Harassment and Extortion

Here am I again, with another bad experience from a Hong Kong retailer/ collector. I'm beginning to hate them as a people, you know. They are so money-oriented and lack breeding. Oh well, I think I should not generalize.

After the incident with Alvin, here comes Kenneth. For our first meet-up, he suggested we trade models. I get him a brand-new PAL 747 + A340 set worth USD28, and he gives me his second-hand SQ 77W originally priced at USD26. Given that his models was cheaper and a second-hand item at that, I naturally suggested that he credit me the USD2 to be taken off the total of the other items he helped me buy. Then he started saying I was too "money-minded" and not interested in "friendship." Okay, so I let him "cheat" me that time. [the things I do for these diecasts!]

On another occasion, he volunteered to buy me some exclusive items in Japan. I sent him a list then sent him a scanned photo of the catalog from the shop he was visiting. It clearly indicated which items were in stock and at what price. He insisted that the regular price was JPY5000 up, where in fact it was only JPY4000+ as indicated on the catalog. I even sent an email to CrossWing Japan who then confirmed that the catalog listings were current. So I sent him an email saying, "...it isn't worth getting models in Japan for JPY5000+ because it would end up [being] the same price as in HKG, or elsewhere for that matter..." and that "...I will ask her [a friend] to get for me [the models] like the last time. If not, then I will ask you [Kenneth]..." I never followed-up afterwards, meaning the deal was off.

He then advertised a sale at Wings900. Note that he did not contact me prior to putting them up for sale. I emailed him to inquire about the models, and he replied with the following:

"...I got back from Japan and bought some extra's? [sic]...

"I didn't help you to get the B744D because the printings on them were back. Either the cockpit is not align nor there is some scratches on them. The one I place on W900 for sale are the extra I got, and going through your list of ANA wishes, I guess you are interest with the 744 Yokoso Japan logo and 77W?

"If you want, I can sell it to you. Let me know...

"I place [sic] them onto W900 for sale to test the market............ and not much of a sucess so far..."

I asked for the price, to which he said,
"...I got them all for 5040 Yen as you know, but the bad thing is I got my Yen at a high exchange rate, so roughly when convert back to HKD, it is roughly $420hkd, so I'll just add $30hkd for my effort of carry them around, so $450hkd, which I think it is very reasonable..."

Reasonable? Yeah, right! That price is even more expensive than either WMT or Toymax!!! And how can we be friends if you keep charging me the "handling fee," you parasite?! So I naturally declined,
"...I'll think about your ANA. I think it is selling for much less at both WMT and Toymaxco..."

Given that I still considered him a "friend," and in the kindness of my heart offered, "...I think you should try and sell it...if one or several are still available by the time I come over in a few month's time, then perhaps I will take some. But do not reserve them for me. I cannot guarantee my interest..."

to which the stinking bug replied,
"...so now, I am not trying to force you to get it, but i think u should be responsible to what you request for. I really hate this kind of things happening and I do not want my $$ to be stuck. It happened to me once with a worth of $1000hkd and I was haven't a hard time to sell it and still there are some in my house. I really do not want this to be happen the 2nd time, and if so I will start to collect a down payment to put me on the safe side.

Please provide me a positive reply...

Kenneth"

It seems I am only a friend to him in so far as he gets his money's worth from me. Well, F&CK YOU Kenneth Tsang!!!

Good riddance!

The rascal is still around W900 and DAC. So beware!!! [I threatened to report him to a higher authority...]