Since I started posting on this topic, my hope has been that someone who was thinking of sending SLR money might have been forewarned and avoided the headache and loss.

The biggest thing I regret was buying into the whole "cut him a break, he's a good guy" posts/advice I got here. That led to a delay in filing a complaint with my credit card company, which most likely eliminated any hope of getting $ back (within 30 days of purchase, there is no dispute, just auto refund). Now I wait and see.

In the end...this is the first time I have gotten ripped off in many years off purchasing over the internet. If SLR was local to me, I'm sure I would have had different results. Nothing like face to face communication.....