Did I Almost Get Scammed by a TBer Trying to Buy My Bass?

Quadzilla · #1 09-15-2009, 06:53 AM

So, I put one of my basses up for sale a few weeks ago (1978 Precision - AWESOME PLAYER - Franken 4 CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!! ). A TBer with 0 feedback and only 1 post contacts me and says he wants the bass.

I was suspicious so I ignored his first PM for a day and then he sent another. The "I want to trust people" part of me tells me that he's just a lurker but really wants the bass, so why not be a nice guy and sell it to him and leave him his first positive feedback here on TB.

He's in Canada and wants to Paypal me the cash. A small red flag goes up in my head and I tell him that I want the funds via Postal M.O. or a cashiers check drafted in U.S. $.

He says OK. Later that eve I get an PM saying that he sent me a Canada Postal M.O. for $100. I hit him back asking about the remainder. He said that he thought the $100 would be a down payment and he could send the rest via Paypal. I tell him no and remind him that the agreement is for ALL of the funds to be in a Postal M.O. or Bank Cashiers Check in US $. That was the second red flag.

A couple says later he says he sent the remainder in another Canada Postal M.O. That was a couple of weeks ago. I've not seen the remainder and he is not responding to PMs even though he has been on the forum according to his profile.

I'm not sure if the original $100 Canada Postal M.O. has fully cleared yet. I know that international drafts, etc can take a while to clear and it makes me wonder if it was even a real M.O. (although it looked official). In any case, I put her back up for sale and if or when his original M.O. clears, I plan on refunding the cash back to him. Part of me says keep the deposit for all of the waiting and frustration but the guilt would prob get to me.

So do you all think this was a scam attempt of some sort? Seems very fishy to me.

Vakmere · #2 09-15-2009, 06:58 AM

No, I dont think it was a scam. He may have limited funds or just not that serious about the bass. I always get a phone number from a buyer no matter where they are and actually call to discuss the transaction. You can really get a feel for the deal that way.

**john turner** · #3 09-15-2009, 07:00 AM

considering how easy it is to do business between canada and the u.s. -the right way-, yeah, i'd say you dodged a bullet.

since this is not directly related to bass, i'm going to move this to OT.

bspot · #4 09-15-2009, 07:01 AM

Why are you leary about using Paypal? I use it frequently with ebay and it has never been an issue.

Doctor J · #5 09-15-2009, 07:03 AM

I've bought basses off TBers in the US using paypal. I don't understand why you'd be suspicious of someone from a different country attempting to use paypal

**baba** · #6 09-15-2009, 07:03 AM

I think it's a scam. You clearly stated a US Postal money or US cahiers check and he sent one from Canada. I never would have tried to deposit it, I would have just sent it back...I've actually done EXACTLY that before.

Keep in mind, even if the money order clears, the bank can come back a month from now and say sorry it was bad after all if something downstream doesn't check out. That's the beauty of the USPS Money Order...they scan it at the post office and either give you cash in hand or don't. Nothing ships until you have cash in hand.

Good luck Quad!

Quadzilla · #7 09-15-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bspot

Why are you leary about using Paypal? I use it frequently with ebay and it has never been an issue.

Because he had no feedback on TB and only 1 post. In Paypal disputes, Paypal almost always rules in favor of the buyer. So if he were to claim that he did not get the bass, they would prob refund his money and then I'd be out the bass and the cash. I can't afford to take that chance.

With TBers with good reputations and feedback, I have NO issue with using Paypal.

Jonyak · #8 09-15-2009, 07:04 AM

A canadian post money order can be sent in US$ or Canadian$.

Quadzilla · #9 09-15-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonyak

I am in canada and have bought stuff off here using paypal before. why is that a problem?

See post #7. Nothing to do with Canada.

Jonyak · #10 09-15-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadzilla

See post #7. Nothing to do with Canada.

ya I changed my post.. sorry.

it should not have taken that long for the MO to get to you. I have used them before and sent them in US$ and it has usualy taken no more than 5 days to get to the seller.

unless the guy is just lazy and took his time to send it.

**baba** · #11 09-15-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadzilla

Because he had no feedback on TB and only 1 post. In Paypal disputes, Paypal almost always rules in favor of the buyer. So if he were to claim that he did not get the bass, they would prob refund his money and then I'd be out the bass and the cash. I can't afford to take that chance.

With TBers with good reputations and feedback, I have NO issue with using Paypal.

Spot on.

vespasian1 · #12 09-15-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Spot on.

That's why you always require a signature, no matter what you are shipping.

Quadzilla · #13 09-15-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vespasian1

That's why you always require a signature, no matter what you are shipping.

and he could sign his name as "Mickey Mouse" or even if he signs with his name, he could still say he didn't get it and that somebody just read his name off the address label and sign for it using that name. I've never had a delivery person ask me for ID of any kind.

Stampy · #14 09-15-2009, 08:07 AM

I agree with being fishy about not having any feedback and having one post. I remember a time when I was new on talkbass with zero feedback trying to buy items. Some members were very hesitant because of me being new and no feedback I can see how it may look like a scam.

**baba** · #15 09-15-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vespasian1

That's why you always require a signature, no matter what you are shipping.

And what happens when the buyer tells Paypal that he got a box full of 2x4's instead of a bass? The point here is Paypal offers absolutely no seller protection. I, and many others, choose not to use them unless we are comfortable with other indicators that the buyer is legit. The USPS Money Order has absolutely ZERO risk for the seller if cashed correctly.

Paniconthenet · #16 09-15-2009, 08:40 AM

Being new to TB, how do I make my self easier to sell things to? I look through the classifieds all the time, but, have never bit the bullet and PM anyone for something. When I do, I would rather not have to go through the hassle just because my cred is low on here.

Quadzilla · #17 09-15-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paniconthenet

Being new to TB, how do I make my self easier to sell things to? I look through the classifieds all the time, but, have never bit the bullet and PM anyone for something. When I do, I would rather not have to go through the hassle just because my cred is low on here.

If you are selling and have no FB, then it's tough. Post it here and hopefully a local TBer will come by and buy it and leave you positive FB.

If buying, offer to send a US Postal Money Order and then you will get FB from the seller.

DWBass · #18 09-15-2009, 09:27 AM

I already knew that without any feedback it'd be hard to buy anything so I decided to sell a few things and get some feedback that way. Once I had a few positive transactions in the bank, then I decided to start buying.

iamlowsound · #19 09-15-2009, 09:43 AM

I had over 1000 posts before I ever bought something and I was already a supporting member. I had 0 feedback. I think we talked on the phone as well. Guess I didn't seem like that big of a risk.

lowsound

Quadzilla · #20 09-15-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I had over 1000 posts before I ever bought something and I was already a supporting member. I had 0 feedback. I think we talked on the phone as well. Guess I didn't seem like that big of a risk.

lowsound

Dealing with you was great bro! The point is that you had a lot of posts and I could get a feel for you by looking at your posts. This guy has 1 post....