posted on December 27, 2000 11:26:47 AM
jinglebell,
Can you email me why you say we were had. I just want to know the background behind what this detective found. Are you asking for the refund? My email is [email protected]. Thanks!
posted on December 27, 2000 04:16:17 PM
I just saw that the status page does not say that the computers will be shipping this week anymore. Now there is a link to cancel your order and request a refund. This just re-enforces my suspicions that they never intended to ship us our computers, probably because of the lower profit margin I referred to previously. Listen up AD, I want the computer you promised me with the free upgrade to 800MHZ and PC133 ram for the $500.00 I already paid you and I want it now. When the government audits your books and I am sure they will, I will be waiting to see if you shipped systems to people who paid you after I did, but they paid more for theirs so they received them first. If the investigation points in that direction, I will be eager to sign a complaint. The only tracking numbers I have now are with the Attorney General and the National Fraud Watch. I'll be expecting to see my shipping tracking numbers by tomorrow.
posted on December 27, 2000 04:38:45 PM
This whole Christmas season has been nothing but waiting, and waiting, and waiting.....for these Aliens! They have given us nothing to go on. All of their promises have been broken but, I still wait. I emailed them before I placed the first bid to find out if I bid on their computer if it would arrive to me in time for Christmas and was told "Yes!" So my son paid for this computer with my Paypal (visa) and I bought him a printer and several DVD's to go along with it. Unlike some of AD's other customers who went out and purchased other computers just in case, we couldn't afford it! So we wait, and wait, and wait...for these Aliens. To ask for our money back could take up to 90 days! Hopefully, we should have our computer any day and have our belated Christmas. It just isn't fair!
posted on December 27, 2000 05:58:01 PM
I have been to the Alien web site and see that there have been changes, however I see Alien missed some in the FAQ page.
1.
Why we do not answer the questions of legitimate customers either by email or on Auction Watch.
2.
When will my computer really ship, if at all.
3.
Why we make promises we do not keep.
4.
Why you can not leave voice mail messages for support.
I want to belive that I will still recive a computer; yet, because of the lack of communications on Aliens part I feel I will not;
I think many customers and readers will agree with me that if you are as legitimate as you say you are would not shut down all lines of communications with your customers.
posted on December 27, 2000 08:29:51 PM
I really wish you people would lkisten, and file complaints anywhere and everywhere against ALIEN DISTRIBUTION COMPANY before it's too late to make your claim.
Also be sure to make the authorities you report to aware of the alias names, websites, email addresses, user IDs, etc that this COMPANY is hiding behind!
posted on December 27, 2000 08:38:50 PM
Did anyone hear about the arrests? Should I file fraud or ask for the refund? Or both? If so where do I file fraud to. a phone number, web site, address? Thanks for the help.
I have received my computer after a LONG wait but no speakers YET !!! Should i file a fraud report too? If yes please advise where and how? I pay by paypal(credit card).
posted on December 28, 2000 12:00:22 PM
Hey Guy's, did you people on the auction mailing list get the email from Glenn?
This guy drove cross country to Detroit to the address given by Alien to send payment to, for some cash, computer, or rearend.
What he found was a run down house with some guy living there named Scott, claiming to be Dave's brother. After a little harsh talk, Scott tells Glen he will have Dave call him to clear up the matter. Lo and behold, before Glenn gets out of town some guy named Hans, in Washington, Aliens so called place of business, is on the phone promising to settle the matter within a week either way Glenn wants it, computer or refund, Glenn chose the refund and said if he doesn't recieve his money within two weeks he's going back to Detroit, and this time he isn't going to be nice. Glenn has reported the transaction with the police department in Detroit and it's now on record.
How about it Alien, will you step up and take responsibility and keep your paying customers informed and hopefully satisfied, or do you need your poor brother in Detroit to take the heat for you?
posted on December 28, 2000 01:04:14 PM
LoL I read that e-mail.Anyways if you still have not received your computer or got a computer ( lucky bastards ) but no speakers or the other way around please read the e-mail mike sent us on dec 21 or earlier.There is a Detective Prather that is on the case.All you have to do is call the number and tell her what happened and she will e-mail you with what you need to do.The more of us doing this the faster we will all receive our money or computer back.
If you have not received the e-mail just e-mail me at [email protected] with the header of Detective to call and I will copy paste it and e-mail it to you.
posted on December 28, 2000 02:37:53 PM
I don't know the addresses, but you can try www.globexplorer.com. It has a picture (some up to 5 years old) of any location in the United States.
posted on December 29, 2000 12:22:10 PM
I hate to tell you this folks, but the address given in Everett Washington is a strip mall. One of the stores there is a privite mail box business.
I went to Heraldnet.com, the local newspaper, clicked on discuss, clicked on local news, and started a thread called Alien Distribution. Some of the local people responded with the information I have.
I have been in touch with the city editor of the paper and he seems to be interested in a national scam story if there is one.
It,s looking more and more like a scam everyday. While Alien is delivering computers on a slow some what steady pace, it,s obvious they are not a national distribution company.
I don,t know how sencere the editor is but if anyone else would care to contact him via email it might convince him to look into it further. If you want to contact him, his address is under the contact us button at Heraldnet.com., local news, city editor. His name is Dave.
10121 Evergreen is a strip mall. Several businesses share that street address. One of them is a Mail Boxes Ect. store. I'd wager that business has a private mailbox. Their phone # is 425-353-9144
I called the phone number for "Mail Boxes Etc." and they say they have no "Alien Distribution Co." as a customer.
But They DO have someone who has box 190, and I will tell you where the name "Scott" comes into play if you e-mail me at:
posted on December 29, 2000 01:27:16 PM
I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been said before.
I've looked elsewhere on the 'net for prices others are charging for the BookPC. Typically, a barebone system sells for about $189-199. This is only for the motherboard, case, CD-ROM drive and I think floppy drive. What is NOT included is the Processor(CPU), hard drive, RAM, keyboard/mouse, speakers or operating system (i.e., Windows). There is no LEGAL way AD can sell the complete system they advertise for the price ($450-500) the auctions brought in and make a profit.
My guess is AD thought they would get much more for these systems and now can't fill the orders not because they are busy but because they would have to sell way below cost. He probably only has enough money to build one system for every two orders.
I'd definitely get after them, if they have any money left it'll go fast.
posted on December 29, 2000 01:56:32 PM
I ran a traceroute on the sending IP addresses of the email I received from the sales office of the Alien Distribution Company. The two IP addresses were for dialups located in Michigan, one I could tell was specifically Detroit. The email has always been sent from the same machine, it has a hostname of 'duality'.
posted on December 29, 2000 01:57:56 PM
It may be too late with this particular situation, but I'd make this observation: there's a problem in sharing information on a thread like this, especially if the people responsible for the problem are aware of the thread but not participating. The information flow is too one-way here. You're telegraphing too much to AD, *especially* if the very worst of the "scam scenarios" prove to be close to the truth. If they are, I'd think you'll find an empty house in Detroit if anyone else visits it in person ready to take any strong action, police and/or reporters in tow, for example.
Here's an idea: Yahoo has a "club system" that includes the ability to found a "private" club which can be seen and posted to only by members who must have been invited to join by the founder or other members; it's essentially a password-protected web page with posting board and attached URLs for image and URL archiving already templated.
The founder can set the rules more or less but should be cautious about slander responsibilities, etc, of course. One mouse-click by the founder can delete the entire function completely, and the founder can delete individual posts as moderator. Detectives and/or reporters could be invited or not, and names and addresses could be named outright, even photos and scans of documents posted. I'd think it would be more effective for discussions intended to result in legal actions than email or here at AW. Of course, people could debate what to share effectively and post it openly in threads like this one.
Just go to Yahoo, look under "clubs" and they have it set up to walk anyone through setting a club up.
posted on December 29, 2000 06:41:40 PM
It looks to me like Alien is "based" out of Detroit, MI anyway. The same location my speakers were shipped from. Whether it's a house or a manufacturing plant or tree with elves, they have been able to produce computers that some of the people I have been in contact with say "work great". However, the fact that they won't reply to emails and their rediculously slow shipping times sucks and they should answer up to these issues. They should definately provide us with some FIRM shipping dates instead of giving us (their customers) the big "brushoff"!
posted on December 30, 2000 01:15:01 PM
Alien I am sure you have been reading all the postings here.
Do you have anything to say for yourself,
anything at all?
We welcome your responce,
I dare you to repspond.......
posted on December 30, 2000 04:07:17 PM
I just noticed that the BookPC box my computer was shipped in had the sender address blacked out with marker. Apparently, the Alien Distribution Company didn't think to use a *permanent* marker; the cover-up marker came off in about 10 seconds with a wet paper towel. Those of you who received computers but no speakers might want to take a look if you want to try to track down a legitimate address for grievances or to hold people responsible.
posted on December 30, 2000 05:37:28 PM
wdhath I would really appreciate it if you would send me a copy of that address, I have about 500 good reasons for wanting to know it.
Thanks
[email protected]
posted on December 31, 2000 07:56:58 AM
Has anyone else sent Alien a request for refund letter that they required? According to this thread the "10121 evergreen way," address is a stripmall, what happens when you send a certified letter there? What is the proper way to ask for your refunds?
posted on December 31, 2000 08:15:19 AM
Aliens!!!!! First you send us on a wild goose chase waiting and looking for our computers... now it's a bunch of crap trying to figure out how to get our refunds. Why should we have to waste even a stamp, let alone the certified fees contacting you? What makes you think we should trust you again and wait another 30 days to get OUR MONEY back, when everything else you've represented to us has been nothing but LIES? Even I have figured out by now that I shouldn't expect a computer from you. What's taking you so long to get your own message? Remember, We, your Buyers are supposed to be the stupid ones, not you!!! Why don't you just send our money back and stop putting us through this mess? I have sent a certified letter to your address anyway, and I have included the charge to do this is my refund amount! I have also emailed all the addresses I can find on you aliens with all of my mailing information. Of course you could always refund me the same way I paid you, Through PayPal!
