Homebrew How do you deal with scammers?

[johnms86]

I was thinking of delving into the 3ds mod scene and I wanted to know how you guys deal with customers that don't pay for the service you provide them (modding, shell swapping, downgrading, etc.)

 

[8BitWonder]

I don't do any sort of modding myself, but I would assume you collect payment prior to working on it. Although people will need to see a good reputation from you before they start entrusting both a 3ds+money at once to a stranger.

 

[johnms86]

Then what would happen if they don't pay me first. Example: customer sends me 3ds, I promise to ask for payment after job is done, send 3ds back but get no payment?

 

[FAST6191]

Most of the time when modding/fixing things that are not game consoles then most people would rather not burn me (similar logic to don't piss off the person making your food). If I was doing general repairs for the public (I reckon it is better than working in an office but not by much) then it would be money before you get your device back -- if it is test case for a repair then play that how you will.

If you do want to do payments after the thing is sent back then you either charge enough to wear the occasional dine and dash (or ask for a downpayment if you really want), learn how small claims court works, do payment escrow services (credit cards will tend to call it sometrhing like pre authorisation), have some kind of system with reputation that you can then cause trouble for (I doubt you will be able to ruin credit scores here but it is not impossible) and so on. Generally though for small things like 3ds modding (case, nand and such is small, if you are installing video capture kids or something then that is a different matter) it is not worth trying to sort payment after the customer has the device back.

 

[DinohScene]

If people don't want to pay for the services I provide them, I just keep their console.
They can get it back if they pay.
If they don't after a month or two, I'll just sell it.

 

[Red9419]

Lmao did that actually happen @DinohScene

 

[The Catboy]

When people don't pay, I either keep the system or keep something else. I have a wide collection of parts/tools that I've taken from customers who didn't pay me.

 

[DinohScene]

Happened once yes.
His mum wasn't happy, told her that it's his own risk that I modded it and that I'm not practically giving things away that I had to pay for.
She eventually agreed with me.

I'm done with people and their sneaky ways of getting everything for free.
You either pay me or I'll get me money back anyway, by selling your console c: