Warning about buying items “listed for Sale” by Members.

[AdamG]

Always buyer beware. Ask to see proof they actually possess the item they advertise. Ask for more pictures of all sides. Another solid ask to protect yourself from people who are running false sales scams. Price is too low to believe. Item is in new or unused condition. No pictures or the use of stock photos and not of the actual item. The seller is a new member with a low post count. Ask where they are located. Then if still unsure, you can ask that a Moderator check to validate that they are from the general area they say they are.

Bottom line: Buyer beware. Always insist on insurance and use payment methods that afford the buyer some protection in the case no item ever arrives.

 

[McFly]

Came here expecting a story about someone getting burned, got burned with a life lesson from a moderator.

 

[RayDunzl]

"Warning about buying items from ASR"

Is ASR selling things now?

 

[AdamG]

"Warning about buying items from ASR"

Is ASR selling things now?

Good point. Title edited.

 

[egellings]

Too bad there is not some sort of a clearing house for sales of member items. The seller ships the item to clearing house and the payer sends the remittance to the same place. If the two are as advertised, they are both forwarded. There'd be a fee for the service. It would not be perfect, since a broken amplifier looks the same as it would not broken, but at least obvious scams could be thwarted, hopefully. If a scam is caught, the scammer faces legal action.

 

[AdamG]

Too bad there is not some sort of a clearing house for sales of member items. The seller ships the item to clearing house and the payer sends the remittance to the same place. If the two are as advertised, they are both forwarded. There'd be a fee for the service. It would not be perfect, since a broken amplifier looks the same as it would not broken, but at least obvious scams could be thwarted, hopefully. If a scam is caught, the scammer faces legal action.

Oh hell no! If we do that I quit!

 

[amirm]

That would add shipping costs plus paying for the expense of someone doing due diligence. The economics will not be there I suspect to do this.

 

[AdamG]

That would add shipping costs plus paying for the expense of someone doing due diligence. The economics will not be there I suspect to do this.

Plus it would transfer responsibility to you! Run away……fast!

 

[egellings]

It would be a service hired by the buyer, somewhat like an insurance of sorts. I do, however, agree that likely not enough people would use it to make it work. And then you'd have to trust the reviewer, too.

 

[Blumlein 88]

You don't do the shipping twice. What you do is an escrow service. You pay a 3rd party escrow service, they keep the money and when the buyer signifies he has item and is satisfied the seller gets paid. I'm not suggesting ASR start providing escrow service.

I don't know currently how things stand. There were a couple of escrow services for internet purchases a decade back. Seems one was for high end audio gear mainly. I've used them I think three times. Two at request of buyers and once as a buyer on insistence of the seller. Fees suck of course, but you do get piece of mind.

EDIT to add: I used this one once, and it is still in business.
https://www.escrow.com/

 

[Valhalla]

I suggest forum admins to make some changes to forum rules regarding this issue. Every sale thread should have at least one photo of the selling item with a piece of paper with username and date and something like "for audiosciencereview forum" written on it so everyone will know the seller is selling an actual item.

 

[AdamG]

I suggest forum admins to make some changes to forum rules regarding this issue. Every sale thread should have at least one photo of the selling item with a piece of paper with username and date and something like "for audiosciencereviewarts-express.com forum" written on it so everyone will know the seller is selling an actual item.

That’s a great idea for the potential Buyer to request. It is now part of the Buyer beware thread.

 

[Jim Matthews]

I suggest forum admins to make some changes to forum rules regarding this issue. Every sale thread should have at least one photo of the selling item with a piece of paper with username and date and something like "for audiosciencereview forum" written on it so everyone will know the seller is selling an actual item.

This is sensible.

The offending ads had been lifted from other sources and listed by a brand new member with no previous posts.

This predatory practice haunts every successful forum dedicated to stuff.

 

[preload]

Don't forget sellers can get scammed too. A buyer could make a false claim and obtain a cc charge back. Forum sales are the wild wild west in my opinion. I tend to prefer audiogon and eBay, and sometimes Reverb.

 

[Jim Matthews]

Don't forget sellers can get scammed too. A buyer could make a false claim and obtain a cc charge back.

Sellers can check a buyer's profile for duration on site, activity and any commentary on their character.

Credit card companies offer the same dispute process, regardless of platform.

 

[preload]

Sellers can check a buyer's profile for duration on site, activity and any commentary on their character.

Credit card companies offer the same dispute process, regardless of platform.

All very true. The only thing would add is that on ebay and audiogon you can also check a user's buying and selling history of completed transactions. Nothing is risk free, but if you're selling a $5,000 amp, and the buyer has 10 completed transactions in that price range, it may make it less likely for there to be false claims (particularly on audiogon, where buyers get feedback too). Of course, ebay and audiogon charge a fee for this "privilege."

 

[Taddpole]

Too bad there is not some sort of a clearing house for sales of member items. The seller ships the item to clearing house and the payer sends the remittance to the same place. If the two are as advertised, they are both forwarded. There'd be a fee for the service. It would not be perfect, since a broken amplifier looks the same as it would not broken, but at least obvious scams could be thwarted, hopefully. If a scam is caught, the scammer faces legal action.

Oddly ebay will do this for trainers/sneakers.

Saw a news article where they are testing high cost ones.

It's a weird world.

 

[Jim Matthews]

It's a weird world.

I've been clearly out of touch since I found out people collected calculators.
Hoarding is an odd affliction. If you're an aficionado, why not?

If you're staking your retirement on Beanie Babies, you're delusional.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/divorced-couple-goes-to-court-over-beanie-babies_n_6631598

 

[EdTice]

You can pay for things with PayPal goods and services. It's the technique I use. It costs the seller a small fee which I offer to pay. If there's a problem, PayPal has a dispute resolution process. It's not perfect (see how many complaints are out there). But it has worked for me in the past when sellers didn't deliver.

 

[gvl]

You can pay for things with PayPal goods and services. It's the technique I use. It costs the seller a small fee which I offer to pay. If there's a problem, PayPal has a dispute resolution process. It's not perfect (see how many complaints are out there). But it has worked for me in the past when sellers didn't deliver.

If you're in the US it may also cost you an IRS donation in 2022 and onward as PP and Venmo will send a 1099-K for goods and services sales totaling more than $600. I just sold some gear totaling 1k so sounds like I'm getting the form. There may be a way to mark it as non-income on the tax return not sure, but otherwise make sure to keep your purchase records so you don't get taxed extra on your hobby when you sell your stuff, usually at a loss.