Possible eBay fraud by arri888

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I have encountered what appears to be systematic fraud on eBay by a UK seller "arri888". He has recently sold my silver Leica M9 serial number 3838988, a Summarit M 75/2.5 serial number 4053290 and a complete Canon 5DS outfit, supposedly on commission basis. Now he is not paying up. It seems there is a considerable history here. Does anyone have similar experience ?
 
You will have to forgive my ignorance of selling on eBay, so I will not surmise anything.

But based on what you say I think you need to expand/explain what you have done i.e. the steps taken to find yourself in the situation you describe???

PS
FWIW I would never consider selling such potentially valuable camera gear on eBay because I am sure there are other way more reliable/trustworthy brick & mortar stores who offer either direct purchase or indeed a commission sales 'service' ?
 
JWT said:
I have encountered what appears to be systematic fraud on eBay by a UK seller "arri888". He has recently sold my silver Leica M9 serial number 3838988, a Summarit M 75/2.5 serial number 4053290 and a complete Canon 5DS outfit, supposedly on commission basis. Now he is not paying up. It seems there is a considerable history here. Does anyone have similar experience ?
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Sorry to hear this.

I have no personal experience but it appears he has quite a chequered history of this sort of thing. A Google search for him will no doubt bring up quite a bit of info on this chancers reputation.
 
Fair enough. I have known of Peter Walnes (arri888) for many years as a buyer, and his prior reputation was reliable. Based on his website, and in response to emails looking for high end items to sell on commission, which many businesses do, I sent him the items for sale against an agreed commission price to be returned to me on sale. The items were sold, but Peter declines to pay for them. On further research, Peter seems to have developed a habit of doing this ; see letter in Amateur Photographer May 2021 which resulted him being banned from advertising there. Sadly I agreed to work with him assuming he was still as reliable as historically. Wrong !
 
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I have found this discussion on DPReview

Leica dealer Peter Walnes, an urgent warning: Leica Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.
www.dpreview.com www.dpreview.com

I fear you might have fallen into what seem to be his poor business practices and his abuse of process.

IMO two courses of action and possibly both to be taken. ... neither of which will 100% assure you of getting paid?

Small Claims Court

Report a crime (fraud or possibly theft by deception) to your local police force?

PS I wish you well in getting it resolved and money in your bank!
 
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Hmmmm!

See post #3 here
www.talkphotography.co.uk

Anyone ever sold anything through Ffordes?

I have quite a few old film era primes but these days I hardly get to use them and they're just sat in storage tins so I think I'll have to sell most. I'll keep a few, obviously :D but most should go. I've bought things on e bay but have never sold on there and as I've read a few horror stories...
www.talkphotography.co.uk www.talkphotography.co.uk
 
I used to sell plenty to things to him once upon a time. He used to pay the best rates too.
But looks like he's turned into a cowboy recently.

My last sale to him was just before COVID in January 2020 and he was still pretty good at the time. Since then he seems have gone downhill.

Another thread of dpreview:

Re: Selling to Peter Walnes internationally: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.
www.dpreview.com www.dpreview.com

On the thread you can see people have gone to small claims count. its your best option now I think.

A reputation built over 30-40 years destroyed in no time. very sad :(
 
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Nikon photographer said:
I can't believe he's up to his old tricks again, especially since he was declared bankrupt last year.

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the black fox said:
In that case it’s a police matter pure and simple
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If he was a Limited Company perhaps but the highlighted part here says he can trade as a Sole Trader

Though I do note that he says his prices include VAT but (looking on my phone) I cannot see a VAT number on his website. Is that legal under HMRC VAT regulations???
Edit ~ is it possible to view a list of VAT registered companies & sole traders?

Edit2~ if he was registered and now de-registered...or never registered, where would he stand, based on him stating on his website that his prices include VAT, with HMRC???

At the very least IMO his activities should be brought to the attention of the Police and Anti Fraud 'Office'........plus Small Claims Court to, ideally, stop him trading with a raft of CCJ's. Hopefully so the @JWT (and others affected) can get their money owed!!!
 
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Thanks for feedback. I fully intend to pursue this through the Courts, Police, and Cornwall Trading Standards who I understand an open dossier on him. There are three issues - firstly I would like my money back, secondly folks buying from him should be aware they may be purchasing goods which may be effectively stolen (obtained by fraud), and third this practice needs to be stopped. Since bankruptcy and publicity on camera forums (see also on DPR and Leica Forum) and letters to Amateur Photographer are not sufficient, further routes for publicity need to be found.
 
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I would report this to the police especially as it would appear the person in question is following a course of conduct that could amount to fraud.
 
Whilst I don't think this is Ebay's problem unless buyers have experienced this, but have you made them aware. They should consider freezing his account.
 
I will send the dossier to the Police and eBay's general council. Meantime someone has listed one of the lenses, a Summarit 75 serial no 4053290, on eBayy trying to re-sell it. I have contacted them to inform its effectively obtained by fraud and is still my property. Bad news for everyone.Screenshot 2022-10-05 at 08.59.24.png
 
Just by googling his name, quite alot of complaints and info come up.

Surprised he's not been shut down yet. Openly uses his name for the ebay account aswell.
 
JWT said:
I will send the dossier to the Police and eBay's general council. Meantime someone has listed one of the lenses, a Summarit 75 serial no 4053290, on eBayy trying to re-sell it. I have contacted them to inform its effectively obtained by fraud and is still my property. Bad news for everyone.View attachment 369083
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You should really also report this listing to eBay as a stolen item
 
I can't understand why get someone else to sell your gear????? even if honest you are never going to get the price your asking for, absolutely beats me selling this way instead of selling it yourself. Even if you did surely you hold onto the goods until sold by someone else. Handing them over is asking or trouble as the goods are not "stolen " you gave them to someone more than likely without a contract signed by both parties
 
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I've sold quite a lot of items on commission through Ffordes. They are well established and trustworthy.
Never had a problem with them and their customer service is excellent.
 
The OP has given a heads up, rather than delve any deeper, and possibly get into a liable situation, into buying and selling from where ever,
we decided to lock this.
 
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