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
):
Google Search results - check the information at this link
"Applemacshops 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.applemacshops.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@applemacshops.com
www.applemacshops.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
applemacshops.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...
Janice Mezza
Sales & Marketing Manager
(306) 851-8751
e-mail protected from spam bots
http://www.fastmacsails.com
and then misspelled their URL.
. 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.
