Sellers Beware!!!

I would like to share some of my recent findings made while selling a pair of big high dollar ARC 610T amps. First, I can tell you there are a lot of BS folks out there placing low-ball bids from accounts with no feedback. I even ended up having to block several from bidding because they wouldn't stop when contacted. When you do penetrate a layer further (analyzing their email message header, etc.) on some of these folks you will find they are not who or where they claim to be. The anonymity the Internet, and that which Audiogon provides, unfortunately lends itself to this type of misuse. So, just be aware and try to know who you are dealing with. Additionally, I was horrified as I researched the many ways a seller can be scammed. PayPal is absolutely not on your side as a seller! If the buyer claims he never received a shipment, you may get charged back the full amount, even if you have moved the money out of PayPal and can show shipping paperwork. Cashiers checks are also apparently a big risk these days too. If the check is drawn on a bank besides the one where you are cashing it, the bank won't be able to tell if it's good until it goes to the clearing house, which may take a day or a week. Moreover, once the check clears the bank may still hold a portion of the money additional time per their internal rules, maybe weeks. If you receive a bad check and cash it, the bank will come back to you for the money once the check hits the clearing house and is returned and it could be up to you to prove you didn't do it on purpose. The safest way I have found to do business, is to establish a rapport with the buyer and know who you are dealing with as much as possible. Then, especially if the deal is high dollar, have the buyer obtain and over night a cashiers check from a national bank where you can go cash the check at a branch on your end immediately. I have accomplished this from start to finish in less than 24 hours.

Agreed, the bottom line is there are just too many ways that we can be scammed, especially with the technology that's available today.
If the buyer doesn't have good feedback and isn't willing to build a rapport and talk on the phone, you run the risk of a possible problem.
With that said I have had dozens of successful selling transactions in multiple countries.
"Sellers beware, use common sence and if it seems to good to be true it's probably isn't true"

I have had many successful International dealings as well.

However, the key to a good International transaction, is knowing upfront that it is an International transaction.
Transparency between buyer and seller is a pretty important aspect for a pleasant transaction. That means that the onus for communication, and asking the proper questions lies on both parties.
In my 'unpleasant' transaction, the buyer didn't lie to me. I just never asked where he was located. I assumed that a USA address meant a USA transaction. As I said earlier, lesson learned. As  a seller I just need to ask more questions.

Unpleasant transactions are a part of life. I recently just had one as a buyer, sending a International wire transfer and having $340 just magically disappear in exchange rates.

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.
Just keep your eyes open.

I limit myself to local sales, and then only to Playboy Bunnies.

The bear always gets you, sometimes deceiving you into the opposite. But you win in losing so things are great.