could not NOT share my recent story with the guy Schulte ( the fraud)... a bit long but a big warning for all who wants to deal with the UGC mR.SCHULTE. Ialso post on Audgon ( btw, you can check my fedbacks at ebay for authenticy under zionist53).If anyone reading it thinks he can advice me, i will be glad to hear.( I CHANGED THE EMAIL MARKS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT POST LINKS ETC' - CAUSE I AM NEW AT THE FORUM) best to all, eran Israel.
Hi fellows Audiophiles,
Its the first time i am writing in AUDIOHOLICS , sadly it's on annoying matter not strictly audio.
I live in Israel, and made contact with David Schulte from the so called "UPGRADECOMPANY" ( UGC). What a mistake...
That's how the story goes, i will try to be short and if anyone thinks he can help me with that crook schulte, it will help and be appreciated. I can back up my story with the numerous email writings with the UGC, and your forgiveness if my descriptions are somehow tend to be emotionally, it's just that for the last 18 years of trading in the web never have i faced that kind of attitude and Costumer Service ,Especially from the brand called USA.
But let's start... 12 weeks ago, more or less, about month before New Year's Eve or Christmas.
I own a set up of lowther dx4 Hedlund horns, bottlehead paraglow amp passive pre , audiopro sub and deltec dpa dac + esoteric p700 transport. The esoteric had problems, and my tech guy suspected it's the KSS151A rare laser unit that is faulty (btw, in the end it was the DSP). I tried to find new laser unit, and while searching the web I remembered that the UGC is dealing with Esoteric brands and thought they might have a lead. I emailed UGC and Mr. Schulte was prompted to answer saying he is not selling spare parts, but, has a client in Mexico that want to sell his P-70 transport that was upgraded by him for 2750$ + 380$ posting.. I really love that transport and thought to myself " that's a deal I am willing to stretch too"
btw, I almost thought buying Esoteric K-01 or Krell 505evo I liked but Schulte dismissed them , saying the P70 upgraded by him is the best. "What will happened if the laser unit of the P70 will fail" i asked , " I have a lead on them from Japan brand new OEM ,400$ each and you are safe" he replied with a wink and a smile.. "Let's go" I said!
I ordered 3 laser units (2 as spare and 1 to be sold as replacement to the esoteric P700 I wanted to sell in order to sponsor part of that setup upgrade).
Schulte saied he will be ordering the laser units once I pay for them, and that is client will release the P-70 transport in about month after the holydays. I thought to myself, why waiting to the laser units, who knows how long will the supplier have them, schulte rushed me to buy them and so i paid him 1250$ in advance... wait a minute, you probably ask your selfs, "how did you made the transfer , PayPal or..." you guess right, money transfer. If it was PayPal payment things where smoother AND easier.
That's why I call him a scammer. I wanted to PayPal him, he refused. I told him I will pay the extra fees, he refused. I suspected nothing, after all reading is website give you confidence, buying from a North American dealer give you confidence, what a fool I was. I agreed to transfer the money.
Time passed, i emailed the guy Schulte several times just to know if there is progress, every time Schulte gives me confidence that the deal is done. Another week, and another... another email sent by me , and reply by David Schulte " it’s a matter of about 3 weeks until the arrival...my client is getting the new gear i sent him, once he is satisfied he will send the P70"...oops, could it be that's not a done deal? " i emailed the UGC Schulte asking could it be that the client will not sell? " he is selling" reassured me David , and to built up my confidence he added " he wants to sell the matching D70 do you want it? " . Let's start with the P70 I replied. How right was I, and did not know it then...
Days passed, I had a guy wanted to buy my dac and transport, we agreed on a price and scheduled a pickup for the next day. In the evening i emailed the Schulte asking him what's going on from the last email. This is what he wrote:
" The P70 owner has not decided to sell iit yet.He was 90% sure but has since decided to keep both his P70 and D70 SE's and purchase our SE upgraded Emotiva ERC-3 CD player with our Bybee and Audio Magic fuse options. He reports that right out of the bodies not far off from the P70/D70 setup and is getting closer with burn in. He's going to setup a second system. Why don't you save money and buy an Emotiva ERC-3 CD player as it truly is as good on ewe upgrade it and put the (3) $135ea Audio Magic Premier fuses in it.
I replied amazed:
Whatttt??? I purchased the laser units on the basis of buying the transport...I thought its s done deal..!
SCHULTE REPLIED:
Eran I just found out yesterday.
I'm happy to send you the laser that is supposed to be new and refund balance less airmail cost to ship it. I was not aware the P70 had issues apparently from a power surge while the client had it
On Jan 25, 2016, at 12:29 AM, eran and Dikla <eradikalgmailcom> wrote:
?
בתאריך 24 בינו׳ 2016 23:30, "eran and Dikla" <eradikal AT gmail com> כתב:
hi,You should have mentioned thees issues earlier - once you knew about them.I wanted P70 since it's the only transport to suite my Lowther demanding drivers. sorry, but i buy only what i know. i was suppused to be inform that the laser units cannot be oredered - beside one.if i wasnt emailing you today , when did you planed to inform me that the deal cannot take place?
You probably understand that i am not happy with the situation ( saying the least)If you want to sell me only the laser ASSUMING ITS NEW IN BOX , deduct posting + 400$ and refund the rest its ok.If you dont want to sell the laser pick up and refund all my payment , its ok also. Lets stay in a client - seller situation where you can still offer in the future P70 might it come. I did my part bypaying in advance , i trust your good reputation to do likewise.
Best,Eran
2016-01-24 23:12 GMT+02:00 Upgrade Company LLC <rHiMEndAudioaolcom>:
We were only able to get 1 laser which could be resold so basically you already paid for a new EMOTIVA ERC-3 with all options including shipping to you.
Out of the boxing kills stock P70/D70 in every area. Once burned in it sounds better then even upgraded P70/D70.
Part of the reason the seller backed out us because the power switch is stuck on and one of the digital outputs quit working. P70's are getting old
I'm happy to send you the laser that is supposed to be new and refund balance less airmail cost to ship it. I was not aware the P70 had issues apparently from a power surge while the client had it.
Do you think he refund me? think again. I phoned him, he tried to push the Emotiva, I POLITLY SAIED NO CAUSE ITS THE ESOTERIC I WANT and paied in advance for.
He said ok , in the coming weeks i will transfer the money back ( i told him that only if he knew, like he promised, that the laser is BNIB to send it, he said the ebay guy says its new...EBay??? I thought you said Japan OEM....never mind just refund please!)
He says he tried to refund but it came back... than i offered him to PayPal me and i will suffer the fees, refused, than he said I have to buy something from him (!!??) and if I will not like it he will refund. In time of despair ,I even offered him to purchase with my money which he holds hostage a n esoteric P30 offered in eBay and to upgrade it at his facilities - he said ok, but wanted me to pay for the transport and leaving the 1250$ at his possession!! You understand? He wanted me to trust him and spent another 1500$ to send the P30 to his place. The man is mad. But wait it does not end here, I just attach the last email from the guy. Where my point about schulte being a racist (against Jews), scammer and a fraud (planned it all from the beginning that's why he did not want to use PayPal) are summed up. No need to add another word.
"You are nuts NOT to trust us we are A+ BBB rated and do a to of business we don't need you business!
I'm growing tired of your rudeness and ***** us down on the price. I'm done.
You buy the unit and get it here. Your $1250 is not enough to cover the SE upgrade at $799 GREATLY reduced pricing plus Shipping @ $500 due to high weight and large size. P70 always costs roughly $500 to Europe etc as it is way too big and heavy for post office. The post office figures "dimensional weight" which is length + girth in inches x 2 plus the weight which has to be below 166 unfortunately any way you add it up the transport is too big and heavy for postal mail."
DO YOU GET IT?? CAUSE I AM NOT. IN MY WORST DREAMS I DID NOT THINK THING LIKE THAT WILL HAPPENDIN THE USA.
