Procopy Perth | Melbourne

Ugoole MP4 Player scam
(aka e-britain & lowest_total_price)

Ugoole is an eBay vendor selling MP4 players that seem to be amazing value for money. They claim to have storage capacity of 2GB and 4GB, and claim to play AMV video movies as well as MP3 audio files.

Here is the reality:

Many players are infected with a worm virus. All players contain pirated music tracks.
While the player seems to work when files are loaded up to around 25% of the claimed capacity, if any changes are made to these files (deletions or additions) the complete drive corrupts with files that previously worked flagged with the message 'format error'.
If an attempt is made to load files beyond 25% of the claimed capacity, the complete drive corrupts.
Windows reports the claimed capacity, but this does not prove that this is the actual capacity since the data is derived from the player's firmware/chipset. Go to this link to check the actual capacity of your drive (for the technically savvy). My so-called 4GB drive is actually less than 1GB. To reverse the firmware hack, try this link.
Ugoole has standard replies for these problems, which are reported by hundreds of buyers:

#1 "reformat the drive". The instructions that come with the player state that only FAT format is acceptable (not FAT32). FAT is not presented as an option (probably due to the hacked chip), so this is a smokescreen. If pressed, Ugoole tell you that FAT32 is "okay". Reformating the drive clears the corrupt files for sure (it wipes all data from the drive), but when the files are reloaded they corrupt again.
#2 "credit of $5 per unit". This is the next attempt to avoid bad feedback.
#3 "if you have tried everything, send it back for a refund". This requires the buyer to trust the company to refund the purchase price and ugoole refuses to refund the return postage.

There are many stories of MP4 players that are not as advertised (search Google for examples). ~~Ugoole has 113 ratings "mutually withdrawn" - and most of these are since November 2006. Add to this 97 negative ratings in the past month, and you will see the scale of the problem.~~ Update: Ugoole seems to have stopped trading under that name - see below for other suspected guises.
Many of the positive ratings have been left shortly after the player has been received. Many will not have experienced the problems described here. When they do, they will be given the standard replies.

Ugoole's MP4 players are not as advertised. It is doubtful that they have the claimed storage capacity. It is impossible to load files beyong 25% of the claimed capacity. When any alterations are made to the files (additions, deletions) the complete drive corrupts.

This journal does not yet contain any entries.

Other reports of uGoole Scams:

Fake Sandisk cards

Google reports

Negative feedback themes

More evidence of fraud

Report the scam (Australia)

e-britain - another scammer (or the same one in another guise?)

The 'blacklist' of other suspected scammers

lowest_total_price - looks like the same scam

Been scammed? Leave feedback with a link to this page OR if you've already left positive feedback and you've just discovered the truth, leave followup feedback on ebay with a link to this page.

Finally, an attempt to shut me up (rejected):

My email correspondence with ugoogle: (read from the bottom upwards)

From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 08:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: CXB/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

You have a nerve, talking to me about integrity. If you had an soul, you'd stop the scam. You know exactly what you're doing by getting the memory hacked. Have you any idea how much time I've spent (and every other buyer will have spent) trying to figure out 'the problem' of drive corruption? In my case EIGHT HOURS. And it's a problem that can only be fixed by reversing the hack. Of course, if you had a faulty batch of players - if you'd been scammed by a supplier - then that would be an excuse. But you continue to sell them - even as I write this note.

This Christmas there will be hundreds, perhaps thousands of kids and parents facing this problem. You should be ashamed.

I am determined to ensure that you don't profit from this - from me at least.

I will withdraw the feedback, since it was the only way that you would refund my money. But I will file a complaint with ebay and paypal and I hope to get you closed down. You are a disgrace.

I will only return these players by insured trackable parcel, since I am not going to allow you to deny receipt of the returns and damage my reputation. For China, this is AU$47.50 (up to 500grams), including insurance for $100 value.

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From: "Store724 (XB)" <[email protected]>
To: "'Mike Edwards'"
Subject: cxb cp full refund Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 17:40:28 +0800

hi
ok
hope you are a man who keep your words.
the money has been refunded to you.
Please agree to my request to withdraw the feedback.
If you can not find the request, you can login this link:
https://signin.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?SignIn&UsingSSL=1&pUserId=&co_partnerId=2&siteid=0&ru=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedback.ebay.com%3A80%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMFWRequest%26MFWRequest%3D&pageType=1910
And fill in the item number.

if you would like to send back the items to us , please tell us how much will the postage cost, we will send you the postage

______________________________________________________________________________
Please reply this mail directly, contain this original mail and do not change the subject. Otherwise your mail may not be handled in time. Thanks #CXB#

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From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 10:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: CXB/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

Hello Denny (or whatever your real name is),

100% refund by close of business today gets my feedback withdrawn.

Your choice, since I'm confident that paypal will freeze your account.

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From: "Store724 (XU)" <[email protected]>
To: "'Mike Edwards'"
Subject: CXB/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:42:50 +0800

please send it back, and we will give you a refund
thank you

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:18 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

See the attached images. I have at last proven that it is not just a case of the players being faulty, the memory and firmware have been hacked to scam buyers. Well done! I hope you sleep well at night knowing that thousands of kids will be getting dud players this Christmas.

[image of drive hack - before and after]

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From: "Store724 (XU)" <[email protected]>
To: "'Mike Edwards'"
Subject: RE: XU/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:37:02 +0800

could you send it back?
thank you

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

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From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 9:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

Since you insist on returns being 'untrackable', I doubt that you would ever confirm receipt of the articles. I figure that - under your proposal - you credit me AU$95 and I post you (at my expense) the 2 players that you can resell for $190. In other words, you get my $190 and I get $95 minus postage costs of $25 = $70. Do I seem to you to be that stupid?

Probably better for Paypal to hold the whole amount in escrow pending this matter being resolved.

how about a half?
we refund you a half first, then refund the another when we receive your ite
do you agree?
thank you

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
From: Ugoole
______________________________________________________________________________
Please reply this mail directly, contain this original mail and do not change the subject. Otherwise your mail may not be handled in time. Thanks #XU#

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From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU/cp: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

This gets escalated to Paypal, ebay, the British, Australian and US Customs, BPI, APRA et al unless you confirm 100% refund. When that is in my paypal account I will return the goods. This is your FINAL chance.

hi, we can solve the problem in a peacefil way.
we can refund you 20AUD for shipping cost that you can send your item back to us.
then please withdrawn the negative feedback,
we will give you a full refund as soon as we get your item
do you agree this way?
thank you

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 9:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU*: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

I have left you appropriate feedback. I hope that this stops the scam. All correspondence will be sent to ebay and paypal. I will ensure that I get a 100% refund. You should be ashamed of your appalling behaviour.

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From: "Store724 (XU)" <[email protected]>
To: "'Mike Edwards'"
Subject: RE: XU*: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 13:48:46 +0800

hi, if you do not send your item to us
we can give you a partial refund of 8USD.
thank you

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 10:14 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU*: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

I don't trust you. You are a vendor for goods that are inherently faulty and not as described, and you continue to sell them to unwitting customers. STOP SELLING THEM.

I require a 100% refund for both units by close of business today (Friday) or I will commence action against you. If you require the units back, you will need to also credit me AU$25 for postage. We have laws in Australia to prevent these types of scams. You should be ashamed.

Sincerely,

Michael Edwards

please send your item back to us
then we will give you a refund
thank you

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mike Edwards [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 1:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: XU*: Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #160048702315

You are aware that every player you supply corrupts when additional files are loaded. This is an inherent problem with the firmware. I intend to get to the bottom of this, since innocent people are paying for players that work with limited data loads, but fail when large amounts of data are loaded. You must be constantly advising disgruntled customers to 'reformat' (IE wipe all data) and try to load data again.

I have 2 players and one was okay until I added files. You rely on this for positive feedback. I wonder what I will learn when I contact all buyers? My guess is that 80% will report corrupt data.

Now if I'm wrong and I just happen to have two players with faulty firmware and/or flash drives, then I apologise. However, 3 of your customers I have already contacted tell me they have the same problem. How do you explain this? And what do you intend to do to compensate me? $200 is neither here nor there for me. I will get satisfaction.

CD DVD replication, duplication, BluRay,USB Copying

Procopy Hot Band of the Day

Ugoole MP4 Player scam
(aka e-britain & lowest_total_price)

CD DVD replication, duplication, BluRay,USB Copying

Procopy Hot Band of the Day

Ugoole MP4 Player scam (aka e-britain & lowest_total_price)

Ugoole MP4 Player scam
(aka e-britain & lowest_total_price)