The following is a modified guide to buying from this forum, or online, in general. Long story, short...
Approximately $40 in gas...
About the same in tolls...
12 hours total drive time...
... with nothing to show for it, as a result of a misinterpretation of a post, between interested buyer (me) and seller. Always finding something positive, I now know where Harrisburg, PA is...
When You've Found an Item to Buy:
1. Vet the seller. If the only information you have is what's presented in the seller's profile, it's your call. A username and general location will probably net whether the seller is selling multiple items, but not that he/she has multiple personalities.
2. Communication. So important, this one. To alleviate misunderstandings, which are all too present with text, e-mails, forums, etc, exchange phone numbers. In this day and age, you don't want to give your personal info to just anyone, but a phone number usually helps bridge the gap between buyer and seller, as to what the true intentions are of each.
3. Know the product. Check if the price is right. Ask detailed questions about the item you want to buy over multiple emails or calls. If the seller seems hesitant about providing the info, you may want to continue your search elsewhere.
4. Meet in a public location, such as a bank or coffeeshop, or better yet, a police precinct or a Guitar Center.
5. Bring a friend. Probably not a bad idea. Bring a chessboard, too... You can pass the time, while you wait for the seller to show... that is, if he/she ever does.
6. Kick the tires, or in our case, jack it up and crank it to '11'. Money hasn't been exchanged, yet, so the decision still resides on your side of the fence. Ensure you're getting what the seller advertised. In any case, the best case scenario exists when both the buyer and seller are mutually satisfied with the transaction.
Approximately $40 in gas...
About the same in tolls...
12 hours total drive time...
... with nothing to show for it, as a result of a misinterpretation of a post, between interested buyer (me) and seller. Always finding something positive, I now know where Harrisburg, PA is...
When You've Found an Item to Buy:
1. Vet the seller. If the only information you have is what's presented in the seller's profile, it's your call. A username and general location will probably net whether the seller is selling multiple items, but not that he/she has multiple personalities.
2. Communication. So important, this one. To alleviate misunderstandings, which are all too present with text, e-mails, forums, etc, exchange phone numbers. In this day and age, you don't want to give your personal info to just anyone, but a phone number usually helps bridge the gap between buyer and seller, as to what the true intentions are of each.
3. Know the product. Check if the price is right. Ask detailed questions about the item you want to buy over multiple emails or calls. If the seller seems hesitant about providing the info, you may want to continue your search elsewhere.
4. Meet in a public location, such as a bank or coffeeshop, or better yet, a police precinct or a Guitar Center.
5. Bring a friend. Probably not a bad idea. Bring a chessboard, too... You can pass the time, while you wait for the seller to show... that is, if he/she ever does.
6. Kick the tires, or in our case, jack it up and crank it to '11'. Money hasn't been exchanged, yet, so the decision still resides on your side of the fence. Ensure you're getting what the seller advertised. In any case, the best case scenario exists when both the buyer and seller are mutually satisfied with the transaction.
