View Full Version : Issues with VBCore.com
Deimos
12-21-2005, 03:25 AM
Bleh
I've been looking for someone to do me a design for my forum for sometime then came across Vbcore.com
After viewing an impressive portfolio, I decided to contact them, but got no response for a month
So I then posted a request for a custom skin on vbulletin.org (I believe) or on here and he sent me a PM offering his services
To cut a long story short, he agreed to do a skin and said it'd cost $1000 ($1031 total)
I paid him via paypal and couldn't get back in touch with him, im's to his MSN identity went unanswered and emails to his msn and vbcore address went unanswered to
I then found out he's apparently scammed other people and there's posts about it on vbulletin.org and another forum
There's also a vbcorewarning.us site setup FOR people who've been scammed
Not only that, the portfolio apparently isn't even work he's done, it's stuff he's bought to REsell?
This sent alarm bells ringing and I proceeded to reverse the transaction via Paypal
As soon as I did that, he emails me saying the skin is being designed and he asked why I Reversed the transaction
After various emails going back and forth, he said this
Well to be honest and strait forward with you I am TRUELY trying to help you out here bro. This is what is going to end up happening if you do not cancel it.
If you do not cancel:
1. Paypal is not going to give you your money back because they do not dispute / handle with a "Virtual Item", a Webdesign falls under the category of a Virtual Item.
2. When Paypal does close the case, our contract / agreement is considered VOID since you did not cancel the dispute and you will end up not getting a new skin.
3. You will end up losing $1,000.00, and I honestly do not want that to happen to you, because I want you to get a new skin for UOForums.com
If you do cancel, What we can do is this:
1. You cancel the dispute, because to be honest your going to lose it because of the Virtual Item rule that Paypal has.
2. Once you cancel the dispute I continue work on your skin and you will have an amazing high quality skin.
3. I HIGHLY recommend you cancel the dispute so that you don't end up losing $1,000, and so that you get a new kickass skin, as I know you have been saving up for this and the hard work you have put into UOForums.com.
I am pretty much telling you what is going to happen either way, if you do not cancel the payment you WILL lose the money. If you do cancel it you will have a kickass skin for UOForums.com! Please understand that I am a genuine person and you will be very happy with the outcome of the skin!
Thanks,
Kolby
Any comments? :(
I never signed any contract or agreed to one, so I dunno where I stand?
If paypal DONT reverse it, I assume I can reverse the credit card transaction TO paypal, no?
---------------------------------------------------------
Had a longish conversation with him tonight, he won't issue a refund, he's adamant that I trust him and because I wont, i will lose 1k, according to him
http://www.uoforums.com/vbcore.rtf
Our convo
He claimed he'd not started the skin, yet later on said he had
He also claimed to Paypal the following
"Buyer should be ok with cancelling this, we have discussed it :)"
Which isn't true, we hadn't discussed it because he never replied to any of my emails OR Im's and the only time he contacted me, was AFTER i put in the dispute and after he submitted that reply, so how have we discussed it?
What annoys me is he claims we had an agreement and a contract, which we did not
The only agreement we had, was that he'd to a skin for 1k and it'd be ready by January 2006
Now he's claiming because I voided it, he's going to keep the 1k and I know why, check out the section in that conversation where he says he needs it for christmas :/
Dammit, i've tried SO hard to find someone to do me a skin, now I may lose $1000.
TyleR
12-21-2005, 03:27 AM
and why did you just post this here? you've already ranted on vBulletin.com..enough is enough.
Deimos
12-21-2005, 03:35 AM
and why did you just post this here? you've already ranted on vBulletin.com..enough is enough.
As a warning for others?
FYI, no one's forcing you to read it.
TyleR
12-21-2005, 03:38 AM
there's already been a warning for others on this site..get over yourself..you were dumb enough to get ripped of the money, so get over it..you never pay anyone on the net the whole amount before delivery, common sense.
Paul M
12-21-2005, 03:45 AM
there's already been a warning for others on this site..Where ?
get over yourself..you were dumb enough to get ripped of the money, so get over it...Great attitude, I hope others are as sympathatic when you have a problem.
you never pay anyone on the net the whole amount before delivery, common sense.Really ?. How many companies that trade on the internet will send you items you order without taking your money first ? How many items on ebay have you received before paying for them ?
TyleR
12-21-2005, 03:50 AM
Where ?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=783161
Great attitude, I hope others are as sympathatic when you have a problem.
I dont plan on having a problem, as I dont purchase anything that doesnt have a 100% good rep..like vBulletin..havent baught any skins from anyone without an extremly good rep..like eXtremePixels..so, i dont plan on something anytime soon..i do research beforehand.
Really ?. How many companies that trade on the internet will send you items you order without taking your money first ? How many items on ebay have you received before paying for them ?
I don't really know, as I don't use eBay, and refer to my comment above.
Paul M
12-21-2005, 04:03 AM
I dont plan on having a problem, as I dont purchase anything that doesnt have a 100% good rep..like vBulletin..havent baught any skins from anyone without an extremly good rep..like eXtremePixels..so, i dont plan on something anytime soon..i do research beforehand.I don't think anyone plans on having problems, but they happen :(.
TyleR
12-21-2005, 04:05 AM
I don't think anyone plans on having problems, but they happen :(.
True..at the least, before full payment, you should be shown a live demo on the developers site..most, if not all, companies have demo's of their products that they sell.
Wel, i've had me 2 cents in :p
- Tyler
filburt1
12-21-2005, 04:24 AM
there's already been a warning for others on this site..get over yourself..you were dumb enough to get ripped of the money, so get over it..you never pay anyone on the net the whole amount before delivery, common sense.
Be nice.
Deimos
12-21-2005, 04:24 AM
True..at the least, before full payment, you should be shown a live demo on the developers site..most, if not all, companies have demo's of their products that they sell.
Wel, i've had me 2 cents in :p
- Tyler
They had/have a live demo, which is why I assumed they were "good to go"
TyleR
12-21-2005, 04:26 AM
Be nice.
Noted..
They had/have a live demo, which is why I assumed they were "good to go"
They had the skin you were planning to buy up and on a demo forum?
Deimos
12-21-2005, 05:11 AM
I got a partial refund, so i'm short some $300
Beermonster
12-21-2005, 07:58 AM
wtf why are you paying $1000 for a skin in the first place?
Deimos
12-21-2005, 03:46 PM
wtf why are you paying $1000 for a skin in the first place?
What would you consider a good price for a custom skin?
The Geek
12-21-2005, 04:42 PM
I bet a commercial services directory would have helped to prevent that!
/me runs and hides after jab at large hornet nest
Mickie D
12-21-2005, 05:05 PM
@ tyler, what a stupid reply!
jesus the fella may of lost $1000 all he wanted was someone to be trustworthy and make him a skin i do agree that he might of beena little silly in giving this guy money in the first place, but he has made the mistake and will learn from this and if he wants to rant then fine i would want to kill this guy!
the propper ansswer is scammers are scum of the earth and we must protect ourselfs and be careful in whatever online business we do!
hopefully deimos you get your money back m8y and next time becareful pal
Regards
Mickie D
Deimos
12-21-2005, 05:59 PM
Cheers Mickie
I know I was stupid to trust someone with $1000, that's my own fault and I admit it
I wasn't looking for sympathy when creating these two threads on VB.org and VB.com, I just wanted to post a warning for others and to confirm that other warnings posted here and elsewhere, are warranted.
I appreciate the support though, thanks.
Andrew
12-21-2005, 06:32 PM
What would you consider a good price for a custom skin?
I usually charge somewhere in the $100 to $400 range for a custom skin (The $400 range would be a skin heavy on graphics, flash, and/or template modifications.) $1000 for a custom skin is pretty ridiculous regardless of how good the designer is.
Also, in the future you might want to consider using some form of escrow for larger transactions like that. Paypal is horrible when it comes to paying for "virtual" work. Especially when there is a large amount of money being exchanged. With escrow you might lose a little bit of money in fees, but it will save you a lot of the hassles and headaches that you've already experienced.
Serenity
12-22-2005, 03:22 PM
I bet a commercial services directory would have helped to prevent that!
i have to agree with you there.
the only reason i see vbulletin NOT wanting to do it is because it would make them seem liable if something went wrong. but it's nothing a disclaimer can't handle.
and $1000 is way to high unless it has alot of custom flash elements to it.
an average price to shoot for is between $100 for something simple up to $600 for something more graphically intense. some people might say that is way to high also, but if you want a quality original design, your gonna pay for it. skinning an original theme can be tedious at times.
sorry to hear you were ripped off Deimos, i know the feeling
MRGTB
12-24-2005, 02:39 AM
i have to agree with you there.
the only reason i see vbulletin NOT wanting to do it is because it would make them seem liable if something went wrong. but it's nothing a disclaimer can't handle.
and $1000 is way to high unless it has alot of custom flash elements to it.
an average price to shoot for is between $100 for something simple up to $600 for something more graphically intense. some people might say that is way to high also, but if you want a quality original design, your gonna pay for it. skinning an original theme can be tedious at times.
sorry to hear you were ripped off Deimos, i know the feeling
It's an awkward situation to be in really, because a skinner will not start a skin for you without at least a deposit to cover his work if you change your mind. But then you could argue. Whats stopping him from even ripping that off and doing a runner.
What you need is a 3rd party to act as a holder who both sides can trust. So the skinner knows the 3rd party or middle man has his money to go ahead and create the skin, without him getting it until the work is actually finished. To cover both party's involved. once finshed the transfare of money and skin can be dealt with by the 3rd party who take a small handling charge from the buyer. Thats one method that could be put in place.
I also feel sorry for you, $1000 dollars is a lot of money by anybodies means. Wow, I can't believe you paid that for a skin. Thats a lot of money when you look at some of the great skins already being sold out there for like $40-$60
Andrew
12-24-2005, 03:48 AM
What you need is a 3rd party to act as a holder who both sides can trust. So the skinner knows the 3rd party or middle man has his money to go ahead and create the skin, without him getting it until the work is actually finished. To cover both party's involved. once finshed the transfare of money and skin can be dealt with by the 3rd party who take a small handling charge from the buyer. Thats one method that could be put in place.
Correct me if I'm wroing, but isn't that the same thing as escrow? Either way that is the best way to do things when you start getting into larger sums of money. My usual rule is that for any job that is over $500 I use escrow to make sure things happen as they should.
Deimos
12-24-2005, 10:57 AM
I agree, it should be done by an escrow type service.
I've been speaking to a guy who also apparently got scammed out of $600, due to the same reasons I listed, i.e ,he took the money and didn't get back in contact
He's been advised to fill out a fraud report by the police and anyone else who's been scammed as well.
Andrew
12-24-2005, 01:29 PM
If you have his name and/or phone number you could always just reverse search it to find out where he lives, and then call his local police and have them deal with it.
Deimos
03-03-2006, 06:06 PM
Luckily, the credit card company reversed the whole amount, so I got a refund.
He sent me an MSN calling me a "scammer"..........for taking my own money back? lol
Two others who were pursueing legal action with he CLAIMS he's sorting out refunds for as well.
I guess the part that makes me angry, is he's allowed to post on both here and Vb.com and scam others, nothing will be done about him.
talkvb
03-12-2006, 02:28 PM
I was hired to work there, and never got paid. Highly recommend nobody to go. :(
Deimos
03-15-2006, 05:14 PM
This guy is a complete idiot (VBcore), he scams me and others, then sends me this MSN message
[17:22] crysis@vbcore.com: I know this might sound crazy, but do you need any vB Work done
[17:22] Adam: you're kidding right?
[17:22] crysis@vbcore.com: Nope
[17:23] Adam: ...im not sure what to answer with
er.....heh
[17:23] crysis@vbcore.com: your talking to THE vB GOD
[17:23] crysis@vbcore.com: lol
[17:24] crysis@vbcore.com: Custom skin $750
[17:25] Adam: no thanks, i don't wanna lose money all over again
[17:25] crysis@vbcore.com: rofl you wont
[17:25] crysis@vbcore.com: $200 down, rest on completion
[17:25] crysis@vbcore.com: your site is nice, but the skin sucks the fat one
Corriewf
03-15-2006, 05:52 PM
This guy is a complete idiot (VBcore), he scams me and others, then sends me this MSN message
How did this conversation take place?
Deimos
03-15-2006, 06:02 PM
How? MSN, the messenger program
He sent me an MSN message out of the blue
Cole2026
03-15-2006, 09:14 PM
vBcore does make some nice stuff when they do, but honestly all I have heard from them is problems. I have also heard that they aren't that good of clients either, hearing that the owner did not even pay the full amount the designer and him agreed on for the skin design currently on vBcore.
I do like their designs, hope they pick up their problems. :)
Adrian Schneider
03-15-2006, 09:52 PM
I remember talking to him several months ago. He is jerk, but I can't comment on his credibility.
TexasAtvs
03-15-2006, 11:49 PM
I recieved the same message via AIM from him asking if I needed an VB work...
mastersite
04-07-2006, 01:41 PM
aghh i was about to go ahead with vbcore! He was asking $350 for a simple (no heavey graphics and no flash) design.
Thank GOD i read this thread before advancing on...
phew... thanks Deimos for starting this thread. It does help others :)
hanna
04-07-2006, 03:16 PM
He tried to scam me for big bucks, I did a paypal chargeback and was refunded.
dc1pop
04-10-2006, 11:03 AM
He tried to scam me for big bucks, I did a paypal chargeback and was refunded.
Tried to scam me aswell and paypal fully refunded me.
forumthemes
04-10-2006, 01:10 PM
Wow this is so insane, I totally feel for you guys and wish there was a way to stop him. I have heard from a lot of people that he has scammed them. Like TalkVB above (great guy, great designer).
[edited by Princeton ... promotion not allowed]
P.Jackson
04-10-2006, 01:10 PM
Hmm thanks for the heads up was about to go forward with vbcore ill think twice now :)
Deimos
04-15-2006, 07:37 PM
Amazes me with all the chargebacks and scam reports, Paypal let him use a paypal account.
Just proves that money talks, they really couldn't give a damn
But saying that, can he not be banned from the VB forums now? :/
lafsunlmtd
06-07-2006, 04:57 PM
yea well he is a very effective manipulator. File a claim in small claims court for it. you just need his address and contact info which follows. i am sending mine in tommorow. he is a real thief
(Personal Info Removed)
Deimos
06-07-2006, 05:01 PM
You got burned to eh? If you paid via paypal with a Credit card, reverse it.
Lottis
06-07-2006, 05:07 PM
yea well he is a very effective manipulator. File a claim in small claims court for it. you just need his address and contact info which follows. i am sending mine in tommorow. he is a real thief
(Personal Info Removed) Why do you give out his personal info?
Wouldent it be better to ask fore a pm from you if someone wants it?
KW802
06-07-2006, 07:28 PM
Why do you give out his personal info?
Wouldent it be better to ask fore a pm from you if someone wants it?It doesn't help that you then quoted it... even if he edits his post to remove the personal info your quote is still there. ;)
Mastar
06-08-2006, 01:36 AM
I hired him also to do a skin that I showed him exactly what I wanted, he made something totally different.
I also tried to contact him and he didn't respond until I told him to return the half of the $ I paid but luckly enough the first paypal payment didn't clear and we never bother wid him.
He's also disrespectfull.
NO GOOD BUSINESS MAN!
Deimos
06-08-2006, 02:40 AM
I know of two people who were going to file a lawsuit against him and also got the police involved, but I don't know how that turned out
The idiot still sent me msn messages asking if I Wanted any work done
Weird.
Xtrato
06-08-2006, 05:41 PM
well Deimos, be careful with him , he asks other designers for work , (such as myself ) he asked me to do a Halo2forum skin , i asked to give me down payment first , he never agreed to do so, i started the design but i Ended up not giving it to him ... Soon i will release it free for the vB community.
As for vBcore guy , he wanted me to be his partner in design , way back in the day, probably about 2 years or so, he knew of my potential to design, but we started a work together, i dida ll the work and even the coding, the customer had already paid him some money, which was around 200$ , but he never did any work, so i talked to the customer, and so he paid me the remaining amount.
vBcore got mad and told the customer it was a ripped design and such, so i had the customer send me emails if it was true..
in my opinion , this guy should not be trusted at all. He resells skins and what not.
1000$ for a Design sounds high , though its Good if The designer does actually do the work and is good at designing. You need to know who you are dealing with before putting down payments and making contracts.
Before Doing so, i suggest a few tips me as a designer that you would need from the Company or Designer.
First , and most important is a website : With portfolio
phone Number where they can be reached
Make sure he is not the only one you can contact just in case you need some assistance.
Good Reviews , comments, do a complete search on the company, designer.
I did some work for physicsforums.com , 2 skins for 1000$ , He has full control over those 2, pretty neat designs as well, maintaining good communication between Designer and client is always good..
Phone Support Very important, If possible always get his number so where you can reach him, ask him for the ours of availability.
That’s just me. I've done a few designs for customers and all are very happy with the work and support i've provided.
Hope you find a good person to Start your project on.
Deimos
06-08-2006, 05:59 PM
Good tips
Dont' worry, I put him on block a while back, but trillian has a knack of forgetting who's on the list and he somehow gets through
Bit annoying.
I just wish VB.org and VB.com would ban him.
Xtrato
06-09-2006, 08:41 PM
oh bye the way Deimos, if you are still looking for a designer, We can help you out. we do custom work as well, you can visit our site for more information or simply drop me a private message.
Regards
aceofspades
06-10-2006, 09:01 AM
I think i might have just been got as well, i paid him $260 for a skin and now his site has been shutdown and i got an email saying he is a fraud. Can anyone give me any advice of where to go legal wise now? I wont stop untill he is punished in some way or another.
smacklan
06-10-2006, 01:56 PM
I think i might have just been got as well, i paid him $260 for a skin and now his site has been shutdown and i got an email saying he is a fraud. Can anyone give me any advice of where to go legal wise now? I wont stop untill he is punished in some way or another.
If you paid via Paypal, take it up with them...they offer no protection to the seller (vbcore) if the product is delivered virtually. He would have no options as paypal will give you your money back.
Deimos
06-10-2006, 02:24 PM
If you paid via Paypal, take it up with them...they offer no protection to the seller (vbcore) if the product is delivered virtually. He would have no options as paypal will give you your money back.
Not quite true, Paypal refused to do a reversal for me, I ended up having to reverse it via my credit card company.
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