*Really* Cheap Model D- is this a scam?

buckyswider · Post by **buckyswider** » February 26th, 2013, 2:07 pm

Hi guys, I happened across an ad for a place that is reportedly selling a new Model D for $599. Free Shipping. PLUS a limited time 10% off coupon!!

Sounds too good to be true, right?? I'm really dubious. Checkout goes through google wallet. Any idea if google wallet offers any buyer protection?? I'll take a chance if google will cover my butt in case this is a scam.

The site has only been around for a week. US registered and based. Until today, the checkout didn't work. Emails to their sales bounced back.

Here who google wallet says they are:

Fitness Blowout Online, 214 869-3027, 4600 Lorraine Ave, highland park, TX 75209 US

Not sure if it's kosher to post their weblink here. If given the OK by a mod I will post it so others can check it out.

cas_sj · Post by **cas_sj** » February 26th, 2013, 2:45 pm

I want to be very careful not to impugn this company's legitimacy - I don't know anything about them.... But to me it definitely sounds too good to be true.

Before I bought my Concept 2 in January, I shopped on-line pretty thoroughly, and found one web site out of TX offering them at an amazing discount - something like $490.00! (That was right before the end of the year.) But further research suggested that the outfit was a total fraud.

The on-line ad I was looking at was http://www.blowoutfitnessequipment.com/ ... ng-machine - that site is down now, but my research showed that it was somehow connected to an outfit calling itself "Tha Fitness Factory." I still have the web address saved in an e-mail because I corresponded with the author of this consumer complaint....
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/ ... id=1947773
Fortunately I had the good sense not to take the chance on a purchase (unlike others apparently).

Now, I certainly don't know that "blowoutfitnessequipment" and/or Tha Fitness Factory have any connection with Fitness Blowout Online - looks like different addresses/phone numbers, but I would be very skeptical that they could offer Concept 2's so heavily discounted.

No experience with Google wallet, but certainly - buyer protection would be key.

Good luck and kudos to you if it's real - you could buy several and re-sell on ebay at substantial profit!

buckyswider · Post by **buckyswider** » February 26th, 2013, 2:58 pm

Wow, thanks. They are in fact the same place, so impugn away!!

Their website (not their url) still refers to "the fitness factory". Even the testimonials mention "thafitnessfactory".

So just another scam incarnation. Maybe I'll start the ball rolling and post up in the merchant circle so others can make the connection.

Appreciate the info- back to craigslist!!

Bucky

cas_sj · Post by **cas_sj** » February 26th, 2013, 3:04 pm

Very glad I could help.... Your initial post sent out all the red flags - I had all but forgotten ThaFitnessFactory until I saw your inquiry.

Ergmeister · Post by **Ergmeister** » February 27th, 2013, 7:22 am

A call to Concept 2 will validate any resellers for them and help you determine if further investigation is warranted.

Had the same thing from a very similar outfit advertising new in box $600 D's with PM4 on Boston Craig's list just before Christmas. A google search of the telephone number and the word scam revealed pages of scam complaints on an RV forum regarding a generator as well as a few on other similarly priced items including C-2 Ergs. I sent the link to C-2 and they immediately confirmed it's a scam and nobody that they are partnered with.

Scam artists are targeting Craig's List and other swap/sell sites on items that are in the $1,000 - $1500 price range and offering them for 40-50% of normal pricing.

In general terms, scams that take under $1k are misdemeanor Petit larceny which basically means its too small to attract interest of law enforcement to pursue criminally, thereby paving the way for a scam artist to take 300 people for $290k total and not worry about being prosecuted except in rare cases. Scams ripping you off for $1k and up are felony Grand Larceny and might get the attention of law enforcement with enough people being taken by the same thing and banding together with complaints. I've been down this road and trust me, the scammers are skilled at ducking the law. They also tend to be relatively new websites and businesses with little or no history. This is a business for these scammers, and setting up a website to scam $100k/time is well worth it to them. They are taking tens of millions per year and never getting prosecuted.

Caveat emptor.

godnavynd · Post by **godnavynd** » February 28th, 2013, 1:16 pm

A call into the Better Business Bureau might be a good approach as well.

buckyswider · Post by **buckyswider** » March 2nd, 2013, 2:19 pm

I did contact C2, as well as the guy whom cas_sj contacted on account of the merchantcircle review. He informed the FBI and the TX Attorney General.

C2 echoes the comments above- Nobody ever sells these new at a discount. Wish I lived nearer Boston and it was before that indoor rowing event- would definitely have picked up one of the 6 hour used models!!! Now, back to stalking craigslist.....one went for $450 a couple weeks ago. I replied within 12 hours of the posting and it was already spoken for. That's why I didn't hold out for a pic of the one that turned out to be a C- It was Saturday morning, the guy said he could send a pic Saturday night, but already had 3 other people interested. He wasn't gonna be home until 2:30 in the afternoon, so I arranged to meet him when he returned. Oh well....

buckyswider · Post by **buckyswider** » March 7th, 2013, 8:12 am

YEAAAHHH!!! I'm an Owner!! Got a great deal on a 2010 Model D (along with 2 data cards and the HRM receiver) whose owner unfortunately has passed. Hit the CralisList ad 52 minutes after it went up. Was crossing my fingers that I wasn't too late...

Anyhow, I have a TON of questions. Instead of mis-casting this topic, I'll search the forums for answers, and if none found will start a new thread...

Quatroux · Post by **Quatroux** » March 7th, 2013, 2:15 pm

buckyswider wrote:Fitness Blowout Online, 214 869-3027, 4600 Lorraine Ave, highland park, TX 75209 US

I missed this when I originally saw this thread. I live near there and can assure you that this is a residential neighborhood with no businesses. It is also one of the most expensive areas in Texas. This house happens to be for sale at $595,000. That's ultra cheap for the neighborhood, but across the street is a 20' barrier and a busy tollway. That's reason #45956 not to trust this seller.

I see you bought something. Congrats on the purchase.

jbear85 · Post by **jbear85** » August 23rd, 2014, 2:07 pm

I just found a similar deal on a website called rowerblowout.com for a model d 699 shipped... The site seemed legit and i wanted to jump on the sale before it sold out... I asked my credit card company before purchasing if i could dispute the charge for fraud if i did not get the items i ordered and they said yes so I went ahead and made the purchase... I got confirmation the next day that the order had shipped, but with no tracking number. I tried contacting the seller by calling the number listed on their site and its out of service... I tried contacting support via their sites messaging system with no reply. lastly I called the customer support for the company hosting the site, bigcommerce.com and finally got a hold of someone there, but sadly they couldnt help me. They simply told me to send an email to their legal department and they would look into it. Its been 3 days since I ordered with absolutely no response from anyone in their customer service, I may wait a few more business days before disputing the charge with my credit card company for fraud...

buckyswider · Post by **buckyswider** » August 25th, 2014, 11:14 am

A google search of the telephone number listed at the rowerblowouts site finds that this is a mobile number in India. So I say don't wait, call the credit card company now.

http://www.xombom.com/mobile/8883921117-mobile-number/

c2jonw · Post by **c2jonw** » August 25th, 2014, 12:08 pm

Thanks. We've already sent a cease and desist letter to the hosting site. We were alerted to them last week.

You should contact your credit card company immediately. If you are willing to email us (rowing@concept2.com) with a few details that can help us bring them down, that would be great. These include:

• Customer Name:
• Email address:
• Phone number:
• Amount of loss:
• Date of transaction:
• Product Purchased (model name):
• Any other information that might be helpful:
• If you have any documentation to send (copies of invoice, etc.), that would also be great.

In addition: you still should submit a report via http://www.ic3.gov and your local police concerning the matter.

C2JonW

c2jonw · Post by **c2jonw** » August 25th, 2014, 12:26 pm

FYI – just found out our images have been taken down. Apparently they are still scamming WaterRower customers, but not Concept2.
C2JonW

jbear85 · Post by **jbear85** » August 25th, 2014, 12:57 pm

I just filed a complaint on the site you gave me and I also filed a complaint to The Better Business Bureau. I called my credit card company this morning as well, but they said I had to wait until at least 10 business days to file since the site stated it would take 10 business days to ship. I appreciate any help you could give me in recooping my losses for this order Thank you very much for any help in bringing down this fraudulent website.

c2jonw · Post by **c2jonw** » August 25th, 2014, 2:43 pm

jbear85,
We'll do all we can. Once again it's proof of the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". Hope you get your money back.....C2JonW

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Really Cheap Model D- is this a scam?

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