RobertTanguay.com

Posts Tagged ‘scams’

I order online frequently, buying all types of items – from collectables, things I don’t really want to buy (as to get them cheaply), clothes, to my favorite – electronics. Consumers can get the best rates, enjoy a larger selection and in many cases, get free shipping. a virtual shoppers paradise.

I will, however, never shop online for Christmas again.

In writing this letter 1 week prior to XMas, I have in my possession a less desirable product than the one I ordered from Amazon. It is missing a key feature from the one I ordered from Amazon.com. I tried to get a replacement over a week ago, but the Amazon seller did not have the product they advertised, and shipped me an inferior unit for a quick sale. After contacting Amazon several times, I am still waiting on a refund.

As soon as I figured out I couldn’t get what I wanted through my original outlet, I made a purchase through a large online vendor,  NewEgg.com on the 14th, and was promised to be shipped by today. It has not shipped, and the NewEgg shop says it’s out of stock. NewEgg and Amazon both have my money and I will not have what I ordered by Christmas. what is worse is that I fee that it is a deliberate attempt to capture my and other consumers valuable shopping dollars.

Looks like big box stores like Best Buy and Walmart may have a chance after all.  I will never buy gifts online again.

I have tried everything possible to be a good citizen.

Just got out of the police station after being arrested while riding my bike 50 ft on the sidewalk (at time of arrest I was off sidewalk) while waiting for my sandwich to be made at a local small business. Police claimed I had an open warrant from 2004 for unlawful possession of alcohol (Statute of Limitations for Misdemeanors is 1 yr, Felonies 6) but would not at the time tell me anything about the warrant, including what it was for or when.

Instead,  the police proceeded to handcuff me in front of my fellow customers and business owners (I have an office a block away on the same street), remove my possessions and transport me to the police station. I lost my sandwich, however, I was lucky enough to have them lock up my bike for me instead of leaving it on the side of the street for criminals to take…

At the station I was polite as could be because if I wasn’t, they would have, though not legally, kept me in jail until Monday to see a judge to have this case thrown heard. I was questioned, fingerprinted and photographed after being let out of a cage during a process which took over 2 hours. Finally the bondsman showed up to let me go after I paid him $40 non-refundable for his service. I got back all my possessions and began to walk back to my bike, empty stomach, to write this story to you.

I want to be clear that the officers were doing their job, and so was the bondsman and everyone involved conducted themselves professionally, but THIS HAS TO STOP.

Over a minor Violation – the police arrested and made me pay bail, in effect, breaking the law themselves in the process. Not just a minor violation, but fundamental constitutional rights to due process.

No place in America is free or without some sort of oppression waiting for you to slip up. This weekend, please make sure that your shoe laces are tied in accordance with the law. They arrested me for Failure to Appear for charges (which were also BS) that were over 8 years ago – Statute of Limitations for Misdemeanors is 1 yr , they invaded my privacy next to monuments proclaiming “Live Free or Die”

I’m asking for your support by spreading this story and commenting. I will respond. If you don’t – it could happen to you.

What’s hyped up, made of nothing and depreciates faster than a new car?

Shares of Facebook’s first public offering. Ha

With initial asking price of $38 on Friday the 18th of May , Facebook’s IPO share price has dropped almost 15% at the time of this writing (mid-day Tuesday May 22nd). Why?

I’ll try to keep it simple. Several factors come into play when dealing with any stock price, especially an IPO. One is the value of the company – and Facebook is huge , claiming over 1 Bil users worldwide. But that’s not important, what really matters is revenue and GROWTH.  Facebook gets most of it’s from ads, and about 15% from Zynga and other games – all on the decline. User interaction, acquisition and satisfaction are also flat or in decline. There is no growth to be had.

Facebook claims it will put more ads up,which I laugh at. My news feed is an ad, from “I’m successful”, “I need help” “I’m single”, “Read my Article” (me), “Click this Link” to “Buy me Birthday/Baby presents”. Facebook is no longer cool. How are you going to stack ads on top of ads?

So let’s get back to why Facebook’s IPO will fail, not for Facebook, but for all of you “learned” investors. See, nobody talks about the fact that Mark Zuckerburg, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, the mural guy, and countless others are sitting on over a billion shares of stock, for which they can’t sell because of a stock lock up that will last between 90-180 days. They will then take their debted paper shares (Yahoo lawsuits, overhead, employees) and unload them into the market. This will be known as the Facebook IPO Scam.

Too bad Myspace didn’t think of this.