Question for you classifieds buyers and sellers

**jmattbassplaya** · #1 05-29-2011, 07:07 PM

Would you sell to someone who:

-has only been a member for less than a month
-hasn't filled out their profile
-has no feedback rating
-hasn't posted a single time on the forum
-has no other means of contact (listed in profile) besides PM

sandmangeck · #2 05-29-2011, 07:08 PM

Nope.

GeneralElectric · #3 05-29-2011, 07:11 PM

If they paid me with a USPS Money Order, sure.

JimB52 · #4 05-29-2011, 07:43 PM

One of the basses I sold in the classifieds had a potential buyer like that. I was totally put off when I saw that all his posts were related to the purchase of gear. Wildly disparate gear.

Selta · #5 05-29-2011, 07:58 PM

Depends. If they're paying by money order, talk to me over the phone and let me ship after it clears, I don't think I'd have much hesitation in it. I'd also be sure to get multiple means of contact (e-mail address, phone number, home address) and see if they can give you any verifiable references (even eBay is a start).

**cheezewiz** · #6 05-29-2011, 08:24 PM

I have, and it worked out fine. I did ask a lot of extra questions, but went ahead with the deal without a hitch. It was a worry though. Im not sure I would do it again.

oldrocker · #7 05-29-2011, 08:41 PM

Sell to - Yes
Buy from - No

Joe Nerve · #8 05-29-2011, 08:43 PM

If they don't give me a phone number and an email I won't sell to them. There's no reason for them not to.

**Staccato** · #9 05-29-2011, 09:35 PM

This would bother me, too...

That person is completely new to the forum and/or joined TB for the sole purpose of shopping, here. There's a wide variety of different people on this forum. I see people on this forum with thousands of posts & no TB transactions feedback.

**jmattbassplaya** · #10 05-29-2011, 09:53 PM

Thanks for the input so far guys. As if it needs saying, I'm currently dealing with a person who meets the criteria I just posted and, to say the least, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. He seems like a decent enough guy, but considering he hasn't invested time or money into this website he has nothing to lose by scamming someone either.

**pacojas** · #11 05-29-2011, 09:54 PM

i joined TB, with the sole intent, to buy a bass. i was the only one who was nervous. the guy walked me through without a hitch!

Joe Nerve · #12 05-29-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Thanks for the input so far guys. As if it needs saying, I'm currently dealing with a person who meets the criteria I just posted and, to say the least, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. He seems like a decent enough guy, but considering he hasn't invested time or money into this website he has nothing to lose by scamming someone either.

How come you don't just ask him for a phone number? If he doesn't give it, you don't sell. If he does, talk with him a while and you'll know whether or not you should sell. Also get a postal money order.

jp58 · #13 05-29-2011, 10:08 PM

I wouldn't do it as I've been scammed when I was trading on another forum (pbnation is a bad bad place), but my opinion has been forever biased since the incident.

**smperry** · #14 05-29-2011, 11:03 PM

I've sold items to people like this before, with no problems yet (knocks on wood).

coreyfyfe · #15 05-30-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldrocker

Sell to - Yes
Buy from - No

This. I had a guy find a bass I had listed here through a google search. He signed up, contacted me, and paid for it through paypal. Transaction went smoothly though as he wasn't a regular user he never came back and did the whole feedback thing.

capnjim · #16 05-30-2011, 01:22 PM

I had the same thing, I gave him my phone number and said give me a call and I never heard from him.

warwick.hoy · #17 05-30-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

I've sold items to people like this before, with no problems yet (knocks on wood).

I've sold to a noob once before (no feedback) and was apprehensive about it,...but I just communicated with the guy, let him know my tentativeness and he was understanding.

Deal went through without a catch (paid with Paypal). People with 0 feedback gotta start somewhere.

carl h. · #18 05-30-2011, 01:33 PM

What's to be tentative? You get your payment - confirmed (I don't trust paypal - cash or U.S. postal money order for me)- you ship the bass. What's there to worry about - the money might be stolen?

warwick.hoy · #19 05-30-2011, 01:44 PM

People are clever. FWIW I sold a pedal so I wouldn't have been out much money,...but at the same time I didn't want to get scammed.

I'm sure a lot of people deal in basses without issue but I would never buy a bass long distance,...nor sell one long distance. I like to try before I buy,...and shipping a bass just seems problematic.

The ebay way to scam is,...the buyer pays for the item via paypal,...receives the item,...files a not as described complaint with paypal,....get's refunded the money,...doesn't return item. At least that's what I've gleaned from numerous discussions on the topic here on TB.

I think that scam is a lot less common outside of ebay as paypal doesn't offer nearly the same buyer protection as it does on ebay. Sellers are almost never protected by paypal.

The point is,...it's better to be safe than sorry. If you open up a line of communication you can usually determine whether or not the buyer is trustworthy.

A-Step-Towards · #20 05-30-2011, 01:48 PM

I have sold to a ton of people like that , so far no problems.