HELP! $35K nightmare w/ MB23 aka Michael Russo Rolex dealer

[fwong208]

Originally Posted by crazymcmichael

you are absolutely right ..!.. i see that it is on the way too.. but allready since 14/th dec??

In transit and not delivered after this long, means the package should have been scanned sometime on the initial pickup, BUT, was not scanned on the outgoing.

Interesting to note though, the tracking info does not show anything about pickup/dropoff, which is super odd.
It should have something like shown below.
FEDEX.JPG

Methinks OP should try calling in Fedex to see if there was insurance even taken out on the package. If there wasn't, that's another clue as well. I also feel like FEDEX fucked up majorly as well.

[gbx]

His business license shows the following data

MR TIME INC
207 W 25 ST STE 501
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10001

It would be interesting to call the landlord of that building to find out information on that suite.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by fwong208

In transit and not delivered after this long, means the package should have been scanned sometime on the initial pickup, BUT, was not scanned on the outgoing.

Interesting to note though, the tracking info does not show anything about pickup/dropoff, which is super odd.
It should have something like shown below.
Attachment 948361

Methinks OP should try calling in Fedex to see if there was insurance even taken out on the package. If there wasn't, that's another clue as well. I also feel like FEDEX fucked up majorly as well.

Poor choice of language there bud.

Fedex never got the package. This is the Fedex “preorder”. The seller is lying about Fedex not scanning into their system.

[CorradoBrit]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Poor choice of language there bud.

Fedex never got the package. This is the Fedex “preorder”. The seller is lying about Fedex not scanning into their system.

This

[fwong208]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Poor choice of language there bud.

Fedex never got the package. This is the Fedex “preorder”. The seller is lying about Fedex not scanning into their system.

Interesting. So then, the In-Transit status is just some technical error or expected output from a package that hasnt been received on FedEx's end?

[won01419]

This is just terrible and scary...

[Ripcode]

OP, why did you wait (6) months? With that kind of cash outlay, I don't understand why you didn't get the ball rolling sooner.

Not judging, just wondering how it got this far along.

I hope you are able to find some resolution to this!

[fwong208]

Originally Posted by Ripcode

OP, why did you wait (6) months? With that kind of cash outlay, I don't understand why you didn't get the ball rolling sooner.

Not judging, just wondering how it got this far along.

I hope you are able to find some resolution to this!

I've read some horror stories but many of them share a common thing, waiting a long while before taking action. The common factor I see is that they were all dealing with previously trusted sellers. I think we may be too nice in business to jump directly to an outright claim, especially if we trust that person and have history with them. This totally get's my blood boiling.

[juniorlawrence]

These stories regardless of how trusted, I would NEVER send an individual $35K. Regardless of past experience...

I see watch, I give money, I get watch immediately.

Sorry man, sounds like you were trying to do something really good for your father.....

[Urosfan]

Sorry to hear about your situation, I hope everything resolves itself

[gbx]

Originally Posted by juniorlawrence

These stories regardless of how trusted, I would NEVER send an individual $35K. Regardless of past experience...

I see watch, I give money, I get watch immediately.

Sorry man, sounds like you were trying to do something really good for your father.....

Millions of dollars in watches are transacted on this forum annually using the exact methodology the OP used.

Blaming the victim here is not helpful.

[imperio]

I hope things work out for you. All the best, OP.

[Bigblu10]

The seller has logged on this morning for first time in several months, so he is obviously aware of this thread!

[CorradoBrit]

And if you google his name it also appears. I'm sure the FBI fraud dept will be very helpful in this case given the sum involved.

OP have you contacted the office building in NY? Does Russo still maintain suite 501 there?

[juniorlawrence]

Originally Posted by gbx

Millions of dollars in watches are transacted on this forum annually using the exact methodology the OP used.

Blaming the victim here is not helpful.

That's not blame. I feel for the OP tremendously; you just never know what is going on in a TS lives that makes them do this though....

[Fleetlord]

This is really bad one.

When I was reading the post I knew it was a sham when the "wife" screwed up the shipping or whatever the excuse was.

[uncleluck]

I started reading this and actually felt for the seller for a minute, then reading the bit about ignoring you and the IG shut down etc my opinion quickly changed.

Unfortunately I fear there may be others adding to this thread (or starting their own)

If this was a genuine one off mistake and the wife gave it to the courier and they didn’t scan it then he’s obviously not able to stump up the refund and has tried to shut down.

Otherwise I fear there will have been a wider net of deceit and others will have been ‘sold’ watches around the same time before he decided to vanish.


Maybe one way to find out would be to contact the courier and ask? Surely if he’d been ringing and hassling them they’d have it on the system?

[CorradoBrit]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

I started reading this and actually felt for the seller for a minute, then reading the bit about ignoring you and the IG shut down etc my opinion quickly changed.

Unfortunately I fear there may be others adding to this thread (or starting their own)

If this was a genuine one off mistake and the wife gave it to the courier and they didn’t scan it then he’s obviously not able to stump up the refund and has tried to shut down.

Otherwise I fear there will have been a wider net of deceit and others will have been ‘sold’ watches around the same time before he decided to vanish.


Maybe one way to find out would be to contact the courier and ask? Surely if he’d been ringing and hassling them they’d have it on the system?

I think it quite unusual for any buyer to have waited almost 6 months with no watch and out $35K. This doesn't make sense. If there were other victims from late 2017 there would certainly be posts appearing when his name and/or contact info are Googled within days not months of the apparent scam. Not the case. I think this was an opportunistic circumstance. Russo hasn't listed a watch for sale on any of the forums used to sell his watches since May/June 2017.

[Ripcode]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

If this was a genuine one off mistake and the wife gave it to the courier and they didn’t scan it then he’s obviously not able to stump up the refund and has tried to shut down.

"they didn’t scan it" is BS.

Even if it wasn't scanned at acceptance, it would be scanned along it's travels.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by Ripcode

"they didn’t scan it" is BS.

Even if it wasn't scanned at acceptance, it would be scanned along it's travels.

You’re probably right but We’re all just speculating really. It’s possible she could have taken it to fedex and the employee stole it on their last day there for all we know.

Woman... “Would you believe the guy who bought this dropped $35k on it for a present!”...

FedEx employee.. “you don’t say (makes “beep” noise with mouth)”

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

You’re probably right but We’re all just speculating really. It’s possible she could have taken it to fedex and the employee stole it on their last day there for all we know.

Woman... “Would you believe the guy who bought this dropped $35k on it for a present!”...

FedEx employee.. “you don’t say (makes “beep” noise with mouth)”

Great story but........
.....and then seller falls off the face of the Earth?

[Bigblu10]

I don't know the whole story here, but if I sent a seller 35K either by wire/paypal or whatever and the watch was not at my door, say by 72 hours I would be finding out why. And if I received a bunch of lame unbelievable excuses as if being blown off, law enforcement would certainly be involved much sooner than 6 months later.
This is very intriguing on both sides of the fence.

[77T]

Originally Posted by agp16

I’ll keep you guys posted for sure; really appreciate the advice so far and will take whatever other advice you guys have!



Do you guys think this was a setup? Doesn’t matter now but I couldn’t imagine b/c it seems so out-of-character for someone I’d done a lot of biz with in the past.

We do like to hear updates - ya know, inquiring minds

Really sorry to hear the mess you’re in - once you have any news, please add it to the discussion. Outside of general curiosity, it may help future buyers if new facts pop up.

As for this being a set-up, I usually benefit from Hanlon’s Razor (Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.)

By that I mean something stupid may be going on with that seller and it unfortunately occurred coincidental with your purchase. Unless he’s in jail, a hospital or an asylum, there is no excuse.

Good luck with the authorities and any other resource you leverage to get your money or your watch.


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[michaelodonnell123]

Reverse the credit card charge. Problem solved. If you paid cash then I also have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

[CorradoBrit]

Pretty sure this was bank wire

That's quite an inventory
https://www.mywatchmart.com/users/Michael%20Russo/

[Lordofrolex]

For 35K i would fly myself to NYC literally walk up to his office. If he was there and didn't give me a refund i would call the police on the stop. Or at least make him give me whatever watches he had equaling 35K to at least be able to sell them to recoup my money. Im sure his business wouldn't have any insurance so getting a lien put on him doesn't actually force him to pay you. It just sits on his back until he dies unless he has some real property. I don't know if anyone with real property would run just for 35K.

[Lordofrolex]

Originally Posted by CorradoBrit

Pretty sure this was bank wire

That's quite an inventory
https://www.mywatchmart.com/users/Michael%20Russo/

His pricing are off also. Not up to date.

[Etschell]

mb23 is alive and logged in today.

based on this and him not posting a rebuttal you can figure out what it means. at the least he is not taking responsibility at the worst he committed a scam.

has anyone else tried calling him?

[77T]

Originally Posted by michaelodonnell123

Reverse the credit card charge. Problem solved. If you paid cash then I also have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

The OP stated Michael Russo sold him 5 watches over the last 3-4 years without a hitch - and grew to trust him.




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[imperio]

There was another dealer years ago that went rogue; I can't remember his name.