I have never made a purchase that wasn't a face to face transaction, and always with cash and verifying the item was as described.
I also try to buy more-so from users with some experience on the forum, like post count, activity, etc.

A lot of the reason for face to face is to avoid shipping costs, but also to protect myself and the seller.

For some reason, mods have been deleting simple posts like "great seller" or "purchased from this seller before, great guy", etc. to me, that helps users buy with confidence.

 

For some reason, mods have been deleting simple posts like "great seller" or "purchased from this seller before, great guy", etc. to me, that helps users buy with confidence.

It is my understanding this is being done to prevent "chit chat" from interfering with the selling/purchasing process. I have to agree with bgtighe though, previous purchaser's opinions go along way in my decision making process. Positive AND negative comments need to be allowed if there is no stand alone forum to rate buyers/sellers on these boards, it's the only form of ratings we presently have.

 

Don't use Venmo since that's peer to peer and there's ZERO protection for the buyer and seller. If using Paypal, pay as "goods and services" only so you're protected as the buyer, as the seller ship with signature required and insurance for the amount the item is sold for in case it does break during transport.

Avoid the obvious like Western Union or anything that you've never heard of.

 

. If using Paypal, pay as "goods and services" only so you're protected as the buyer

Could you explain more about that please?

 

PayPal is a decent option as it also offers seller protection as well as buyer protection. With other sites like AudiogoN you can purchase insurance that covers situations like this as well. The shipping companies will cover supposed damage at times but make sure you are very diligent with packaging. 9 times out of 10 they will claim insufficient packaging and not cover the claim. Always look at feedback and the types of items that they sell (especially on Ebay) on the various market sites. If you do ship, make sure you require Direct Signature. If you don't do this it leaves an easy opening for a scammer to claim they didn't receive the item (claiming it wasn't there after the drop). Also, it's generally not a good idea to have FedEx or UPS leave expensive items on someone's doorstep.

You can never be too careful with online transactions. Face to face is of course always the best way to do things.

 

Upload more pictures of what you're selling than you think are necessary from various angles and make note of any scuffs or blemishes regardless of how minor. Every buyer is different and the ones who care about these minor blemishes then can't claim ignorance of their existence after the fact. @MIX_MASTER_ICE does a great job of this in his classified ads for example. Also upload these pictures first or at the same time as the classified ad. Too many times I've seen these ads with no pictures or "pics to follow with a serious buyer". That shouldn't even be allowed. No pics should get the ad deleted IMO. It protects the seller just as much.

 

Don't entertain buying or selling with anyone on this site with no post count. I continually see people who have one post asking purchase questions. I would be leery of all of them and disregard. Deal with people here who have a regular forum presence . On sites such as Audiogon and Ebay or even Amazon, feedback is everything. If a seller has great feedback, you can be pretty secure in the knowledge that remaining in good standing is important to them and they will be true as sellers. I have bought and sold gear on Audiogon for years. I go by feedback and forum presence and have always had good transactions, though I have not bought or sold there for years now. If you use Craigslist, meet face to face, not at your home, in a public place, cash only and take a look at the bills if its a costly item, in case someone is trying to scam you with fake money. Its a crazy world, sometimes.

 

This is annoying advice I am new to the forums and have been looking regularly at subs listed here that I may be interested in buying.

 

Post count, and look up the threads the person posted in and what they said. Have they sold before? Look at threads by the user for sale. If shipping, talk to the person on the phone. You can tell in about 20 seconds if someone is a flake on the phone.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

If your looking for protection as the seller, I think it?s pretty easy. Don?t ship unless you have the PayPal funds. Don?t deal with anyone who won?t use PayPal. Insure your package for actual value. Use common sense. If something smells funny, bail. And yes, as mentioned, if someone has no posts to look into for establishing history, don?t sell to them. Not that there all bad, we all had one post once. But you want to be cautious.

 

All good comments. Thanks guys. I do wish the forum still had the feedback option in the classifieds.

 

Definitely look for post counts and look for real activity in threads. I've bought several things and used this method while paying with PayPal (do no use the gift mode even if it saves a couple bucks because you have no recourse). The last things I bought were from a guy I hadn't heard of before but it turns out he hangs out in other areas of AVS that I don't frequent. A quick search on his forum name showed he'd been around for a long while and had participated in plenty of discussions etc. so I decided to work with him.

Pete

 

I've had a few transactions from this forum and they all went smoothly. I'll echo what others said about post count, and I'll even read some of their recent posts.

Having said that, I've had enough trouble selling things online of late that I'm not inclined to want to do it regardless of which site or payment method is used. Too many scammers out there these days.

I only intend to do it face to face, with an audition and cash changing hands from now on. The easiest way to stick to those terms, for myself, is to throw out all the factory packaging. We'll see if it works. Something tells me I'll be back.

 

Recent comments from Mike Lang, AVS Admin. on the topic

"Don't get taken. Protect yourself and your fellow members.
There have been a number of obvious scam attempts in our classifieds.

Do NOT ask members to pay you through PayPal "friends and family" or another unprotected method.

Do NOT pay for an item though an unprotected method.

Report to staff any private message sales attempts by new, unestablished forum accounts.

Use common sense and protect yourself. AVS Forum, as always, will not become involved in any disputes between sellers and buyers."


As you can see sellers are not allowed to ask for paypal payments as "Friends and family". Nor should buyers offer to pay via FF either....it's not how paypal intended buyers to pay for goods and services.

 

All sound advice. I think everyone would agree that F2F is the best but as someone who lives in a remote area with almost no good used products for sale some of us have to rely on trading online and deal with shipping. It would be impossible for enthusiasts like me to adhere to F2F transactions simply on principle.

 

Paypal actually came through for me as a seller and ruled in my favor when the buyer filed a claim after admittedly using the item for 3 days before having an issue. Then, he disputed with his CC which PayPal fought for me and won. As a seller, I rarely accept any other method of payment. I take lots of pics, and even take video of the piece I'm selling just in case.

 

huge +1.

I sold a few items on Amazon, documenting the entire packing process, and the condition of the items packed. I try to take good pics, covering the entire item the day it gets packed away.

I have only ever had one issue and it was not on this forum. It was a pair of 6.5" polk door speakers I was selling after I sold my tahoe. I packed them in their original box, and then double boxed with the larger 6x9" box. Buyer claimed I sent the wrong item. Amazon refunded him his money, but didn't charge me after I send them pictures.

 

Post count and paypal. Seems like there are alot of issues with scammers with this community. I wonder why? I'm on the Corvette forum and buy and sell all the time and rarely do you see issues like I see here.

 

How many corvettes are sold without a face to face transaction? If not, then are escrow services used? It's apples and oranges. Most aren't going to take the same precautions and therefore cost (escrow services etc) for a couple hundred dollar transaction. You combine that with the state paperwork and possible bank involvement etc. It's not comparable

 

Speaking of weird things...

I have sold on ebay for years.. I have sold some digital codes here, but no hardware yet, i have some things listed on this site, ebay, audiogon, craigslist and usaudiomart. I got a text today from a Pennsylvania area code (I'm in AZ) which is not 100% odd, but first flag (yes a lot of people move and keep cell phones..) asking me to send him email about one of my items for sale. That was really strange, but I played along. (it was a reply to my craigslist item as that is the only place my cell phone is listed).


So I get this reply.

Thanks for the cordial response, Just to let you know that am okay with the condition and price of the item . I am ready to make instant purchase.I'll arrange for a local pick up as soon as you get the check cashed and have your money in hand , I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my work frame that might not be possible and i promise everything will go smoothly. Kindly get back to me with your full name and address including your cell and land number so i can make out payment .


Name to be on the check :

Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:

Cell Contact #:
Last Asking Price

My mode of payment would be in Cashier/ Certified Check via USPS or FedEx 1/2 days delivery. And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be overnight to you and i will let you know when its mailed out. And i hope we handle this in good faith while waiting to hear from you. i will add an additional $50 so that you can hold it for me till the check reach you.

Thanks,



I replied back and said this sounds like some sort of scam, why would you tell me price is ok then ask me for price. And why would he ask me for cell # when he has it. of course I have not heard back.


Now that being said I have sold a few items on craigslist and they went perfectly fine, met the guy, got money and it was done. But this one is very strange.

 

With my son off to college, I sold a number of items on CL this summer...some bulkier items too hard to ship. I must have received 3-4 of those type of out of state texts about the more expensive ads. Usually they never bothered to reposed when I made note in the reposne back about their out of state status.

 

^holy cow. Nice move avoiding that guy.

 

Closing now as this is not a classified ad.