buyer beware of late

I agree with Thanhn387

COD is an excellent way to insure a legitimate transaction with a zero feedback seller. Personally, I think FedEx has the best COD system (Air only, doesn't apply to FedEx Ground).

You can use FedEx "Express Saver" up to 150 lbs., the cheapest air service (3 day guaranteed). COD costs $4.50 more and here's what you get as a seller: Before handing over the item, FedEx will collect ONLY a certified or cashiers check from the buyer made out to you the seller. Ask the buyer for the bank's name, phone number, and the check number after he draws it so you can call the bank and verify its authenticity before delivery. FedEx will then overnight the check back to you (no extra charge) so you can deposit it the next day.

If you are the buyer, this is a way of assuring the seller that you have made the payment, that it is not counterfeit, and that he'll have it the next day.

Pesolar

I saw the Sonus Faber ad and it seemed way too good to be true.....if it was a scam it was cleaverly placed..

a woman (naive) selling off her late father (sympathy) old stereo gear.....

My apologies if this ad was legit, but it really seemed too good to be true.

I got burned a few years ago using Fedex COD to sell a laptop.

The crook gave fedex an obviously fake money order which they sent to me. I didn't look closely and deposited the MO. A few weeks later my bank called me and told me the money order was fake.

Fedex was useless. They say that they aren't responsible for verifying the authenticity of the money order (despite the spelling errors and runny ink).

Ultimately my homeowners insurance came through for me after a long investigation. It turned out that the receiving address was a crack house in detroit. They refunded my money, minus a deductible, as a theft.

I don't know what I would do differently in the future. Maybe I'd have a phone conversation with the person and see if I could confirm home or work phone numbers. It wouldn't hurt to ask for a fax of the money order as well.

Distortion - you caught that too? All of those speakers sold within a day of being listed, and ain't it amazin' that the deals apparently were closed w/ overnight shipping 'cause all of the feedback was also posted within a day. And I thought there was an almost uncanny similarity to the style of all of the feedback (you can only use just so many "+++" before even my old eyes notice a pattern). Simply amazing!

You would think that it shouldn't be too hard to implement a system that IDs those offerings and transactions. Even slEazeBay has those silly icons that warn you about a 30-day new user, and even they have caught "likely" fraud rings like this (although with some help). Yup, it's unfortunate but you do have to take a regular dose of paranoia pills and do your homework - and still get lucky.