# Red Letter - did I just got scammed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [May 3, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438 "2006-05-03T19:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/1 "2006-05-03T19:06:46Z")
Hey guys, I bought “Red Letter” subscription after initial announcement and have been waiting for the magazine to come out ever since. Even worse – “Sam” doesn’t reply to my e-mails, so I’m getting a bit weirded out that I got scammed. Am I the only one who bought the subscription and never heard back? I feel I got scammed and considering chargebacking on the transaction … but I guess that it wouldn’t hurt to get “second opinion” before I do that. Thoughts/ideas? Thanks, M. ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/2 "2006-05-03T19:07:06Z")
On 5/3/06, Michal [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Hey guys, > > I bought “Red Letter” subscription after initial announcement > and have been waiting for the magazine to come out ever since. > > Even worse – “Sam” doesn’t reply to my e-mails, so I’m getting > a bit weirded out that I got scammed. > > Am I the only one who bought the subscription and never heard > back? I’d contacted Sam about writing for the magazine, and pestered him occasionally about information. I also submitted an article outline in the late February timeline. Initially, he seemed responsive, but I’ve not heard back from him since I submitted the outline. So, while I didn’t buy a subscription, I’m also feeling a bit weirded out by the whole thing – which makes me feel doubly bad because I ‘spread the word’ with a blog post about Red Letter. > I feel I got scammed and considering chargebacking on the > transaction … but I guess that it wouldn’t hurt to get > “second opinion” before I do that. I’d be interested in hearing more responses, but I don’t think this would be a bad idea. > Thoughts/ideas? > > ## Thanks, M. > > # Michal Safranek, email: > > a=((“a”…“z”).to\_a+[“@”,“.”]);p((“%b”%[0x645bbb83a6a496] > ).scan(/…/).map{|x|a[Integer(“0b”+x)]}.join.reverse) – thanks, -pate ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/3 "2006-05-03T19:07:07Z")
> On 5/3/06, Michal [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > I feel I got scammed and considering chargebacking on the > > transaction … but I guess that it wouldn’t hurt to get > > “second opinion” before I do that. > > I’d be interested in hearing more responses, but I don’t think > this would be a bad idea. > > > Thoughts/ideas? _snip_ I thought the Red Letter journal sounded great, and considered a sub my self. I think the most likely scenario (having worked in small companies) is that the founders have encountered considerable problems of getting it off the ground. I don’t think it’s necessary to assume any malicious action; I’m afraid it’s really easy to ignore your customer’s problems when the creditors are trying to take your servers. My advice would be that if you’ve not had any useful communication, then you should cancel the payment - you really don’t have much choice. It’s perfectly reasonable behaviour, and it certainly doesn’t imply that the intention of Red Letter has been anything other than legitimate and good. Cheers, Benjohn ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/4 "2006-05-03T19:07:15Z")
On May 3, 2006, at 6:16 AM, pat eyler wrote: > I’d contacted Sam about writing for the magazine, and pestered > him occasionally about information. I also submitted an article > outline in the late February timeline. I requested one of the columns with a detailed breakdown of how I wanted to run it. I never received a response of any kind. James Edward G. II ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/5 "2006-05-03T19:07:23Z")
Hola amigos, I just got reply from Sam basically saying that it will just take a bit longer to get off the ground (first issue in June). So, I’m gonna wait some more … M. PS: He’s [still] looking for content (authors), so if you have something valuable to add, please drop him a line [samDOTflywheelATSIGNtherubyjournalDOTcom] ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/6 "2006-05-03T19:07:23Z")
On May 3, 2006, at 9:17 AM, Michal wrote: > PS: He’s [still] looking for content (authors), so if you have > something valuable to add, please drop him a line > [samDOTflywheelATSIGNtherubyjournalDOTcom] I’ve been pretty put off by the (lack of) process though. ☹ James Edward G. II ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/7 "2006-05-03T19:07:29Z")
you have a limited time to challenge a credit card charge. It may only be 30 days. Check with your card provider. My recommendation is to challenge the charge asap. Better safe than sorry. When you challenge a credit card charge the merchant has to prove that you got what you paid for. Since you obviously haven’t they can’t prove it. I’m speaking from experience here having had a number of merchant accounts over the years. -Kate ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/8 "2006-05-03T19:07:23Z")
On 5/3/06, James Edward G. II [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > On May 3, 2006, at 9:17 AM, Michal wrote: > > > PS: He’s [still] looking for content (authors), so if you have > > something valuable to add, please drop him a line > > [samDOTflywheelATSIGNtherubyjournalDOTcom] > > I’ve been pretty put off by the (lack of) process though. ☹ I’d have to agree. I’d love to see it come to pass, but I’d like to see more movement before I jump back in. > James Edward G. II – thanks, -pate ---
**Author:** ![michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@michal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/red-letter-did-i-just-got-scammed/59438/9 "2006-05-03T19:14:21Z")
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > > > > problems when the creditors are trying to take your servers. > Indeed. My experience with the Ruby Code & Style[0] webzine is that it > is quite challenging to get a publication up and running. I have to > believe the difficulties are compounded when trying to sell > subscriptions & advertising while offering writers a fixed fee for > material. There are numerous variables that all need to balance for the > venture to succeed. Ruby Code & Style has taken a different approach. It’s free to read, with revenue (so far) derived from advertising. And author payments are based on what we have in reserve, not what we hope to get. The down side, of course, is that initially there were no funds for the writers (or editors, for that matter). Nonetheless, we had outstanding submissions from respected members of the Ruby community. This helped get the magazine off the ground, and drew enough eyeballs to attract the interest of advertisers. I’m happy to say that we can now begin offering payment for new material. The current rate is $100.00 for new material (visit the site to get an idea of the typical length). My hopes, of course, are that the zine grows and attracts greater advertising and sponsorship, allowing us to offer more to the writers. The plan is follow a self-sustaining process, to never have to rely on creditors. I wish Red Letter all success, but I also want to remind everyone that Ruby Code & Style is here, now, and looking for readers and writers. It’s driven by and for the Ruby community, and depends on your involvement; if you are interested in writing for us, please let me know off-list. [0] Ruby Code & Style: [Ruby Code & Style](http://www.artima.com/rubycs/) – James B. Editor-in-Chief Ruby Code & Style [http://www.ruby-doc.org](http://www.ruby-doc.org) - Ruby Help & Documentation [http://www.jamesbritt.com](http://www.jamesbritt.com) - Playing with Better Toys