I want my par meter back - it’s in Franklin, NC

[VintageReefer]

A member posted a build thread and in that thread I offered a sump for sale. They messaged with me, wanted it, sent me the money, and I mailed them the sump. I rate the transaction A+. Both parties happy and good communication

We started talking and they were friendly and asking questions about their build and I was offering advice and help

Through convo they mentioned they need a skimmer. I had a spare skimmer for their size tank, I offered it for sale, they wanted it, they paid me. So far this dude seems legit

He has lighting questions. I told him he needs par readings, and out of kindness and due to two successful payments and weeks of dms, I offered to include my par meter in the package with the skimmer I was shipping and said he could borrow it for a few week and mail it back when he’s got the readings. He happily agreed.

Then he started saying he needs to wait for his sister to loan him a laptop to take readings because he didn’t have one. I was blown off week after week and was trying to be patient but felt like excuses sometimes seemed repetitive

Then he disappears from forum for weeks and no messages answered. He finally came back and said he would send it back that week and he never did.

I want my par meter back. I don’t think he’s a scammer I think he has a busy life and mentioned kids going through potty training, work having long hours, and the build going slow due to life.

I want my par meter back and he’s not answering Gmail emails, forum messages, and I even sent a PayPal invoice for the meter with a note saying please send it back or pay for it; and I have no response.

Anyone in or near Franklin, NC? Get my par meter in a box mailed back to me, I’ll pay the sh, and I’ll send you a reward - PayPal cash or if you want to split sh, I’ll send you a Cynarina. That’s right. A 250-300$ coral if you want it.

Someone help me please. I have the address and name. Seems like a nice guy who just got busy and put me on the way way back burner. This was sent in June. It’s been long enough.

 

[tsharpe291]

that's pretty crappy, looks like you went out of your way to be helpful.
unfortunately there are a lot of people out there that don't appreciate the help
they receive. hopefully his conscience will get to him and send your meter back.

 

[twentyleagues]

No good deed goes unpunished.
I have unfortunately adopted this saying based on myself being the nice guy the good guy and a lot of people just not caring and taking advantage. Friends and family members, strangers, doesnt matter. I am much more "mercenary" now you want something from me I want "this" first and I dont volunteer for anything anymore. I dont like it but thinking karma or maybe my good intensions will pay off later in life doesnt seem prudent.
Sorry this is going on hope it works out for you.

 

[RedReefer]

Yo Franklin, North Carolina six hours from me or I would go knock on the door for you! I’m in North Carolina. That’s just too far of a drive that sucks man.

 

[VintageReefer]

Yes unfortunately I was the nice guy and I should have offered the meter with a refundable deposit.

At the time dealing with him, money did not seem to be a concern, there was no haggling on the prices I asked, he paid promptly, and was in good communication both in between and after transactions. It seems life got in the way, and things have changed, or he saw an opportunity for a free par meter and took it.

So now, I have to get it back, and then I will continue to help out others in the community in need to borrow it, but I have to protect myself and ask for an upfront deposit. This is how it should have been from the start but the guy sent me over $300 for things and it didn’t seem like a scammer at all.

I’m not posting the user name or address. I can reveal via dm if someone’s willing to help.

Help could be a knock on the door and friendly chat, with an offer to take the meter back so you can mail it to me

Anonymous note in the mailbox reminding him to login rc and mail back vintage reefers par meter

Other ideas?

Anyone gets it back to me:
100$ PayPal transfer + I’ll pay the sh
Or I’ll send you a $300 Cynarina (3.5”) if you split shipping (prob 20-25$ for each of us)

 

[RedReefer]

Hopefully you get it back. I’m just like you I always help people out, no matter what even if they poop on me!

 

[Reefering1]

 

[Reefering1]

Is it possible he thought this was a long term borrow? (Given that he was buying a sump, the tank was likely not set up yet).

Doesn't excuse the lack of communication though. Carry on

 

[VintageReefer]

I did tell him in July that he can take his time and I understand he got busy (after he apologized for delays)

We stayed in touch all through July and early aug

I helped him set up the sump, overflow, return pump, skimmer, etc

Aug 17 he said he was going to use the par meter that day and send it out. I then didn’t hear from him for almost 3 weeks

I messaged him sept 5 and asked for it back because I was buying new lights for my nano and wanted the meter. He wrote back 14 days later and apologized and explained work, his kids, etc and said he would send it back that week. Then he didn’t send it back and never said anything to me again.

I sent a few messages saying I need it back and to please send it but they go unanswered because he hasn’t been online since sept 26. And on sept 26, he did not message me to update me. Nothing since we had friendly convo about the meter, life and kids on sept 19.

Now it’s almost a month later and still no update

 

[Gumbies R Us]

if I lived closer I would help you get it back! Best of luck to getting your par meter back!

 

[banik]

Man, that's a pain.

If you need to use a par meter, you can borrow mine.

Good luck.

 

[Knucker]

I live in Franklin NC and if he is willing. I will take the PAR meter and mail it myself. That way it would save time.

 

[exnisstech]

I've never understood this kind of behavior. I get that life gets busy but there are ups stores all over and he wouldn't even have to package it if he was too busy to do that. Drive to work, the store get gas etc drop it off.

 

[VintageReefer]

I've never understood this kind of behavior. I get that life gets busy but there are ups stores all over and he wouldn't even have to package it if he was too busy to do that. Drive to work, the store get gas etc drop it off.

It doesn’t make sense to me either. 3 months of convo and two sales with no complaints or issues, getting to know each other talking tanks and family and work, and then boom. Complete 180 and he’s mia

Maybe tank crashed?
Maybe he broke it accidentally and doesn’t know how to tell me?

Something else ?

 

[RWReefer]

While I don’t condone what this person is doing and they’ve obviously taken advantage of good will, they might be dealing with hurricane cleanup right now? Not saying they’re right, just why you might not be getting any response right now.

 

[VintageReefer]

186 messages back and forth forming 10 pages of dms. I never got a vibe he was trying to get anything out of me except tank advice and someone to talk to about family and life and cars occasionally.

Maybe something medically happened ? Who knows. I try to give the benefit of a doubt but that’s because I would never do this to someone else.

He never even asked if I had a par meter, and the one I have isn’t a high value 500$ one. It’s about $250 new. Apogee sq420x.

This is what I get for being nice and trying to help someone out without protecting myself with a deposit

I hope everyone learns from this. Both people that loan things and people that borrow. Deposits are not personal, they are protection.

 

[VintageReefer]

While I don’t condone what this person is doing and they’ve obviously taken advantage of good will, they might be dealing with hurricane cleanup right now? Not saying they’re right, just why you might not be getting any response right now.

Sure it’s possibly but I do have confirmation from a member in the town that:
I still get mail, packages delivered, even Internet and cell phone service is back.

But also a major highway is shutdown and grocery stores are low on food.

If this happened and he sent me a message explaining the situation I wouldn’t have made this thread.

He last messaged me sept 19 and last signed in sept 26. He’s had time to send out a quick dm

 

[fishface NJ]

There is no excuse unless he died

Sorry this is happening to you. It was a very nice thing you did

 

[IceNein]

Wow, that really sucks, you're 100% right about deposits.

 

[BristleWormHater]

First bounty on reef2reef lol

Hope you get your par meter back @VintageReefer