boinger

It looks like I have successfully uploaded the file to Dean. Now, I'm going to stop uploading the graham/valkyrie file and fix up another bittorrent file for Macross pictures (much bigger file).

Dean:

Could you stay online with the graham/valkyrie bittorrent file and see if some one else can download from you?

Let's see if the bittorrent can be passed along without me being the original host/server.

Dean might have to check Azureus bittorrent software for enabling the tracker server (under the options section) to pass along the graham/valkyrie bittorrent file to the next person.

********************************

Then, I'll fix up all the macross games for a bittorrent: 1gb approx.

Then, macross music - pretty big

Then macross miscellania

Then, macross video in sections: M0, M2, M7, MSDF, MDYRL, METC-including game videos and mecha grafitti.

This could take up most of the 2006 to upload, but once it's done then Macross will be readily available through Azureus bittorrent.

IMacross bittorrent is kind of working.

Slow going though.

I see that the ball beside the uploading file is yellow. I'm trying to forward my ports through my firewall to make the ball turn a green color, which indicates a open port. The files that I'm downloading are green.

I'll read some more about port forwarding and azureus, so I can get the upload speed working steadily instead of sporadically.

************************************

UPDATE:

Yellow ball is now blue ball. Trying for green ball.

Anybody who is connecting to me is going to have to check under start/settings/control panel/windows firewall to see if they have opened their internet ports to allow Azureuse to up/download through their internet firewall.

I think the hardest part for Azureus is getting through the internet firewalls. I opened my ports through my dlink network router software because I have a home network. Azureus has 3 green ball lights on the bottom of the azureus screen to indicate to me that I have successfully opened the proper ports through the dlink router.

www.portforward.com for more information

I think that once I start up another torrent, then someone else with Azureus will have to enable their Azureus trackerless server.

Azureus: Tools/options/tracker/server/ everything checked except password

The Azureus bittorrent software is the tracker and the server.

I just put a copy of a bittorrent file on on my shaw webpage.

I think that Azureus uses a trackerless server system, so you can only use Azureus for downloading the bittorrent files I'm putting together.

1. download the bittorrent file from my shaw webpage

2. download a copy of Azureus bittorrent software

3. run the Azureus bittorrent software

4. top right of Azureus, "click" file, "click" open, "click" torrent file

5. "click" add file and look on your computer for the (1.) downloaded bittorrent file

6. on the same window as (5.), "click" browse to pick a place on your computer to save the full version of the file

7. see how many people are up/downloading on the file

8. go do something else for a couple of weeks, this will take a while

Is it working now?

************************

It's working!!

Try you favorite bittorrent client on this.

Graham and the 1/48 valkyrie

As suggested by Duke Togo, I started thinking about Bittorrent server stuff:

I was looking at the Azureus bittorrent client that I use regularly. It looks like this bittorrent software can host bittorrent files.

I'll play around with Azureus to see if I can create a bittorrent and star up a bittorrent file server.

You can expect that the download speeds from me will be pretty slow, but once the first 5 or so people download from me, the download speeds will pick up with more participants. I will try to stay online for downloading, since initially the macross videos, games, music, and pictures will take a few weeks to download.

When you use Azureus, you have the option of downloading only particular files that you would like and changing the upload and download kb/s. These features will be handy for those of us who have a bandwidth restriction.

I think I can put up some bittorrent files on my shaw webpage. Then mw members can download the bittorrent file and use their favorite bitttorrent client software.

I'll post again here, when I'm ready.

boinger

Hello:

For my mid-winter spring closet cleaning, I'm trying out listing on an ebay store to cut down on ebay fees.

Click HERE for my ebay store.

I will be adding on books and mcfarlane toys this week. Every week, I plan to add on new stuff, such as my huge comic book collection - Grendel, Mage, and many manga titles.

Thanks for looking!

Sinced the beginning of last year, Shaw cable has drastically reduced internet bandwidth, despite that I pay $20 more per month now for intenet access. So, I had to stop imacross4 or be cut off from the internet every 2nd week by Shaw cable.

If there are no more volunteers for iMacross servers, then there's just the usual bittorrent anime websites to look for macross stuff.

If that's a 1/72 Hasegawa yf19 battroid and the yamato yf19 is 1/72 scale as well, then how much bother would it be to make a fast pack set for the Yamato Yf19?

Just wondering.

I just buy one (1) 1/48 every 6 months. Yamato can just keep reissuing the 1/48 the valkyries and I will keep on buying them.

Thank you very much, please!

One Paypal credit card chargeback almost resolved and one to go.

The guy who bought a lightsaber from me and asked Amex to send a credit card chargeback reversal fax on Jan.9/06 has been confirmed by Paypal's email to me today, Jan. 16/05. So, I'm getting my $546 US back from Paypal in 3-5 days. I just paid my visa bill Jan. 13/05. I jneed to cancel the Visa claim to challenge the chargeback and cancel the Canada post potetential fraud claim.

my other Paypal chargeback is star wars blasters I bought from Steve Sherman of SJS Models. Looks like the Paypal settlement will be done by Jan.19/06. Steve has yet to email Paypal for an explanation, so it looks like I will get my money back there too.

I wrote lots of emails, and faxed stuff and talked on the phone for hours to get this chargeback stuff fixed.

I almost think that if I spent less than half this effort, everything would be alright anyway.

So, back to selling stuff on ebay this week!

Thank you!

Minor update to undelivered toys:

Today, Visa sent me a letter to confirm that they are going to try getting my money back, but it might take them a maximum of 120 days because of communicating across the border with the merchant bank (Paypal?).

Yesterday, Paypal has just started the dispute resolution process with Steve Sherman. Steve Sherman now has 10 days to respond to Paypal with some kind of explanation for waiting past 6 + weeks to ship out the toys I paid for. Steve would then be debited the amount out of his account to my account. At least, that's what happened to me last month.

Maybe, if other guys who also had poor sevice with Steve Sherman could email paypal, then I could my money back sooner. I'm hoping that Paypal would take a closer look at the way Steve Sherman does a poor job of making and selling star wars replicas.

Paypal Case # PP-133-246-394

Steve Sherman's current business email: stevesherman@lisco.com

My email: boinger5@shaw.ca

Paypal's customer service email: sevice@paypal.com

Paypal's toll free phone number: 1-888-221-1161

Thanks for the encouragement!

Additional Paypal story:

Oct.23/05,

On ebay, I sold a master replica LE Kenobi lightsaber to a guy in Ohio. He claimed that the lightsaber was never received even though the Canada post / USPS tracking number confirms he did receive the lightsaber.

So, he then contacts American Express (Amex) to chargeback the money through Paypal and then from me because he says he never received the lightsaber.

Paypal sneaks the chargeback onto my Visa bill by "piggybacking" the chargeback payment with another payment to Avafindpro. Then Paypal locks out my paypal account with (-) $16.30.

Four days after the credit card chargeback is intiatied and Paypal has already charged me, the guy in Ohio says he finally received the lightsaber, but the display case was damaged, so he would like $80 US in compensation. Then he also said that he was reversing the Amex chargeback, so I would get my money back. I thought everything would be fine, since I had all my paperwork in order and the guy in Ohio said he would reverse the chargeback (his ebay feedback was really good).

At this point, I talked to Paypal twice, Canadapost, American express and the guy in Ohio. Subbmitted documentation to Paypal and Canada post about this guy reversing the credit card chargeback.

But,

Dec.29/05,

I read my visa bill and find out that the guy in Ohio has apparently not reversed the Amex chargeback and Paypal still expects me to pay them.

I emailed ebay and was able to get the toll free Paypal phone number. I talked to Paypal and they said that they had no information on the guy's chargeback reversal, so Paypal did expect me to pay. I talked to Visa and found that I could not challenge Paypal's chargeback because the payment was to Avafindpro, even though $528 US was for Paypal's Amex chargeback. I sent off the Canada post documentation (canada post receipts, original lightsaber purchase receipt, copy of ebay auction, computer screenshot of ebay message that says he was going to reverse the chargeback) with a copy of my visa bill on the suggestion of Visa.

Then I emailed the guy in Ohio to find out what he thinks is going on.

He phones to leave an answer on my message machine (plus 2 emails) to say that Amex had turned down his chargeback a month ago and that Paypal, on Paypal's initiative, has taken money from me without Amex's authority. This week, he phoned Amex to fax over the official Amex documentation to Paypal this week plus he's mailing a copy of the Amex documentation to me.

My visa bill is due this Friday, Jan.14.

I don't think I will be using Paypal for selling on ebay or for buying stuff from small retail internet stores (guys I don't know about). Bidpay is no longer an option. Paypal is king on ebay, but Paypal customer service is really lacking (40 minute phone waiting, vague automated emails in response to my email questions).

Time will tell.

Anyways,

I did contact Visa and Visa said 10 days just to start the credit card reversal process going. I could be looking at least a month before this is resolved. On Steve Sherman's website is a 4-6 week date for preparation, shippment and receival of goods. I think if I waited as long as Steve Sherman would like me to, then that would be over 60 days from Oct. 23/05 and I would not be able to get my money back through Visa.

I don't understand why all this hassle or lack of communication from Steve Sherman. He could have posted on his website or emailed me on a more regular basis that shipping would be delayed because of Halloween orders or that he could not take any more orders because of having too many orders at once. I requested pictures 3x for proof that he's working on the blasters, but I haven't seen any pictures just emails to ask me to be patient. 8 + weeks and counting.

I'll see how Visa handles things with Paypal and Steve Sherman before I hunt down Steve Sherman on a more personal level. I did leave a phone message for Steve Sherman on his answering machine and sent him an email. He did respond, but not what I was hoping.

Here's the latest emails:

From: steve sherman

To: Patrick Fontaine

Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 11:13 AM

Subject: Re: Ordererd custom stormtrooper and han solo blaster OCT.23/05 --- DELAY in shipping?

Hi Patrick,

Well, you are right on a couple of things. First, yes, the Christmas rush has put me way behind! Actually, the Halloween rush did it and I am still trying to catch up from that. However, no need to contact the CC co or paypal as I will have your Stormtrooper blaster ready by weeks end at the latest, with the solo blaster to closely follow.

Hope this clears things up and is acceptable to you and again, sorry for the delay.

Thanks,

Steve

Hello Steve:

I have already contacted my Visa card for reversing the charges because I figured I might already be too late to get my money back. Contacting Paypal was not possible because chargebacks could not be processed after 45 days of submission of payment. The Visa reference # is **********. I talked to Visa and they said that I can cancel my reversal after I confirm that the blasters are received. The problem for me was that I had to go through 2 fraud claims from my buyers on ebay as an ebay seller (boinger5) for the last month and I could not tell if you were sincerely behind schedule or something else. It has been 8 weeks and 2 weeks past the date of Dec.9/05 when I last heard from you.

I'm sorry about using this credit card reversal as a last option, but I thought it was warranted. It makes me feel like a jerk. I will make sure that if I get refunded before I receive the toys and the toys are just fine then I will get the cash back to you by paypal the same day I get the blasters. Otherwise, I do intend to cancel the Visa reversal upon receipt of the toys.

As well, after this transaction is done, I would like to make it up to you by buying one display case for each hasbro blaster (stormtrooper and han solo). Though I would understand if you thought I was a problem customer.

All I can say is that I will do what I said in this email and that if you are doing and saying what you mean, then we will get this cleared up.

I hope this hasn't put too much of a damper on your Christmas Holidays.

Best wishes for you and your family this Holiday season,

Patrick

P.S.

Paypal will most likely put a negative amount in your paypal account as a credit card chargeback until this Visa credit card reversal has been processed to cover Paypal's potential loss. When I contact Visa again to reverse the paypal credit card chargeback , Paypal will charge a fee for the chargeback reversal (about $10-15). I will pay your chargeback reversal fee when I purchase the 2 display cases from you, so you would not take a loss. I hope that's fair.

This is what I did just now.

Paypal will not let me file a chargeback because I am over the 45 day limit. I wonder if Steve Sherman did not already know that.

I left a phone message on his answering machine about his lack of response to my emails and deadline for Wednesday, when I contact my credit card company to get my money back. The answering machine message does not have personalized business description, just the standard name, phone, message reply that is usually included on the answering machine.

I sent Steve Sherman another email stating:

I just phoned your business phone number 1-641-684-6587 about the modified blasters.  I left a message, but I sometimes have trouble stating all the details to an answering machine.

My last email to you was on Dec.12/05, but you have not responded.  I have attempted to submit a temporary buyer complaint process form through paypal to remind you that I was still waiting for the blasters, but paypal rescinded the claim.  I expected that the toys were to be shipped on Dec.9, as you had stated, or at least a very good explanation with an actual shipment date and tracking number (and pictures would have been nice, too).

Since, I cannot tell whether I will ever see these toys.  You can refund my money $275.00 US to my paypal account - boinger5@shaw.ca

Otherwise on Wednesday,  I will be contacting my Visa credit card company to attempt to get my money back from paypal and then from you.

Maybe, it's the Christmas rush of making and shipping out custom blasters or my emails got lost in transition to you. 

I hope to get an email from you to clear this up before Wednesday. 

I hope I'm being reasonable.

I'm afraid that my love for toys has blinded me to the possibility that there are scam artists out there.

__________________________________---

Steve Sherman's website looked really good to me! I thought the modified toys, which looked great from the pictures, were a much better idea than having a hassle with Canadian customs and importing gun replicas.

But, now there's tonnes of master replica stuff over here in Canada in Best Buy and Futureshop and Toys r us. So, now I can buy blasters and lightsabers here without customs fees or shipping time!

**********************************

UPDATE:

I only have 60 days for the credit card option. I just phoned Visa to get the process going. Either I get my toys or my money back!

___

I bought master replicas lightsaber e.g. Mace Windu, but I don't own a sword, I bought star wars toy guns, but I have never shot a real gun, and I buy yamato macross valkyries and yet I have never flown a real jet fighter. I live in a toy world.

Hello:

I was just wondering if anybody has bought stuff from these guys before. I'm not sure what to expect?

Here's my story:

On Oct. 23/05I submitted a paypal payment for a modified Hasbro stormtrooper and Han Solo blaster to SJS Models and Props.

Nov. 5/05, I had to send Steve Sherman an email to ask him how long the customization process takes. Nov.6/05 - he said "Hi Patrick,

Sorry my friend. Received it in good order. Much appreciated and Thanks!

Steve - SJS Models and Props", without answering my questions.

After the 2nd email sent on Nov.12 (responded on 14), he actually told me 4-6 weeks.

Dec.5/05, I sent him another email saying that we're on the 5-6 week mark and I would really like to know what to expect or else I might need to get my money back for other expenses. Steve Sherman promptly responded Dec.6/05 that he would try to ship out on Dec.9/05.

On Dec.12/05, since I did not receive any infomation on whether he had send the blasters or what, I sent him an email that if he could send me some pictures when the blaster are ready, then I would be happy to purchase the display cases for the blasters as well. So, now I"m still waiting for a response to my last email sent on Dec.12/05 and it's Dec 19/05!

Does Paypal have a time limit to credit card chargebacks? Would I just contact my Visa credit card to get my money back from paypal and then paypal would get their money from Steve Sherman.

Steve Sherman's contact information for his business is :

915 Russell St.

Ottumwa, IA 52501

Phone: 641-684-6587

info@sjsmodelsandprops.com

Would anybody in Indiana want to make a local phone call and hear if Patrick Fontaine's Star Wars blasters are ready to ship?

Hi Rob:

Paypal payment sent. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

Patrick

When the 4 dvds were on super nova, I was able to download 1 and 3?, but 2 and 4 hung up at 99% each. Anybody else have a torrent of these orguss dvds?

Hello:

Sent pm for 2 1/60 CF if still availablel.

Happy Holidays!

Patrick

Hello:

I had to shut down iMacross4 server because Shaw cable and every other ISP within Winnipeg decided that daily bandwidth restrictions were a good way to cut people back from file sharing.

Due to Canada's confidentiality act, ISP s could be sued by the Movie and Sound Recording companies for providing potential excess bandwidth that supposedly would be used for file sharing. I would say that worked for them.

Maybe next year, when VOIP phones are more prevalent and downloadable rental movies are readliy available, we could see the bandwidth restrictions lifted. Otherwise, I need an extra $50 month if I want to double my bandwidth, which would make my bandwidth half of what it was in 2004!

boinger

Last day for gundam models on ebay!

I'm going to try to put up some of my pocket books this week (40-50). Then list up some of my comics (100+) or maybe some older computer software. Busy, busy.

**************

Dec.14/05

I reposted the books and toys under the "For sale" section.

Gundam stuff is left over on ebay, so I'll put that in the "for sale" section as well.

Saved some cash for buying a gigabyte motherboard.

Thank you!

Where can we find more coupons for saving money on toy purchases?

*******************

oh, yeah. Just reread the first message www.bensbargains.net

thanks again!

Last day for my younger brother's guitar books.

I relisted unsold gundam models and lost souls 2 figures.

2 lost in space bubble fighters, lots of gashapon mini macross figures, my brother's 49e m-audio keyboard and a couple of dvd s.

For the next 3 days, I'll work on listing up some pocket books (45 or so). I think amazon might be a better website for selling books. Then I could try to sell some of my comic books.

Thanks for looking!

Patrick

Hello:

One of my friends asked me to list up most of his fantasy fiction pocketbook library - over 80 books! The more books bought, the less postage per book.

Then there's his medieval statues and toys - spawn black knight, warcraft orc and star trek playmates ships - warbird and klingon cruiser.

I also relisted my younger brother's guitar tab books that were not sold last time and he's also asking me to list up his m-audio (49E - correction) midi keyboard.

Then in the next 2 days, I will list up my remaining gundam models, some pocketbooks, and a couple of dvd sets - wickerman, spiderman. Maybe my comic book collection too depending how badly I need the cash for next year.

Click on this link to see my ebay listings so far.

Thanks for looking!

Patrick

Hello :

I posted up my younger brother's spare guitar tablature books. The guitar book auctions would be finishing up in the next 2 days. Then I relisted my gundam models and star wars toys. I also will be posting a huge lot of fantasy pocket books for a friend, as well as a couple of his star trek playmates space ships (romulan warbird, klingon battlecruiser) and some other fantasy knicknacks.

Click here to go look.

Thanks!

Patrick

All the lightsabers were sold.

Posted the rest of the gundam stuff and the mcfarlane lost souls 2 series.

Now, I am just getting the last set of auctions packed and sending out invoices.

Probably take me to Monday before I post up the rest of my toys and comics.

Click on the link on the first post for latest auction postings.