Hello.
My husband and I are planning our first trip to Trinidad for Carnival this year. I have been following your blog for close to a year since we decided to play mas. The majority of our friends have enjoyed many Carnival experiences and have already secured their costumes with Tribe.
This week I felt so excited to have secured a Mayan Eagle costume through an ad I responded to from fineahban.com even though the Trinidadian seller was asking for $800 US. This was the one costume that completed the crew. I wired this person the money she requested and it arrived in Trinidad in less than 10 minutes. The following morning she gave me some story about her trip to Tobago with her family getting cancelled and her needing to keep the costume for herself. She then messaged a mutual friend of ours the same day of her plan to re-post the ad to sell the costume. Where is the protection of buyers from these type of sellers on these websites? I have written proof from her emails that she was selling me the costume and she had even called me to confirm that it was mine. The sale transaction was complete, the money was awaiting her for pick-up. Luckily I got wind of her story/ fabrication before she had a chance to tell me herself and was able to have the money wire reversed.
I understand that people want to make a profit from selling their costume, however, I can't justify how one can make a firm sale and then renege on the deal so that they could re-post the item in anticipation of making even more money. Does Tribe and / or fineahban.com have any control over this type of fraudulent activity? I have also contacted fineahban.com re. this matter. I have been advised by Western Union to contact the local police to make a report, but I am undecided if I will pursue that avenue. On one hand I want other buyers to cautious and learn from my experience and on the other hand, I don't want to make a huge deal over a Carnival costume. I believe Karma is a bi*#ch and will soon catch up to these wrongdoers. I have not yet landed on Trinidadian soil (my father's native island), but already I have been left with a bad taste in my mouth.
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15 comments:
If you still want a Mayan Eagle costume, ask Saucy for my email address!
The madness has begun....
someone defrauded her US$800 and she does not want to make a big deal over a costume? sigh...
i meant ALMOST defrauded
I have to agree with quicksilver. If you don't want to take authoritative action (by filing a Police Report), then I suspect the prospect of being swindled out of $800US isn't that big of a deal to you. Don't just talk about it, BE about it too nah. You might be saving another poor soul heartache.
By the way, if you have the girl's official name, chances are that you can contact TRIBE, and in turn they can track down the masquerader and revoke her TLC privileges. TRIBE has NO issues with refunding masqueraders their downpayment, especially deceitful ones!
Fineaban and CarnivalJunction, how many stories like this are going to be heard of before you guys implement some hardlined policies and regulations? Steups.
Point of finality to all parties involved: "With great power, comes..."
Right!
I agree....talk to the police...but then again...what they going to do? Meh
Another reason why it is not worth the drama to get a tribe costume...if u couldnt get in at registration...MOVE ON...there are other all inclusive bands to play in...and you just might have more space to palance too.
I think the govt needs to step in here...maybe all costume sales via 3rd parties should be done in person with costume at said mas camp...make it a law or sumting. :/
Since Tribe has put an end to costume transfers I think something else must be done to ensure fraud is no more. For example, once a costume is sold the person who purchased the costume emails Tribe the receipt of their payment for the costume. That way Tribe knows that the costume was sold and no one else can pick up the costume...not even the person who originally purchased the costume. Now if the person decides to sell the costume again to someone esle they can but it's up to everyone to email Tribe to make sure the costume has not already been sold to someone else. Tribe has no problem giving up that information to insure that their costumers are not being cheated out of their money. I know because I have emailed them before to make sure that the person who was selling me the costume actually had a costume registered with them. Tribe also told me how much the person paid to make sure I wasn't getting ripped off.
Anyway, this is all a suggestion to Tribe or any band for that matter. I hope they are reading.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Tribe stop the costume transfers so that they can implement their own system of resale. Don't they have a waiting list of people waiting for costumes as well? I understand that people are upset about losing their deposit when they find out that they can't play mas, but that's the risk you take when you put down a deposit in the first place. And if you chose to go outside Tribe's (or any band for that matter) established system of resale for a costume, aren't you taking the risk that fraud, etc. might happen?
I def feel sympathy for this masquerader and her story, that's a terrible thing to have happen. But aren't we losing sight of the bigger picture, that Tribe in their own way is already trying to protect you by making you go through their established/ protective channels?
HQ you posted exactly what I was thinking ;)
I had no idea Tribe had a waiting list. o_0
I had no idea of this waiting list either, but all I can advise is-caveat emptor. A foreign buyer should be especially cautious. The artificial demand for Tribe especially leaves people willing to give up common sense in some cases.
Saucy, I need you to clarify TRIBE's new no-resale system for me. I have a friend who wants to buy a TRIBE costume. Seeing this post I forgot that old way of doing things has changed. Please explain it to me so that I can pass on that info to her before she gets duped.
I already told her to look out for inflated prices and other tricks people play. But since things have changed I want to get the correct info to pass on. Thanks.
Maybe inquiring with TRIBE would be best, no? So as to let them explain their own policy? Everyone else's explanation is simply an interpretation of the new process.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TRIBE-Carnival/109546712420346
info@carnivaltribe.com
62-TRIBE
Thanks for the contact info. I totally didn't think of their fb page. I emailed them today but I figured why not ask the Sauce too. Thanks again.
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