UPDATE Nov 28th at 8:32
Philip contacted me via email last night and asked me if $300 would put this to rest. I told him I wanted a full refund, but if he was absolutely refusing to do that, I would accept a partial refund to restore the radio. He then told me he would send the funds today!
UPDATE Nov 25th at 18:39 local.
Philip is now banned on both QTH and QRZ. Having said that, after much soul searching; I think I won the battle but lost the war. I had a long discussion with a close radio friend who unfortunately went through about the same experience. After a bad seller finally agreed to return the money, he sent the amplifier back. Then the original seller accused him of altering the amplifier during the time he had it. Lose Lose situation. He smeared a great Ham and a great person all over the internet! This lasted almost a year until the seller did it again to one of the forum moderators. Lets just say that person no longer trades Ham equipment.
So, do I leave things as they are; Radio packed up and ready to return to seller, or do I just move on with my life. Pay a little over $300 dollars to put the radio back in shape again, or just re-list it honestly for re-sale for $300 to $350 dollars. I am more inclined to order the Icom parts and put it back into shape, but when it is all said and done I will have over $1000 bucks in a radio that sells new for $845.
UPDATE Nov 25th at 12:06 PM. I have not quite had this radio for 24 hours yet but wanted to update all on some facts.
Philip has gone onto QTH and QRZ and is trying convince folks that I am somehow misrepresenting the radio with these pictures. He is also making some absolutely FALSE statements about the facts of this deal. He has stated on both QTH and QRZ that he sent pictures of the rig prior tot he sale. This is 100% untrue. For proof see the top right tab on this website entitled "Complete KM4OP Email Thread".
Next he states that he was going to "refund me my money, but not now" 100% Untrue. He stated to me last night in the documented email, prior to any post occurring on ANY forum that "he no longer had the money and I would have to send him the radio back and he would have to re-sell it to be able to send me "some money".
Finally, he has stated on both QTH and QRZ that "Richard has had the radio for over a week". 100% Untrue. I have had the radio for less than 24hours as of this update and can prove it with a signed and dated pickup slip from USPS which I will post here. You may also review the email from him YESTERDAY Morning where he goes to his post office and tracks the package to my post office "Awaiting pickup and signature from me".
SCOTT NEADER, QTH forum director has just blocked KM4OP from QTH. Scott reviewed all the evidence and did the right thing. I can only hope that the forum directors for QRZ and EHAM do the same thing.
Folks, I am blessed in life with my faith, family and friends. I am lucky I am able to recover from a $645 loss. But what if this sale had been to one of our young, just starting out Hams, or an older Ham on a fixed income. As an community of friends who have always self-regulated, it is up to us to protect ourselves from people like this.
ORIGINAL POST 24 Nov 2009
These pictures are taken as I un-box the Icom 706mkIIG radio that I purchased from Philip Rivera as "Near Mint" "Never Mobile". Within minutes of opening it I contacted Philip and told him I want to return the radio and wanted my money back. He stated he had already spent the money and if I sent him the radio back he would try and re-sell it, then after he did he would return my money????
Folks, that is bare metal in many places, and you will even see rust forming on the bare metal sides. This radio's appearance honestly looks like it was drug up from a barn somewhere. The cooling fins have actually been ground off! In some spots it looks like a file was used.
Here is a cut and paste of the original add Philip placed on QTH
Listing Number: 782009
> Date Ad was Placed: 11/14/09
> Name: PHIL
> Phone Number: 772-646-1049
> Callsign: KM4OP
> Category: RADIOHF
> Heading: ICOM- IC-706MKIIG NEAR MINT WITH REMOKIT
> Ad Message:
> LOWER PRICE.... NEVER MOBILE ICOM IC-706MKIIG, NOT MUCH USE, SITS HERE IN THE SHACK, COMES WITH MIC, POWER CORD, REMOTE KIT,MANUAL. $675 NOW...$645 SHIPPED.
You be the judge, Honest Ham or?
