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Paying with a cashiers check? Need advice!

So I have a deal set up for a new to me pre here on Audiogon. The issue is the seller only wants to excepts a certified bank check. I have never paid this way before and I am a bit nervous. He says all the right things almost to much honestly. He does on the other hand have fifty some positive reviews and I talked to him on the phone as well. Which is when I got a bit more suspicious after he offered me a deal on a disk player at below half market value. He seems genuinely nice but I’m sure the best scammers do. Is there any way to get extra insurance that everything is legit? And would you guys be ok with it being he has 50 positive reviews over nearly 20 year span?  Looking forward to people thought. And thanks. 
brylandgoodman
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
Also PayPal can be squirrelly too. A company went into my wife’s account and signed her up for a service. PayPal said they give access to some vendors to accounts if the person has done business in the past. They company said the service renewed quarterly, but they tried to put the transaction through at the year mark even though it was cancelled 6 months earlier. She had to prove she did not signup. Luckily the service could not provide any documentation. 3hrs worth of calls! We need a new way to pay. Needless to say my wife severed her PayPal account and informed the bank to prevent further transactions. Just a heads up. The big companies can be scammers too. 
audiorusty
270 posts
 
Have you looked into Escrow.com?

A true escrow company will protect both the buyer and the seller better than PayPal ever will.

If the seller is willing to use an escrow company you are good to go.
roundmidnite
4 posts
 
Pass. You have absolutely no recourse if things go awry. Offer to split the PayPal fee as a last resort. 
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,129 posts
 
PayPal or stripe , otherwise No  buyers protection.
bigkidz
3,381 posts
 
A Bank check is automatically debited from your bank account by the teller so the bank has no liability in the transaction once you walk away with the check.  Your account is debited period.  You can only place a stop payment on the check usually after 90 days.  So basically you can pay him instead through PayPal as a family or friend to avoid the fees as it should also be debited out of your bank account if you select that option.  I am not sure why he won't accept PayPal that way.

Using the Escrow is an option that I would present to the seller.  I believe you both need to register an account for this transaction.

Is there a local dealer in his area that you can call and pay a few dollars for where he can drop off the unit, get it inspected and shipped to you once you  pay the dealer his cut plus shipping costs and then the  dealer can hand the bank check to the seller?

IMO there is never only one special deal on something you may have to wait but they will come back up.

If you are so hesitant to do this then just pass on it.

Happy Listening.

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