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Saying this with reservation

DngBat7

Silver $$ Contributor
I’m saying this with a lot of reservation and concern. I hate judging anybody, ever. And know everybody has to start somewhere. But in the last week or so, I have seen a ton of stuff go up for sale, some of it expensive from people with 0 feedback, 0 likes and 0 comments. Also signed up in the past year. Not saying a few are not ligit, just don’t want to see anybody get burnt.
 
I’m saying this with a lot of reservation and concern. I hate judging anybody, ever. And know everybody has to start somewhere. But in the last week or so, I have seen a ton of stuff go up for sale, some of it expensive from people with 0 feedback, 0 likes and 0 comments. Also signed up in the past year. Not saying a few are not ligit, just don’t want to see anybody get burnt.
I have noticed the same thing.Like Ben said beware.Tommy Mc
 
I've seen it on other forums as well. New person 2nd post is " why can't i post in the classifieds?" Anyone that sends more money than they are willing to light on fire, to a new member, didn't really need the money too much.
 
First, part of the phenomenon is that this Forum is growing at a very fast rate -- faster than ever. It's not unusual now to have 30-40 new members in a single day. I know because I do a manual check on all new signups. With more new members there are more sales.

To protect yourself:

#1 -- Insist on an unusual Custom photo -- made to your specs.
For example say "send a photo of the scope sitting on a cereal box". If the seller doesn't really have the item, he can't generate that image.

#2 -- PHONE THE SELLER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take 2 minutes and phone the guy. In 95% of the problem sales that have occurred here, the purchaser didn't bother to make a phone call.

And no, a PM won't do. And no, a text message on your phone won't do. CALL THE PERSON on the telephone. Listen to their VOICE. Ask Questions. When you're on the phone confirm the physical address and ask some key questions to get an idea of this person's knowledge of what he's selling.

If you have ANY qualms DON'T BUY!!!
 
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I hate judging anybody, ever. And know everybody has to start somewhere.
Good point!

We all started on this forum with no trader feedback. But that doesn't mean we don't have a history that can help put the perspective buyer at ease. When I look to buy from someone with no trader feedback, I just do a more thorough vetting process. If things don't add up, I move on.
 
I love it when a seller w maybe one or two feedback count wants those w 50, 80, 100+ to jump through hoops.
 
^^^I totally agree with this and just recently had a relatively new member do this to me. When I ask him who was really taking the bigger chance in this transaction he never replied back.
 
I too have mentioned same as politely as possible replied to w degrees of obfuscation.

The other societal convention is " I send $$ first and hope the goods will follow. Same chance, same risk on either side but $$ sent first in the majority of the US.
 
I recently made a purchase that was North of $1000 quite a bit for a gun and some accessories. I got it on another forum but it was also advertised here also. New member to both forums, zero feedback and correspondence was next to zero while asking about the gun.

I didn't get the FFL person he was going to use for a while but wanted to send the money to get things rolling. I finally got an address for his FFL and looked up his address. It was in the same town so I called and he said he was familiar with the owner and had actually sold him the gun and a lot of the accessories.

Said there wouldn't be a problem so I sent the money still wondering how it would turn out. I'm an old school fella and probably way too trusting in today's way of buying and selling.

Everything turned out great, no problems at all other than the previous owner just wasn't big on correspondence.

Had a feeling, maybe I've been really lucky with all the guns and even old muscle cars I've purchased over the years online.

Hate when someone gets taken, I hate thieves or scammers. Hope everyone has such good luck, hate to have to be so careful but most members of these forums are standup folks.

Topstrap
 
Good point!

We all started on this forum with no trader feedback. But that doesn't mean we don't have a history that can help put the perspective buyer at ease. When I look to buy from someone with no trader feedback, I just do a more thorough vetting process. If things don't add up, I move on.
Speaking of vetting. I actually purchased a pretty expensive item recently from somebody with very little feedback and wanted a bank check or money order. I had the guys phone number and did a 10 dollar background check through whitepages. Everything he told me matched up. Name, hometown, etc... and luckily everything worked out. He would probably be upset if he found out I did it, but if I’m sending 1500 to someone that has no history, I don’t care
 
You have to protect yourself , forget about feelings. I try to buy from people who have a strong presence on this site. I have taken chances and got ripped off once and the other was a guy on here and bought a receiver, he didn't ship it, about a month later I tracked his mother down and explained the situation that her son was enjoying my money. # days later it arrived at my ffl. You just have to be super careful.
 
Yep. I've also noticed some higher dollar For Sale listings by virtual unknowns. No previous posts, no feedback and questionable command of the English language.

Keep your guard up, fellas!
 

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