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

    1. determine if it was damaged during shipping (to his house),
    2. power-up the unit and demo/confirm the functions. 
    3. verify the cosmetic appearance of the item
    4. verify that the correct item is in the box!
    5. 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!

inagroove

Do not buy from this seller…. find the piece from a real dealer or local seller you can verify 

 

chrisoshea: "Do not buy from this seller…. find the piece from a real dealer or local seller you can verify "

- read the OP's response at the bottom of page one.

@inagroove 

I too am glad it worked out and you got the piece you wanted

I have made some wild trips over the past 5 years on speaker runs 

As a buyer/seller that is also adament about Friends & Family...to all those critical, it works!  Establish confidence and trust in what you are buying and who you are buying from and have a little faith.  It also helps restore your faith in humanity.  

Glad it worked out, I own a Drumforum (yes I play drums..obviously)

and we have a hard and fast rule in our for sale section NO paypal Fand F allowed, If we see a listing with it, we delete it and contact the seller and basically give a warning. Most applauded the move a but a few objected, said we are involved with their sale, I quickly inform them this is NOT a democracy, it is a dictatorship, Me and the mods....make da rules....and we dont. have to explain ourselves etc.

Its not just the no protection, but like I said before, its ripping paypal off, you use the service, you pay for the service. Just my opinion.