Wow! 61" Toshiba HDTV ready $240 shipped!

[irwin]

http://www.wholesalemerchandise.bigstep.com/generic.html?pid=0

from greyhnd001 at fatwallet

[J-Dogg]

Hmm, where to start. Perhaps that the price is over $2000 less than it should be. Or how about them just taking Paypal as a method of payment. The incorrect model numbers and pictures are kinda nice also. They could have done a little more work on their site, but hey, if it works, right? Let us know if anyone decides to buy one of the products. There HAS to be something we can do legally about this.

[hobbnet]

I am tempted to go ahead and buy the cheapest thing there ($49) and see what happens. But, I mean come on this is too good to be true.

[debauch]

Yeah, I think I'll get in my car right now, drive down the road, and then throw $49 out the window and see what happens.

[debauch]

...how to correctly scam people?

[AWM]

I just got hypnotised (sp?) and blacked out after staring at those dual lights for a few minutes on your sig, debauch. It sucked me in, next thing I know, vision blurred, and I woke up face down in my own slobber. . . .

[M_A_C]

I'll take TWO!!!

[yippiekiyeh]

It does look too good to be true! I'm also tempted to go "order something"

[PZYCHO]

If somebody wants to try, they can paypal them one cent. If you do that, then you can see if they are verified. If they are verified, then there is insurance on your paypal order for up to $200. I don't think it is for real, but just in case someone is really curious....

[LPMiller]

man I have to know the scam...are they catalog models? broken? or do you just not get anything? Someone do some research.

[AWM]

They are verified! Almost worth a shot-




Wholesale Merchandise is Verified

Account Type
Business

Account Creation Date
February 21, 2001

Account Preferences

Member may choose to deny payments from international users
Member may choose to deny payments without a Confirmed Address

Business URL
http://wholesalemerchandise.bigstep.com

Customer Service Email
[email protected]

[AWM]

Looking into Paypal's Fraud protection, it isn't all that good! Infact, no way I'd try it now with the thought that paypal will reimburse you. Read :


"If you are unable to resolve the situation this way, you may immediately initiate an investigation by filing a Buyer Complaint Form (login to your account and and select the "Security Center" link in the footer of any PayPal page). This report must be filed within 30 days of the payment. PayPal will investigate your complaint and attempt to recover any funds you are owed. You will be entitled to the return of any funds PayPal is able to collect on your behalf. However, fund recovery is not guaranteed. We will make every effort to complete our investigation and any reimbursement within 30 days of the date the Buyer Complaint Form is filed."

and

"If you pay a seller who does not ship the promised goods, you should first contact the seller and attempt to resolve the dispute. If you are unable to resolve the dispute in this manner, you should then file a Buyer Complaint Form with PayPal as soon as possible. The Buyer Complaint Form may be found by going to the "Security Center" link in the footer of any PayPal page.

PayPal will investigate your claim, contact the seller and, if the seller does not present appropriate proof of shipment, a full refund or other evidence of a satisfactory resolution, PayPal will seek to collect the amount you paid from the seller. PayPal may also restrict the seller's PayPal account. You and other buyers who file claims against the same seller will be entitled to the return of any and all funds PayPal is able to collect from the seller, on a first-come, first-served basis for funds received by PayPal prior to the restriction of the seller's account. Recovery of your claim is not guaranteed. "

[PZYCHO]

Does anyone live near the address posted on their page?

[[email protected]]

alright...call me lazy...will someone order something....let me know if this true then i'll jump in. thanks

[Loki]

Dude, there has to be some sort of protection against frauds like this. What happened to the BBB? Don't they deal with online businesses? It makes me mad to think that anyone who will purchase these products thinking they are getting what's in the picture will be out $200+. I mean wtf?

[stupidzbu]

How is it that you can sell a product worth over $2000 for only $200 + ??

Also, why do you ONLY accept paypal?

Has ANYONE ever bought from you guys? Are you guys listed with bizrate?! If not, why not?

Are the products BRAND NEW or refurbished?

I want to order from you guys, but your web page is very crude. It looks like an amateurs page. Also, the fact that PAYPAL does not secure me against fraud diminishes the probabilty of someone buying from you guys.


check out their 'disclaimer' page i found.. talk about CHEESY!

http://www.wholesalemerchandise.bigstep.com/company/disclaimer.jhtml

[Freakazoid]

Ah cmon I just stumbled in on this forum I have no idea how, do some research on this stuff folks. Unless I'm totaly messed up in the head (still not sure about that). Check out toshiba's site themselves. The only model I could find was 61H70, and did you compare the pictures? the models look TOTALLY different. Coincidental? Plus I couldn't find the other models at all. O yea besides the over $4000 difference....
Just read the other 2 posts, I can't believe you guys are actually planning on doing this.. writing an e-mail to them? waz that going to do? Heck it'd probably take a month for a return e-mail from Toshiba themselves. Plus the amount of BS they could make up.
Just read AJ's post, FINALLY someone with a bit of brain, come on guys!!! What scares me more is the amount of people that are probably falling for it... Gotta be someway to report this.

[Edited by Freakazoid on 06-09-2001 at 03:33 PM]

[AJ]

ok- anyone halfway considering sending money to these guys over paypal needs to be institutionalized.

[sho.gun]

apparently Freakazoid beat me to this.

I tried searching Toshiba's site for the HDTVs. The Toshiba 61H70 61-inch TheaterBright HDTV yielded results but there's no luck with all the other ones. I haven't heard of Matrix laptops either. Anyway, I'm pretty much confused, excited, and suspicious right now.

[stupidzbu]

From [email protected]

Thannkyou someone will contact you asap.

______________________________________________

Step-by-Step to Success on the Web (SM)
http://www.bigstep.com
______________________________________________



i think their credibility is down the shit hole with that response! AND NO! those aren't MY mistakes either!! that is verbatim what I got....

fuck these *******s... they are no better than cyberrebate .... SCAM CENTRAL .....

they don't even provide you with a telephone # to call them... that is a BIG HUGE MONSTROUS no no.. at least for me..

[Freakazoid]

rofl, ahhhh looool. They can't spell or use the spacebar, the thing is dirt short. Some funny stuff going on here.

[[email protected]]

ok, i think we all agree that the "urge" in all of us wanting to buy are now called "dumb shit". how about a way to screw around with this stupid ass person putting this site up? any thought?

[Freakazoid]

just a matter of time, just a matter of time, workin on it, won't be long.

[Freakazoid]

check it out all the graphics are from a site, that site's only page displays all the graphics, not even a graphic on the main host interesting eh.

[[email protected]]

"conspiracy" Passwird: did you spend 10min of your time uploading this page to screw around with our mind??????? well, it worked........we're all posting...........we're all excited..........hahahaHAHAHAHHA

[LPMiller]

you know, before you all start insulting people for being curious, no one has actually thought seriously about buying from them. Let's bring it down a notch.

There are a ton of generic laptop/crappy laptop makers out there, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was indeed a Matrix brand that went belly up.

[TheLoneGunman]

I have their email address (it was encoded in one of the pages):

[email protected]

This address has no significant profile at yahoo, but was created in February.

They also have an AOL address (from an autoreply I received -- it was direct from BigStep so it wasn't spoofed):

[email protected]

[Talk2raffi]

Heh...check out their privacy policy....

http://www.wholesalemerchandise.bigstep.com/privacypolicy.html

"NEITHER AOL NOR BIGSTEP.COM WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, OR OTHER CLAIM ARISING AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THIS SITE."


"Neither AOL nor Bigstep.com are responsible for the delivery or quality of any goods or services sold or advertised through this site"

[Patriot]

It just so happens I have a buddy up north who works on the very same street they have listed on the web site (assuming they meant Olympia Ave. when they wrote Olypia Ave.) The numbering format is the same as my friends, they listed 21-h and my friends is something like 78-k Olympia Ave. so it should be the same street and block. Anyway, I sent my friend an e-mail asking him to check it out for me on Monday. I'll post Monday night.

[race301]

The original message was received at Sat, 9 Jun 22:29:08 -0400 (EDT)


----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<[email protected]>
(reason: 550 MAILBOX NOT FOUND)

----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to mailin-01.mx.aol.com.:
>>> RCPT To:<[email protected]>
<<< 550 MAILBOX NOT FOUND
550 5.1.1 <[email protected]>... User unknown

[MrCodeDude]

I don't see why you can't put the money in Escrow? That would be the safest bet..

[pd123]

Originally posted by MrCodeDude
I don't see why you can't put the money in Escrow? That would be the safest bet.. That sound good, but there is no option for that. Either add it to the cart in Paypal or don't order it, escrow options are not there. This sounds like some kind of fraud.

[JIWC]

hmm....last time i checked, i thought AOL subscribers have a limit of 16 characters as their screen name/email...

w h o l e s a l e m e r c h a n d i s e s t o r e @aol.com


25 characters





hmmmmmmmmmm.....

[Edited by JIWC on 06-09-2001 at 08:27 PM]

[stupidzbu]

Originally posted by JIWC
hmm....last time i checked, i thought AOL subscribers have a limit of 16 characters as their screen name/email...

w h o l e s a l e m e r c h a n d i s e s t o r e @aol.com

25 characters

hmmmmmmmmmm.....



dunno where you got that addy from... but the one I got was

I m m e d i a t e N e w s @aol.com

13 characters!! couldn't find the one u used anywhere.... which would explain why you can't EMAIL them there!

[CoolBret]

Hey guys, couldn't we order something through the site and use Amex blue, they have the best fraud protection of any major cc? If this scam company doesn't come through, then we'll get the money back. I'm waiting to hear if this really is a real warehouse address though, I told them in an e-mail that I lived nearby (even though I don't), and said that I want to go buy a tv in person so it wouldn't have to be shipped, and asked if that was okay and for their office hours. I'll let you know their reply.

[pd123]

I emailed PayPal and asked them to check the site out. I will post any response I get.

[brainsmile]

hmmm... well for that price it's logical to mortgage the house and buy all of em right??? :) not... I'll pass and wait to see what happens.

[race301]

I got e-mail address from their web site? It was a link?(pay-pal)To protect your security, PayPal offers information on the status of this member.
About Wholesale Merchandise:
Wholesale Merchandise is Verified

Account Type
Business

Account Creation Date
February 21, 2001

Account Preferences

Member may choose to deny payments from international users
Member may choose to deny payments without a Confirmed Address

Business URL
http://wholesalemerchandise.bigstep.com

Customer Service Email
[email protected]




WHAT IT MEANS TO BE VERIFIED:
To become Verified, a PayPal Member must provide us with proof that he or she has opened an account at a bank or other financial institution. Because these institutions are required by law to screen account holders, PayPal's verification process increases security when you pay parties you do not know. Please note that PayPal's verification system does not constitute an endorsement of a member, nor a guarantee of a member's business practices. You should always consider other indicators when evaluating members, including length of PayPal membership and reputation scores (on eBay or other auction sites, if applicable).

NOTE ON INTERNATIONAL USERS:
Because International members cannot use our verification system, no International member will have a Verified status.


Close Window


[Edited by race301 on 06-10-2001 at 03:42 AM]

[ApltnHkyMutt]

Any news on what's going on with these guys? I sent them an e-mail asking wtf was going on! il let you all know what they say!

[ApltnHkyMutt]

I checked on some of the pics that they give. The only one that doesnt match so far is the first one! i will keep looking

[MrCodeDude]

$10 says they don't respond to you and block your e-mail address..

[Loki]

Originally posted by ApltnHkyMutt
I checked on some of the pics that they give. The only one that doesnt match so far is the first one! i will keep looking

Yep...here's what it SHOULD look like.

http://www.electrified.com/toshiba_61h70_61.html

[[email protected]]

I promise you that these guys are scammers. Please, nobody send any money to them because it will just get stolen and you will have to risk your own time and money in effort to recover whatever you send them. I have seen these idiots all over the Internet claiming to sell merchandise like this at hugely discounted prices, usually they openly declare it as stolen merchandise. Please guys, stay away.

cya l8r

[MrCodeDude]

Originally posted by Loki
Yep...here's what it SHOULD look like.

http://www.electrified.com/toshiba_61h70_61.html

No, you have the link to the "Theater Version." My friend has a WideScreen version, GREAT for DVD's :)
Did I mention my friend is filthy rich?

[Loki]

Originally posted by MrCodeDude

Originally posted by Loki
Yep...here's what it SHOULD look like.

http://www.electrified.com/toshiba_61h70_61.html

No, you have the link to the "Theater Version." My friend has a WideScreen version, GREAT for DVD's :)
Did I mention my friend is filthy rich?


Can I be your friend? :D

[bigfuss]

What am I missing here? I think it's pretty clear from all the posts that nobody wants to order anything yet, so how come every single item they have shows as "Sold Out"? Were there actually prices posted for everything earlier or just for a couple items?

[stupidzbu]

Originally posted by bigfuss
What am I missing here? I think it's pretty clear from all the posts that nobody wants to order anything yet, so how come every single item they have shows as "Sold Out"? Were there actually prices posted for everything earlier or just for a couple items?

let me put it to you like this.....

they see that everyone clicks to their site from this thread..... and READ the thread...

at least 3 people have emailed them questions.... which they have NOT responded to...

in the end... we screwed them at their own game.. and realized it would be best to be SOLD OUT.. so they wouldn't get ANALY RAPED for fraud!

GOOD WORK GUYS!

[Dman33]

Okay, I called the Woburn, MA public library and they could not find anything on this place. I also contacted the Woburn Business Association and this place is not a member. I also contacted the Woburn City Hall Clerk's office and they looked the business up and it is not listed with them either. (They should register with the City every 5 years.)

Ya know what I think? Yup, it is not legit...

Anyway, the next step is to contact BigStep.com and see what records they have of this company...
I cannot get through to a human at BigStep, perhaps someone else will have better luck? BigStep's info is:
Bigstep.com
2601 Mission Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-229-8500

[fakesurfers]

I already narced them out to Bigstep, they said they would forward it to their counsel.

[Megan]

Sounds like some 14years olds having fun.

[Olomite]

Sorry!
This ebusiness is no longer in service at this Web address. You're most likely seeing this message because the owners of the Web site cancelled their Bigstep.com account. Please contact the Web site owner directly to learn whether the Web site has been moved or is permanently out of business. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for visiting a Bigstep.com ebusiness.

[[email protected]]

Justice!!!!!!!!!!