Too good to be true. Must be Fraud!

jkarc21 · August 1, 2002 8:46PM

Open for opinions on the legitimacy of this web site and its VERY low prices. Could prices this low be possible or even accepted by Apple? This site also states that warranties are included with the product that would suggest they are a certified Apple reseller. After looking over their site I cannot find anything stating that they are actually certified. I suspect fraud here, after reviewing their pricing and payment options. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

Yes, too good to be true! See for yourself.

<a href="http://exchange-usa.com/~exchange/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/index.html"; target="_blank">Must be Fraud!</a>

Mp3 ? players

Apple 10gbipod $148.00

Notebooks

Apple Powerbook 800 ? Mhz $1,495.00

Desktops

Apple Power Mac D 1 ? Ghz $1,795.00

Apple Power Mac D1 ? Ghz + 22? Flat panel monitor $2,095.00

Apple iMac 700 ? Mhz $630.00

Apple iMac 800 ? Mhz $995.00

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: jkarc21 ]

jkarc21 · August 1, 2002 8:53PM

opps!

my mistake sorry for double posting.

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: jkarc21 ]

defiant · August 1, 2002 8:58PM

must be fraud, yes.

I don't believe anyone can sell an iMac at $995.00...

jkarc21 · August 1, 2002 9:06PM

[quote]Originally posted by Defiant:

must be fraud, yes.

I don't believe anyone can sell an iMac at $995.00...<hr></blockquote>

Did you see the new link to the Web site which I corrected. I am new at this and didn't add the link correctly the first time.

chych · August 1, 2002 9:30PM

Gotta be fraud, they only accept wire transfer, MO, cashiers check, or personal check... No doubt about it.

eman · August 1, 2002 9:40PM

Those prices are crazy, of course it's a fraud.

thegelding · August 1, 2002 9:41PM

yes, i would think it would most likely be fraud...they state that their prices are low because they buy stock from stores that are going out of business or are bankrupt....but the 10 gig iPod is not even out yet, right? so how could they buy them from bankrupt stores??

[quote] We purchase bankrupt and surplus stock from companies around the country at discount prices and pass the savings onto YOU! <hr></blockquote>

surplus 10 gig iPods....yeah right....g

thegelding · August 1, 2002 9:46PM

of course apple could go after them if they wanted to...they are showing apple merchandise for sale and offering the apple support and warrenty..and they are not using apple's price structure...g

brianmacos · August 1, 2002 9:55PM

One major reason you can tell it is a scam is they don't have a phone number posted or an email adress so really you have no way of contacting these people and for all you know the server that is storing this site is in another country where it is legal to do this kind of BS.

snof · August 1, 2002 9:56PM

[quote]Originally posted by thegelding:

but the 10 gig iPod is not even out yet, right? so how could they buy them from bankrupt stores??

<hr></blockquote>

Actually, it's been out for a while, I've had one for a couple of months. It's the 20 gig that's not out yet.

jkarc21 · August 1, 2002 10:03PM

[quote]Originally posted by BrianMacOS:

One major reason you can tell it is a scam is they don't have a phone number posted or an email adress so really you have no way of contacting these people and for all you know the server that is storing this site is in another country where it is legal to do this kind of BS.<hr></blockquote>

This what you lookin for?

- Edward McNichol

- Tampa Exchange USA Inc

- <a href="http://www.exchange-usa.com"; target="_blank">http://www.exchange-usa.com</a>;

- 1-800-896-2142

mount_my_floppy · August 1, 2002 10:13PM

If this is not a scam i`m going to hook myself up with one of those dual one g`s and a 22inch flat screen for a nice round price of 2 Grand ha.

artman @_@ · August 1, 2002 10:19PM

"We cater mainly to resellers and retail owners, not end consumers."

Hmmm. They're like my company I work for. My company is a wholesaler. Only caters to resellers and retail owners too.

But my boss is thinking of building a retail site selling many of the products he sells to them. Of course if his resellers or retail owners got wind of this they'd be pissed. Still, he wants to do it.

Are these fellas scammers? Maybe not. Just trying to spead their sales out to retailers. But some of their policies seem shady.

I did a search on 411.com and yellowpages.com for a phone number and got nothing.

Ooops, jkarc21...where did you find that? <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />

I'd be wary, but you never know...a lot of Apple resellers have gone under and PC/tech sales have been low...

[ 08-01-2002: Message edited by: Artman @_@ ]

jkarc21 · August 1, 2002 10:47PM

I know someone who placed an order with them earlier this week who planned on picking up their order in person since they live near Tampa/Bradenton where the warehouse is located. After buying it now on the site he received this message via email two days later. The "Goldchanger" sound very suspicious. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

[quote] <hr></blockquote>

Hello,

Thanks for your recent order.

a) Make Cashier's Checks and Money Orders (personal or

company checks are not accepted) payable to: "Goldchanger".

b)! Mail to the following address:

GoldChanger

3300 D.N. Main St.

PMB 240

Anderson, SC

29621

c) Write in the memo line the number "xxxxxx" so the payment is credited to us properly. This is all the information required.

** Please remember to do this to avoid delay in processing your order!

Please do not send any correspondence with your payment ? it will not

be passed on to us! **

d) Once you have sent this, contact orders@e... with the order number, amount sent and the type of payment you sent so we can expect payment.

You may wish to use a courier like FedEx to ensure it reaches us quickly and without hassle.

Thank you for your continued business.

----------------------------------

- Richard Manning -

- Tampa Exchange USA Inc -

- <a href="http://www.exchange-usa.com"; target="_blank">http://www.exchange-usa.com</a>; -

- 1-800-896-2142 -

alcimedes · August 1, 2002 10:48PM

so here's the real question. anyone if florida willing to purchase something and try to pick it up from them?

turns out they'll accept pickups. just show up and they're willing to give you your product.

only caveat? you gotta show up with cash. better bring your biggest friends and a baseball bat, just to be safe.

now if someone in florida gets something off them for the right price, i'll be impressed.

those prices are unreal.

drewprops · August 1, 2002 11:11PM

sounds like the kind of deal where you get the local consumer activist (TV or radio) to send a crew around to see what the deal is....or just call the police to find out if they've seen this scam before...talk to a detective. They may even go investigate.

My Magic 8-Ball says that this company will last just long enough to screw some suckers out of their money.

Good luck you silly brave souls who venture into these "deals".

D

artman @_@ · August 2, 2002 9:04AM

"Didja bring tha money?..."

torifile · August 2, 2002 9:58AM

Link doesn't work for me. Something about an undefined catalog. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> Who knows...

mr. fantastic · August 2, 2002 7:47PM

[quote]Originally posted by drewprops:

sounds like the kind of deal where you get the local consumer activist (TV or radio) to send a crew around to see what the deal is....or just call the police to find out if they've seen this scam before...talk to a detective. They may even go investigate.

My Magic 8-Ball says that this company will last just long enough to screw some suckers out of their money.

Good luck you silly brave souls who venture into these "deals".

D<hr></blockquote>

I actually called the Sheriff in that city and reported this. He did not seem interested and suggested I contact the BBB, which I did before I called him. The BBB reports back via email that they have not received any complaints.

mr. fantastic · August 2, 2002 7:53PM

Oh... and that warehouse to which they speak of?

BS - it's a house. Look here:

mr. fantastic · August 2, 2002 7:55PM

...And here's the reply from the Tampa BBB...

[quote]Sorry but we do not have any information on this company in our files. This means that this business has not been brought to our attention for anything good or bad in the past.

-Better Business Bureau of West Florida, Inc.

<a href="http://www.bbbwestflorida.org"; target="_blank">www.bbbwestflorida.org</a>

727-535-5522

-----Original Message-----

From: Mike Harrison [mailto:mike@macmedics.com]

Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 12:35 PM

To: clrwatcb@gte.net

Subject: Re: Better Business Bureau

Good afternoon,

I am trying to find out some information about a internet based company in Tampa Florida.

They are called <a href="http://exchange-usa.com,"; target="_blank">http://exchange-usa.com,</a>; and sell computers at very cheap prices.

As a reseller myself, I?m interested in doing business with them, but I wanted to find out any and all information first.

Any help would be appreciated, as all my leads are dead ends. Including phone numbers and emails.

Here is their contact info:

Toll-free: 1-800-896-2142

e-mail: sales@exchange-usa.com

Registrant:

RJ LLC (EXCHANGE-USA-COM-DOM)

PO BOX 1269

Orem, UT 84059

USA

801-785-

richard91302@lycos.com

Domain Name: EXCHANGE-USA.COM

Administrative Contact:

RJ LLC richard91302@lycos.com

PO BOX 1269

Orem, UT 84059

USA

801-

Technical Contact, Zone Contact:

RJ LLC richard91302@lycos.com

PO BOX 1269

Orem, UT 84059

USA

801-785-

Record last updated on 27-Jun-2002.

Record expires on 21-Apr-2003.

Record created on 21-Apr-2002.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS.DOTCOMAVENUE.COM 209.61.128.24

NS2.DOTCOMAVENUE.COM 209.61.128.25

Thank you,

<hr></blockquote>

Too good to be true. Must be Fraud!

Comments