MTG Chicago?

[Fons]

At gen-con I sold a good portion of cards to MTG Chicago and they gave me a check for the money. When I get home I cash the check and everything seems good. Then several days later I look and the check bounced and when I contact MTG Chicago and they say no problem they will send another check. Well 2 months later and several emails asking them about the check and still no money. They also told me that they can pay me through paypal and I still haven't received payment.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with them? I contacted a lawyer. I did some googling on the subject and it appears other people had similar issues with mtgchicago.com

[socialite]

Sorry man.

http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=35666.0

[CorpT]

I'm a Chicago local and basically will never deal with MTG Chicago. He's never done anything like this to me, but I've heard enough rumors and talked to him enough times to be very wary of him. There is a general consensus among quite a few Chicago locals I know that he is at best shady and at worst, a guy who will rip you off. Sorry :(

[cdr]

If you can afford the time/money, lawyering/suing is probably the only way you ever get any money out of him. A letter from a lawyer might do it if he's weak.

At the very least, file a BBB complaint. Also contact GenCon and the big TOs that schedule dealers (PES, Pastimes, Legion, etc).

[Leftconsin]

Stasch, the owner of MTGChicago is well known in the Chicago area for fraud. I don't think that just a letter from a lawyer will get him to turn around. Just saying from personal experience with him.

[dontbiteitholmes]

Damn that sucks. If anyone finds a pic of this guy be sure to link to it since it looks like he goes in and out of the scene and will probably resurface at some point. I'm near the Chicago area, if I get a pinpoint on his usual hangouts I'll sweat him if he shows up anywhere trying to deal.

Also to the OP if you get me his info and a good enough pinpoint on his whereabouts and I'm in the area I might be able to shake him down for you just send me a PM. I hate to see a guy like this floating around ripping everyone off. I came over from the fighting game scene where shit like this is fairly common and it always pissed me off. I see he was at NYC TCG so I'm guessing he might have a hard time resisting making an appearance at some PTQs in Chicago that are on the horizon.

[Tha Gunslinga]

twitter: http://twitter.com/MTGChicago

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stasch-kuras/4/a5a/a10


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Stasch-Kuras/100001532710140

He's from Wheeling, IL



Masters of the Game
6005 W Irving Park Road # 203
Chicago, IL 60634-3159 map

A website says he owns this store. Not sure how accurate it is.

[Psyqo]

In the world of magic trading/dealing, NEVER take a check for payment.

[Fons]

twitter: http://twitter.com/MTGChicago

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stasch-kuras/4/a5a/a10


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Stasch-Kuras/100001532710140

He's from Wheeling, IL



Masters of the Game
6005 W Irving Park Road # 203
Chicago, IL 60634-3159 map

A website says he owns this store. Not sure how accurate it is.


That is correct he is the guy I've been dealing with. He owes my over 2k so I will be hiring a lawyer and contacting the BBB and reporting him for check fraud. I figure that's the least I can do.

Dontbiteitholmes: Thanks, I live in Michigan and was thinking of planning a weekend to go pay him a visit.\

Everyone else: thanks for the advice I hope that what I do will make sure that others aren't in my situation.

cdr: Thank you so much for the suggestion to call PES they were very helpful. My day is going much better now.

[drewt66]

Hey, I found this forum through themanadrain topic about Stasch Kuras. I'll post what I posted there, please read if you have been defrauded by MTGChicago.

First, my short background with MTGChicago
"Wow, I thought I was the only one.

I recently sent them a buylist of 3 Jace the Mind Sculptors, back in mid-June. They received it and sent a confirmation email saying it needed to be processed and then they would send out a check to me immediately (for $180). After a month with no word, I emailed them and waited for a reply. Nothing after a week, I tried again, but to no avail. No reply, nothing. I called them and they said that they were preparing for Gen Con and that when they were back from that, they would process my buylist and send my check. 2 weeks later, nothing. I called again they said they were going to process it. This was about a month ago or so? I sent them the cards in mid-June. 4 weeks ago, I called again, they said they processed it immediately since I was disgruntled. They told me to wait for a tracking number. After another week, I asked where it was, they said it shipped that very day.

Since then, 3 weeks ago, they have not been answering my calls at all. I left multiple messages, no callbacks, nothing. I emailed them more, no replies. I don't know what else to do. They owe me $180 for cards I sent them and they are avoiding me at all costs. I don't know where to go from here, any suggestions? "


This is to anyone who has been defrauded by Stasch Kuras (MTGChicago/Masters of the Game).


It's been almost 4 months, and I finally got paid.

I urge you to follow through on your attempts to get your money/cards back. I contacted Wizards of the Coast customer support via email and they are going to investigate the matter. Not only that, I contacted the BBB Chicago and they are also investigating. In addition to these, I wrote to the postmaster general, Illinois Attorney General, allmagiccards.com (a site that has them as a vendor), crystal commerce (the main website that hosts mtgchicago.com), and their advertisers, urging them not to do business with them. If anyone has an outstanding debt that hasn't been paid, I urge you to contact me: the owner of crystal commerce is asking for anyone else I may know who has been defrauded by Stasch Kuras and wants to help make the situation right. He hosts the MtgChicago website (powered by CCommerce) and Stasch WILL listen to this guy, he was the main reason I finally wasn't ignored and got my money. He will lie about sending payment too. He sent me and the owner of CC a false tracking number to make me go away. He will do anything to delay payment and give himself more time to stall. I was paid by PayPal after emailing the owner of CC a few times. I wouldn't trust this man's check. I've heard a few stories of it bouncing. If you can, get paid via paypal.

Please PM me if you would like to get in touch with the owner of Crystal Commerce. I believe he can make the situation right. I also urge anyone else to follow through. This isn't just about money, he is defrauded people all over the country and getting away with it. If you desire as well, contact WOTC. If they get enough complaints, I think they will at least look into it.

http://chicago.bbb.org/
http://wizards.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wizards.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=489 (go to the email us link. Be descriptive. And patient, they take awhile to respond)
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
https://www.uspsoig.gov/hotlinenewforms.cfm (if you sent him cards through the mail)

[unknown123]

hopefully this will help someone, i sent those clowns a bunch of cards $200 worth on 8/13 after countless emails that i sent it took me to find blogs like this to decide what to do, i emailed him telling him i was going to report him to the bbb,tcg,dci,wotc and put blogs up daily on tcg telling everyone not to deal with a scumbag like them and today 10/17 i finally got my money it seemed like once i threatened him he was wiling to pay i also said i was going to contact everyone on these blogs and gather money and get a lawyer to sue him if theirs anything i can do to help anyone let me know

[shawnphase]

i was also ripped off by stasch kuras in october or november of 2007 for around ~$800 worth of cards. a lot of dual land, artifacts, big blue stuff. i dont really know what to do as its been such a long period of time but maybe we can all put our heads together and approach them about it. this is no way to do business and they should not be allowed to buy or sell cards.

[BenBleiweiss]

In the world of magic trading/dealing, NEVER take a check for payment.

I'd amend this to say "make sure the store/source you are taking the check from is of rock-solid reliability". We've written some pretty big checks in our day, and I don't think we, or the people we were buying the collections from, would feel comfortable walking out of a tournament venue/our store carrying a huge amount of cash.

- Ben

[android]

Well SCG isn't exactly MTGChicago Ben. I think it's safe to say big stores like T&T and SCG are good for their money.

[LegacyDan]

I am happy I have always passed this dude up whenever I see him at events.

[Oiolosse]

Fucking shyster.
Unacceptable.

1) Anonymously threaten arson.
2) Follow through if he doesn't budge.

[CorpT]

yet they allow him to sponsor events like Grand Prixs, and the regional oranizer permits him to be a vendor.

As far as I know, Pastimes does not allow him to be a vendor any more.

[DalkonCledwin]

I am sorry to not clarify, he is advertising himself as a vendor for Nashville, so that regional organizer is being negligemt, and people should complain. He also was allowedby Wizards to run a GPT for Nashville and has sanctioned another for Atlanta, Wizards is so disgunstgly irresponsible.

it may be in fact that he wasn't banned as an organizer, but instead only as a player. If that is the case then he is not doing anything against the rules by organizing tournaments and being a vendor. However if people continue to complain about him, and the BBB and others in that area take an interest in him, WotC and Hasbro by proxy may have to ban him as an organizer as well just to save face.

Of course this is just speculation on my part based on me noticing that there are some people banned with a note of "ALL" next to their name in one category, and others with a note of "ORGANIZER" in that same category on the DCI Banned and Suspended Players list.

That said, I now know I will never be accepting a check for cards sold to a vendor unless that vendor is a big name vendor (such as Star City Games or something on that scale).

[Leftconsin]

Actually, my understanding is that Mr. Leads isn't very hands on for the Magic portion of the company. WotC does do other things. As it was mentioned earlier, you can contact Lisa Madigan's office via a form or phone if Stash has taken money from you and not delivered product. The Illinois Attorney General has more reason to know and more power to do something about it than WotC.

[drewt66]

Actually, my understanding is that Mr. Leads isn't very hands on for the Magic portion of the company. WotC does do other things. As it was mentioned earlier, you can contact Lisa Madigan's office via a form or phone if Stash has taken money from you and not delivered product. The Illinois Attorney General has more reason to know and more power to do something about it than WotC.

I wrote Lisa Madigan, but nothing came of it. Basically they can't do squat and told me to I have to pursue this on my own and they don't just take action on behalf of private citizens. They sent a letter to them and IF they hear back they will notify me. Did the same with the BBB, they sent 2 notices and finally the complaint was filed as no-response and will go on their record. Not really sure what that'll do though. Wizards basically didn't respond after I sent them a few letters and emails. The best bet is Crystal Commerce, they host his website and the owner is concerned about the number of complaints. I urge everyone who has been wronged by this crook to send the owner an email.

dan@crystalcommerce.com -Dan McCarty owner

Get the word out and send him your complaints, he needs to hear them.

[Gladytch]

Can you specify exactly what type of activity Stasch Kuras is engaging in that you're aware of?

I can shed some light on his counterfeit product. Nearly nothing gets pulled from his packs. That said, if you're dumb enough to buy packs from him or take his prize packs or draft sets, take note of the number of cards of any value. You should also take note of who his business partners and fellow dealers are, because odds are you won't get much from them if you're not buying sealed boxes. But why give them the business? Go elsewhere.

I've asked around, and out of about 6 boxes of product given out at his "free-to-enter" monday night standard tournaments, nearly nothing of value has been opened. No wonder they were free entry for 4 months.

I can't go to a magic tournament without everyone thinking everyone else is cheating thanks to this asshole and his comrades.

[xrraated]

michigan seo company
(http://www.seocompanydirect.com/)

Can anyone recomenned a good chicago seo?


Chi town is the business

[Regiment47]

I was turned onto MTGChicago by searching the Chicagoland area for a decent Magic the Gathering distributor. I've made three visits thus far, the first was to claim a prize code, and i didn't really purchase anything other than sleeve protectors for my cards. The second time i went there I gave the manager a list of cards that I was looking to acquire for a deck, and he sold (some) to me at a price i felt unjust ( which is why i only bought some from him). I later researched his website and found that those very cards he sold to me were being sold at a price lower than what he had asked of me. Which is why on the third time, i had prepared a list of cards and copied the prices from off of his website. He seriously told me, with no justification at all that his in-store prices were more expensive that his online prices, even though it would save him the hassle of having to mail them out, and me the hassle of waiting; weeding out the shipping and handling completely. What I found was he charged me an additional 10 dollars for coming into his store, as opposed to ordering online... I don't feasibly understand the logic behind these business practices, nor do i plan on ever giving this store my business again... In addition to that, they freely exercise the art of not charging you tax on items you pay for in cash. I believe the legal term for this is Tax Fraud.

Its no wonder MTGChicago has an F with the Better Buisness Bureau...

essentially, their manager is a big scum bag, and their entire store is fraudulent.

[Regiment47]

I was turned onto MTGChicago by searching the Chicagoland area for a decent Magic the Gathering distributor. I've made three visits thus far, the first was to claim a prize code, and i didn't really purchase anything other than sleeve protectors for my cards. The second time i went there I gave the manager a list of cards that I was looking to acquire for a deck, and he sold (some) to me at a price i felt unjust ( which is why i only bought some from him). I later researched his website and found that those very cards he sold to me were being sold at a price lower than what he had asked of me. Which is why on the third time, i had prepared a list of cards and copied the prices from off of his website. He seriously told me, with no justification at all that his in-store prices were more expensive that his online prices, even though it would save him the hassle of having to mail them out, and me the hassle of waiting; weeding out the shipping and handling completely. What I found was he charged me an additional 10 dollars for coming into his store, as opposed to ordering online... I don't feasibly understand the logic behind these business practices, nor do i plan on ever giving this store my business again... In addition to that, they freely exercise the art of not charging you tax on items you pay for in cash. I believe the legal term for this is Tax Fraud.

Its no wonder MTGChicago has an F with the Better Buisness Bureau...

[MoxMonkey]

MTGChicago is gonna be at the PTQ this weekend in seattle. I'll make sure to skip dealing with them.

[nedleeds]

Reposting from a post I made on the drain:

"Another log on the fire for this ripper. I also took the bait on his Rise of the Eldrazi pre-order and grabbed 4 Vengevines at $16.00. Shortly after release I had nothing to show for it, but strangely saw some up on the site for $35.00. So I called asking where my cards were and I was told that the ones on the website were up there "by mistake". So essentially what this guy does is fuel his business through a fraudulent claim of inventory. He takes your $100 a few weeks prior and uses it to go run around and buy cards. Then he hopes you get frustrated and cancel your order at which point he may or may not refund you. Leaving you the consumer screwed since you could have pre-ordered from a reputible dealer (SCG or Supergamesinc) who will FILL ORDERS AT A LOSS TO THEMSELVES."

I finally got my cards after getting his personal number, and just burying him in threats to report him to CrystalCommerce, BBB, Postal Inspections. The final straw was threatening to flip his table over at Gencon that year.

[jandax]

It's amazing and hard to comprehend how people who'd rip other people off would be doing it via Magic cards. That poor child (seen in his facebook page) is going to be raised by a cunt of a father.

[Malchar]

It's amazing and hard to comprehend how people who'd rip other people off would be doing it via Magic cards. That poor child (seen in his facebook page) is going to be raised by a cunt of a father.

Pound for pound, magic cards are more valuable than $100 bills.

[marina]

Well, I've just found you guys and I'm in the very same trouble. I bought U$ 300 from mtgchicago.com that never came to my door (it was june/2012). They don't answer my emails and since I'm from Brazil it's a bit expensive to make international calls. Nevertheless, I've spent more than 20 bucks calling them, and a guy named Josh would always tell me "the owner is not here, try calling again later" until the point when they stopped picking up the phone. I have no means to go there and deal with it personally, but oh, how I wish I could. This guy Stasch Kuras is really a piece of crap.

[edgarps22]

Since it seems that knowing this guy was scum beforehand might have saved some people money, could we possibly consider creating a consolidated list, closely monitored by the mods naturally, of disreputable sites/stores? It might save a lot of people money and frustration. I am not sure how possible it is, with potential legal liabilities, but if we all know someone bad, should we not have a way to let others know? Not everyone knows the bad vendors locally etc.

[Mr.C]

Well, I've just found you guys and I'm in the very same trouble. I bought U$ 300 from mtgchicago.com that never came to my door (it was june/2012). They don't answer my emails and since I'm from Brazil it's a bit expensive to make international calls. Nevertheless, I've spent more than 20 bucks calling them, and a guy named Josh would always tell me "the owner is not here, try calling again later" until the point when they stopped picking up the phone. I have no means to go there and deal with it personally, but oh, how I wish I could. This guy Stasch Kuras is really a piece of crap.

Voce tem conta na Ligamagic? Me manda PMSG lah, meu nick eh ThingFromTheDeep.

[]s

[nedleeds]

Esse cara é um pedaço de merda.