Well the swap wasn't too bad but the guy who bought my 6 clownfish paid with a phony $50.00. I've done business with him before and I see him at all the Milwaukee swaps and it is possible he didn't know it was phony ::) I'd know the guy if I saw him again but I don't know his name. I don't want to get into a description of the guy here because I do not want to be accused of any sort of profiling or anything like that but if anyone was there and thinks they may be able to help me find the guy I would appreciate a heads up via Email. I know he keeps pestering me for venustus so that may help.
Please do not post any information on this site, I think my email is posted in the information section. Jon if you don't think this is appropriate feel free to delete it.
That sucks, Steve,,,but crap happens, I hope it gets resolved for you...
Thanks Jon, it could have been worse and at least I got ice cream out of Bob over and above the usual Chipotle's dinner. I"m sure I'll see the guy again at the next swap but that won't be until the fall. I'm not sure if I've seen him at the GCCA swaps or not but the way he talks he is into the fish big time so it wouldn't surprise me if he does attend. Even if he is though I'm not going to be able to do anything, it would be his word against mine. I'll just let him know that I am onto him and try to spread the word.
I'm sure he didn't know. Passing counterfeit knowingly is a federal offence. Buy one of those pens that they check bills with at the stores and it won't happen to you again. When the guy gets back in touch with you to buy again tell him what happened. If he's an honest guy he should be willing to split the difference with you. IMO that's all you can ask since somebody passed him the phony bill, and he'll be out money because of it as well.
I need to follow my own advice on the currency checking pen. Almost half my business is transacted in cash. I'm lucky. I haven't been screwed yet, but it will happen. If counterfit weren't around everywhere, the stores wouldn't be checking the bills.
I did a job for 2 grand once and got 20 100's. All fake. Could do nothing about it. The Guy said "you took them" "What did you do with the good ones?."Get off my porch"
Quote from: Frank The Plumber on April 08, 2013, 03:24:07 PM
I did a job for 2 grand once and got 20 100's. All fake. Could do nothing about it. The Guy said "you took them" "What did you do with the good ones?."Get off my porch"
Well that must have been a nice kick in the head. Don't suppose you were able to find a way to get back at the low life(?). Did you buy the pen after that?
i almost got caught once the counterfit pen said it was real but didnt have the correct hologram or magnetic stip . the person had bleached a five dollar bill and printed a twenty on it those pens can only tell if it is the right type of paper
I got one of the pens for the store but its easier to look for the thread. That is something they can't fake. I tried to check this one but it was dark in the room and I just let my guard down. The pen would have helped. A far as him not knowing, you are may be right since he is such a visible attendee at all the swaps. I'll probably run into him at the GCCA swap next week (this seals it Bob, I'm going, pick me up) and yeah, if he is decent he'll spring for half but I'm not holding my breath. Hopefully I'll have the letter from the bank by then to give him as proof. The thing that ticks me off almost as much as getting the bill is how the bank was about it. This is fake, you will have to initial here as knowledge that we are confiscating the bill. No paperwork no forms no nothing. I finally got them to agree to send me a copy of the form they have to send in to the feds. The teller did say she was sorry at least.
Frank, that really sucks but thanks, you made me feel a bit better ;)
I'll pick you up.
That suck, I hope that the guy didn't know. the swaps would be a good spot to pass off counterfeits There's so much going. I know that I would want to make it right if I mistakenly gave out bad money. It's a shame the banks or government don't do something for the people that get scammed by it.
Hey at least all they did is take it. When you hand them 20 of them you have to sit in a dark room with a bright light on your face for 22 hours with a 6 foot 7 inch tall lady named Ms. Himm, with bowling pins for calves and a man stache shadow under her forth chin. I was more angered by meeting the first lady I absolutely would under no circumstances ever ever ewwww ever at the tender age of 19 than I was about losing the bills. I really did not like the way her voice kept getting so deep and gravely when she called me honey. Jeez, I just had a case of the chivers. uuuughhhhh ggghhhh.
You poor, dear, sweet soul.
Honestly Frank. You should consider doing some writing as a hobby. You're quite good.
Liz he's done that on the Angel forum. Honest. Lol.
Quote from: Frank The Plumber on April 09, 2013, 05:18:04 PM
Hey at least all they did is take it. When you hand them 20 of them you have to sit in a dark room with a bright light on your face for 22 hours with a 6 foot 7 inch tall lady named Ms. Himm, with bowling pins for calves and a man stache shadow under her forth chin. I was more angered by meeting the first lady I absolutely would under no circumstances ever ever ewwww ever at the tender age of 19 than I was about losing the bills. I really did not like the way her voice kept getting so deep and gravely when she called me honey. Jeez, I just had a case of the chivers. uuuughhhhh ggghhhh.
Yeah, I can imagine a wad of $100.00s is going to pique their interest a bit more than a single $50.00.
Quote from: PaulineMi on April 09, 2013, 08:35:28 PM
Liz he's done that on the Angel forum. Honest. Lol.
What is the name of the forum, Pauline? I'm not an Angel nut, as you know, but he tickles my funny bone.
It's angelfish.net but the site has been down today for some reason.
Thanks. I'm fond of forums that are dot net's.
http://www.angelfish.net/VBulletin/index.php
over here, Liz...
Thanks, Mug. It appears that they are doing maintenance on the site today. I'll try tomorrow. I 'spect I'll only read the plumber guy. I like good writing and like my funny bone tickled. Not big into Angels, though.
I forgot to ask....did you see the guy on Sunday???
Quote from: Mugwump on April 16, 2013, 02:12:27 PM
I forgot to ask....did you see the guy on Sunday???
No, he wasn't there but a bunch of the guys he was hanging out with at the Milwaukee swap were there.
I still can't bring myself to believe that it was intentional. Fish people just aren't that way. Did you ask his buddies how to get in touch with him? I hope you don't need to fly me up to confront the guy. If you do, please be sure that he screwed you on purpose because I will hurt him and then I'll go to jail.
Not in Illinois you won't, we're too cheap to house anyone unless the do something permanent.
Quote from: LizStreithorst on April 17, 2013, 05:58:25 PM
I still can't bring myself to believe that it was intentional. Fish people just aren't that way. Did you ask his buddies how to get in touch with him? I hope you don't need to fly me up to confront the guy. If you do, please be sure that he screwed you on purpose because I will hurt him and then I'll go to jail.
Fish people just aren't that way? That's a little naive don't you think. I mean sure, we like to think that animal lovers are different but we are just a cross section of the population like every one else and there are thieves in every facet of the population. What their hobbies are is irrelevant.
As far as confronting him what would be the use? If he didn't know he is innocent but I doubt he would make good even if it was only half. If he is guilty he would never admit it. As far as I am concerned its over. I've got more important things to think about now.
The cynicism that is a result of these types of things is what's especially sad.
Sorry this happened to you. :(
Quote from: PaulineMi on April 18, 2013, 01:02:23 PM
The cynicism that is a result of these types of things is what's especially sad.
Sorry this happened to you. :(
I totally agree. I used to be of the mind that I would trust you until you proved yourself untrustworthy but now I just don't know if I can afford to think that way. It's not just this one event that has changed my mind, I've slowly been adopting that attitude for several years. It's not the evolutionary path that I would prefer but I've seen a lot of dishonest people in this business/hobby (we all have) and it makes it difficult to trust people. I don't like not trusting people who have given me no reason not to trust them but to protect myself I feel I need to. That's why I stopped taking checks (except from my best customers and friends.) That's why nothing leaves my possession until it is paid for. That's why I have severe doubts that your particular animal is captive bred when the vast majority of them in the hobby are wild caught. It is this particular side that I will not miss when I close up next month. If I can get it back to a hobby again I can be more selective in the people I choose to business with. I may not be able to do anything about the dishonest people on a grand scale but I will be able to partially eliminate them from my little world.
I understand, Steve, perfectly, but I will advise caution about becoming a total skeptic about folks. That could present a possibilty of bypassing a future good friend. Keep an open mind. and enjoy life, the nuts will appear with a stamp on their foreheads, they won't be hard to miss..... ;D
I DID make a naive statement and one that I know not to be true. I've been screwed by fish people, but only twice. Once it cost me a bundle of money once it was my feelings that got hurt which to me is just as bad. But most fish people are so good hearted and give so freely of their knowledge that I can't imagine ever loosing faith in them.
I agree with both sides. I don't trust people, but Unless they are total crackpots I would try and give them some trust until they screw me.
That being said there is only a hand full of people that a fully trust. As far as Steve's situation there is no way of know that the person willingly tried to screw him. If this person is decent he would try and come to a comparable solution. In a situation like a swap meet it is impossible not to trust that the person isn't handing out fake money. Even if you have a pen to check money are you going to check every bill that you get? There is alot of things happening at a fast pace.