Pink Visual Claims Theft by Distributors

[nickbaer]

http://www.xbiz.com/news/96888

Me thinks Pink Visual forgot to read the warning on top of every CraigsList ad.

They took a $25,000 Money Order from an unknown distributor??? Hhahahahahahahahaha And shipped product?? Hahahahahaha And the Money Order's were fake and the address is vacant! Hahahahaha

There's one too many MBAs on that crew.

[gaybucks_chip]

This isn't quite as ignorant as you'd make it out to sound.

The new distributor was based in southern california, placed an order, had an address and contact info, and was paying for the shipment COD with certified funds. As Pink Visual said, it seemed like a transaction that wasn't abnormal other than perhaps being a fairly large order.

Given a choice of payment methods, I would probably opt for cashier's check over a credit card, since there are plenty of stories about new retailers or distributors placing orders, receiving product, and then charging the order back. And I suppose one could insist on a wire transfer in advance, but then the distributor has to worry, dealing with a new studio, whether they will ship the product.

So, in my book, it's not at all like the craigslist scams.

[gaydemon]

Wouldnt it be easy to find such a large order ends up, or maybe its destined for other countries or ebay and such?

[nickbaer]

There is nothing "Certified" about a fake Cashier's Check.

If I got a Certified Check, it would have to be from BOA or WAMU, and then I'd go to the Bank in person before telling the illegal immigrants in shipping and receiving to pack up $20K in porn and put it on FedEX.

A brand new order?, a $25K order?, from a brand new distributor?, in 2008? That has Fraud written all over it... Who/What is new in 2008?

Was it a store? Did they visit the store wanting a $25K order? Did they meet in person? Did they look at the building permit, the Business License, and Certificate of Occupancy, for $25K??

Wire Transfer... I'd pay the $15 inbound fee, gladly.

That's dumber than all the people who get cleaned out of their life savings by responding to those fake Award Claims from Nigeria!!

What do people do on the Internet all day, that they haven't learned about fake Cashier's Check schemes for the past 5 years?!?

Get a clue, being a merchant on the Internet in 2008 is like being a one teller Bank in the middle of a 1 horse town 150 years ago - just waiting for Jesse James to come riding thru!

[basschick]

please don't call people stupid and dumb. one of the points of this board is respect. i don't know the folks at pink visual, but i certainly know of their success in our industry. and for all we know, they did the things you're talking about - after all, i doubt that they told xbiz every single thing that happened.

[marcjacob]

I dont think anyone getting scammed is funny in the slightest. I dont know them either, but I hope they get their money back. Thats a nasty thing to do.

[tmt-Walter]

If I got a Certified Check, it would have to be from BOA or WAMU, and then I'd go to the Bank in person before telling the illegal immigrants in shipping and receiving to pack up $20K in porn and put it on FedEX.

was that really necesary?

[gaybucks_chip]

The other issue here, as I said, is that this was a COD order. When you do COD certified funds, then UPS or FedEx picks up a cashiers check or certified check when the merchandise is delivered. There's no way to verify it, to say "only from BofA or WAMU" (not to mention the 100+ other large banks)

Also, Nick, I agree with Patti, there's no reason to insult other posters or companies in this business, or to try to put yourself out there as superior. Everyone makes mistakes. We've certainly made plenty of them. If you never have, then... god bless ya.

[dzinerbear]

If I got a Certified Check, it would have to be from BOA or WAMU, and then I'd go to the Bank in person before telling the illegal immigrants in shipping and receiving to pack up $20K in porn and put it on FedEX.

You obviously have little respect for anyone, maybe this isn't the right board for you.

Michael

[marcjacob]

was that really necesary?

I missed that, but I agree. 100% not needed on this board or any other :grrr:

[camcruise]

please don't call people stupid and dumb. one of the points of this board is respect. i don't know the folks at pink visual, but i certainly know of their success in our industry. and for all we know, they did the things you're talking about - after all, i doubt that they told xbiz every single thing that happened.

Thanks Patti, This is the kind of thread that belongs on a few other boards that appreciate this kind of rudeness.
I just dont see making fun of someone's misfortune and being down right unkind to the hard working people in shipping and receiving has any place here.
Now this is the kind of thread that I would not mind being closed.:grrr::grrr:

[nickbaer]

please don't call people stupid and dumb. one of the points of this board is respect. i don't know the folks at pink visual, but i certainly know of their success in our industry. and for all we know, they did the things you're talking about - after all, i doubt that they told xbiz every single thing that happened.

I described the issue as being "dumber than...". I'm big on issues, and the issue is the lesson learned from the ignorant actions of people in a company described as being successful and a leader in the industry.

It's also like watching a SNL sketch: "What happened to our $20K in product we shipped so carelessly?". What they did - in 2008 terms - was extremely careless... and the outcome proves that statement.

Fancy everyone getting all PC with speech, considering mountains of posts about people who don't pay their bills, which subject matter is only legitimate public discussion to a point.

Looks like there's once again a Board "controlled" by certain people, who say what they want, and nag about the rest - especially the new.

[nickbaer]

I just dont see making fun of someone's misfortune

I did not make fun of their misfortune, I parodied the unabashed cluelessness of their press release / interview with XBIZ.

When you ship product on credit, or on COD, you are shipping on a promise to pay. And in this economy, with the sophisticatedness of Wire Fraud thieves, and the opportunities the Internet has for selling untraceable product, promises should be viewed with a great deal of speculation.

The less of their misfortune, is to protect ourselves from the same misfortune - and that of the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

[basschick]

we're not getting all PC - we're being courteous. and it wasn't a press release - it was a news article that pink visual had no control over and didn't write.

[gaybucks_chip]

I described the issue as being "dumber than...". I'm big on issues, and the issue is the lesson learned from the ignorant actions of people in a company described as being successful and a leader in the industry.


Plenty of experienced, well established companies run by sharp people have been burned on similar scams, and hindsight is always 20/20.

May you never have the misfortune of making a bad judgement call or a mistake in your business endeavors. If you do succeed in business without any mistakes, you'll be the first person in the history of business to do so. :)

[nickbaer]

The issue is making a bad sales decision(s), in the bright light of the experiences of others over the past 5+ years, then calling the media and claiming "Theft!".

The lesson of the XBIZ story is a bit lost in the Woe Is Us, We Got Robbed, when in reality they handed the $20K on a silver platter... or as UPS might put it: a Brown Platter.

[camcruise]

Well we are all not perfect.
We have all done and said things that we should not have from time to time.
I am sure the guys in shipping and receiving will agree with me here.

[gaybucks_chip]

Nevermind. Some people are always right, even when they're wrong :)

[marcjacob]

"Im right and everyone else is wrong"

[camcruise]

"Im right and everyone else is wrong"

Rule #1 I am always right.
Rule #2 If I am ever wrong, see rule #1