I offered to help some time ago as I live in SA, but am Dutch born in Maastricht. How is that for trading places Bas....
Without a surname it is hard to do much. I bumped on to this GB thread after looking for an SA distributor for Aurum. I am not aware that there is one yet am involved in the SA audio scene on a daily basis...
It is not impossible that it is one of the small speaker repairer/recoiler people that has this agency but perhaps for drivers only, hence no press.
I am not sure where to start (which is why I have not) but I will ask the help of a moderator on a local DIY forum that mainly does loudspeakers.
Only found out about them a week or so ago.
How were funds sent to Dirk? Got bank details, names etc?
Without a surname it is hard to do much. I bumped on to this GB thread after looking for an SA distributor for Aurum. I am not aware that there is one yet am involved in the SA audio scene on a daily basis...
It is not impossible that it is one of the small speaker repairer/recoiler people that has this agency but perhaps for drivers only, hence no press.
I am not sure where to start (which is why I have not) but I will ask the help of a moderator on a local DIY forum that mainly does loudspeakers.
Only found out about them a week or so ago.
How were funds sent to Dirk? Got bank details, names etc?
Morning all
It would be best someone post/ send us the Bank Details, name used in correspondance and what not for us to track down this gentleman.
A case of fraud should be sufficient to get at least an explanation and hopefully something more out of this gentleman. Dirk, if you got the tweeters please let us know what happened.
Guillaume and I are concerned about this and I am prepared to try and help at least get an answer and hopefully recover some tweeters.
We will try and get hold of him and if there is no joy one could take it further.
Please e-mail me (my profile is on this webpage) and respond to me with Dirk's details. @Bas...lemme know if I can help save face.
Kind Regards
Martin
It would be best someone post/ send us the Bank Details, name used in correspondance and what not for us to track down this gentleman.
A case of fraud should be sufficient to get at least an explanation and hopefully something more out of this gentleman. Dirk, if you got the tweeters please let us know what happened.
Guillaume and I are concerned about this and I am prepared to try and help at least get an answer and hopefully recover some tweeters.
We will try and get hold of him and if there is no joy one could take it further.
Please e-mail me (my profile is on this webpage) and respond to me with Dirk's details. @Bas...lemme know if I can help save face.
Kind Regards
Martin
Hi Martin,
Thankyou to yourself and Tubenut's offers to help. Any help is very much appreciated!
The details of my transaction with Dirk were:
Transfer of USD 178.00 to Dirk Christiaan de Villiers.
Dated April 5th, 2005.
[account information deleted by moderator]
I ordered a single pair of tweeters with a pair of replacement ribbons.
Transaction Total including Ikobo costs USD 188.34
I'm not sure whether Dirk had the intention of defrauding people with this group buy, but I do remember a warning from Ikobo that the recipient was not a registered business (or words to a similar effect) and there was a greater risk if I proceeded with the transaction. Against my better judgement, and on Dirk's advice, I ignored the warning! Doh!
If there is some other way I can help with the investigation, please let me know.
I'll send a copy of my receipt from Ikobo to you Martin & Tube. It contains the same information I've given here.
Thanks again!
Ralph
Thankyou to yourself and Tubenut's offers to help. Any help is very much appreciated!
The details of my transaction with Dirk were:
Transfer of USD 178.00 to Dirk Christiaan de Villiers.
Dated April 5th, 2005.
[account information deleted by moderator]
I ordered a single pair of tweeters with a pair of replacement ribbons.
Transaction Total including Ikobo costs USD 188.34
I'm not sure whether Dirk had the intention of defrauding people with this group buy, but I do remember a warning from Ikobo that the recipient was not a registered business (or words to a similar effect) and there was a greater risk if I proceeded with the transaction. Against my better judgement, and on Dirk's advice, I ignored the warning! Doh!
If there is some other way I can help with the investigation, please let me know.
I'll send a copy of my receipt from Ikobo to you Martin & Tube. It contains the same information I've given here.
Thanks again!
Ralph
Martin just mailed me and it seemed to us that we should compile a list of all those affected and the amount of tweeters ordered by each.
To start of with we can collect all the usernames and amount of tweeters ordered. We can then decide on the next course of action.
Regards,
Bas
To start of with we can collect all the usernames and amount of tweeters ordered. We can then decide on the next course of action.
Regards,
Bas
We found Dirk's telephone number and so I phoned Dirk. I asked Dirk to tell us how he was going to rectify the situation. He told me he would phone back. But I asked him to post here to tell you all.
Lets hope that there is a solution to the stalemate and that people get their tweeters or money back.
The list so far:
audiofanatic 1 pair
dambrus 1 pair
ralphs99 1 pair plus replacement tweeters.
Thomas I've deleted your posts since this is not about setting up a GB because the participants have already paid.
audiofanatic 1 pair
dambrus 1 pair
ralphs99 1 pair plus replacement tweeters.
Thomas I've deleted your posts since this is not about setting up a GB because the participants have already paid.
Add me to the list.
1 pair plus replacement ribbons
$US188.34 in total of which $178 went to Dirk. Rest are transaction fees.
Good news you have made contact.
1 pair plus replacement ribbons
$US188.34 in total of which $178 went to Dirk. Rest are transaction fees.
Good news you have made contact.
hi Bas Horneman,
sorry to my post. If need assistance.
pls diretly email to me. May be I can help something.
thx
thomas
sorry to my post. If need assistance.
pls diretly email to me. May be I can help something.
thx
thomas
It's all quite simple. Google comes up with his name in the VinylSA Newsletter two issues back with telephone number and the yellow pages gives one his daytime work number (Possible private info removed by moderator). He is currently vying for the Agency of Prima Luna amplifiers in Holland under the agency name Vidivox (a storefront in Hermanus it seems) and is ordering in samples (as was I'd suspect the group order which could well have served the purpose of having other projects combined to reach an MOQ?, perhaps with those MaxFidelity units?), supposed to leave Holland very soon.
He is exhibiting at this years Sound & Vision Expo alongside avcables so there is definitely no lack of capital for him to conclude this deal with as he is also doing the marketing for a completely new product line and on hearing of the DIY Audio Fest in Pretoria claimed he'd fly up quite casually.
@ Dirk: you are welcome at the DIY stand with a DIY project, but only if you conclude this deal honourably, quickly and with good reason as to the delay. Why one has to go to such lengths to try and not make the South African audio community more ashamed is beyond me.
If not, I remind you that this forum is frequented by the Google bot quite often and some people might add keywords to it in a hurry if need be.
Please provide us with a complete updated status, even if it means that the stuff is sitting in china still. Also who distributes AC here in SA?
He is exhibiting at this years Sound & Vision Expo alongside avcables so there is definitely no lack of capital for him to conclude this deal with as he is also doing the marketing for a completely new product line and on hearing of the DIY Audio Fest in Pretoria claimed he'd fly up quite casually.
@ Dirk: you are welcome at the DIY stand with a DIY project, but only if you conclude this deal honourably, quickly and with good reason as to the delay. Why one has to go to such lengths to try and not make the South African audio community more ashamed is beyond me.
If not, I remind you that this forum is frequented by the Google bot quite often and some people might add keywords to it in a hurry if need be.
Please provide us with a complete updated status, even if it means that the stuff is sitting in china still. Also who distributes AC here in SA?
Hi all. I can understand the fact the at you are all worried and unhappy about the group buy. I have not vanished. As I have explained before I have gone through a divorce recently and most of my time has been consumed fighting a custody battle that I would rather not go into here. The so-called agent for Aurum Cantus used to be a friend of mine. I have taken up the case with the local police force to retrieve the money. Please remember that I also paid for two pairs in good faith.
Being a man of honour and not someone to run away from my responsibilities, I have two solutions to the situation. First of all I vouch to personally repay all monies paid to me by anyone not prepared to wait any longer. Alternatively I am in negotiations with AC to get the tweeters myself. At this stage it looks as though it would not be a problem to get the tweeters. Whatever your decision, I will honour it. Please understand that it is going to take some time to repay everyone as divorce and custody battles are not cheap.
I will post a list of monies received and people affected asap. Please indicate your preferred action to be taken.
Just to clarify things. Yes, I am involved with a new company called Vidi Vox, but only as an employee earning a small basic salary. I do not have the capital required to start a new company. As a matter of fact I am currently flat broke.
I hope that we can resolve this situation to everyone's satisfaction and thanks for the patience that you have shown so far.
Dirk
Being a man of honour and not someone to run away from my responsibilities, I have two solutions to the situation. First of all I vouch to personally repay all monies paid to me by anyone not prepared to wait any longer. Alternatively I am in negotiations with AC to get the tweeters myself. At this stage it looks as though it would not be a problem to get the tweeters. Whatever your decision, I will honour it. Please understand that it is going to take some time to repay everyone as divorce and custody battles are not cheap.
I will post a list of monies received and people affected asap. Please indicate your preferred action to be taken.
Just to clarify things. Yes, I am involved with a new company called Vidi Vox, but only as an employee earning a small basic salary. I do not have the capital required to start a new company. As a matter of fact I am currently flat broke.
I hope that we can resolve this situation to everyone's satisfaction and thanks for the patience that you have shown so far.
Dirk
Hi Dirk
Good to see some communication going finally. As long as the participants in the group buy are happy with the outcome of this I hope things can turn for the better.
What really ticked me off is that there are people who try and build the SA DIY scene with lots of time, enthusiasm and love and incidents like this to me are a black mark against the efforts of us all. I was approached by disillusioned DIYers about this and am only trying to help things move along, perhaps a little quick on the draw. This should perhaps be a lesson to all involved wrt communication, breakdown of which can easily lead to very nasty situations.
Apologies if I misinterpreted your current situation. I will take up one or two things with you offline as to satisfy those who have asked me to help guide things to fruition. Where can you be contacted reliably?
Martin
Good to see some communication going finally. As long as the participants in the group buy are happy with the outcome of this I hope things can turn for the better.
What really ticked me off is that there are people who try and build the SA DIY scene with lots of time, enthusiasm and love and incidents like this to me are a black mark against the efforts of us all. I was approached by disillusioned DIYers about this and am only trying to help things move along, perhaps a little quick on the draw. This should perhaps be a lesson to all involved wrt communication, breakdown of which can easily lead to very nasty situations.
Apologies if I misinterpreted your current situation. I will take up one or two things with you offline as to satisfy those who have asked me to help guide things to fruition. Where can you be contacted reliably?
Martin
Martin
It's brilliant that you have been able to get Dirk to post the above.
I, (and I am sure the rest of us) are most appreciative of your efforts, and of Dirk's explanation..
I hope what he has posted is true.
However at this stage I am not entirely convinced. He has made soothing noises before, some of which have not been true.
If he is genuine, he has my full sympathy. It is not nice to be in that position, and can totally take over your life, to the exclusion of all else.
Obviously there will be some delay in resolving this, whichever way it goes. Personally I would prefer the tweeters to the cash, but this obviously depends on what Dirk can acheive.
Lets hope he continues to communicate.
It's brilliant that you have been able to get Dirk to post the above.
I, (and I am sure the rest of us) are most appreciative of your efforts, and of Dirk's explanation..
I hope what he has posted is true.
However at this stage I am not entirely convinced. He has made soothing noises before, some of which have not been true.
If he is genuine, he has my full sympathy. It is not nice to be in that position, and can totally take over your life, to the exclusion of all else.
Obviously there will be some delay in resolving this, whichever way it goes. Personally I would prefer the tweeters to the cash, but this obviously depends on what Dirk can acheive.
Lets hope he continues to communicate.
The G2Si is really not that expensive a (super)tweeter wholesale and can be gotten for just about the initial asking price. It might be easiest for Dirk to register with one of the american distributors and arrange shipping from there, excepting he has means of sourcing them at significanty lower cost from China (the quantities aren't really high enough to negotiate much of a discount though it may help a little if he has the means to bring them in in one shot)
I don't know what the man is aiming for in terms of concrete time-frame. I will phone him up and find out what his plans are.
I don't know what the man is aiming for in terms of concrete time-frame. I will phone him up and find out what his plans are.
Dirk has promised to post details about the GB in short order. He has a potential sample order lined up from AC.
He claims he was had by an agent but wasn't prepared to disclose the identity of said person. I do however feel in the intererst of transparency he disclose those involved as I belive some have lawyer friends in SA to assist as the nature of these dealings are fraudulent.
Dirk: could you please post case number and other contact information? Otherwise we'll just get tube_lover to do the background work and name and shame the agent.
Kind Regards
Martin
He claims he was had by an agent but wasn't prepared to disclose the identity of said person. I do however feel in the intererst of transparency he disclose those involved as I belive some have lawyer friends in SA to assist as the nature of these dealings are fraudulent.
Dirk: could you please post case number and other contact information? Otherwise we'll just get tube_lover to do the background work and name and shame the agent.
Kind Regards
Martin
Thanks for your efforts Martin, they're much appreciated.
Good to hear from you Dirk- I'd pretty much given up on you I'm afraid. I did try to warn you how people would react if you didn't keep them informed! It really needs to be money for me, because I've recently got a pair of Founteks from Madisound instead. With those and the pair of G2si I already have, I'm pretty much all ribboned up now. Once you're in a position to refund we can discuss how to go about it. Paypal may be an option. If a refund is not possible within a sensible time I will (reluctantly) accept my original order of tweeters and replacement ribbons if that's easier and quicker. I expect they'd sell on ebay or on this forum easily enough. I would prefer a refund though...
All the best,
John.
Good to hear from you Dirk- I'd pretty much given up on you I'm afraid. I did try to warn you how people would react if you didn't keep them informed! It really needs to be money for me, because I've recently got a pair of Founteks from Madisound instead. With those and the pair of G2si I already have, I'm pretty much all ribboned up now. Once you're in a position to refund we can discuss how to go about it. Paypal may be an option. If a refund is not possible within a sensible time I will (reluctantly) accept my original order of tweeters and replacement ribbons if that's easier and quicker. I expect they'd sell on ebay or on this forum easily enough. I would prefer a refund though...
All the best,
John.
Hi there rjb
I understand that you feel that I have been trying to buy time before. Please understand my embarrasment at what had happened and my genuine desire that things should work out as planned.
I am saddened that you would for one minute think that I made up my divorce to gain sympathy though. Just for the record, I have two beautifull sons aged 2 and 5 and I very nearly lost the right to see them regularly. I did not want to go into the details because I consider it a private affair, but if required I can furnish documentary proof.
I will inform you guys of progress and time frame for resolving this matter as regularly as I am capable. I will try to check in daily to find out what is happening and I will post the list of group buy members and money paid shortly.
If you want to get hold of me via e-mail I have set up the following e-mail address: dirk2006"at"webmail.co.za. Replace "at" with @ off course.
Regards
Dirk
I understand that you feel that I have been trying to buy time before. Please understand my embarrasment at what had happened and my genuine desire that things should work out as planned.
I am saddened that you would for one minute think that I made up my divorce to gain sympathy though. Just for the record, I have two beautifull sons aged 2 and 5 and I very nearly lost the right to see them regularly. I did not want to go into the details because I consider it a private affair, but if required I can furnish documentary proof.
I will inform you guys of progress and time frame for resolving this matter as regularly as I am capable. I will try to check in daily to find out what is happening and I will post the list of group buy members and money paid shortly.
If you want to get hold of me via e-mail I have set up the following e-mail address: dirk2006"at"webmail.co.za. Replace "at" with @ off course.
Regards
Dirk
I have heard enough debtors in my time. When it comes to money and business one has to look at what FACTS are available and what is likely. Unfortunately this means a non-personal approach. It also means honesty is in the best interest of all parties involved.
I don’t think people are doubting (nor is it relevant to your obligations) the demise of
your marriage and the associated costs to yourself, moreover there is a lack of trust (meaning you have to play open cards and provide more than just assurances which in the past have turned out to be false)
Perhaps it is best you provide some documentation to allay some perceptions about this potentially being “soothing noises” (and not divorce docs unless you feel you want to)
I suggest you submit such to GB participants (Bas/ myself can verify such to members if you prefer doing this offline) to establish a factual base by providing copies of documentation regarding a transaction with an agent/yourself (an invoice).
You claim you were done in by this agent (an ex friend) and if the police are doing anything (as opposed to the sheriff or debt collectors) it must be of a criminal nature and by implication have an associated case number. A fraud via an agent is by simple implication relevant to GB members and they have a right to know what is going on because it is THEIR money.
With verified information the GB members could have more trust and from that base you can start making moves to rectify a situation. Some might have sympathy (or the financial/project stalling ability to wait) and others are probably livid and would love to add to the Crime-Stop intelligence database without delay (crimestop@saps.gov.za) but I hope that you can by your actions restore faith in these people and that they can forgive you.
Martin
I don’t think people are doubting (nor is it relevant to your obligations) the demise of
your marriage and the associated costs to yourself, moreover there is a lack of trust (meaning you have to play open cards and provide more than just assurances which in the past have turned out to be false)
Perhaps it is best you provide some documentation to allay some perceptions about this potentially being “soothing noises” (and not divorce docs unless you feel you want to)
I suggest you submit such to GB participants (Bas/ myself can verify such to members if you prefer doing this offline) to establish a factual base by providing copies of documentation regarding a transaction with an agent/yourself (an invoice).
You claim you were done in by this agent (an ex friend) and if the police are doing anything (as opposed to the sheriff or debt collectors) it must be of a criminal nature and by implication have an associated case number. A fraud via an agent is by simple implication relevant to GB members and they have a right to know what is going on because it is THEIR money.
With verified information the GB members could have more trust and from that base you can start making moves to rectify a situation. Some might have sympathy (or the financial/project stalling ability to wait) and others are probably livid and would love to add to the Crime-Stop intelligence database without delay (crimestop@saps.gov.za) but I hope that you can by your actions restore faith in these people and that they can forgive you.
Martin
Hi Dirk,
Thanks for getting in touch.
I'm in a similar position to John (Toaster) as I have since aquired some Ravens and don't really need the AC's anymore.
"Being a man of honour and not someone to run away from my responsibilities, I have two solutions to the situation. First of all I vouch to personally repay all monies paid to me by anyone not prepared to wait any longer."
If that offer is still open then I would also be very happy with a refund if possible. Paypal is good for me as well. Please let me us know when you think a refund can occur.
Thanks again to Martin and others in bring matters to a head.
Cheers,
Ralph
Thanks for getting in touch.
I'm in a similar position to John (Toaster) as I have since aquired some Ravens and don't really need the AC's anymore.
"Being a man of honour and not someone to run away from my responsibilities, I have two solutions to the situation. First of all I vouch to personally repay all monies paid to me by anyone not prepared to wait any longer."
If that offer is still open then I would also be very happy with a refund if possible. Paypal is good for me as well. Please let me us know when you think a refund can occur.
Thanks again to Martin and others in bring matters to a head.
Cheers,
Ralph
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