended up ordering one of his trap or wand kits.

Best I can suggest to someone ordering from him is to wait until it's been marked as shipped and ask for the tracking number.
If you get a working tracking number and it seems to have real details (and after a few days shows that it's actually moving through the shipping network), then you're probably OK. Beware that screenshots of the tracking info is NOT proof that it shipped, he could have grabbed that from someone else's order. And make sure that the tracking number is actually yours (it should show your location as the destination address, unfortunately not all couriers provide this information though).

But if you get excuses or screenshots of conversations with couriers, then you weren't lucky enough to make the cut. You might as well demand a refund immediately because he hasn't built your pack yet. You won't be able to leave negative feedback anymore but at least you won't be out of pocket or waiting 6-12 months.
zeta otaku, tobycj, Ackbar and 1 others liked this
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4976170
Happy New Year. He said today I´ll get a message from DHL and a working tracking number... as expected there came nothing. Now I asked for a refund (after 13 months).
User avatar
By RichardLess
#4976172
Ackbar wrote: January 4th, 2023, 2:11 am Happy New Year. He said today I´ll get a message from DHL and a working tracking number... as expected there came nothing. Now I asked for a refund (after 13 months).
Has anyone tried contacting any of these companies with the names & case numbers he provided? Like maybe you can contact DHL or the other companies and just straight up ask if these emails are legit? Worse they can say is no they won’t help you, right? Give it a shot.

Just say something like “Hey I bought someone thing from someone online and they are telling me they’ve had issues with shipping, I’m just wondering if you can verify if any of the info here is correct(cause number employee name, the way the email looks) . I’m not sure if it’s fraud but any help you could provide would be really helpful. I’d like to think the business I’m dealing with is being honest but I just have a funny feeling. Thank you”
User avatar
By Ackbar
#4976173
No, I haven´t tried that. By the way: He gave me immediately a refund (50 Euro less than I paid). After my complain he sent a refund of the 50 bucks. But he insisted the package is already in Germany and I have to refuse it, when it will arrive. With a lot of screenshots, of course. The tracking numbers are not working, surprisingly^^
User avatar
By prodestrian
#4976176
Ackbar wrote: January 4th, 2023, 2:37 am But he insisted the package is already in Germany and I have to refuse it, when it will arrive.
I'm yet to hear of anyone receiving their pack after getting refunded. Maybe you'll be the first? :lol:
Ackbar liked this

Any idea when you might get the Goggle metallic la[…]

Be careful removing the Hasbro weathering using […]

Are these autographs legit?

This is over a month old, but none of the four sig[…]

Charlesworth Dynamics Trap Build

Hi All, The Trap is coming on, I've nearly finish[…]