How do I pay?

Run don't walk. 

the problem with buying used is often between shipping, PayPal and sometimes listing fees there’s no incentive. Personally if the value is enough to include PayPal fees offer it otherwise wait for a local sale.

I've done something similar to this 3 times but all with respected dealers, i had to send a bank wire transfer because i live in Canada and all the dealers were in California. once to Robert Lee (Acoustic Zen) for  Absolute speaker and interconnect cables, once to Scott Walker (Scott Walker Audio) Synergistic Research powercell10 UEF power conditioner and once to David Weinhart (Weinhart Design) a pair of REL G1 subs, these were all expensive transactions and they all went smoothly and everything arrived as if it was brand new (actually cables were) but i would have never in a million years done this with a private party sale.

mitch2

It was a very bad experience. a long story, and took a few weeks. I got the full refund. It easily could have finished poorly.

I found another TT81 in 2 arm plinth, in great shape, discussed packaging with seller. Vlad from Canada packed it amazingly. Bill later bought another setup from Vlad. We highly recommend him.

Aside from everything else, what a shame to see such a rare beautiful plinth and dust cover destroyed. The 7082 tonearm and spinner TT81 survived the shipping.

While waiting, I spoke to my credit card company. they said:

1. they put the charge on hold
2. I did not have to pay the charge until resolved
3. started a countdown in their system, then they would open a case against PayPal.
4. PayPal will notify the seller: resolve it, or we will close your PayPal account.
5. informed of this, the seller hurriedly processed the refund.
6. of course anyone could just open another PayPal account, so seller has to be given credit for accepting responsibility, especially when UPS clarified the improper packaging.

Don't try to pay him. Just ignore him. There's something wrong here.

I've done many transactions with relative strangers. In all cases I was aided by 2 things:

-- their feedback on relevant audio boards (if zero feedback, watch out)

-- the transactions were protected by Paypal.

Paypal is an invasive species of a company. I kind of detest them. Their rates are confiscatory/borderline silly. BUT...I rely on them to save my ass during arms' length audio transactions.

  Jimmy,  Look at Products in person  if its not a store 
  or walk to many good deals going on today  

Jimmy,  He might get tired Negotiating with you  and move on   i don't have time to  play around with  pinchers   Good Luck 

Nada, keep looking

Recruit a guy local to the seller. Search for a nearby high end shop and offer to pay someone knowledgeable a fee (whether or not you end up buying the speakers) for them to go and inspect the speakers and hopefully hear them function. Could cost between a case of beer and maybe a couple of hundred bucks.

Another one I have used is to place the money in escrow with a lawyer and have the gear shipped to them (if the speakers are 6' high and weigh several hundred pounds this may not work). They send the seller a letter saying that they have the money and will forward the money when the gear arrives and has been inspected, the only alternative being to send the speakers back.  Probably a similar cost with the lawyer if they do other stuff for you.

I wouldn't buy from a person with zero feedback without using some sort of escrow.

@elliottbnewcombjr , I am sure it was not easy to go through the whole shipping damage issue.  As you pointed out, the insurance is with the seller/shipper and is like a contract between them and the shipping company.  As a buyer, you really have little protection and are somewhat at the mercy of how the seller handles shipping issues, which goes back to feedback and dealing with honest and reasonable people.  Just another risk of buying used.  IMO, big speakers should be strapped to a pallet.

Don't do it.

The only time I ever paid with a cashier's check was to someone with a lot of feedback, who lives in a city where I have good friend who's be able to track that person down if we need to. And I spoke to him on the phone many times. I wouldn't do it. 

Another consideration/situation I ran into regarding UPS shipping Insurance.

I bought JVC TT81 in large Plinth, shipped from Canada. I requested and paid for enough insurance.

It came destroyed, seller had listed 'Vintage', and UPS said, oh, we don't insure Vintage (even though they sold the insurance, denied the claim. Luckily, seller gave full refund (he had packed it in an ols box, not double boxed.

And, because seller bought the insurance (even though I paid him that cost), he had to make the claim, and he coulsd not start that until it got back to Canada, even though UPS USA Damage Claim had inspected it in a regional office here.

New boxes, double box, no description 'vintage'.

Nah

Ditto, so many of the earlier posts.
This "deal" has DON'T DO IT screaming from it.

FWIW I had a terrible experience selling with with Escrow.com.I used them because I had no feedback and figured escrow would give the buyer some piece of mind. Awful instructions and poor customer service. Eventually the buyer canceled the transaction. Luckily he was willing to complete the sale using PayPal. 

I would inspect them first and then the seller would have to guarantee them against defects.

Don't be a Rube.  This deal stinks of a rip off.

I had the same experience. The person was a genuine first timer all was good. The second time not so good.
After that I have learned to walk away.
If you can pick them up and give them a listen ,you decide. If not hold onto your cash and wait for another pair

USAM has a "Payment Method" line item on their posted sales listings.  It is the seller's choice how they want to receive their payment.  If a cashier's check was the payment method requested by the seller, then you are welcome to ask whether they will accept another method, but you shouldn't be surprised if they say "no."  If the seller had other payment methods listed in their ad, but will now only take a cashier's check, then you have a different problem.

When purchasing a used item from an unknown seller there is no way to receive the "protections" you receive when you purchase from an authorized dealer.  When buying used, you are incurring higher risk for the benefit of paying a lower price.  If you cannot accept the risk, then purchase from a dealer. 

Buying used speakers carries more risk than buying other gear used IMO, because the condition of speakers is more likely to be disputed due to small dings etc. that may be a big deal to some but not to others, and also because of their sensitivity to shipping damage.  Without the assurances that come with positive feedback, your perceived risk increases with respect to how the seller would handle issues such as insurance coverage, a return related to shipping damage, or other potential conflicts that go along with buying used gear.  The risk is less for the seller since they already have your money. 

Audiogon's long-time feedback process and documentation can provide greater perceived protection (that you are dealing with a trustworthy individual), and IMO (regardless of what some say) PayPal does offer some protection from fraud and goods that are not as-advertised - not perfect but better than a cashier's check.

Pass on the sale, other opportunities will come along.

PayPal is not always protection.

IF there is an invoice for goods (i.e. specifically naming the speakers), then you have PayPal protection.

IF you just pay via PayPal, without an invoice, it is 'sending money to friends or family', with ZERO protection.
.....................................

Seller pays a fee to PayPal when selling goods. You can offer to pay the $4,000. plus the fee via invoice thru PayPal.

If seller still refuses, I would walk away.

This is a common scam, don’t do it!!

kjohn1234 OP

Tell him you'll pay the Paypal fees on top of the $4000, if he doesn't do it then forget him, he's a scammer.

Cheers George 

Zero. Feedback, wants a cashier’s check? This deal has SCAM written all over it! 

Ask yourself this simple question: why isn't he willing to accept paypal ? 2/3% overhead over a 4K deal ? This one stinks . . . .

Buy them in person or don’t buy them at all.

Don’t do it!

Yes if you live within say 500 miles, maybe you could split the drive  with seller, pay in cash. Seller has to give $100 for drive fees

Quite simple, Don't get obsessed over 1 particular speaker for sale, Move on to another speaker or wait til another pair  becomes avaliable. 
Paypal offers some protection. I would never ever send a  cashiers ck for anything audio. 
I only use paypal

How close to you does this seller live? If no shipping is involved I think Misstl has it right above. Plan to pick the speakers yourself and bring cash to his house after you make sure he doesn't live in a dicey part of town. If you like them after inspection/listening, help him load them onto your vehicle, then pay him and drive home. I’d like to see his receipt for them too from when he purchased them originally, just to be sure they are not stolen merchandise. Having had worked 25-30 years in Corrections, I can assure you there are an awful lot of crooks and con-men out there.

Mike

I had an instance when a seller refused to use PayPal due to it's fees.  I offered to add the Paypal fee to the asking price and we did the deal that way.  I refused to do the deal w/o protection and was willing to pay a premium for that protection.

The answer to the OP's question is: through the nose.

Sometimes the seller will have a validated profile on eBay or audiogon so ask him that. Otherwise escrow.com 

Don't do it! 
I had a deal for a lot less money ($650) and the dude ripped me off.

RUN

RUN FAST

RUN FAST AND FAR

I don't like using PayPal to sell expensive audio components and I usually don't ship anything expensive or heavy either. I'd rather the buyer come to my house to see if the item works/sounds right for him and then pays me cash. I've had people drive 1000 miles to pickup and 150lb turntable and 150lb speakers because even with the original boxes, I won'y ship. 
Paypal is for the buyer most of the time and if the buyer receives the product and doesn't like it, then he can go to PayPal and request a refund and usually get it.
When I ship overseas, the buyer must use PayPal friends and family because once the product leaves the states, I don't want to be responsible because of customs

@lalitk +1

escrow.com is a great service but doesn't cost any less than PayPal. It seems to run about 3% as well. If the seller will not pay for one or the other service, and it makes financial sense,  offer to pay the fee yourself. If seller still says no, run!

I came across a seller who had a great price on a Shunyata Research Triton v1 and typhon.  He then made up excuses on why he didn't want to use paypal and said "I'll just send them to you and when it arrives, send a check".  Weeks went by and after a few calls he ghosted me and then I saw it listed again at the same price.  I reached out and asked what was up?  He then face-timed me showing his mansion and finally said "We are humans and you are going to have to trust me and just send me a check and I will ship to you".  Mind you, he had three feedbacks from four years ago - I figured he was couch surfing at his brother's pad and tried to milk me out of $2400.  Gave me a good laugh.

@kjohn1234,

You can use Escrow.com to complete the sale. There is a small fee involved but atleast this gives you peace of mind against any possible fraud or defective merchandise. 

https://www.escrow.com/learn-more/how-escrow-payments-work/how-escrow-payments-work

If seller refuses to accept payment via escrow, I would walk away from this deal. 

See how trustworthy humans are. Who do you really trust? Why are we like this. Is i that there are too many thieves out there or are we all thieves under certain circumstances. 

Unless I could listen to the speakers in person, I wouldn't consider sending a cashier's check to somebody prior to having the speakers in my possession. And, $4K isn't something that would warrant such demands.
From my days of buying/selling watches, I have seen numerous posts about cashier's checks being bounced, as well as wire transfers. 
Unfortunately, we live in a world where a few bad actors spoil online buying, so I guess the seller is trying to protect himself.
One possible course of action is to ask if he has an Ebay, USAM, or Audiogon account, and you would be able to see if he has positive feedback.
B

Another don't do it. You send cashier check, he ships speakers, they get damaged in transit (speakers & heavy amps take the biggest hits in shipping). You think he'll take them back? 
 Paypal payment,  seller is responsible for delivering item as described.

Escrow, or COD and inspection upon arrival, if not, then no No deal! That is a gentlemans agreement. Shipping is the only thing lost...

I had a guy show me one speaker twice, the other speaker was a hatchet job... He thought he was clever.. Be aware... He had them loaded on my truck.. when I noticed all kinds of things on ONE speaker.  It had been dropped... I was hoppin', I mean HOPPIN'...MAD... His next door neighbor was laughing his self into an attack.. I caught on real quick...

Out comes the pepper spray. :-)

Regards

I just sold a pair of speakers to a gentleman this weekend. He came over -- masks on -- listened to a couple of cuts. Agreed to buy the speakers and PayPal’d me the money.

There was an option on my end to perform an instant transfer of funds to my bank for an additional $10. Once the funds cleared, I helped him load out the speakers, box them up, and he was on his way.

I was leery of doing the whole Pay Pal thing and was strongly preferring cash or cashier check, but this really worked out well. He couldn’t of been a nicer cat either.

Bottom line...protect yourself and if your Spidey senses are tingling, walk away. Plenty of other opportunities out there.

Cheers,
Joe

Gee, I'm sorry but I found a better deal.

Just send the seller a quick email asking him if he'd accept UPS COD or an escrow service. I suspect his answer will be "no"...

It’s sad two parties can’t do a gentlemans agreement these days.

The honor system is a risky thing. I've done it in the past, but wouldn't now. 

There a a lot of speakers you can buy for $4K. If the person is being difficult buy something else. Especially for someone with no Feedback. This seller should jump through hoops to get a sale and some good Feedback.

Here are 3 online escrow companies licensed in California. Does not mean they're good just that they are licensed. 

https://dfpi.ca.gov/online-escrow-companies/

I wouldn't do the transaction otherwise.