Steve Nickodemski rip off

[dirk67]

Bad me. I didn't notice he was banned from TRF and tried to purchase a rivet bracelet for a 1675. It was on the Vintage Rolex Marketplace on Network 54. I gifted money on paypal but didn't get the bracelet. I originally couldn't find anything on Nicko but after I realized I wasn't getting the bracelet I found that he was banned from TRF.

Lesson learned! Know your seller and know your crooks!

[crowncollection]

Sorry to hear your story


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[steveclocks]

research first! all times!
sorry to hear you lost money

[Exclusivewatches]

Sorry to hear, hopefully you'll get your Money back one way or the other.

Good luck on your next purchase!

[Cc1966]

Sorry to hear this. Trusted TRF sellers are a godsend.

[Baco Noir]

Can you provide some details on the time line and communications involved in the transaction and attempts at resolution for this transaction?

As far as I recall Steve was banned here for posts he made rather than bad dealings. Since he is not able to defend himself here, providing more details on what has transpired seems more appropriate than a public lynching without any facts presented.

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[dirk67]

Yes. I will give the chronology as soon as I have a little more time. I have a meeting starting in several minutes.

I will also go to another forum where I hear he hangs out and try to communicate with him there. He doesn't respond to my email but hopefully he will on a forum.

If I am wrong, and I hope I am, I will definitely come on and retract my concerns. But I definitely don't think so or I would never have posted.

I would prefer to think of this as a "public warning" and not a "public lynching".

[cajunron]

Originally Posted by dirk67

I would prefer to think of this as a "public warning" and not a "public lynching".

The moderators here are the best on the net. They would never allow that to happen without first knowing the facts. Please tell the rest of your story asap.

[aquajoe]

dirk67 please check your email. I really believe Steve had no idea any of this happened. I've had a conversation with him concerning this.

PM me if you'd like.

[dirk67]

OK. Here is the history and it ends with Steve refunding my money within the last hour.

Aug. 16 Paid $615 for a rivet bracelet using the gift option on paypal.
Aug. 19 Steve says it has shipped USPS first class.
Aug. 29 I wrote saying I had not received it yet. He immediately responded saying he sent it but didn't get a tracking number. Keep him informed.
Sept. 9 I wrote saying unnfortunately I had not received it.
Sept. 10 I wrote again saying I had not received it and his lack of response makes me nervous.
Sept. 10 I did a Google search and found some notes that he had ripped other off.
Sept. 10 I sent an email saying that I found this information and now I am super nervous. No response.
Sept. 11 Nothing still so I assume I have been ripped off. A little while ago I get an angry email from Steve saying maybe I got the band and was keeping it and he should post about me. A little while later I get the $615 refund.

So, I have to say that he did the right thing in refunding the money. He said that I should do the right thing if I get the bracelet and I certainly will post if I do. I can't say I feel good about the interaction at all and maybe it is:
1. My expectations that things are shipped with tracking numbers.
2. I was not familiar with the paypal gift option and was concerned that it left me with little recourse.
3. I purchased a 16800 from Australia on 8/15, two inserts (1675/16800) from Greekbum on 8/21, and a purple/pink insert on 9/2 -- all of which I received and I still have not received the bracelet (if it was in fact sent).
4. When I send a concerned email about a purchase I expect a prompt reply. His previous replies were prompt but when I was questioning whether or not he was going to take care of the situation I got nothing.

So, there is the story as I experienced it and I am certainly open to feedback. I hope that I didn't sound the alarm too soon and I wonder if sounding the alarm helped with the refund. Maybe it wasn't a rip off (not sure) but at least I experienced it as poor business practices.

Dirk

[dirk67]

One more thing, I do make a fair amount of purchases on the internet (I don't sell). Feel free to check out my feedback on eBay (dirk0257). I pay quickly and am pretty honest, trustworthy, and trusting. This transaction was different than any other I had experienced. I even wired money to Hong Kong for a GP Ferrari F1 2000.

It just felt different. Was it an innocent difference? I will be more inclined to say yes if I actually get the bracelet and it is post marked on 8/19.

[Baco Noir]

Glad to hear that Steve stepped up and did the right thing in the end. He's never been accused of being tactful but I have always known him to be honest. Things like this are why I never ship anything to a buyer without tracking and insurance. It's primarily for my peace of mind, not the buyers.

And BTW, the lynching comment was not meant to be directed at you, but rather at the direction the thread was heading with what appeared to be people jumping on the bandwagon to condemn someone without all the facts. I for one hope if any of us ever have a deal go south that people will ask for details before coming to rash conclusions.

[dirk67]

I also want to really thank all of you on TRF for helping me with this matter. I believe it was because of all of your support that it was successfully resolved. It just goes to show the power of a community. Thanks!

[Exclusivewatches]

Glad it got sorted out rather than any partys dissapointment.

Good luck on your next purchase!

Best Regards

[Cc1966]

Glad this got worked out. No tracking on an expensive item makes no sense to me.

[Baco Noir]

Since Steve can't defend himself here, he asked on another forum that his side be told, so I'm posting direct quotes from another thread on another forum so his side can be heard here as well. I'm not taking sides at all, but do think he has a right to be heard too and the e-mail from the buyer to Steve put the bad deal in a little more even sided perspective for me.

Just for informational purposes and I'm not mentioning any names because that would be wrong, but one again I'm being smeared all over the internet on another forum about a bracelet I sold. I sold the C&I back some time ago on another forum and I like a stupid idiot sent it first class mail without tracking since the clerk said that it would make no difference since it was only going to New York from my FPO, I didn't bother insuring it either, another mistake. I've been away from my personal email for a few days and didn't check my email until this evening when i get a blast from this guy accusing me of being a thief, I think he said scammer. So, he goes and posts this on another forum and of course they are all over it like flies on honey. Now, once again I'm a thief, I've never stolen anything! I refunded his money and i get this back, what a nice guy. I honestly do not know, I was going to start selling a few watches from time to time, buying them and reselling them, but ow I honestly don't know. Nobody trusts anyone anymore, I am truly sad as I write this, this hurts and it hurts even more that I had to pull the money from my already abused CC and pay this guy. He didn't care when he bought it, he snatched it up and then blames me when it was sent to his office building and who knows what happened to it. This is just beautiful. I am sick.

I'm not saying he's a crook, hopefully he refunds the refund when it arrives, what I'm saying is I wish he would have given me the opportunity to investigate this a bit more before he starts spreading libelous comments. I have basically been working 12 hr days since Monday trying to get ready for the new school year and I have not been on top of emails or anything else for that matter-other than work. This I understand is my fault, and I admit it, but now he's put this out-on a forum I can not defend myself on, it then becomes a one sided discussion (backed by certain mods I'm sure), since I'm not their favorite son. Anyway, I just want to make this clear on the only place I can make myself heard.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by dirk67

Bad me. I didn't notice he was banned from TRF and tried to purchase a rivet bracelet for a 1675. It was on the Vintage Rolex Marketplace on Network 54. I gifted money on paypal but didn't get the bracelet. I originally couldn't find anything on Nicko but after I realized I wasn't getting the bracelet I found that he was banned from TRF.

Lesson learned! Know your seller and know your crooks!

I assume this is member formally known here as "Nicko".

Whilst it appears that he showed remarkably bad judgement, there doesn't seem to be enough evidence for you pronouncing this person as a crook.

A crook doesn't refund and you've had your money returned.

Sayin' that, I'd not purchase anything from him purely down to his apparent lack of basic common sense.

[Blong]

I can't say that hearing his side of the story would make me want to do business with him. There are too many other sellers out there that seem to come without these headaches. I personally have bought two watches from DavidSW and did so initially because of his great reviews....as a buyer only, I want to deal with someone I trust completely.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

I assume this is member formally known here as "Nicko".

Whilst it appears that he showed remarkably bad judgement, there doesn't seem to be enough evidence for you pronouncing this person as a crook.

A crook doesn't refund and you've had your money returned.

Sayin' that, I'd not purchase anything from him purely down to his apparent lack of basic common sense.

I would agree. Seems as this was a deal that went bad due to the postal service and failure to use tracking/insurance. Since Steve returned the money and the buyer has confirmed this, I think it's not in keeping with the intent of the WatchOut section to have Steve's name drug through the mud here and suggest this thread just be deleted if possible.