I could either make $80, or I could get jumped. Details inside.

Flying on Frets · #1 05-19-2007, 08:16 AM

So here's hte story, copy/pasted from my myspace blog.

"About to make $80? or About to get jumped? Please read"

So here's the deal.

I NEED at LEAST $80, legally.

I met a guy at GuitarCenter last night who was getting into bass guitar. He said he didn't want anything fancy, he just wanted to have whatever he needed to get started

He mentioned he just got out of jail..."parole violation"..

I'm like: ....k
He's like: lol don't got no amp or bass LoL!
I'm like: well u no, i could give you MY OLD AMP and whatever the COARDS you need for about $80...
He's like: LOL SOUNDS GOOD BUT I NEEDE IT WITHIN THIS WEEKEND!
I"m like: I'll see what I can do, LoL!

So this situation is a bit sketchy; I don't know the guy at all. He's 21, he just got out of jail, tatoos all up his arm, but he seemed like a nice person.
I was nice to him.

Should I help him? I don't see why not.
Could I get jumped? Maybe, maybe not

I don't care as of now, the way I see it... I NEED $80 for the thing for my birthday. (Birthday money limit $200 or less, what I want is a new bass that's $279.99)

So here's what's going to happen.

I'm gonna take my chances, but I'm gonna be careful.

I'm gonna sell the amp to this guy in BROAD daylight OMFGLOLDUDE! By broad daylight, I mean, right in front of a grocery store at it's busiest hour(s)

My friends are gonna pull up a car and watch it all go down. My friends are in college so if anything weird goes on, they'll try to help.

So if I get jumped/shot/punched/painted with glitter it'll happen in front of potential witnesses.

Good plan?
Bad plan?

I don't care, I just want that $80.

Even if I get jumped/shot/beat/painted with glitter at least I got jumped/shot/beat/painted with glitter trying to help someone out instead of illegally trying to screw someone over.

Am I over-speculating/being too paranoid about this?

Possibly.

Jo6Pak · #2 05-19-2007, 08:20 AM

What makes ya think OMFGLOLDUDE will even show up? Funny post, by the way...

Zildjian106 · #3 05-19-2007, 08:29 AM

Very funny... sort of.

If your worried, is 80 bucks REALLY worth it?

Flying on Frets · #4 05-19-2007, 08:35 AM

$80...$80....$80...

Brad Johnson · #5 05-19-2007, 08:38 AM

Meet him at Guitar Center.

NKUSigEp · #6 05-19-2007, 08:41 AM

Well...I think you're a little TOO worried about it. Kudos on taking the precautions and if you're concerned about it then follow through as planned, but, some things to consider:

A cheap practice amp, even with cords and everything, is hard to sell therefore making it unattractive to potential thieves. I've tried to sell a practice amp and I couldn't get $50 for it even though it ran $199 new. And even if it is stolen, your $80 amp would only go for $10-$20 which isn't worth the risk of getting caught and going back to jail anyways.

A more likely story is that you'll set up the deal, show up that day, and he'll have flaked out if anything at all. If you're going to get $80 out of the deal though...DO IT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

Zooberwerx · #7 05-19-2007, 08:45 AM

For $80? If something smells fishy (which it does), I'd walk away. I don't care if you do have friends waiting in a car, things can go badly very quickly.

Take caution!

Riis

NKUSigEp · #8 05-19-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying on Frets

So this situation is a bit sketchy; I don't know the guy at all. He's 21, he just got out of jail, tatoos all up his arm, but he seemed like a nice person.
I was nice to him.

PS - maybe the "just got out of jail" part is a little scary, but tattoos all up his arm? Are you REALLY scared of people with tattoos?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 05-19-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Meet him at Guitar Center.

Maybe he's worried that at the merely scent of cash, the GC employees would be the ones that jump him.

Nothing really sounds sketchy- you're the one who offered him the amp and "coards" for $80. He was at GC to look to buy stuff- I can imagine if he was shopping for the items you offered to sell, you can assume that he wanted them in a short amount of time.

Flying on Frets · #10 05-19-2007, 08:51 AM

No no no no no. I was gnnna clarify that but I didn't want the post to get caught up in an explanation. I have nothing wrong with tatoos, all guys in my family have tatoos except for me, (i'm not yet 18, but if I get one, which i most likely will, I'll think about it for at least a year or two until I get it done. I don't want to regret a tatoo.)

I don't dislike peole for tatoos, but the whole "got out of jail", "healing tatoo on arm/already scarred or something, couldn't tell" just kinda gave off some vibes. I'm not one to stereotype, however, It just gave off some vibes, you know? Don't get me wrong, though.

4lPh4n0m3g4 · #11 05-19-2007, 08:58 AM

OP sounds paranoid to me.

IMO, a recently paroled felon is highly unlikely to go through so much hassle to rob someone for anything worth less than a $100. There are so many "easier" ways of obtaining cash illegally.

A few simple precautions should minimize any chance of being robbed or placed in harms way.

CrashClint · #12 05-19-2007, 08:59 AM

Have your friends descretely video tape the transaction from their car. Most video cameras have a decent zoom, just will not get sound.

Flying on Frets · #13 05-19-2007, 09:14 AM

Question:

This amp that I'll sell him is a Fender Frontman 15b that I got from my friend.

Is that a good price to sell it for? $80?
I don't want to rip off/make it seem like I ripped him off for the obvious reasons.

I have a boss distortion pedal (the orange one, i got it for like $40 or so) and I was gonna throw that in for free if $80 seemed too much for just the amp.

Good idea? Bad idea? What do you think?

jtc_hunter · #14 05-19-2007, 09:17 AM

Wear a large fanny pack on your waist, in front. Show up a few minutes late, like you are running behind timewise. Then tell him sorry about being late cause you were at the range practicing w/ your new Glock 21. Then make the deal.

4lPh4n0m3g4 · #15 05-19-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying on Frets

Question:

This amp that I'll sell him is a Fender Frontman 15b that I got from my friend.

Is that a good price to sell it for? $80?
I don't want to rip off/make it seem like I ripped him off for the obvious reasons.

I have a boss distortion pedal (the orange one, i got it for like $40 or so) and I was gonna throw that in for free if $80 seemed too much for just the amp.

Good idea? Bad idea? What do you think?

If it works for you, I don't see any reason why he should later become agitated about the sale. Seems to me a decent deal for both parties.

Munjibunga · #16 05-19-2007, 10:36 AM

Why even get mixed up with the creepy guy?

spc · #17 05-19-2007, 10:47 AM

Seems like you guys were having a good laugh...

anderbass · #18 05-19-2007, 10:58 AM

Here's something else to complicate your scenario:
He may want to plug it in and see if it even works, (I sure would).

If so, you guys could just go inside the Guitar Center
and have him try out one of their basses with your amp.

Joe Nerve · #19 05-19-2007, 10:59 AM

It would be way easier for him to steal $80 to pay for your stuff, than for him to steal your stuff.

All the worrying and planning you're doing isn't IMO worth the $80 either. If you put your stuff on craigslist you can probably get the same or more without all the hassle.

Finally, I don't think the guy would try to knock you sensless or risk going back to jail for a mere $80 or some bass gear. If you did go through with it my guess is all would be fine.

kserg · #20 05-19-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

PS - maybe the "just got out of jail" part is a little scary, but tattoos all up his arm? Are you REALLY scared of people with tattoos?

IMO, if he told you that, he doesn't mean trouble, just a warning. If i was to jack someone, I probebly would not want him knowing that. IMO it's save, but then again i am 6.3 370 pound big mofo.

Anyway, if he really wanted to jack you he probably wouldn't say anything about jail time. I mean it's nice that you are careful, just don't get overcareful and insult the dude.

Goodluck

Cheers

PS, tell the guy i said "lol".