Dear Stereo2go members,

I hate to have to write this but it's only fair to warn all of you. Both Apple knocker and I were involved in purchasing boxes from meisjel. Now, months later, Apple knocker has a badly damaged Discolite that was clearly broken even before it was shipped in what I can honestly say was the worst packaging job to date. Allen will provide pictures when he tells his portion of this sad story. I on the other had, after waiting and waiting received absolutely nothing but a bogus tracking number.

I'm sure you all can remember meisjel's post saying he had to sell much of his collection.

Link to thread.

Before I even contacted him about his Rising I did my homework. I contacted members who had done business with him in the past and everyone had the same feedback. Michel is a great seller to deal with. So with that I contacted him and we made a deal. On November 9th I sent meisjel the money for the Rising. Well at that point the problems started. There was excuse after excuse . He was sick for a week and couldn't get email, then he just couldn't find a box. So finally after more than a month of excuses he wrote me on December 17 saying that the Rising had shipped, yet I didn't get a tracking number until the 21st of December. It didn't work, so he resent the same one.

"hold on maybe i typed it wrong, here it is again,

CC878051280NL

hope it works!,

and if it doesn't, just wait at the mailbox Wink "

I should have known then that the face with the tounge out was the last I would ever hear from meisjel.

So since then I have contacted him multiple times through email and PM. I even had Jens try and talk some sense into him. But I am left here with nothing but broken spirits and a $250 (+ $30 wire charge) deficit.

MY Rising 20/20 is out there somewhere and it kills me inside to know that I will never see it.

I know that meisjel has done well in the past and was very polite and attentive in dealing with me, but at this point, as far as I am concerned he is a complete mystery.

Allen, you're up! Wait until you guys hear his half of the story.



*TPR*-edited:question marks

I did try that code on tracktrace.nl, but
it does seem the code is not correct?

* edit *

www.tracktrace.nl

on this page, but it does seem you need your
postcode or so, but when I remember correctly
people from outside Holland do ot need this one

How odd, the link does not work via here

When you google tracktrace.nl it does work!

i'm all to familiar with the overseas wire transfer. i'll never pay for anythingagain unless its through paypal. sorry to hear about this. seems like one seller after the next is turning bad. guess when they decide to quit the hobby they don't care who they rip off.

what a shame, miesjel i hope this 280 frigging bucks will help you for a couple of the days, but you will never fix the cheap.

I have emailed Michel and asked him to come here and resolve these issues. We'll see what happens, but in the meantime please do not jump on the bandwagon with comments unless you have actually had a transaction with him.

Thanks-

quote:

Originally posted by Panasonic Fan:
please do not jump on the bandwagon with comments unless you have actually had a transaction with him.

Thanks-

Amen to that, PF!

Sorry to hear your bad news. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

quote:

Originally posted by autobot84:
I'm all to familiar with the overseas wire transfer. i'll never pay for anything again unless its through paypal. sorry to hear about this. seems like one seller after the next is turning bad. guess when they decide to quit the hobby they don't care who they rip off.

It's too bad. I'm sure Michel made lots of friends on here. I mean after all is said and done, I thought he was an Awesome guy until all of this happened. But like you said auto, when people are done, they're done.

quote:

Originally posted by Panasonic Fan:
I have emailed Michel and asked him to come here and resolve these issues. We'll see what happens, but in the meantime please do not jump on the bandwagon with comments unless you have actually had a transaction with him.

Thanks very much for doing that! Every part of me hopes this is a big misunderstanding. I guess we'll see.

quote:

Originally posted by docs:
Sorry to hear your bad news. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thanks very much docs! If anyone knows how it feels to have stuff like this happen it's you. I appreciate your support.

Miesjel has been suspended here until he provides valid contact information for his account. His email address on file is no longer valid.

If anyone knows how to get in touch with him, please forward him my email address (moonhut@gmail.com) and ask him to get in touch with me asap.

Thanks-

quote:

Originally posted by walkgirl:
How odd, the link does not work via here

When you google tracktrace.nl it does work!

Hey walkgirl

What does it say when it works for you? I can't get anything but PACKAGE NOT FOUND!

If you follow the links for tracking packages that are destined for United States, you end up at the US Post Office website tracking system. I put in your code and got the following message from the USPS:

Label/Receipt Number: CC87 8051 280N L
Status: Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece.

quote:

Originally posted by CharlesDickens:

quote:

Originally posted by walkgirl:
How odd, the link does not work via here

When you google tracktrace.nl it does work!

Hey walkgirl

What does it say when it works for you? I can't get anything but PACKAGE NOT FOUND!

When I put in the code, it does say

You did not enter a correct code



Ask him if he does have the little paper with
the number on it, and ask if he can take a
picture from it!, then you can see if it is real

That's the problem, he isn't communicating.

When you want I put up a message in Dutch
for you to send him, maybe he does will
understand that!

To track packages that will be shipped outside of the European Union, you need to click this link:

http://www.tntpost.nl/zakelijk/pakketten/track-trace/ze...buiten-eu/index.aspx

Translated text from that page:

Here you can follow your package supply with a destination outside the European Union (barcode cc…….nl). Via the links below, you will be redirected to the site of the receiving post office. On the site of this post office, you can enter your code and check the delivery of your package. This service is as yet only possible for our top 15 destinations. This form of Track & Trace gives information only over the final distribution of your package in the destination country.

When your package has been sent for instance to the United States, then you click on the link for United States of America. You then go to the Track & Trace page of the US Post Office where you can check the delivery of your package. Please note: For some packages however no information is available, although the package could very well be delivered. TNT Post is dependent on the information service of the country of reception. (This service is exclusively possible with cc………nl barcodes)

Verenigde Staten van Amerika = United States of America

You could be looking at 7 - 8 weeks delivery (if he chose surface mail option). So if it did get mailed towards the end of December, it might be early February before you see it.

quote:

Originally posted by Panasonic Fan:
That's the problem, he isn't communicating.

I mailed him as well,but no response.

Yes!, via the United states wepage it does work!,
7 to 8 weeks it does say and something about
package being prepared or so!!

I hope you get the parcel soon!!

7-8 weeks? That makes no sense because Appleknocker got his in two weeks, as he'll tell you when he explains his deal with meisjel. But hey, if it takes 8 I'll wait! That doesn't really explain why meisjel told me 2-3 weeks though and why he mysteriously disappeared out of the blue. Appleknocker has been after him as long as I have with the same luck.

Walkgirl, thanks for your research! Once again there is a spark of hope for me! Of course, even if it does arrive, it may very well be in the same shape as poor Appleknocker's disco. Wait until he puts the pictures up. OUCH!

O.K. Here is my own sad story:
But first since you guys seem to be zeroing in on this tracking stuff here is the tracking numbers and info the meisjel sent to me:
"shipped it today
they gave me this number to see where the radio's at.
CC 88740795 9NL
you can check at www.tnt.nl
it will arrive in about 2/3 weeks"

Mine did arrive in two weeks, maybe this tracking number can help by showing what a successful shipment says when tracked - hopefully Alf's Rising is shipped and on it's way after all.
So my discolite that I bought from miesjel arrived with horrible packing, sustained damage to the tuning knob area and is dead as a doornail. Meisjel has not responded to any emails since I received the box in December.
It also had previous damage and was poorly restored even before it was shipped and meisjel was not truthful about it's condition only saying it was "a beauty" and in great shape. It has a broken piece on the top right in the middle which was poorly repaired and was badly resprayed (with runs, drips, and errors) with black paint over the entire back and top. I wouldn't have bought it with an honest description of it's condition. Simply saying - "I got it in bad shape, but I repainted it and it looks good now" - would have been enough for me to not go through with the deal

here is a quote from meisjel thanking a member for great packing:

Posted Thu March 10 2005 10:12 AM
i wanna give mike some mad props for the tight wrapping of the trc-975 i got today
it took me 15 minutes to unwrap the sucker!

here are the pics of the packing of the disco lite he sent me:
The box

The bubble wrap

The total package

The tuning knob damage

And as you guys know this is one of the most thin and cheaply made boomboxes of all time. It is amazing that this is the only damage it received.
I know that Panasonic Fan requested that we refrain from comments, and I understand this because it can get out of control. And the account suspension I know makes me feel much better and also protects other members from getting a bad deal.
But I know that Alf, for sure sure, could benefit from some positive comments of support for what he is going through. I know that Docs felt much better when he saw how much good is in this group from the response to his busted up 777. So maybe it should be o.k. to post positive comments from members.
I also believe that those listing boomboxes for sale on our own classifieds like this seller should be held to a higher standard than the ebay sellers. We all know the risks with ebay - but guys who choose to rip people off on this forum right under our nose should not be free from criticism when they choose to treat members like this.
For myself, at least I have something and I can still have high hopes that kittmaster can bring the disco lite back to life, but Alf has nothing right now.
So my message to meisjel is this, I will no longer complain one bit if he will simply send Alf his rising or refund his money. Alf and I have become friends through this with almost daily pm's while we patiently hoped for meisjel to communicate with us and I do hope that Alf can receive some more support from others as well. He is a great guy.

Allen, you are too kind bro, and yes a friend of mine! Thanks for the thoughtful words. I just wish stuff like this never had to happen. I hope there is a way to fix the disco and get a hold of meisjel. In a perfect world this would all be resolved, we can only hope that there is a way to get this right for everyone!

Using appleknocker's tracking number, the US Postal service has:

Label/Receipt Number: CC88 7407 959N L
Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 12:08 PM on December 8, 2007 in ROCHESTER, IN 46975.

So, I would say that the Rising has definitely been shipped. Now it's just a waiting game.

Fatdog, you seem to be on to something. What puzzles me is that for the last month I have plugged that tracking number into EVERY search engine I could find and got nothing. However, now the usps says "preparing for shipment". Although I still have my doubts this is a very good sign. I just wish meisjel would communicate.

Talk to me Michel. Lets clear this all up!

In light of this new information I have edited my original post. Here's hoping for the best for the Disco and the Rising.

Because mesjel is unable to read PM's due to the fact that he has been suspended from his account, and because his email is dead I figured the best way to communicate with him is right here. So please excuse the following.

Michel,
I don't know what is going on at this point. Confused. You said 2-3 weeks, now, and I just got this information, the US tracking system says 7-8 weeks. I don't know what to say except this.

Yes, I am mad you disappeared and no longer communicate, resulting in the post to warn others. It didn't have to be like that man.
I am mad that the Disco was misrepresented to my friend Allen and that it was damaged in post.
I am mad that due to the lack of communication and honesty on your part I have been waiting with no answers for so long.

I can also say that if the Rising is indeed in the mail, then I deeply apologize for calling you a thief. I still think it's up to you to make things right though. If the Rising ever does show up, I hope it does in sound condition and if not we need to talk. But right now we know that the Disco is badly damaged to the point where it no longer functions or even powers on because of poor effort on you part. It is up to YOU sir, to compensate Allen and fix the situation.

Do the right thing.

When I bought a National from Peppin - he shipped it via Hong Kong post, and sent me a tracking number. When I would enter that tracking number in the USPS website - it would say "preparing for shipment". It had been that same status from the day he shipped it until the day it was delivered to my door. Maybe USPS website doesn't update the status on foreign shipments

contact US customs?

appleknocker do you happen to know your paypal address ? just curious

quote:

Originally posted by NED 209:
contact US customs?

I was thinking about customs actually. Hmmmm...

quote:

Originally posted by CharlesDickens:

quote:

Originally posted by NED 209:
contact US customs?

I was thinking about customs actually. Hmmmm...

When I got my Sharp from Peppin Custom in Puerto Rico held it for almost 3 weeks.They "USPS"sent a Letter inquiring wether I had recently purchased an item from a foreign country.I replied to the note and received my boombox the following week.Maybe they have it on hold. Still troubling is the lack of communication from Michel.Lets hope he's ok and soon resurfaces having worked out his personal issues and willing to make wrongs right.

Seeing as his email address is no longer valid, I suppose the only way to hear from him is to reinstate his account- for the time being.

He has not accessed the site since 12/22/07, but here goes nothing.

Please PM me if you see him post on the site.

Thanks-

That discolite was tragically packaged. I've never had dealings with him myself but others have many times and said he was spot on. Sounds to me like he has some serious issues and perhaps someone has/is selling off his boxes for him perhaps with or without his knowledge. I simply don't think he would be so careless with them being a collector himself. Let us just hope he is ok and not purposely shafting others.

Good idea too PF, fingers crossed.

It's true. As Docs pointed out, that packaging job really is the worst one I have ever seen. Regardless if I ever get mine , I think it's up to us to try and help Appleknocker out. I know this just happened recently with great success (not to sound too much like Borat) and I DEFINITELY know how bad this type of thing can suck, so I'd love to see if we can round a few bucks up to help Appleknocker out and get the Disco jamming again. If anyone is interested at all shoot me a pm.

I have already asked appleknocker for his paypal address through pm to offer a donation to that effect.

Thanks DOCS!

Hey guys, I have a parts discobox coming my way soon. I had to buy it, but I may be able to sell off some bits you require for repair?

Docs and Alf, thanks for the donation offers, you guys are really great! But I really don't feel good about any financial help on this. It was my decision to go ahead and take the risk to buy it and I was too hasty in my decision to buy it (I didn't do much homework on the sale because I just wanted a disco lite so bad and I didn't want to fight it out for one on ebay), so I am prepared to live with the box I got. I just think that others should be aware of this guy, so no more bad deals take place.
Rambo, I will definately be interested in buying some parts from you - that is great news!

...I can't believe it...



...it came.

Awesome news! Was it as advertised?

Alright!!! Better late than never.

So, how did the description compare with actual condition? We want pics!!

Well the packaging was just as bad as Appleknockers, but the Rising is a tough bastard. The only damage it sustained was a tiny chip around where the metal bar attaches one one side and a minuscule dent on the top...



That's it.

The only problem is that a previous owner fiddled with the AC input point...



It powers up and runs when plugged in but for some reason I get nothing from batteries? Oh Chriissss...

I popped it open and found this...




But all in all I am thrilled to actually see it arrive in great condition!

Although, it was a very rough wait, with nothing but trouble and frustration it did arrive. Despite the baaaad packing from someone who knows better, and not telling me it had been hacked, and the fact that he completely dissapeared off of the face of the earth after sending a Garbage Disco box to the last person on earth who deserved to get screwed, I must say one thing.

Meisjel did not steal my money.

He did MANY rotten things, but he did eventually live up to his end of our deal. Once again, I publicly apologize for calling him a thief.

Most importantly though, my situation with him aside, I think that what he has done to appleknocker is inexcusable and he still needs to be held accountable for his actions.

Oh man... It's been a looooong day. I'm going to bed!

well look at it on the bright side you got it can you imagine not getting it at all !!!!!!!!!yikes!!!!!!!!

Hey CD, if you need any pictures of the inside from a "real" Rising (for the power problem), I'd be glad to help out.

quote:

Originally posted by Fatdog:
... a "real" Rising

Thanks alot...

Yes if you have time to do it I'd love to see what an unmodified one looks like. Thank you!