Fraud Alert: MomoVelo/Kai Matsuda
02-08-05, 12:11 PM
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MomoVelo, the former eye-candy SS/Fixie shop in Berkeley is now an online shop on Yahoo.
Dahon stopped shipping folders to MomoVelo's owner, Kai Matsuda in the summer of 2004. Yet Matsuda continues to "sell" the Dahon Speed P8 online. https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/speedp8.html.
and Dahon's electric folder, ROO El. https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/rooel.html
Dahon stopped shipping folders to MomoVelo's owner, Kai Matsuda in the summer of 2004. Yet Matsuda continues to "sell" the Dahon Speed P8 online. https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/speedp8.html.
and Dahon's electric folder, ROO El. https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/rooel.html
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-08-05 at 01:54 PM.
02-08-05, 07:24 PM
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So you are saying mr Matsuda is taking money and not delivering product?
02-08-05, 09:19 PM
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Yes. If you order a Dahon product, Matsuda will bill your credit card for the full amount of your purchase plus a shipping charge on the same day that he receives the order. Then he will not ship it and will ignore all your attempts to reach him by e-mail or phone. This ripoff pattern had been reported on BikeForums by Seamus, mkemmer, and SirKay in January-February 2004. I personally experienced it in December 2004.
I had ordered a Dahon Boardwalk D6 as a gift for a friend from Ahoy Captain, but received a voicemail message apologizing and indicating that they did not receive enough Dahon bikes from Taiwan to honor their December 15 ship-date committment to customers.
So in an attempt to have the Boardwalk D6 delivered by Christmas, I ordered a Boardwalk D6 from MomoVelo. Had I checked BikeForums first I would have discovered that Kai Matsuda has a history of not shipping products.
In my case, Matsuda cannot protest that he had to back-order products from Dahon. This scam will not work any more. I learned from Dahon that during the summer of 2004 they discontinued shipping him any Dahon products. Matsuda/MomoVelo is no longer a reseller of Dahon products. Kai Matsuda has no waranteed Dahon bikes to sell.
I reported this MomoVelo/Kai Matsuda transaction as a fraud to AMEX and I plan to follow through with Yahoo and authorities in Berkeley, CA.
To end on a pleasant note- if possible- Ahoy Captain did ship a Dahon Boardwalk D6 to my friend in Colorado on January 15, 2005.
If you froogle sellers of folders, you will find scores of honest online stores (including Ahoy Captain) who only bill customers when products have been shipped and who actually intend to ship the products that customers order.
I had ordered a Dahon Boardwalk D6 as a gift for a friend from Ahoy Captain, but received a voicemail message apologizing and indicating that they did not receive enough Dahon bikes from Taiwan to honor their December 15 ship-date committment to customers.
So in an attempt to have the Boardwalk D6 delivered by Christmas, I ordered a Boardwalk D6 from MomoVelo. Had I checked BikeForums first I would have discovered that Kai Matsuda has a history of not shipping products.
In my case, Matsuda cannot protest that he had to back-order products from Dahon. This scam will not work any more. I learned from Dahon that during the summer of 2004 they discontinued shipping him any Dahon products. Matsuda/MomoVelo is no longer a reseller of Dahon products. Kai Matsuda has no waranteed Dahon bikes to sell.
I reported this MomoVelo/Kai Matsuda transaction as a fraud to AMEX and I plan to follow through with Yahoo and authorities in Berkeley, CA.
To end on a pleasant note- if possible- Ahoy Captain did ship a Dahon Boardwalk D6 to my friend in Colorado on January 15, 2005.
If you froogle sellers of folders, you will find scores of honest online stores (including Ahoy Captain) who only bill customers when products have been shipped and who actually intend to ship the products that customers order.
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-08-05 at 09:59 PM.
02-08-05, 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by randya
Or are you alleging that is he selling grey-market knockoffs as the real thing?
02-09-05, 07:37 AM
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Thanks for posting the heads up!
02-10-05, 06:16 PM
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Does Momovelo have any remaining bricks and mortar operation or are they strictly internet sales now?
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02-10-05, 08:20 PM
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The info I have is that Matsuda now runs (behind bars) the "Peach Unicycle Boutique" on the U Beserkeley campus. (Just kidding ;-)
Here's a post by meat-toothpaste, Dec 12, 2004.
"And about MomoVelo, stay clear from them. They don't really exist anymore. The owner/operator of that joint has taken a hiatus. Be wary though as his Yahoo store might still operational and if you place an order, your card will most likely be charged and nothing will ship. There is no one to call to get a refund and rumor has it the owner, Kai, will not be back til spring 05."
A Forums search on "Momovelo" ("Momo no velo" or "peach velo") will lead you to believe that there is No-mo-momo-no-velo any more near U Berkeley ;-) Matsuda now lives in Yahoo, a tougher neighborhood. Or he could show up again on eBay. I wonder what his merchant rating is on eBay? I just froogled "Momovelo eBay" and found that Matsuda (like Kilroy) was here.
"Momovelo in Berkeley is probably the premier shop in the U.S. for commute bikes. They carry:
Kronan
ANT
Kettler
Breezer
Biria
Burley (internally geared 7 speed, lacks chain guard)
Biomega
Flying Pigeon (one speed Chinese bicycle)
Surly
Diamant
Riese & Muller (Birdy folders)
Brompton folders (most compact folder)
Dahon folders
Momovelo also carries their own line of bicycles. I initially thought that this was a joke, since the descriptions described what stereotypical residents of the PRB (People's Republic of Berkeley) would desire in a bicycle. The owner of Momovelo assures me that these are real models."
https://nordicgroup.us/commutebike/
Here's a post by meat-toothpaste, Dec 12, 2004.
"And about MomoVelo, stay clear from them. They don't really exist anymore. The owner/operator of that joint has taken a hiatus. Be wary though as his Yahoo store might still operational and if you place an order, your card will most likely be charged and nothing will ship. There is no one to call to get a refund and rumor has it the owner, Kai, will not be back til spring 05."
A Forums search on "Momovelo" ("Momo no velo" or "peach velo") will lead you to believe that there is No-mo-momo-no-velo any more near U Berkeley ;-) Matsuda now lives in Yahoo, a tougher neighborhood. Or he could show up again on eBay. I wonder what his merchant rating is on eBay? I just froogled "Momovelo eBay" and found that Matsuda (like Kilroy) was here.
"Momovelo in Berkeley is probably the premier shop in the U.S. for commute bikes. They carry:
Kronan
ANT
Kettler
Breezer
Biria
Burley (internally geared 7 speed, lacks chain guard)
Biomega
Flying Pigeon (one speed Chinese bicycle)
Surly
Diamant
Riese & Muller (Birdy folders)
Brompton folders (most compact folder)
Dahon folders
Momovelo also carries their own line of bicycles. I initially thought that this was a joke, since the descriptions described what stereotypical residents of the PRB (People's Republic of Berkeley) would desire in a bicycle. The owner of Momovelo assures me that these are real models."
https://nordicgroup.us/commutebike/
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-10-05 at 09:09 PM.
02-10-05, 11:48 PM
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I dunno, I ordered a dirt drop stem from him probably less than a year ago and he shipped it out the same day I placed the order and responded swiftly to my emails.
02-12-05, 06:28 PM
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Just froogled Momovelo and found four additional Dahon folders Matsuda is "selling" on Yahoo: Boardwalk D1, Helios XL 2003, Piccolo D3, and Helios P8.
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-12-05 at 07:29 PM.
02-12-05, 06:52 PM
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I have reported the Momovelo fraud described in this thread to the National Fraud Information Center.
I suggest that all members of BikeForums who have been ripped off by Momovelo/Kai Matsuda report their experiences to NFIC.
https://www.fraud.org/info/repoform.htm
I suggest that all members of BikeForums who have been ripped off by Momovelo/Kai Matsuda report their experiences to NFIC.
https://www.fraud.org/info/repoform.htm
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-26-05 at 04:50 PM.
02-15-05, 01:52 PM
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He took an order from me last February for a Dahon Vitesse D3 which never arrived. Dahon dragged their feet on production, it took a year to produce the bike but I repeatedly tried to cancel the order and Kai never returned my e-mails. He has since even closed his website thankfully but I fear he will resurface under another name.
02-24-05, 10:47 PM
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Now it's "official". Matsuda says "adieu!". https://www.momovelo.com/
But is this really Matsuda's "sayoonara"? As a Yahoo store, Momovelo continues to "sell" 20 Dahon models. You can order Matsuda's virtual Dahon inventory at https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/dahon.html.
But is this really Matsuda's "sayoonara"? As a Yahoo store, Momovelo continues to "sell" 20 Dahon models. You can order Matsuda's virtual Dahon inventory at https://store.yahoo.com/momovelo/dahon.html.
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-24-05 at 10:55 PM.
02-26-05, 05:03 PM
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I had suggested that all members of BikeForums who have been ripped off by Momovelo/Kai Matsuda report their experiences to NFIC.
Don't waste your time! I sent to the National Fraud Information Center a fraud report via certified mail that was returned as undeliverable.
I then tried to report the fraud to NFIC using their online form. Their application crashed!
Since Matsuda's online Yahoo store is an ongoing fraud, I now plan to submit a report to the FBI. Of course I'll mention my exasperating experience with NFIC and suggest that they also investigate the NFIC ;-)
Stay tuned!
Don't waste your time! I sent to the National Fraud Information Center a fraud report via certified mail that was returned as undeliverable.
I then tried to report the fraud to NFIC using their online form. Their application crashed!
Since Matsuda's online Yahoo store is an ongoing fraud, I now plan to submit a report to the FBI. Of course I'll mention my exasperating experience with NFIC and suggest that they also investigate the NFIC ;-)
Stay tuned!
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 02-26-05 at 05:09 PM.
03-03-05, 05:03 PM
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About 1 yr. ago, I ordered misc. parts and a set of tires from momovelo. These were processed in two orders, as there was free shipping on the tires. The parts came quickly and without problems. The tires never came. After a few months, I arranged for Visa to credit the tire order amount back to me.
This have been going on for a while, it appears. I am surprised that the credit card companies still service momovelo orders ...
This have been going on for a while, it appears. I am surprised that the credit card companies still service momovelo orders ...
03-12-05, 10:33 PM
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Some progress to report. Matsuda/momovelo is no longer "selling" Dahon products on Yahoo. But the Yahoo store still has his Brompton page.
03-12-05, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Leo C. Driscoll
Some progress to report. Matsuda/momovelo is no longer "selling" Dahon products on Yahoo. But the Yahoo store still has his Brompton page.
03-13-05, 05:19 AM
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I've had a similar problem with VintageVelos.com. One item ordered was delivered, other two items never arrived. My credit card was charged for all of the items. Three attempts to contact Vintagevelos.com via email went unanswered. Their recorded phone message states that there is no one ever available to answer the phone and to contact them via email. This is a play on the old joke, "I don't pay old bills, and wait for new bills to get old."
My credit card company, Chase, has been investigating this purchase for the past three months. Stay away from Vintagevelos.com. What a nuisance!
My credit card company, Chase, has been investigating this purchase for the past three months. Stay away from Vintagevelos.com. What a nuisance!
04-05-05, 04:34 PM
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Has Momovelo/Kai recently re-emerged on eBay as user "samukunai"? Looks suspiciously like the remainder of Momovelo gear is up for sale - Berthoud bag, Paul Thumbies, Rivendell caps, Moleskine notebooks and other assorted items. Anyone got the scoop on this seller?
04-06-05, 05:40 PM
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Kai Matsuda doesn't need "samukunai". He continues to laugh all the way to the ginkoo via the on-going momovelo fraud that is his Yahoo store. His favourite karaoke lyrics are from "Evita".
Don't cry for me AMEX, MC, Visa
The truth is I never left you
All through my ripoff days
My Yahoo existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
https://froogle.google.com/froogle?nu...Search+Froogle
Don't cry for me AMEX, MC, Visa
The truth is I never left you
All through my ripoff days
My Yahoo existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
https://froogle.google.com/froogle?nu...Search+Froogle
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 04-08-05 at 09:27 AM.
04-06-05, 05:58 PM
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It sounds like some bright lawyer should get a class action suit going against this guy.
04-06-05, 06:32 PM
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Good idea! But beyond momovelo and Yahoo, clearly what we need is an Eliot Spitzer to look into online stores and accounting practices of major credit card companies. https://www.oag.state.ny.us/
In the interim, here's a pristine shot of my 1946 "momovelo" bike-before it collides with a yakuza SUV ;-)
In the interim, here's a pristine shot of my 1946 "momovelo" bike-before it collides with a yakuza SUV ;-)
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 04-06-05 at 06:40 PM.
04-06-05, 06:45 PM
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Beautiful !a Bowden spacelander. If you had one it would be worth about 5 Grand.
04-08-05, 09:42 AM
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Yes, a 1946 Spacelander designed by Benjamin Baldwin! Impressed you recognize it!
Well, there's been a recent sighting of this "mountain bike" near Kai Matsuda's ski chalet on Zao-san in Yamagata. Look for it to be on sale on his Yahoo store. It will be interesting to see Kai's price- if James is right, a 1946 Spacelander has a market value of go juu yon man en so Kai will put this subarashii Spacelander "on sale" for $1,800. Anyway, this is the Zao-san view from the Matsuda chalet ;-)
Well, there's been a recent sighting of this "mountain bike" near Kai Matsuda's ski chalet on Zao-san in Yamagata. Look for it to be on sale on his Yahoo store. It will be interesting to see Kai's price- if James is right, a 1946 Spacelander has a market value of go juu yon man en so Kai will put this subarashii Spacelander "on sale" for $1,800. Anyway, this is the Zao-san view from the Matsuda chalet ;-)
Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 04-08-05 at 10:05 AM.
04-08-05, 11:41 AM
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Leo I think you are using photoshop ? It is very convincing though.Mr matsuda could concievably be selling inferior Dahon copies after all they copy most everything in China.