I am searching through ebay.com, always do.
It's a given that I have been blocked by Mad.
Even if I click on the e-bay link on his site, it comes up blank for e-bay listings.

I haven't been blocked and I still can't see them. Ebay uses your IP adresse to block you from some USA only sellers.
It sucks because there are tons of reputable US vendors on ebay canadians can't see. I find this alot when I have wanted ads on pinside for parts and people say its on ebay but I can never find it because I'm searching from Canada.

Anyway all these bumps are good so people can be warned.

copy that, I didn't really want to buy any parts from him anyway - just checking availability, his price, and yes
just thought I would check up on him some more.

It does the same thing in Australia. He must have blocked all sales outside the US.

I would assume so because if he pulled that shit(theft) through EBay/Paypal they would have his ass.

The "hey, I got my stuff, no problem" guys will always order from him as long as it's not them getting ripped off.

maybe we're gettin' to that bastard . . .

Use a VPN if you wish to get around the IP blocking of eBay and others. It doesn't work in every instance but certainly does in most.

It will appear to eBay that you are in the USA wen you look up the site.

One downside is that it will usually slow down your surfing a little depending on a heap of factors.

Why would you want to fool the IP address to see things for sale from someone who is known to rip off people outside the US? I realize this was probably just a general response but please remember the point of the thread.

You are correct in that my response is general in nature. Using a VPN would allow some to see a website in another country that might be blocking their usual access - this could be for repair/service information or anything else NOT specifically for this particular eBay information on this seller.

I've utilized the VPN / IP go around for other purposes, but not for anything related to this ( MAD ) dirt bag . . .

Could be that eBay has gotten enough complaints from international buyers that they are requiring him to list as US only.

(That way they can still make money from him, rather than kicking him off completely.)

I just stumbled onto a set of taxi plastics on eBay. My first thought was that the price is double what most plastic sets cost (at $275 USD). My second thought was it was weird to see any for sale because there's been nothing for at least the last year. Then I wondered if it was a scammer, and searched for the seller name. That brought me here.

Fwiw, I'm in Canada and can see the listing.

Hooray! CPR has them back in stock! Bought a set yesterday. Suck it, MAD!!!

Or happy!

Added comma to clarify.

He lists a normally obsolete spectrum plastic set as available ( for an absolute rediciolus price ) .
I can see his items, but cannot order ( and i would not , of course ).

Bump

I struck out with the AG, but have a civil attorney in NJ that is interested in taking this on. Please PM me for details.

hello friends!

here you can add your comments to Mike activities, which could help other people by finding info on google:

https://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-reviews/games-and-supplies/mad-amusements-in-brick-nj-90180355/reviews-and-complaints/?review=true

Just bumping this up!!! I have purchased a few times through MAD on Ebay and each time it was an excellent transaction. I went to buy from him this morning and found that he blocked me. I guess I must have hurt his wittle feelwings with the feedback that I left for him on the last transaction. All that I did was say that the transaction went well, and I mentioned a small flaw in the product so that the next buyers of said product should know about it. I also noticed that the feedback I left is PRIVATE so that no one else can see it. Oh well, I'll just go ahead and buy what I need from him through my other Ebay accounts lol.

Supporting this guy is the problem. I just don't get people that keep his business afloat. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Having followed this thread, you are still sending this SOB money?

Yeah I am ashamed in a way, but when you need it, you need it. It's the last time though.

Yes, this is the second and final time though.

So really, the only reason you're ceasing to support him is because he blocked you?

Cant believe anyone shops there, If you google mad amusements you get his website and every other listing is about him scamming.

I love how proud some people are to be so pathetic, selfish, and of low integrity. I guess it makes sense that they'd want to do business with somebody who is the same way.

I shopped their ebay store on accident, price was $100 less than marco and free shipping. Realized later when the paypal statement said mad amusements.

I want to commit suicide every time I see where someone buys from him or praises him for having something at a good price.

After YEARS of all these negative posts, it takes a lot of gall to come on here and openly admit to buying from him. Just how much does it take to convince people? Perhaps if he MURDERS someone, then maybe that will get their attention . . .

I made the mistake of buying a part for my IJ from him via eBay. While I did get what I ordered it was not "new" as described and when I mentioned it to him he blocked me as well.

In the other thread on this company. Seems he is committing fraud, UPS Store should be alerted. When does the FBI or local police, get involved with this. Theft, Fraud, Using a public service to commit fraud, etc.?

Why the hell would you come on here and bump this thread knowing what you know? That is beyond low. These folks have lost hundreds to thousands of dollars out of pocket and you think it's fun to come on here and let them know the service was great? WTH is wrong with you?

You are just as bad as he is.

I was also blocked by these guys on ebay after I posted neutral feedback from a purchase. Ordered a set of "mirror finish" pinballs from 'pinballparts' and they were not as described. You could see buff marks on the surface of the pinballs. Looked like used pinballs they tried to clean up and sell as new.

Mike was on YouTube last year bragging that he was told he had cashed in more separate $1000 + winners than anyone in NJ lottery history. Only a degenerate gambler could hold that title. I suspect that is part of why NJ authorities don't care what Mike has done. NJ Ends up with the money.

Mike no longer posts at YouTube after scamming his subscribers. He has certainly victimized more than just his overseas pinball victims. What is posted here is just the tip of the iceberg. Mike is a true degenerate gambler thieving to fund his addiction.

How would you describe a "non-degenerate" gambler?

This payment order was posted a couple of months ago from an oversees creditor. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems we now have a way to trace his activities with the name and address of his bank?

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/mad-amusements-customers-could-you-help-us#post-3679789

Sure. But no one has stopped him yet. Been going on for years. Maybe you can stop him. The law doesn't seem to care.

I believe he lives with his mother -

(address removed by Mod team)

I have left a few messages, but have never received a call back.

Next to impossible to get the authorities involved. I had a civil attorney that was interested, but not enough folks came forward for them to do anything about it.

someone who buys a few tickets every now and then for fun. someone who gaoes to the casino with $50 or $100, loses it but has a good time then quits.

Not someone who has dreamed up at least 5 different ways of stealing money from people to fund his gambling addiction. Not someone who has bought so many tickets that he has won at least 5 different top prize jackpots in the last few years.

There is a massive difference.

Uh oh, see post #6 in this thread:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/resto-fireball-ii-mof-20170611

Added over 7 years ago: He didn't realize pinballparts on Ebay was Mad Amusements

I just perused the entire thread....Any update on this crook? Any update on the OP's progress (Or lack thereof?)

I will never purchase anything from this degenerate gambler!!

Well..... Without having read these threads about MAD or having bought anything from him before, I stumbled across his offering yesterday for a Dr Who mini-playfield repro that I was looking for.....he was offering it with free shipping on Ebay for 99 bucks, or 89+ shipping via the MAD website. A great deal.... After shipping, still about 25 bucks less than anywhere else I could find it (Marco, PPS, SF). If eBay was to be believed, it was his last one. So I asked him a quick question via eBay about it to inquire if it was a licensed repro.......

The response? Yes, it was licensed. And within a couple minutes of that, he increased the price, both on eBay and on his website by $20. When I inquired about that happening, he told me "Prices are subject to change at any time just like gas prices".

Yeah.... Like gas prices.....during a gas shortage.

So I just ponied up the extra dough and bought it elsewhere. Unbelievably crappy way to treat a potential customer. No potential now.....

That extra $20 was his next 100k winning scratch-off ticket!!!

Good job sticking with our boycott.

You know . . . in a situation like what you described, it makes it difficult to avoid buying from Mad, no matter how much you may despise him, when he might have the ONLY part you want available. Especially, if it is at a much lower price than anywhere else. I despise this guy and have always said I would NEVER buy anything from him. But, I've been in a similar situation as you and it was SO tempting to violate my own ethics just to get my part. So far, I've done the same as you. Ended up buying it elsewhere and glad I did. If I had bought something from Mad, I would have felt very guilty just coming on Pinside again, much less commenting on a thread such as this!!! I just wish he would sell everything he has to some other vendor and shut that place down. That way, none of us is torn apart trying to make a decision whether to violate our principles and order from him.

Your story had a somewhat happy ending. I hope everyone on Pinside continues to cease buying from him.

I doubt any other vendor in their right mind would by Mad's inventory. If you read a good many post over the years Mike has a bad habit of not paying his suppliers either so if someone were to buy him out they might actually be buying stolen property. I think over time it is more than likely you will just see Mad slowly fad away.

It is kind of sad because for a good many years he had decent prices and his reputation wasn't all that bad but over the years things just keep getting worse with the BS he is pulling on people. People with addictions tend to hurt others to fund their addictions and Mike is a perfect example of that.