The website Escrow dot com appears to be legit. Perhaps an option both parties can agree upon?
A Better Way to Buy Gear - Help Needed
** this is a Sale-Process question... not a Gear question**
Hi All:
I intend to upgrade my stereo this year and have located an item that I want to purchase. Unfortunately, there is a ‘snag’ -- the seller insists on receiving the money before I get to see the item.
With this introduction, I would greatly appreciate knowing your individual/collective experience and advice. Perhaps there is a solution!
About the Sale-Process:
The seller accepts only cash or PayPal Family & Friends: He gets the money before I get the item.
Because I would be without PP Buyer Protection, I would be stuck with any/all repair(s).
About the item:
The item is sealed in a box (NOS), so I cannot
-
- determine if it was damaged during shipping (to his house),
- power-up the unit and demo/confirm the functions.
- verify the cosmetic appearance of the item
- verify that the correct item is in the box!
- Condition is advertised = 11/10
The item is big, heavy and expensive. I have seen a photo of the box, but there is no meaningful information visible in that photo (e.g. company, make, model).
Additional information:
The seller lives in another State, a long way from my location. A visit would involve a flight (or a long drive) and day or two in a hotel.
The seller has a 95% rating.
To me, a good rating means that I am willing to engage with a seller, but it does NOT justify sending the money without verifying the item’s existence/condition.
My question:
Because I am not inclined to send cash up-front, is there a better way forward for this ‘money-before-gear’ type of sale?
Thanks in advance for your replies, and happy listening!
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- 62 posts total
@wturkey , great suggestion but my antenna agrees with the majority. A serious seller ought to know and keep on the well-beaten path of on-line major $ items on sale. If the r/t drive could be combined with something 'vacational' it potentially could be kept from being a total disappointment.... Given the situation, the sellers' paranoia or scheme isn't worth getting further involved with nor inciting yours. As Officer Brady sez: "Move along.....nothing to see here..." |
You said that the seller had a 95% rating. I pay for things in advance when I think the reputation of the seller is sufficient for me to trust them. If the seller has sold a lot of items or buys a lot of items, then that usually means that they are a good person plus they want a perfect reputation in order to keep buying and selling. A 95% rating doesn't tell me enough. How many ratings? What are the negative ratings about? Has the seller sold similar items and what is the seller's reputation on those similar items? If there are thousands of transactions and the complaints aren't really significant, I would consider the deal. If not, offer to pay via regular PayPal and you pay the fees. Some won't do that because of the IRS. |
- 62 posts total