We were contacted by a Representative from Trade Electronics Co named Karina, about a week after filling out a call-back form on their web site (www.tradeelectronics.com). Our initial orders were small - 5 or 20 items valued at no more that $30 each. We were sent those items in a timely fashion, and sent price lists for popular products such as the new XBOX 360 Elite, Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3. Most searches for the company produced what seem to be valid addresses, and a decent amount of online sites that offer their products. We assumed there were no reasons not to proceed with larger orders, plus I was able to see their branded products listed on eBay and other sites
We placed an order for 10 XBOX 360 Elites, and paid an additional $200+ for 2nd day air shipping. Due to an unrelated error by UPS, our cashier’s check was misplaced and we had to send a wire transfer for the amount. We had already started receiving orders and Bids from eBay and decided to order an additional 25 units to ensure we could fill all the orders. Within two days we received a tracking number from the company for what we thought were the first 10 XBOX’s we ordered – late but still in time to satisfy customers. The box that was delivered contained only headsets – made by Trade Electronics, not Microsoft. All attempts to locate our products have been met with elusive tactics by Karina, the only person we have been able to speak with regarding Trade Electronics company. That’s when I began to do in-depth research.
We have since found that Trade Electronics Co. is a fraudulent company, partaking in illegal activity by misrepresenting the nature of their business, the ownership and structure of the company, the company’s location, the products and services they can provide, and numerous other misgivings.
The only point of contact for the company, one Karina Knausederova, claims to be a sales associate, with no insight into the company’s finances when, in fact, she is listed as the President of the company in the only two Better Business Bureau listings for Trade Electronics. Several internet searches have turned up fraud reports with her name and the company’s name and address specifically, and each points out the same pattern of behavior I have witnessed.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/246/RipOff0246491.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/238/RipOff0238649.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/164/RipOff0164609.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/174/RipOff0174395.htm
Plus two BBB reports
http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&strBCode=06330000&ComID=0633000023005249
http://www.dallas.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=90035859
I have been told by Karina that a refund can be issued, but not through her “department.†She insists that she is only an employee of the company, when public records say otherwise. The phone number on the invoices that the payments were derived from has been disconnected. The only in-service number listed for the company turns out to be Karina’s personal cell phone [786-274-3846]. I have no reason to believe that any other principals exist for this company.
I am now under an umbrella of suspicion from eBay and PayPal. We have provided this information to our customers, and started issuing refunds, but I do receive threats daily from some, vowing to have us arrested. We have cooperated in full with eBay and PayPal but, as of now we will have to take out a loan to refund customers’ purchases.
As of the day I filed this report, I have contacted the FBI's IC3 division, the FTC, the BBB and the Miami-Dade Sherriff's Office. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. I am almost $10,000 in debt now and I can't get it back.
David
Warner Robins, Georgia
U.S.A.