So, umm, a question Re: a sales thread from a member with 13 posts 0

[NoMan]

 I was looking for a book on sales forum. Found it. Price was 2 grand (I think this is a fair price). It was from a member with 13 posts, most posts seem to be either reaction emoji kinda posts and a couple in sales forum. All posts in sales forum had no "I'll take it."

Soooo... is this cause for alarm? If using Paypal (not friends and Family) does one need to worry? Should I stay clear?

Thanks. 

[Tnexus]

Ask them to take a photo of the book with your name on it. It's a fair question for something of that value.

[Bird]

No man would buy a book from someone with 13 posts! 

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Maybe ask for references or an intermediary 3rd party 

[grebal]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:41 AM, NoMan said:

 I was looking for a book on sales forum. Found it. Price was 2 grand (I think this is a fair price). It was from a member with 13 posts, most posts seem to be either reaction emoji kinda posts and a couple in sales forum. All posts in sales forum had no "I'll take it."

Soooo... is this cause for alarm? If using Paypal (not friends and Family) does one need to worry? Should I stay clear?

Thanks. 

Ask for references.  (Insist, actually.)  I suggest you ask in the thread, which is standard etiquette for newbies (certainly includes anyone selling on board for first time).

Many newbs have sold a while on ebay- a long history there has generally been good enough for me.

Others have sold to board members, and will give the references in thread.

Would stay far away from a 13 reply newb who never sold on board, even if they report 'many sales on instagram' or something- which imo is useless without someone you know and trust vouching for the newb.

[NoMan]

On 11/29/2021 at 8:33 AM, grebal said:

Ask for references.  (Insist, actually.)  I suggest you ask in the thread, which is standard etiquette for newbies (certainly includes anyone selling on board for first time).

Many newbs have sold a while on ebay- a long history there has generally been good enough for me.

Others have sold to board members, and will give the references in thread.

Would stay far away from a 13 reply newb who never sold on board, even if they report 'many sales on instagram' or something- which imo is useless without someone you know and trust vouching for the newb.

Thanks. Yeah think I’m gonna walk away. It’s that whole “if you gotta ask” thing. 

[grebal]

On 11/29/2021 at 10:44 AM, NoMan said:

Thanks. Yeah think I’m gonna walk away. It’s that whole “if you gotta ask” thing. 

A member (Buzzetta) recently posted with info that it's possible to fool the post office into giving a "CONFIRMATION NUMBER" for a package that was never really mailed - so a fraudulent seller could even fool paypal with false proof that the item was sent.  In past I considered paypal a reliable protection against potentially dubious sellers, but these days I'd rely much more on trustworthy references.

[Poekaymon]

On 11/29/2021 at 11:50 AM, grebal said:

A member (Buzzetta) recently posted with info that it's possible to fool the post office into giving a "CONFIRMATION NUMBER" for a package that was never really mailed - so a fraudulent seller could even fool paypal with false proof that the item was sent.  In past I considered paypal a reliable protection against potentially dubious sellers, but these days I'd rely much more on trustworthy references.

It's even easier than that--just mail something else.  About 20 years I bought something, paying on Paypal, and the guy mailed me nothing but the packaging.  I opened a claim and he gave them the tracking # which showed delivery, and Paypal sided with him.  Been pretty cautious since then.

[lizards2]

I've sold to several here with 1-3 posts. They lurk, they don't post, they buy via pm to maintain their privacy, they have references.

[Galen130]

Verify, verify, verify.  I've had a few low-post boardies message me about something I was selling.  Then I started asking questions, i.e. what kind of shipping do they prefer, what method of payment do you use, where are you located (for shipping estimates), etc.  Sometimes I get a response, sometimes I don't.  See if they are on eBay as well, if possible.  Definitely check the Hall of Shame and Probation lists too.  If something feels off, go with your gut.  

[GACollectibles]

On 11/29/2021 at 2:49 PM, Galen130 said:

go with your gut.

That only works for Golan Trevize

[The Lions Den]

On 11/29/2021 at 11:44 AM, NoMan said:

Thanks. Yeah think I’m gonna walk away. It’s that whole “if you gotta ask” thing. 

I always approach these things the same way:

1) Send a friendly email to the seller stating my interest in the item. 2) Wait and see what kind of reaction you receive. 3) Based on the reaction, move toward (or away from) the seller. 

Simple, yet astoundingly effective...  

Edited November 29, 2021 by The Lions Den

[cd4ever]

On 11/29/2021 at 12:10 PM, lizards2 said:

I've sold to several here with 1-3 posts. They lurk, they don't post, they buy via pm to maintain their privacy, they have references.

They like milk, they watch porn, They fast forward through the commercials unless there's one of those Emu things, they sleep on the couch and drool a bit.  But they pay very quickly. 

[MattTheDuck]

On 11/29/2021 at 1:54 PM, cd4ever said:

They like milk, they watch porn, They fast forward through the commercials unless there's one of those Emu things, they sleep on the couch and drool a bit.  But they pay very quickly. 

Porn with commercials!  We'll rule the world!

[fastballspecial]

On 11/29/2021 at 12:10 PM, lizards2 said:

I've sold to several here with 1-3 posts. They lurk, they don't post, they buy via pm to maintain their privacy, they have references.

Yes there is one buy in particular that has zero posts, but buys from many of us. That being said I would want references
and several pictures. 

 

[Poekaymon]

On 11/29/2021 at 1:10 PM, lizards2 said:

I've sold to several here with 1-3 posts. They lurk, they don't post, they buy via pm to maintain their privacy, they have references.

OP was asking about buying something, not selling.  Big difference, imo.

[Artifiction]

A phone conversation with the seller never hurts.

[theCapraAegagrus]

Always be cautious. Proceeding otherwise would be foolish.

[Buzzetta]

On 11/29/2021 at 10:41 AM, NoMan said:

 I was looking for a book on sales forum. Found it. Price was 2 grand (I think this is a fair price). It was from a member with 13 posts, most posts seem to be either reaction emoji kinda posts and a couple in sales forum. All posts in sales forum had no "I'll take it."

Soooo... is this cause for alarm? If using Paypal (not friends and Family) does one need to worry? Should I stay clear?

Thanks. 

There are many different collecting cultures out there depending on what people are collecting.

In the Facebook groups they are many that have been very impressed with the terms of my listings.  What they don't realize is that all I am doing is listing the terms that I normally do here.  The culture on the CGC Boards dictates that we have certain information in our ads.

However there is something to take away from the some of the Facebook groups.  In the Lego and GI Joe groups for example, you MUST take a picture with your name and the current date on a piece of paper with the item prior to posting.  If I was a new seller here offering a higher value item I would adopt that practice until people got to know me. 

 

[Buzzetta]

On 11/29/2021 at 11:50 AM, grebal said:

A member (Buzzetta) recently posted with info that it's possible to fool the post office into giving a "CONFIRMATION NUMBER" for a package that was never really mailed - so a fraudulent seller could even fool paypal with false proof that the item was sent.  In past I considered paypal a reliable protection against potentially dubious sellers, but these days I'd rely much more on trustworthy references.

Worse than PayPal.  I can fool the post office. 

I can orchestrate a situation where I can make a package go 'missing'.  Now, if it goes missing, PayPal will side with the buyer.  The buyer will have his money returned to him because it was never delivered and the responsibility for delivery is on the buyer.  (Remember that I am only protected if the package is marked delivered.  In that case if a porch pirate captures some booty then that is not my problem and the buyer is out of luck.)

However, getting back to what I discovered, the package will be "lost in the system."  It will show that it was received at the post office and is transferred to the hub but after that it 'disappears'.  After that, PayPal will refund the buyer their money.  Because PayPal did that I can then file a claim with the Post Office and be paid for the insured loss of the item.  This $2000 package we are talking about would be insured and the Post Office would pay out the claim while not knowing that the item was never sent out to begin with.  They could search every post office in the chain of custody but they would never find the parcel because they never really took custody of it to begin with.

Basically, this is undetectable insurance fraud.   But, if this was done multiple times, the post office would catch on.  

Here is the thing though.  If I discovered this, how many parcels are paid out each year under similar circumstances? 

[fmaz]

On 11/29/2021 at 1:10 PM, lizards2 said:

I've sold to several here with 1-3 posts. They lurk, they don't post, they buy via pm to maintain their privacy, they have references.

Same. And these folks usually purchase via PM so their post counts remain static despite the purchases. And while people are correct to note the difference between selling to and buying from a low post person, all I’d add is that there’s also a big difference between a low post member who’s had an account for 10 years, vs one who’s had an account for 10 days.  So it’s at least worth taking that all into consideration.