Hello there all,
I apologize in advance as this is a rather long mail, however I felt it right to supply a lot of info for the specialists amongst you all, as I figure the more you have to go on the better you can assess the scenario. Plus it will also give other Newbies like me a good idea of what to look for or any tell tale signs to look for.
I honestly don't think this is a scammer, but if not I think they are very good at it.
There are questions raised here that fall into a grey area, whether to trust or not.
So here we go, hold on!
I am in the final stage of ordering samples from a Chinese supplier, electric bicycles in fact. Now, I am fairly confident in their legitamcy. But there are a few alarm bells ringing, and I can't afford to lose money right now. I have read the sticky posts re due diligence and basic checks. although the compnay seems legitimate, I wondered if certain scammers can attach themselves to companies, in a parasite sort of way, suggesting they are at the last moment redirecting any funds transfers.
My main concerns are this. The contact does seem over anxious to wrap up a deal.
His communications are a bit shabby, and I wish he wouldn't keep calling me Friend!! Surely professionals know tht by now? Then there is the point of friendliness, as the checks suggest, the real operators don't have time for small talk, and friendship, it is purely business. But the real concern came about when I was on Trade manager and the contact pooped up, but was using a different name and company!? His explanation for this follows in the actual texts I received.
I have also included the copy of the Pro forma invoice.
I also contacted the company via the main site on alibaba, for the parent company, but that could be faked as well, and the guys name is "Schugrant" huh, come on fellas, unless that is some odd Chinese thing, Hugh Grant? WTF LOL
I am probably like a lot of newbies hoping it is all above board, as the product looks good and I am enthusiastic to get a move on, but now being a bit older and wiser I hope, it is a point of "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" etc.
So I would really appreciate an opinion or two. I have writtten a quick note before relevant communications I received below, Thanks. jon.O
One of the recent e mails re the transaction from Kevin the contact.
Dear friend,
Haha ,friend ,i see your mind, i know you are a business man ,have this is mind very normally,i still think do business same as make a friend ,honest ,care ,and bona fides.i still ask me to do everything.you give a very good deeply effect,from your the first emaili know you treated everyone with respect,friend ,not feel disrespect.
first we are asiawing factory the same with alibaba website ,because we mostly business is motorcycle ,and we do electric bicycle from 2006 Mar,our bigest germany client buy electric bicycle ,and we from that time sart doing electric business ,but this is samll sale compare with motorcycle,we often export motorcycle parts more over 10000 suit every month.we are not alibaba gold member ,it have quantity limit to display production picture,so they not put the electricycle picture on that ,in truth ,if you pay the enough meney to alibaba company ,you can easy become a gold memeber ,we long time not update the website ,you can find the address,fax number ,phone number not right ,different with my sent to you.i already tell them to change the information ,perhap tomorrow the information already changed.hehe
About the sample payment term,you pay the all sample cost and freight ,when i received money ,i will arrange sampls and ship to you within 5 days.pls understand me .thanks.
This is the reply I got when I quizzed him about the different name on alibaba/Trade manager.
Dear Friend,
Have a good day.
Friend,if i let you feel that i am a mysterious people?i have lot of name and locate in differetn company .haha,let me say the truth :
1.my english name is Kevin ,i am kevin
2.my chiness name is 王成，the english speeling what is Cheng Wang.
3.about Albert, and Kipor company ,they not have any relation with me ,my university classmate who english name is Albert,he works in Kipor company,i borrow his Alibaba formal member ID ,to looking for the custom on the alibaba website,and make a contact with them.you know we have a aliababa wbsite already,but we are not a formal member,can't sent any message ,can't see any custom information on that ,just display our production ,our company information on that .so ,later ~~~all thing you can know about .look my namecard.
Friend,you are a serious-minded man,think about everyting very carefully.don't worry about charging system,as a professional electric company ,we did full ready in this ,we have UK standard chargers,US standard chargers,Japan standard chargers,and so on,attach the picture ,pls check.
Thanks for you deal with P/I,i hope you can accept Liverpool port ,because i already asked the shipment service agent ,if go to Leith the shipment cost will add 600-700$,they can't confirm when you can get the sampls,will more over 40 days,.moreover ,Liverpool near by you ,i already check the map,which more near than those three basis ports .and the normal delivery time about 30days.so the Liverpool is the best .
The most recent e mail from the contact.
Thanks for your all reply,and deeply thought can help us do better in thebusiness .
About P/I ,i hope you can arrange pay for sample ASAP,because when i received the money,then i can arrange the sample for you .this point ,pls you can understand me , pls you finished the payment,sent us disbursement voucher by fax.our fax number:+86-538-6188787.
Liverpool port ,is the best choice at present,perhap bring you some trouble ,need transport goods to your home.i think when you receive the sampls ,you will have lot of thing to do ,clear custom,test sampls, advertise and so on ,but friend, pls remember ,i am your supporter for ever,if you meet any problem i can do my best to supply service for you
Best regards
Kevin
Asiawing Motorcycle
add:Guang Ming Building ,LingShan ST,Tai An ,ShanDong.
telphone:+86 -135 6280 6272
Fax:+86- 538- 6188775
Msn:wtbaggio@hotmail.com
Sky:wtbaggio
This is the reply I got when I made an alternative enquiry to the main company via Alibaba to ask about "Kevin"
Subject:
Re:Inquiry about SHANDONG ASIAWING ... (Mr schugrant guo / Wed, Jun 18 2008 02:08:15)
Inquiry about SHANDONG ASIAWING MOT... (Me / Sun, Jun 15 2008 04:59:09)
From: Mr schugrant guo Offline
Date: Wed, Jun 18 2008 02:08:15 (GMT)
Dear Mr.Jonathan Ovington,
Thanks a lot for your message. Kevin is one of our sales looking after electric bicycle. Hope you would enjoy with the service from ASIAWING.
Asiawing Motors is one member of Taian Yuandong. This group have many business both in domestic and abroad. Asiawing Motors is just our factory to produce high quality motorcycle. During the sales we have some inquiry and requir for electric bicycle. After that we decided to expand our business to electric bicycle also because it is environmental friendly.
If have any question PLS send e-mail to me at
trade@asiawing.com and
guosg@chiran.net. My name is Schugrant Guo.
Best regards
Schugrant Guo
Sender's Name Card
Name: Mr schugrant guo Offline
Company: SHANDONG ASIAWING MOTORS
Address: Guangming Building, Lingshan Street
Country: China
Phone: 86-538-6188778
Fax: 86-538-6188787
Finally this is a copy of the P/I
PROFORMA INVOICE
BUYER: Jon Ovington REF P/I NO.: AWM08-JO064
DATE: 2008-6-18
COUNTRY OF ORIGINAL ORIGIN OF SHIPMENT DESTINATION
CHINA TIAN JIN CHINA LIVERPOOL
UK
TERMS OF PAYMENT DATE OF DELIVERY INSURANCE
100% PAYMENT FOR CONFIRMING THE ORDER WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTER RECEIVED PAYMENT COVERD BY THE BUYER
BANK CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK, TAIAN BRANCH
ADDRESS:NO.76 SHENG PING STREET，TAIAN, SHANDONG PROV., CHINA
A/C.：37001697908050147174
SWIFT:PCBCCNBJSDT
BENIFICARY: TAIAN YUANDONG INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO., LTD
TAIAN YUANDONG INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO., LTD
ADD: GUANGMING BUILDING, LINGSHAN STREET, TAIAN, SHANDONG, P.R.OF CHINA
TEL: 0086-538-6188778/2/3/5 FAX: 0086-538-6188787 P.C: 271000
E-MAIL:
trade@asiawing.com WEBSITE：
www.asiawing.com
Last edited by jonouk; 22-06-2008 at 02:39 PM.
Reason: Added the full header address on P/I
Linear Mode
March 2010
