I had it worse once (and never again). This guy said he could get a pound for $1400, said the quality was decent, so I put in $700, and two others put in $350 each. This was a guy we all knew (or thought we did). Anyway, he left to supposedly go get the pound, but didn't return.

I knew where he lived, so I printed on a piece of paper, "Pay up, now, or you will regret it." Then I drove to his house, with a big ass butcher knife. He wasn't at home, so I held the paper against his front door then stabbed the knife through the paper and left it there. I heard from his roomie that he came home, saw that big ass knife in his door with the note, packed a backpack, and left the state. Guess he was a bit scared. Guess he had good reason to be.

He's never been seen again by anyone I know. And no, I won't ever make that mistake again, even if people vouch for someone.