Members with No Feedback

I have had offers in the past three months from people who had only been members for a day or two, and the offers were weird. In two cases, I let A'gon know, and in those cases and one other the "member" was booted within the day. It seems A'gon is doing pretty good at identifying that type of scam. Regarding feedback, I believe it still has meaning especially when left by another longer-time member who you can trust, so I also look to see who has left the feedback. My personal limit is about $500 for no feedback folks, and only if they sound legit, preferrably if I can speak with them on the phone. I recently missed out on the CD player I have been looking for when a no-feedback member posted it at an unusually low price, and I offered to purchase it COD. Someone else took the chance and bought it, and it turns out the guy was legit. No regrets, everyone has their own limits on "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

And forget about criticising and advertiser.Money talks and when I posted something about a dealer wih a crap attitude (something all to common in luxury products where arrogance somehow to many people convinces the average person they know what there talking abou even when they don't) and after 25 clamored in to agree the thread go sqaushed.Hell I'll be surprised if this one doesen't.

But on topic I'd look to see if person can produce ebay feedback veritably (check the zip codes?).I always keep taking info for a sale if I am promised a check or ask for quick Paypal.Never stop taking buyers who inquire after sale because someone say's "I'll get you a check" you want back up.Buying well it gives me the heebie jeebie's but I sometimes send money to sellers with low feedback if it's money I can have held up indispute.I don't like to insult people but unless I see a decent amount of feedback I ask that I can use Paypal with a credit card even if I have to shell out 3% if I want protection when I buy a $1K or $2K or more piece of merch.And hen I say a Hail Mary even if I am Jewish.Funny you don't look Druish.
Chazz

some of the problems of dealing with "mail orders" is to buy locally. i think seller and buyer benefit from this type of transaction. feedback becomes less of an issue.

Keep in mind everyone that Audiogon is also the Stereophile Marketplace and I think that link attracts many new members. I like to think that when I started out more established members gave me a chance, I would hope most of us would do the same. I think that a little common sense goes a long way in preventing a scam. Insist on phone conversation, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, etc. I will agree that I find the inability to post links inexplicable, unless Agon ownership perhaps ran afoul of copyright laws or something? I'm no expert on Net legality, but maybe not all links are kosher? Anyway back to the original point, play it safe and keep your wits about you and you can safely expand your universe of possible trading partners.