The dispute resolution thread

[ThomasM]

If @thegreathopper confirms it is faulty, then @ThomasM needs to refund it including return shipping. If he finds it is working then he doesn't and feedback will be removed. Simples.

Well, as expected, I've now had confirmation
From @thegreathopper
Which I thank publicly,
that the Mvs THE LAST BLADE game works,
As has been extensively demonstrated. Probably Just Very Dirty ..
Negative fadebacks mutually removed,
And it all ended well.

[grantspain]

sent a pm to admin about this post earlier and got **** all reply

[cools]

I replied grant?

[cools]

Balls, bloody thing didn't send. Hold on, I'll reply in thread.

[grantspain]

i am actually fuming about this thread

[cools]

Long and short of it, we can't know whether either Chris or Thomas are being dishonest or not. Damaged goods before shipping, during shipping or after shipping - both are insisting they have done no wrong, so who should we believe?

Maybe the game was unknowingly flawed and shipping it exposed the problem. I've had that happen to me, it's annoying, it's how you deal with it.

The interactions were a bit hot on both sides...

[grantspain]

item sent, did not work, had to be sent for repair therefore part refund should have been made- seems perfectly simple to me

[SuperPang]

Personally, I believe it worked when Thomas tested it but Chris couldn’t get it to work on arrival, despite his best efforts. As I stated, Chris was entitled to a refund at this point. **** like that happens and most sellers would take that on the chin. In fact, they should, even if it is giving your buyer the benefit of the doubt.

I don’t know what TGH’s cleaning method was that got it working. That was good of him, but unnecessary hassle.

The question I should’ve asked, was how was the game described? @ThomasM sells a lot of stuff that is clearly straight out of an arcade environment. Perhaps he should be more detailed about the condition of some of the stuff he sells in future. If the cart was as dirty as it sounds, that should’ve been stated.

One lesson that should be learned from this is to come straight to this thread with problems rather than exchanging heated PMs, especially when there’s a language barrier.

[ChrisBEANS]

The interactions were a bit hot on both sides...

While I’m happy to let sleeping dogs lie, as this has been brought up I do have to say that in relation to not knowing who is dishonest here, I would like to point out that there is literally no benefit to me to pretend a cartridge doesn’t work.

Beyond that, I was happy to get the cartridge to an independent party, promptly, and beyond that, as soon as I was told that hopper had got it working I openly posted that here and even offered to make a gesture. Finally, although it’s only eight quid, it also cost me in return postage.

I’d initially tried to get a straight refund, in private, which would only have left me where I started.

None of these are the actions of someone being dishonest, and at no point would or even could I benefit from this.


As for my interactions being ‘a bit hot’. On my side they’re all simply straight and factual. That’s why I was happy to post the entire thread of PMs in full, and why I was happy to address each reply point by point in an open thread.

Conversely, I received accusations of superguns and being a rival “salesman”. Both of which are so completely baseless they’re laughable. Utterly false. Completely made up.



I really was happy to leave this behind, but I really enjoy being part of this community, and I think a part of that is an obligation to speak up if something’s not right. I was sold a cartridge that did not work in two different, well looked after cabinets even after I cleaned it with IPA, and when I tried to privately resolve the matter I got nowhere, and so I spoke up.

I hope that’s the end of it?

[pubjoe]

I read the PMs in order and I've got to admit I thought "definitely either untested by yourself, or sold knowing it was faulty" brought in the sudden heat. No one's going to react well to that.

MVS carts along with everything else can be flakey. Of course I fully believe it was filthy and covered in something, but I can also believe it still worked in testing. I try not to accuse by assumption if I want to keep productive communication going, but that's just me. It's not always a good thing tbh. I've recently spent months politely approaching resolution for a pile of **** I bought.

[cools]

I understand that @ChrisBEANS, but realise we are in the position of having to judge honesty based on nothing except someone's word. Which is genuinely impossible, and even questioning someone's honesty only inflames the situation.

Even the choice of language can make things worse. Negotiation and de-escalation are not simple.

I genuinely don't want to keep on discussing from my side - I stayed out of the initial batch because I am bloody terrible at the above, I'm only commenting now because grant PMed me directly earlier and I thought I'd replied to him. I've known grant personally for many years, I trust and respect him absolutely and the thought I'd inadvertently **** him off by ignoring him got me racing to try and fix the situation. I wouldn't respond in private and try and publicly hide my incompetence either - that's disrespectful to everyone that uses this forum.

I'm not accusing you or Thomas of anything, and you can choose to believe me or not. I can only hope you do.

[pubjoe]

No one's going to react well to that.

Buuuut, then again if ThomasM is the professional he says he is, he needs to learn to.

[ChrisBEANS]

I read the PMs in order and I've got to admit I thought "definitely either untested by yourself, or sold knowing it was faulty" brought in the sudden heat. No one's going to react well to that.

But I meant it, and I stand by it now...

Just blunt honesty and being direct is surely the best way to communicate, right? Then there’s no ambiguity or room for interpretation, everyone knows exactly where they stand.

[pubjoe]

"Definitely"?

I dunno, I'm not saying ThomasM did everything right but I can believe he at least tested the game.

[ChrisBEANS]

"Definitely"?

I dunno, I'm not saying ThomasM did everything right but I can believe he at least tested the game.

Maybe, and I mean maybe, but when??

I’m certain, that a cartridge covered in whatever, that would not boot in two different multi slots that run everything else I’ve ever had up to and including all original carts I own, a NeoSD Pro and the bespoke PCBs from NG:Dev, was not tested and working immediately prior to being shipped.

There is no reason that everything that’s ever been in either machine (since I’ve had them) has worked, but not this one cart covered in sticky stuff, unless it’s specifically that cart that’s the problem.


I know you’re just playing devils advocate, and I’ve no argument with you of course, but there’s no way that cart was fine when it was sent.

As has been asserted by others, these carts are pretty robust, and to his credit it was well packaged. No reason it should stop working within the space of postage, and that’s after I gave it a go with IPA too...

[pubjoe]

Honestly, I've had carts that only work on the twelfth insert, at a slight angle, after doing a worship dance, while wearing my lucky pants.

They're robust but the hardware is still usually old/dirty/flakey. I promise you this won't be the last time you come across this kind of thing.

I think honesty and assumption are a difficult mix.

If we continue this it will sound like I'm taking ThomasM's side and I don't want to do that. I just want to clarify my point that if I accuse someone of lying I want to be very sure. It'll probably be the end of communication once an accusation like that is made.

---

However, as Pang said, you did do the right thing. The item didn't work to satisfaction and you let the seller know. I'm just sticking my nose in on the communication breakdown, but thankfully that doesn't matter any more.

[geotrig]

.

Honestly, I've had carts that only work on the twelfth insert, at a slight angle, after doing a worship dance, while wearing my lucky pants.

They're robust but the hardware is still usually old/dirty/flakey. I promise you this won't be the last time you come across this kind of thing.

this last line a thousand times, but more importantly were going to need to see this pants and dance

[neogeomvs]

As a responsible seller, Maxie should have opened the MVS cart, cleaned it, taken pics of it, posted pictures of the actual pcb working, not another one of the other 50 Last Blade carts he has. He cleans one , shows that one working and then sends out another one that is untested and uncleaned.

He's a lazy seller. Fizzy drink spillage does not happen during transit!!! Absolutely appalling to send in such condition.

When he is to blame, he starts blaming the buyer, is aggressive, rude and abusive.

How he remains having a platform on multiple forums with multiple aliases to sell his wares is beyond me.

If you have followed Chris' arcade journey from playing Metal Slug on emulation, 1cc'ing and then deciding to get the real thing, Chris is not shy on spending money to get the real experience.

Chris has bought so many great cabs and carts since his journey into real hardware/software has began.

It's a shame that Chris has had to come across such a rude and aggressive seller as Maxie. Hopefully this is a clear warning to all to avoid Thomas&Hellas / AstroSonSon and all the other aliases that Max has and never send him PayPal gift.

[ChrisBEANS]

I appreciate the posts in support, and I appreciate the posts giving a different perspective.

This has spilled over into another forum now, and that’s as much my fault as anyone else’s.

Ultimately, it was a single cart and the only reason the dispute has rumbled on is because as a matter of principle I refuse to be had over, not because I was left significantly out of pocket.

I think a line has been drawn under it, and I don’t intend to mention it again.

Cheers for the input on both sides.

Let’s play some games!

[pubjoe]

As a responsible seller, Maxie should have opened the MVS cart, cleaned it...

I've never done this and I've never expected it

I'm more of a benefit of the doubt kind of guy. I don't think I've ever had anyone really try to do me over, it's always just that people can be a bit rubbish.