Legitimate or scam

[Mike0507]

Is Andrew equipment store  a scam or is it legitimate. Will I get my mower or have to fight to get my money back.

Spoiler

[kernowlass]

@Mike0507 

No idea, are they another of these?

Chinese Web Sites or on Social Media ads easy to spot (once you know the below signs) so buyer beware.

1. No return address on the returns policy. The site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) but they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost often more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number. if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. Rarely company address information.
4. Great pictures of items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.
5. Fake reviews.
6. Google and you can often see previous company names as they change them once enough claims roll in and Paypal stop them using their services and start over.
7. Send fake tracking numbers to win item non receipt of item claims.

[Searaybill]

Yes, they are a total scam.

[dxvxdh]

Stupid, I know!  However I used AndrewsEquipment.com because they used PayPal as a payment option.

Knowing that this company is a very sophisticated scam why does PayPal remain on their site as a payment option?

[kernowlass]

@dxvxdh 

Paypal would not be able to check every individual seller / merchant / company in over 200 countries worldwide that adds paypal to their website to accept payments.

So they give you 'some' buyer protection but the onus is on you to risk assess your transactions.

They do stop bad companies from using Paypal when enough claims start rolling in.
However as they are in China (mostly) then its easy for them to just start over with a new name, so stopping them does not really do anything.

[dxvxdh]

For the benefit of others:

AndrewsEquipmentStore is a very Sophisticated Scam Operation.  Uses PayPal to guarantee a safe purchase, but PayPal guarantee is only 30 days.  Positive reviews are all fake.  First step is that your shipment will be delayed for more than 30 days at which point your PayPal Guarantee is void.  Your phone and Email are in their database.  If you phone within the 30 days you will get an immediate reassuring answer to all your questions.  Once the 30 days has expired you will no longer be able to get through.  If you use a friend's phone to make he call, you will be politely placed on hold and left to wait 30 minutes until you are disconnected. The company uses a fake Indonesian address so you have no recourse.  If you google the address, the company does not exist. Shipment is done via “NipponCargoExpress” deceptively similar to “Nippon Express” which is a highly respected company. NipponCargoExpress is fake  and part of their scam to keep you on the hook for more than 30 days. My $1000 loss is your salvation!  Don’t take the bait!

[kernowlass]

@dxvxdh 

Paypal buyer protection guarantee is not 30 days (thats Ebay) paypal is 180 days.

The rest I have already posted above to warn everyone about these Asian scams.

[dxvxdh]

"180 days?"

That make's this far more interesting.  I'll get back to the community once I see how PayPal responds.

[kernowlass]

@dxvxdh 

Make sure you escalate to a claim if you don't get item or refund from your seller in the dispute phase.

You have up to 20 days to escalate to a claim from opening the dispute. 

[dxvxdh]

Finally got this issue resolved.  Andrews never delivered my generator and PayPal refunded the full purchase price.  The process was extremely efficient. When I go to the website, Andrews Equipment still uses PayPal as a payment option.  PayPal would not do this if they were losing money. My guess is that Andrews refunds claims to PayPal.  Those who fail to file claims with PayPal, or use a different payment option are successfully scammed.

Kudos to PayPal for immediately refunding claims.  However a question of ethics remains here.