Avalon ASIC Batch 2 Pre-Order #1453 scam?

[Duffer1]

I won this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171071581415

(Thought I could talk him into escrow, or even paypal and I'd pay the 2.9% fee) - The escrow suggestion was ignored and the paypal offer was politely declined.  So I've been slowly bank funding my wallet, and that was pretty much the only reason why I haven't payed him yet (until now at least).  

Anyways the deal started to smell bad so I did the googling which I should have done in the first place.  I found:

-June 24th - 53 bids, winner: $7225  (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avalon-ASIC-Bitcoin-Mining-Rig-65-Gh-s-BATCH-2-FEB-2013-/171061899242?pt=CPUs&hash=item27d4156fea)

and

-July 3rd - 26 bids, winner: $6,600  (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avalon-ASIC-Bitcoin-Mining-Rig-65-Gh-s-BATCH-2-FEB-2013-/171068822272?hash=item27d47f1300)

He could have gotten unlucky with a string of flaky buyers, and re listed after the deals fell through (and I actually do have reason to think that's possible.)  But that sure does get the alarm bells going though right?

From the wallet address he sent me 1H6wVtLkvNXZWTWRt7UqkNUiubqBNtsLqq (http://blockchain.info/fb/1h6wvtl)  I can see on July 3rd (average price $83) he received roughly $6400 worth of BTC, but then two days later returned the BTC to the original wallet.  And there's no transactions at all that match up with the first June 24th sale (could easily have been a different wallet though).

I'm looking for advice, but I'm especially looking for anyone who has payed this guy.

(and obviously I will not proceed without escrow).


Edit:
I asked about the previous auctions.  Seller claims non payment (that they didn't realize he accepts BTC only).  I politely insisted on escrow (I offered to pay fee of any agent of his choosing), he politely declined (claims being burned on a bitmit escrow deal).  We mutually agreed to cancel the transaction.  He has re-listed the avalon pre-order (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avalon-ASIC-Bitcoin-Mining-Rig-65-Gh-s-BATCH-2-/171075052430?pt=CPUs&hash=item27d4de238e).

Even after all this I can't claim it as a definite scam.  He has great ebay rep, prompt replies, is patient, nice guy, and speaks perfect english.

Also I have yet to hear from anyone who has given this guy money.  I'll update this thread if I do.

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[Tomatocage]

You should assume that his avoidance of escrow means it's a scam.

[iikun]

due diligence is better late than never so at least you caught this before paying.

This is a pre-order for batch2 which pretty much all seem to have been sent haven't they..why hasn't he received his yet?

In addition, $3,169 is a ridiculously low price for a batch2. That someone would list it for that & not put a reserve is to me the biggest sign that its a scammy scam scam! 

(also note he says it will ship within a month of the auction ending but also says Avalon might take 2 months or more.  contradict himself much?) 

[Duffer1]

I asked about the previous auctions.  Seller claims non payment (that they didn't realize he accepts BTC only).  I politely insisted on escrow (I offered to pay fee of any agent of his choosing), he politely declined (claims being burned on a bitmit escrow deal).  We mutually agreed to cancel the transaction.  He has re-listed the avalon pre-order (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avalon-ASIC-Bitcoin-Mining-Rig-65-Gh-s-BATCH-2-/171075052430?pt=CPUs&hash=item27d4de238e).

Even after all this I can't claim it as a definite scam.  He has great ebay rep, prompt replies, is patient, nice guy, and speaks perfect english. 

Also I have yet to hear from anyone who has given this guy money.  I'll update this thread if I do.

[iikun]

I think it's lucky you got out of it. I just don't understand why he would be selling a genuine Avalon (undelivered tho it may be) for such a low price.

Thx for the update