I realized that I never updated this post with my result.
I pestered him for a few months with E-mails and when the claim period (6 months) on the Credit Card I used to pay was almost up I filed a dispute with my credit card. I would have liked to wait longer, but with all the negative reports, I didn't feel I could take that risk.
A day or two after I filed the claim (very conveniently, I might add) Mac emailed me saying the light was ready and that he would be shipping it. I didn't say anything about having filed a dispute because I knew that I could cancel it if I received the light, but that If I went ahead and canceled the dispute and he didn't end up sending the light, I would be SOL.
I didn't hear anything for 3 or 4 days and so I emailed mac back asking for an update. He replied saying that when he went to get my shipping address he saw the dispute I filed in his paypal and that because they put a hold on his account for the amount of my payment, he decided not to send the light. I asked him why he didn't notify me of this instead of making him track him down and he replied that he was "out of town".
Still wanting the light, I explained that I had filed the dispute in order to protect myself, but that I promised to cancel the dispute upon receiving the light. Mac informed me that because he no longer had the funds for the light that he would not be sending it to me.
Based upon the timing of the "completion" of my light, I believe that Mac was just hoping to get me to cancel my dispute and had no actual intention of shipping the light.
Overall, I am disappointed because I waited for 6 months in hopes of receiving a light but never got one. I know that it could have been worse, though and that I am fortunate that I actually got my money back.
I had a similar experience, except timing and luck was on my side. I had emailed Mac religiously every week since I had placed my order. My emails were never threatening and the tone was always pleasant.
I had installed a mail tracker app on my Iphone that lets me know when and how long a person looks at my email, so I knew he was at least looking at my them. He had made promises to deliver my light and those dates came and gone, turned into weeks, then months. Finally I decided to file a complaint with PP. It was way pass the time frame but I figured I'd give it a shot. A week or so passes and still no word from Mac so I filed another complaint with the Internet fraud dept. That complaint generated an automated email stating that they had received my case and that it was in the system.
I sent a copy of my complaint to Mac and this time I told him that my next complaint would be to the local authorities. (not sure if it would have done any good, but I had nothing to lose at this point). A few more days go by and I decide to file a complaint with my bank. The complaint I filed with PP did nothing. A day or two later Mac replies stating that my light is in the mail and that he was sorry for everything. A tracking number was provided and a few short days later (felt like forever) my light arrived.
The very next day the complaint with my bank must have kicked in because Mac emails me saying " you get your light and you file a complaint with your bank to get your money back?"
I had explained to him that I had actually canceled all my complaints and sent him the confirmation emails to prove it.
That was the last I heard from him.
The whole thing is just terrible. I, like many of you, stalked CPF seeing if anyone received their light, or heard anything from him. He has a real talent, but is a terrible business man. I feel for those still waiting and I hope that there is some good that comes from all of this.
