I think I'll be doing a story on this episode for the website. Look at it this way: at least it was *only* $150 and not thousands of dollars.

Hope I'm not too late to the party; my sincerest condolences to the affected individuals.

For what it's worth, some mild sleuthing (really just a Google search for "gage luce") provided me with some extra information: it seems our friend is a seventeen year old skateboarding aficionado from Santa Barbara, California (don't take my word for that location, that info may be out of date for all I know). And get this--I've got a picture of the doofus: http://forums.rollerwarehouse.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19786 Scroll down to the third post; it's a user named "Gage", and his profile on that forum lists the same website as his profile here (http://www.slo4online.com). He makes reference in that thread to shooting video, so I think it's safe to say it's the guy we're looking for. Some scam artist! Using the same handle everywhere he goes, showing his face all over the internet...rip-offs just aren't what they used to be, huh? ;)

That's all for now. Not sure how much help it'll be, but I thought you guys'd like to know; I'll keep snoopin' around, see if I can't come up with anything more substantial. Here's hoping we get the punk (not that I'm old enough to call anyone a "punk", but he IS young, and he IS being a pain, so...)!

UPDATE: Searching for the email address he listed in his profile on that skating site brings up a few interesting posts of his on other message boards, indicating that he was looking for a VX1000, or other similar camera, in early 2004 (Google cached page: http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Ado8ixfI18oJ:esotericapparel.com/forums/viewtopic.php%3Fp%3D1765%26sid%3D1a8f3fb87e98f50f40c2007bbb668ddd+GL805%40hotmail.com&hl=en). Then, later that same year, he was in the market for a newer cam (http://www.dvvideo.com/talk/index.php?board=3;action=printpage;threadid=206).

Oh, and scratch that bit about him being seventeen--I found more info at http://forum.beatbasement.com/member.php?action=viewpro&member=Roll8o5 that tells us he turns twenty this year, on November 27th. Anybody got any good gift ideas?

Ooh! Ooh! Check this out (more with the Google cache: http://64.233.161.104/search?hl=en&lr=&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.tylergress.com%2Frevolution%2Ffeedback.php):

"Date: Oct 16, 2005
From: Gage Luce
Subject: revolution
Message: hey im moving to the phoenix arizona area on thursday and wondering if you might need some help at the shop, in other words I NEED A JOB!!! haha if you are willing to hire me give me directions and i will fill out an application and what not i worked at inlinewarehouse for about 5 months getting payed under the table!! soooo yeah please respond"

Again, I don't know what good any of this will do you all, but I figured the more information you've got to work with, the better, right?