Is blackholeinc.com gone? Did Rob just change registrars, hosts, or possibly forget to renew it. Was trying to get the contact number so I could call about the ebay auction I won and paid for (and that he will not respond about). Will try google cache to see if can find the number. If someone by chance has it handy, please let me know.
Chef
That site has been really flaky for quite a while now. It was up a week or so ago, but down the week before that. Hopefully it will come up again soon.
Quote from: "nextchef"Is blackholeinc.com gone? Did Rob just change registrars, hosts, or possibly forget to renew it. Was trying to get the contact number so I could call about the ebay auction I won and paid for (and that he will not respond about). Will try google cache to see if can find the number. If someone by chance has it handy, please let me know.
Chef
Network Solutions whosis data says it's registered through 2015 so it's not expiration. Probably either a server is down, a host move or DNS issue.
Google cache says 970-223-9976. Can someone confirm this, before I call the wrong number.
Thanks
2 mounths ago, I sent inquary for NextDimension board to blackholeinc.
No answer. I thing 2 mounths ago they was closed.
they are stilling running listings on ebay. and at one point recently, their site was showing an update as of 9/22/06. and there was mention of soon unpacking a "ton o' next" equipment. the update was only one page, but did reflect inventory and prices changes. however, i also tried to buy one of their ebay items and was never contacted, nor had my phone call returned.
personally, i suspect they are still there. he just runs his business as he pleases and on his terms, which are different then 95% of other business owners, so it can cause some confusion.
Quote from: "weps"they are stilling running listings on ebay. and at one point recently, their site was showing an update as of 9/22/06. and there was mention of soon unpacking a "ton o' next" equipment. the update was only one page, but did reflect inventory and prices changes. however, i also tried to buy one of their ebay items and was never contacted, nor had my phone call returned.
personally, i suspect they are still there. he just runs his business as he pleases and on his terms, which are different then 95% of other business owners, so it can cause some confusion.
Stupid me, but I actually paid for the item thinking I would get at least some "service", or at least a response.
Live and learn, I guess.
Chef
Quote from: "nextchef"
Stupid me, but I actually paid for the item thinking I would get at least some "service", or at least a response.
Live and learn, I guess.
payment is another story and i wouldn't be so quick to write it off. if he actually has the money (as opposed to sitting on a check, or not accepting the paypal transfer) it's pretty much theft and is unacceptable in my opinion. it sucks that you have to be the persistant one, but i'd consider continued pursuit to be easily justified.
is there anyone here that actually knows him and can help set things right??
Quote from: "weps"Quote from: "nextchef"
Stupid me, but I actually paid for the item thinking I would get at least some "service", or at least a response.
Live and learn, I guess.
payment is another story and i wouldn't be so quick to write it off. if he actually has the money (as opposed to sitting on a check, or not accepting the paypal transfer) it's pretty much theft and is unacceptable in my opinion. it sucks that you have to be the persistant one, but i'd consider continued pursuit to be easily justified.
is there anyone here that actually knows him and can help set things right??
Paypal payment was accepted on 10/25/06, and I have not heard word one from anyone, despite numerous inquiries through email and ebay member messages. Even called the phone number, but no one answered.
Lucky I did not buy one of the "complete" systems he was advertising before on ebay.
Chef
Quote from: "nextchef"Stupid me, but I actually paid for the item thinking I would get at least some "service", or at least a response.
Live and learn, I guess.
Chef
Frankly given what I and others have remarked on Blackhole's lack of interest in responding to customer enquires I'm surprised you even bothered.
What exactly is you bought from him?, I hope it does not cost a lot.
Good luck at least
brams
Quote from: "brams"Quote from: "nextchef"Stupid me, but I actually paid for the item thinking I would get at least some "service", or at least a response.
Live and learn, I guess.
Chef
Frankly given what I and others have remarked on Blackhole's lack of interest in responding to customer enquires I'm surprised you even bothered.
What exactly is you bought from him?, I hope it does not cost a lot.
Good luck at least
brams
It was an ADB mouse for $26, including shipping. I was hoping that since new items were added to the ebay store, the website had changed, and someone here had mentioned actually purchasing stuff from him, that he was "in the mood" to sell things again.
Nitro is out in Colorado, mabey he can "mention" it to him the next time he sees Rob.
Quote from: "nextchef"I was hoping that since new items were added to the ebay store, the website had changed.
Exactly what I thought when I wanted a Soundbox. For me Mr. Blessin and Blackhole Inc are well off the radar for me.
beating a dead horse (or however the saying goes) on this one I guess.
Will wait the required time and file "non delivery" action with ebay, and file claim with paypal and credit card to get reimbursement.
Strike three... Robs out.
Chef
I think it's time to recount my experience with Rob. Right when I started with my first NeXT system (a turbostation color complete system found on Craigslist including printer, NeXT CD reader and the complete 3.2 Developer Library for $150 + shipping) I got the slab running and noticed I couldn't get the thing to display the correct date. I found out about the Y2K patch and contacted Blackhole to purchase NeXTstep 3.3 and the Y2K patch (my system was 2.something). Rob said he would sell me NeXTstep 3.3 user and Developer with the Y2K patch, and install guide and the Nebula CD including shipping for $154.95. I called Rob at 303-741-9998 at approximately 9pm EDT on February 7, 2006. It turns out that it was a fluke that I actually spoke to Rob on my first call. Subsequent calls went unanswered, as my notes show:
Luke wrote February 7, 2006 9:50:12 PM EST:
"I just sent you $154.95 by paypal.
The money is for:
NeXTstep 3.3 user CD
NeXTstep 3.3 developer CD
Y2K patch CD
install guide
Nebula CD
shipping
Thank you very much for offering
me the developer CD for free!
Thanks also for the install guide
and your offer to help me if I need
it when I start installing."
Call to Rob on Feb 8 12:16 pm ; both numbers, answering machine only.
Called at 12:59 and left a message "having a bit of buyer's remorse, want to know date you will ship CD's"
Called about 5 times till 4:30, no answer.
Called 6 pm no answer.
Called a bit after midnight (~12) on what would now be the 9th because I was staying up late to do the SCM thermal-vacuum test and actually spoke to Rob. He assured me that my fears about the negative feedback on e-bay was unwarranted and the negative feedback of the last year was just due to his problems with a break-up with a girl and that he would get the stuff to me.
Rob called me back on Feb. 9th (at 7ish pm) to say that he had burned the CDs (software) and he would e-mail me the tracking number as soon as they shipped. It was a very short and businesslike call. I thanked him.
I called then e-mailed Rob 7pm Feb 15 with a reminder about the order:
"Rob-
Just wondering when the software I
ordered from you is going out in the mail.
To remind you on Feb 7th, I ordered:
NeXTstep 3.3 user CD
NeXTstep 3.3 developer CD
Y2K patch CD
install guide
Nebula CD
shipping
For which I emailed you $154.95 by paypal (2/7/06).
You were good enough to call me a few days later
to confirm the order and to state that you had it
ready to ship. You also stated that you would e-mail
me the tracking number when it shipped.
Please let me know when you plan to ship
the software. I've got my NeXTstation turbo
color running and am anticipating upgrading
the software and trying out the cool stuff in
the Nebula CD!
Thanks!"
Rob called Feb. 15 at 3:46 after I called him and let the phone ring 5 times (he called just a minute or two later) and said that he had e-mailed me the tracking number from UPS because he has mailed the CDs to me today. He said rather than wait for a Nebula CD he would send Peanuts and another (?) CD which are more current than the nebula CD. Said he would help me use "build disk" to copy old software to new barracuda hard drive I have and that I need to set 3 jumpers on the barracuda: 1 to terminate the power to bus, 1 to the drive, and 1 for 'termination enabled (controller)'? If I wanted to make a clean install I would have to use a boot floppy which I could download.
Well, I don't have a record of when the CD's finally arrived, but it took weeks and when they did arrive, the Developer CD couldn't be read by any of my drives. The NeXTstep 3.3 install CD worked fine. I found out a more current patch could be simply downloaded from Apple. I'm not sure what's on the Peanuts CD, but I'm pretty sure I can get just about anything there from one of the fine download sites for NeXT software.
I mentioned the "buyer's remorse" I felt after paypalling Rob $154.95. Right after I paypalled him the money, I went to check out his feedback on ebay and was shocked. I made a PDF record of what I saw. Here are some excerpts:
"You let me down and cost me money. NeXT is available elsewhere folks. Avoid. Buyer harriscw ( 45 ) Sep-18-05 13:432742246065 Reply by blackholeinc: I agree comedy finallya Million in sales yes a refund and the product for you! Nov-14-05 11:54 "
"Absolute worst. Extremely poor communication. Still fighting for refund. Avoid. Buyer hexapodist ( 450 ) Aug-25-05 09:492742246065 Reply by blackholeinc: Agree was blantanly stupid reached a million free product and refund for you! Nov-14-05 11:55 "
"Dishonest seller. Did not send item or communicate despite frequent requests. Buyer westsideseattle ( 1151 ) Aug-10-05 15:175102672409 Reply by blackholeinc: Absolute worst agree, reached million finally free product and refund for you ! Nov-14-05 11:57 "
"FVCKING LOSER, GET A FVCKING LIFE ROB BLESSIN, AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR BLACKHOLE! Buyer rdx_dev ( 4 ) Aug-10-05 02:315102504725 Reply by blackholeinc: Sucked eggs on this one agree free product and refund reached a million! Nov-14-05 11:58 "
"YOU DON'T SHIP ANYWAY, SO WHY BOTHER TO PUT STUFF ON EBAY? VERY STRANGE EBAYER Buyer rdx_dev ( 4 ) Aug-10-05 02:253409796842 Reply by blackholeinc: Yes as part catastrophic implosion million in sales free product and refund! Nov-14-05 11:59 "
promised would ship on June 4, did NOT ship, does NOT reply to emails, HORRIBLE Buyer m1ck3y020 ( 3 ) Jul-27-05 04:34 2770001248 Reply by blackholeinc: Absolutely awful reached a million in sales free product and refund for you! Nov-14-05 12:00 "
"4months after payment, no item and no single response to emails, simply terrible Buyer readydigital ( 16 ) Jun-10-05 15:112770001248 Reply by blackholeinc: Yes, stupid implosion plan at million in sales free product and refund for you! Nov-14-05 12:02"
I decided not to persue getting a working copy of developer 3.3 from him because I purchased a complete academic bundle 3.3 from ebay that had all of the original manuals and diskettes (which made installation easy). About a month later I ordered the last version of Mathematica made for NeXT from him for $37.95 (he is the only distributor) and had a similar experience. I don't know if the Mathematica disk works since I haven't gotten around to installing it: it will require getting a password from the makers of Mathematica to install.
Since both of my purchases from Blackhole were problematic, I've avoided dealing with him since my second purchase (in March 2006).
I hope my account helps prepare those who plan to deal with Blackhole.
I have a Rob story too. In 2000 I purchased my first Dimension board for my Turbo Cube. For several months, I was switching the Sony N4006 between the Color Turbo and the Cube, which was pretty cumbersome. I decided to try and purchase a N4005 21" Hitachi from either Randy at Turbo or Rob at Blackhole. Randy flat told me that the last three 21" monitors he shipped were broken in shipment andwhile he would sell me one, maybe I should try to find one local to me. I then called Rob. It took me a week to talk to him in person and he refused to sell me one unless I agreed to pick up in person. I had never been to Colorado, so I agreed to drive up and pick up the monitor. Dallas to Colorado is a long trip, so I called him a day before to confirm the details of our meeting. He told me to forget it as he had plans that weekend. This went on for a couple of months. He would agree to meet me and then would change his mind at the last minute. After him blowing me off for several months, I told him to kiss my ass. Finally I found two N4005s on ebay, one local and one some distance. UPS delivered the one I had shipped in perfect condition and I picked up the second one about 15 miles from my house. My total cost for both including shipping on the second one was less than the cash and carry price Rob quoted me.
Three weeks after I kissed Rob off, he was advertising 21" monitors on ebay - and claimed he would ship them.
If you look now on ebay, the only negative thing is the most recent one you listed. All the others have fallen off, or at least are not being shown in the summary.
Apparently in order to get things from him, you have to live in Colorado and "visit" him in person. Anyone in colorado want to be the middleman for him, and get stuff and actually see that it gets delivered?
I initiated things with paypal, so we will see if that gets his attention.
Chef
Quote from: "nextchef"Apparently in order to get things from him, you have to live in Colorado and "visit" him in person. Chef
As my experience with him illustrates, even that path is not a sure thing.
Quote from: "blackcube"Quote from: "nextchef"Apparently in order to get things from him, you have to live in Colorado and "visit" him in person. Chef
As my experience with him illustrates, even that path is not a sure thing.
That really blows. I would have driven up there anyway and given him an earful (after warning my lawyer). What is this guys F****N problem??? What does he do in his real job, as he certainly cant be making any money on the next stuff. The real tragedy is that he probably has a good chunk of the next systems still around just sitting "down in the hole". Time for a commando style rescue operation methinks.
Chef
Quote from: "nextchef"That really blows. I would have driven up there anyway and given him an earful (after warning my lawyer). What is this guys F****N problem??? What does he do in his real job, as he certainly cant be making any money on the next stuff. The real tragedy is that he probably has a good chunk of the next systems still around just sitting "down in the hole". Time for a commando style rescue operation methinks. Chef
Maybe the whole operation is a "real" blackhole. Nothing excapes the blackhole. :roll:
Quote from: "idylukewild"I think it's time to recount my experience with Rob. Right when I started with my first NeXT system (a turbostation color complete system found on Craigslist including printer, NeXT CD reader and the complete 3.2 Developer Library for $150 + shipping)
-and-
If I wanted to make a clean install I would have to use a boot floppy which I could download.
Odd, I was under the impression that you didn't need floppies for the Turbos. :?
I've bought a handful of things from Rob since 1998 or so, and to date haven't had any issues. I've called him about a dozen times over the last 8 years and he answered every time I called.
:roll:
Sorry that I don't have any horror stories to share. I don't understand why my experiences would differ so much from everyone else's. :shock:
Quote from: "nextchef"Time for a commando style rescue operation methinks.
Chef
Haha, yeah go tell H Ross Perot, ask him if he want to fund another commando operation ;-) When he find out it's NeXT I don't think he'll want any part of it.
Quote from: "blackcube"Maybe the whole operation is a "real" blackhole. Nothing excapes the blackhole. :roll:
Ain't that the truth, everytime I see these blackhole posts and people getting no reply I think of stuff falling into a cosmic sink hole.
Last year, after trying every other remaining NeXT vendor, I got a hold of Rob on his cell phone.
I bought a few mice, some stickers, and a keyboard. It was a hassle, and I had to ride his ass during the entire transaction.
The shipping time was acceptible, and I believe he even threw something in gratis.
He was having a terrible time with "arthritis", but was able to climb around, bend over, and dig in boxes..
I get the feeling that he's battling some sort of nervous condition or mental illness (nothing but compassionate concern intended). If you look at blackholeinc around 1998, some slippage had begun, but nothing like the wacky wasteland of the last few years..
http://web.archive.org/web/19980421133709/http://www.blackholeinc.com/I wonder just how much equipment he's sitting on?
RacerX: I think he was just giving me generic information when I was taking my notes. After I got the CD's I had gotten a lot more complete information from the Web (places like nextcomputers.org). I recall now that I just used the CD to update the software on the slab. I've used the floppies on a 25MHz cube I acquired shortly after I got the slab.
itomato: I agree with you about the "nervous condition or mental illness (nothing but compassionate concern intended)". I don't think he has ill intent. He seems to be fighting his own demons.
Quote from: "itomato"I get the feeling that he's battling some sort of nervous condition or mental illness (nothing but compassionate concern intended). If you look at blackholeinc around 1998, some slippage had begun, but nothing like the wacky wasteland of the last few years..
http://web.archive.org/web/19980421133709/http://www.blackholeinc.com/
I wonder just how much equipment he's sitting on?
If that is the case, than I feel very sorry for him. Mental illness can be terribly debilitating to the individual, and paralyzing to family and friends of the person suffering with it. Mabey Nitro can shed some light on this, as I think he just picked up some things from him recently.
If this is truly the case, and especially if Rob is lurking around here, then my comments were insensitive, as he is not completely responsible for his actions, and I am sorry.
Chef
I only have called him once, when I got my first cube. He was golfing but answered his phone. I ordered my cube from deepspacetch but Rob supplied it. It was delayed about 3 weeks.
I've had good experiences when contacting Rob to purchase hardware or software. However, I can certainly understand the frustration of those who have trouble reaching him. I really don't know the reasons for his communication issues, but I agree 100% that he has no bad intent. He's always been super nice in his conversations with me, and knowledgeable when it comes to NeXT.
I met Rob about five years ago when he lived in Denver. I stopped by his house to purchase a Cube, and I would conservatively estimate that he had 200 Slabs neatly stacked on wooden shelves in the Black Hole. Later, I purchased another Cube on ebay and needed a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, so I purchased one of Rob's $59.95 mono slab specials. I asked him if I could pick it up to avoid shipping charges. He gave the system to a friend who delivered it to my place of employment at no charge.
In the last few months I've purchased quite a bit from Rob. He had seven bare Turbo Color Stations listed on his ebay store for $49.95 each, buy-it-now, so I bought-them-now. After the auction I noticed that each one was listed with $20 shipping. So I called Rob and asked if I could pick them up. Since we live more than 100 miles apart, he left the slabs at his parent's house and I picked them up after work. I had the pleasure of meeting his nice family, and he saved me $140 in shipping charges. After testing the slabs, one had a dead motherboard and one had a dead power supply. So I called up Rob and a replacement slab arrived two days later at no charge.
I don't know what pressures Rob may face in real life, so I can't comment on the reason people have trouble contacting him. He's always been friendly and courteous to me.
To answer the original question in this thread, his site appears to be back up now.
Got a message on ebay today from Rob, apologizing for the delay and saying the product will ship out for delivery by the end of the week. At least this is progress, but I will wait to see if I actually get a tracking number, and the package, as promised.
Chef
Chef-
Good luck! I think everybody would like it if Blackhole cleaned up their act! I, for one, would like a "NeXT Sound Box NON ADB $ 19.00" (from
http://www.blackholeinc.com/specials/blackhardware.shtml).
Got the tracking number, as promised. Should be delivered tomorrow, according to UPS. Things are looking up :)
Now I just need to find an ADB NeXT keyboard to go with it.
Chef
It arrived!!! And with a tasty caramel Corn treat as well.
Need to check it out tonight to make sure it works.
It is a lot smaller than I pictured it being. Very much like the "hockey puck" Mac mouse, as others have noted here.
Chef
I'm glad to see that Rob came through for you. Maybe if I had been trying to cut a deal on something small and easy to ship, it would have worked out.
I would like to bye Dimension board...but afraid to make deal with blackhole... Dear friends, what do you advise me?
One week ago I sent inquire to this hole. (of course without credit card number) no answer... I thing this hole in deep down now. :evil:
The phrase 'All that glitters is not gold' is certainly true with regard to Mr Blessin's enterprise. I think I was the last to post bad feedback on 18/9/05.
This is the trouble with eBay - people are reluctant to resort to posting bad feedback until all is lost, so at any one time there are many pending transactions that may or may not be going belly up - which turned out to be the case in my experience.
At the time I spoke to Rob, I had a splendid 030 Cube with a mono screen no HD and a duff OD !
The novelty of the ROM monitor wears off after a while, I can tell you.
I called Rob - had a long and interesting conversation about what I needed to bring my system back to a working state, agreed a price and placed an order on him via Paypal for an HD & software. Then nothing. Sent emails, left messages, tried to raise him on the phone. No luck.
I ended up getting most of the money back from Paypal in the end. As for Robs responses to the bad feedback, well, I received nothing from him.
I was interested to see that the eBay site persisted, and then even more so when positive feedback started appearing.
I think we all would like to believe there's someone out there 'for the better good of the NeXT community' carving out an existence, someone we can rely on for support, parts and upgrades.
Sadly that is not Rob Blessin.
Did you get the system up and running? if not maybe I can help when I'm next home in the UK which might be real soon.
sent mail again... I can't understand, how rob can make the business... affull company...
I have receive the answer from blackhole about Dimension board:
"I have no boards in the store" :(
Quote from: "Ork"I have receive the answer from blackhole about Dimension board:
"I have no boards in the store" :(
no a surprise there. They seem to be getting rarer.