I need your input. Possibly stolen SH-7

[nibot]

OK, here's the deal.
About three years ago I got a deal on a pretty beat up SH-7 on ebay. I say deal, because I hadn't ever seen one go for about $650, or even 3 total on ebay. When it finally arrived, I knew that I had to find someone to repair it, because it was pretty much toast. I ended up asking around from a (then) rather limited list of sources from the VSE and other synth websites. Just about everyone turned me down when it came time to mentioning what I wanted repaired.

Then, I came across someone on ebay who was selling a midi-modified korg trident, which had also been restored. Within a few emails, I established that the seller was somewhat competent at repairing old analog synthesizers, even vintage rolands seemingly. About a few emails later, I get his supposed name, address, and approval to send my SH-7 to him for an overhaul. After it arrived, I received only a few more brief emails in the following weeks, assuring me that it was on the repair table, and that he was just getting to it. I emailed him once more, to check up on the progress, and I find that his email has been shut down. I check his website from which the email is sent from, and the domain name is up for sale. I search for his name elsewhere online, but find nothing. I basically have no way to contact this person. I consider talking to some sort of authority or lawyer, but hesitate as it seems that it would only end up costing me money I don't have, to get a broken synthesizer back from the other side of the continent. I write the whole episode off as a painful lesson in internet and long-distance business.

Fast forward to today. I was looking through some old stuff, and found the guy's name and address on a paper. Reminded of the loss of one of my favorite synths, I start typing in stuff on google to see what comes up. His name pops up at a small recording studio nearby the location of where I sent the SH-7. Upon checking out the link to the website, it seems that it is only him who runs the whole operation. Looking at the pictures, I note other analog synths and gear around the recording rooms, but the SH-7 isn't present. On the page, I find a telephone number for the studio.
What should I do?

[Alex Hamilton]

Well, considering that you gave it to him three years ago, I would say it was DEFINITELY stolen. I'd contact the police and give them everything that you know. You know the address that you sent it to, was somewhere that he could be reached. The police will be able to track down who was actually living there at the time you sent it, and then follow this person to wherever he is now. You should also tell them about the studio and that it has his name there. It's perfectly possible that he's moved the synth on from there and it will be untraceable, but you may get compensation - not to mention another turd in jail.

Don't just let these people get away with this sort of thing, it encourages others. Track him down and get him punished.

Best of luck!

[wiss]

Do you have photo's of it with the serial number, do you have a written contract or estimate, do you have his original emails, did ever file a report with the police in his area or yours.

You have to be able to prove it's yours.

[minime123]

maybe he lost your contact info as well. why not just contact him and let him know you want the sh7 back?

[nibot]

Thanks for the responses. It's always nice to know that there is a strong supporting community out there for folks who collect 30 year old electronics

Do you have photo's of it with the serial number, do you have a written contract or estimate, do you have his original emails, did ever file a report with the police in his area or yours...

I do have a few photographs backed up somewhere on my HD. Haven't found them yet, but I'm looking. Doubt that I got a shot of the serial number, but there are so many cosmetic flaws on the thing, it'd be hard to not match the synth to the photos. No contract, no specific estimate, just a few reply emails from him. Didn't ever contact the police in his area or mine.

maybe he lost your contact info as well. why not just contact him and let him know you want the sh7 back?

I've considered this. Can anyone think of what I have to lose if I give him a call and he freaks out? I would like to take a pretty civil approach to this whole ordeal, with giving the dude the benefit of the doubt. Any ideas of what to ask? "Hey, do you have my SH-7" doesn't seem like it's going to cut it.

Just kind of an awkward situation to be in here.

[nibot]

OH, and! To make things worse, I just stumbled across his ebay account. He's currently selling one of my favorite synths on my wish list. When I saw the seller ID, I just got the worst feeling. Hope it's not stolen.

EDIT- Just found his email. Now it's a debate of if I should call vs. send him a message.

[Alex Hamilton]

Don't email, call him directly. Maybe tell him you're interested in buying an SH-7 and ask him if he has one and, if so, if you could see some photos. Might be worth setting up another email account and getting him to send you them there, rather than the original correspondance email, as he may still have the latter.

[wiss]

To be honest unless he hands it over to you, it's his now....it's just way too late

[nibot]

To be honest unless he hands it over to you, it's his now....it's just way too late

I kind of agree. I wondered what use it would be attempting to contact the authorities after nearly 3 years. I might try, but I'm not holding my breath. As for the guy, if he doesn't at least offer SOMETHING, I'll be happy to post his studio's website, name, and ebay account, just as a forewarning to the rest of the synth community here. I have a hunch that he's still a decent person, but that remains to be seen.

Don't email, call him directly. Maybe tell him you're interested in buying an SH-7 and ask him if he has one and, if so, if you could see some photos. Might be worth setting up another email account and getting him to send you them there, rather than the original correspondance email, as he may still have the latter.

Is the idea of this suggested ruse to have him unknowingly confess to owning an SH-7, that might have belonged to me? The whole thing would be pointless if I still couldn't do anything about it, even if I knew for sure that he still had the synth. I'm not sure what "legal steps" I can take if he somehow admits to having the SH-7 or selling/discarding it. Anyone have a similar experience or law advice they wanna chip in here?

[pricklyrobot]

Statutes, and statutes of limitations, are going to vary from state to state, and based on what the charge (criminal) or claim (civil) is. According to this site, civil claims for fraud (my best guess for what a false promise of repairs might constitute) in Oregon have to be brought within 2 years.

My advice, just contact the guy, by phone or e-mail, ask him straight up if he still has your synth, if he's done any work on it, and if he's willing to return it. Until you have answers to those questions, it's pointless to speculate on what further action you may or may not be able to take. Even if it's not too late, the law most likely requires you to make a good faith effort to get the item in question back, before bringing suit.

[bochelli]

i know how you feel someone from northern ireland a woman stole my polymoog, i hope to resolve in 09, in your case i see 2 ways to sort this, first a sh7 now has value remember that, set yourself up another addy and go under a new identity, make sure its him,1 a new addy 2 a new name and play it by ear like me, the synth world is too small to hide now trust me you will get the synth or money back, tape any phone calls, best of luck.

[pricklyrobot]

Make sure you know the law, in your state and whatever state this guy's in, before you start recording any telephone calls.

http://www.callcorder.com/phone-recordi ... %20(Table)

[wiss]

recorded phone calls don't hold up in court

[Alex Hamilton]

recorded phone calls don't hold up in court

Indeed - too easy to misrepresent etc. (we should know, as people who use software capable of doing so). I have to say though, that I don't understand why the OP didn't file a report or SOMETHING, at least to demonstrate at the time, that he owned this synth and that it disappeared after sending it to this guy - are there charges for reporting a crime to the police in the US, even if you don't necessarily want it pursued? It would at least be written on an official document, which would hold up in court. Otherwise, even if you do catch him, he can just say that he sent it back to you and as far as he was aware, you had received it - and if you didn't give him any money, he'll just say he never got the synth from you in the first place. Do emails hold up in court?

I have a hunch that he's still a decent person, but that remains to be seen.

In that case, call him and tell him who you are, and why you're calling him. If what you say is true, I see no reason why he wouldn't send it back to you. He'll probably want some way of you convincing him who you are.

[pricklyrobot]

recorded phone calls don't hold up in court

Actually, depending on the state, they do. Discounting third-party recording (i.e. wire-tapping) since that's not in question here, Federal law and the laws of 39 states allow one-party notification. Meaning that as long the recording was made by one of the people involved in the conversation, even if the the other conversant was not aware he was being recorded, it is admissible as evidence. Of course there is the issue of positively identifying people based on a recording, but it's not impossible.

That said, I wouldn't bother with it, mainly for the fact that it's unlikely to do you any good hear. If you want a record of your dealings with this character, correspond via e-mail (or better yet certified letter, if you have his physical address). It's much easier to authenticate.