Apple Mac Shops - Trustworthy Retailer?

[Etrain]

Has anyone here ever heard of this store called Apple Mac Shops (http://www.*************.com/index.htm)?

Their prices are amazingly low! They claim all their products are new and not refurbished. Has anyone ever heard of them?

[Rocky3478]

I haven't, but it'll be very interesting to see whether or not they are a legitimate retailer. Could save me a hunk of money..

[Etrain]

It just screams SCAM. It seems very similar to the scams detailed in the Fraudulent Mac Retailers thread.

[stevep]

Is it easy for someone to check it out?

445 Sequoia
Suite 138
Bellingham, WA 98226
United States

Or perhaps someone cleverer than me can find out about their web address.

BTW a lot of the links on their web site don't work. Very strange.....

I don't think I'd even touch them with a dirty stick

[Rocky3478]

It just screams SCAM. It seems very similar to the scams detailed in the Fraudulent Mac Retailers thread.

That's what I'm thinking...

[Norouzi]

Also nowhere on there site do they say that there an Authorised Apple Reseller, yet they say that the machines come with the standard 1 year Apple Warranty. I thought that unless you purchased from an Authorised reseller then you didn't get a warranty? I could be wrong on that one, but still it seems too good to be true, therefore it probabily is.

[SDLSteve]

I ran a check on the BBB with the phone number and came up with this link. http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=22013372 and http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=22011513



They have two different companies listed, one established Feb. 2005, and the other in Dec. 2004. The Dec. 2004 has an unsatisfactory record.

Customer Experience


Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to an unanswered complaint.


Additional File Information


According to information in the Bureau files, it appears that the company is no longer in business. Directory assistance does not have a listing for this company. The Bureau's mail to this company has been returned as undeliverable. If you have an unresolved dispute with this company you may wish to seek legal advice.

[Sun Baked]

With advertised sales at $300 under MAP and no listing on Apple's Reseller page in the 98226 Zip it'll probably signal a scam.

And looking at a Aerial photo (http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/GetImageArea.ashx?t=1&s=10&lon=-122.49661507&lat=48.80853522&w=600&h=400&logo=1&p=2:-122.49661507:48.80853522) of 445 Sequoia Dr, Bellingham, WA 98226, didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy either.

[Ugg]

Is it easy for someone to check it out?

445 Sequoia
Suite 138
Bellingham, WA 98226
United States

Or perhaps someone cleverer than me can find out about their web address.

BTW a lot of the links on their web site don't work. Very strange.....

I don't think I'd even touch them with a dirty stick

There was a very dodgy seller in Vancouver, BC which is just over the border from Bellingham that ripped a lot of people off. It makes me wonder if this isn't the same people just doing business on this side of the border. I wouldn't buy from them, that's for sure.

[superbovine]

Administrative Info:
Apple Mac Shop
Tarvis Forbes
445 Sequoia
Bellingham, WA 98226
US
Phone: +1.3608518751
Fax..: +1.3608518747
Email: info@*************.com

Technical Info:
Apple Mac Shop
Tarvis Forbes
445 Sequoia
Bellingham, WA 98226
US
Phone: +1.3608518751
Fax..: +1.3608518747
Email: info@*************.com

Billing Info:
Apple Mac Shop
Tarvis Forbes
445 Sequoia
Bellingham, WA 98226
US
Phone: +1.3608518751
Fax..: +1.3608518747
Email: info@*************.com

Status: Locked

Domain servers in listed order:

ns1.meganameservers.com
ns2.meganameservers.com
ns3.meganameservers.com

[CanadaRAM]

OK, I looked up a whole bunch of stuff (below) but here's the jackpot once I hit on the connection with fastmacsales.com. One of their own press releases specifically links applemacshop with fastmacsales (besides, they list the same address :D ):

Google Search results - check the information at this link
"************* is a SCAM at ResellerRatings
... It is the same scam as fastmacsales.com, macgurushop.com, mac-discounter.com,
macfanaticshop.com, and probably some others I don't know about. ..."
www.resellerratings.com/forum/t112504.html


www.*************.com (216.251.43.17)
fastmacsales.com = 216.251.32.98
macgurushop.com = 216.251.43.17
mac-discounter.com = 216.251.43.17

Remember the last two ones, gang? Looks like theeyre baaack....
Mods: Can we have a decision on making this a sticky and/or locking it?

More....

David Collins
Sales & Marketing Manager
(360) 851-8751
david@mac-discounter.com
www.mac-discounter.com

Jill Weeper
Sales & Marketing Director
(360) 851-8751
info@*************.com
www.*************.com

Other names in "Press releases"

Scott
Joyce McDee, chief administrative officer.

-----------------------

The only Whitepages.com listing for that address is a machine shop in suite 113. Looks like a typical industrial park, not out of the ordinary for an online business to locate in.

A reverse phone lookup on 360-851-8751 is inconclusive, because its a number assigned to a private telco, perhaps a cell phone or an IP-based phone service.

However this should give one pause

*************.com - registered 24-feb-2005

while on the website it says "est. 1995"

The BBB of Western Washington has another firm listed under the same address

Fast Mac Sales
445 Sequoia Ste 138
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 851-8751
Their first record is also Feb 2005

www.fastmacsales.com/
apparently a blank page entitled "Home of the Discount Mac Computer" - digging in, the pages that can be accessed are a clone of the applemacshop.com site

Domain name: FASTMACSALES.COM

Administrative Contact:
Mac, Fast info@fastmacsales.com
445 Sequoia
Suite 138
Bellingham, WA 98226
US
(360) 851-8751
Registered Nov. 2004


LOL - look at this one - its one of the "Make your own press release" sites that publishes anything.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb199246.htm

They actually typed in "Fast Mac Scam..." in the title instead of Fast Mac Sales... :eek: :D
Janice Mezza
Sales & Marketing Manager
(306) 851-8751
e-mail protected from spam bots
http://www.fastmacsails.com
and then misspelled their URL. :eek: . This may even be an inspired piece of guerilla revenge by someone else.


On their FAQ's they talk about being able to pick up your order at "our Alpharetta warehouse". As in, Alpharetta, Georgia, about, what, 3000 miles away from Bellingham? How's your memory: did any other Mac online discount shops operate out of Alpharetta GA?

Also: they charge 15% restocking fee and customer pays shipping on all returns, including defective returns. This means if the iMac G5 doesn't work or is substandard, and you want your money back, you'll be out nearly $ 300

Orders cancelled before they ship incur a 5% penalty +$10 service charge

They could make a lot of money by never delivering a thing...

They say their website is maintained by outside contractors and they are not responsible for errors (including mismatched pictures with items, and, presumably, advertised prices that are too low)

They give a 3% discount for wire transfers. Of course, most wire transfers cannot be cancelled or retracted by the bank after they are sent.

[Etrain]

Wow! I am glad I posted this before I bought from them. Thank you all so much!

[wolfram]

Hi,
I was the one who posted the initial thread on resellerratings.com

It is the same scam as
fastmacsales, macgurushop, mac-discounter, macfanaticshop, etc.

No doubt about it.

macgurushop was supposed to be located in Alpharetta Ga.

..wolf

[kanker]

Hi,
I was the one who posted the initial thread on resellerratings.com

It is the same scam as
fastmacsales, macgurushop, mac-discounter, macfanaticshop, etc.

No doubt about it.

macgurushop was supposed to be located in Alpharetta Ga.

..wolfYeah, just one glance at the front page was all I needed to see that it's the same guys in the Fraudulent thread. Every other bit of info in this thread was just confirmation of the obvious to those of us who have been watching these folks for the last couple of years.

Apple does not discount in production retail stuff (not including education and so forth), and Apple does not allow it's retailers to either.

[gearbin]

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.

[jemeinc]

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.


Sorry, Gearbin- no way !!! This is macfanaticshop, macwhiz, etc. etc.... It's a scam... Don't buy from them...

Note: Now comes the part where he threatens me with slander, followed by the part where I inform him he has to have a legitimate business for me to slander... ( Thought I'd get that out of the way early this time around...;-)...

[wolfram]

Hey, this guy is so predictable.
Remember Lawmanca from the fraudulent mac retailers thread?

He recently posted on resellerratings.com almost word for word using the name petelow. It's kind of funny.

infact, he is using the name Scott Griffin. That's the same name he used for macfanaticshop.com

wolf

[Etrain]

I smell a tool.

[gearbin]

I'm sorry, I was posting about Applemacshop.com (no 's' at the end) They are located in the UK. They are definitely legit.

I checked out *************.com and they do look to be a scam. I faxed my credit card info and they said it was declined. In the e-mail was info on transferring money by wire.

Looks quite fishy to me.

[gearbinx]

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.

you can contact me directly at:

wolframite2000@yahoo.com

[jemeinc]

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.

you can contact me directly at:

wolframite2000@yahoo.com

LOL... Liar... people, don't give this guy and his criminal pals your hard earned money...Too risky, buy from Apple, or someone you know..

[gearbinx]

jemeinc:

you're the damn liar. you saying not buy from anyone but Apple?
what do you work for Apple or own stock? get out of here with your nonsense!


:mad:

[CanadaRAM]

Don't feed the troll, people

[wolfram]

Hey,
That e-mail address (wolframite2000) was a fake one I feed the scammer on another forum board.

It doesn't belong to gearbinx. I pretended it was mine.

So you have to ask yourself. How does gearbinx know about the fake e-mail I sent to the scammer freddeans on the other board?

wolf.

[Sun Baked]

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.

I paid for a ibook 14" 3 weeks ago and just received it this past monday. Was a little worried, but apple mac shop came thru. ibook is new as described on the web sight. I have a tracking number that I can send to other concerned customers that may be questioning the company.

you can contact me directly at:

wolframite2000@yahoo.comTime to shut down the thread now that newbies are spamming the thread with false pro-site posts... especially when they don't bother to change the wording when making a new account.

Good guys... bad guys... and repeat... :rolleyes:

[bousozoku]

What in the world is happening here? It's time to say good night.

[Nermal]

Interestingly, those two have different IP addresses.

There's some good information in this thread, so I won't wasteland it, but I will close it to stop the fighting.

Edit: bous got here first :)