Local pickup for speakers - should I let the buyer in the house or use the the garage?

@allenf1963 

First, I am very sorry you had to suffer this encounter with random violence. Something similar happened to one of my kids recently. 

As situations go, carjacking doesn't have much in common with selling audio, other than the fact that some people will want what you have and might shoot you while taking it.

Where I grew up, a paranoid mindset could help you go through your childhood and teenage years relatively unscathed. But the circumstances warranted it, whereas defense mechanisms activated in the absence of credible threats are a hindrance and a liability.

Folks who demand copies of buyers' drivers licenses and other nonsense (assuming they're actually serious) are driving good buyers away. Unless they're selling their stuff at such a discount that it makes sense to jump through the hoops, however ridiculous those might be. 

As far as guns, even if one is carrying it doesn't make much sense to pull a piece on three armed guys unless one is a really, really, really good shooter. So there's that. 

I don't think selling audio is a particularly high-risk activity, which doesn't mean it's absolutely completely 100% risk-free. "Trust but verify" is always a pretty good attitude.

1) Ask for some bona fides (eBay, Facebook marketplace, etc....i.e. feedback).  No online presence is no invite home. If google dosen’t know you, you’re likely not real these days.

2) There’s not much difference between a garage in you house and a living room.

3) Get traceable info on him (phone, maybe even adress) before meeting

I’ve only been burned once, guy got agressive when I wouldn’t lower price, I walked him out thru the garage. Ended up calling cops when he threatened me after I discovered his girl friend was trying to buy the same turntable via texts). 

These days I meet at the town center (police/fire/library) unless I’ve done the above as well as really hit it off online/on phone.  Cuts both ways since if I’m selling something (big, old guy) to a young woman, so police department parking lot can be comforting. 

@devinplombier -- Sorry about your child.  I hope they are ok.  As for pulling in my situation, I was smart enough to know the odds, and 3 vs 1 was not in my favor -- especially with the angles I faced (back to a car and 1 on each side and tbe third in front of me).  My cooler head prevailed and ended up winning.

I referenced my encounter because that was out in the open in a parking lot.  If people trying to get into gangs will do that, pulling a piece on you inside your house or garage is a cakewalk.  Unfortunately, if criminals are not going to face the punishment they deserve or be given No Bonds after arrest, one must be very cautious when selling expensive gear out of their house.  Today’s criminals can easily determine if you are selling an amp that retailed for $20,000 or more, chances are you have other valuable items in your home.

Best wishes for your kid, and safe selling.

@larsman Between Two Friends why would one not accept cash.

Same as Friends will happily chink their glasses to the Toast Cheers to the point that the force is creating both drinks mix into each glass.

Trust is the Biggy, the individual (Buyer or Seller) when doing 'face to face' with unknown individuals,  has to shape their encounter to the point they have looked after their interest and welfare. 

If 'pindac' contacted about a sale item, there is an element of trust, simply due to the idea the name is quite familiar. If 'no forum history' or 'feedback history; contacted, the difference in trust between 'pindac' even though not known and the alternative 'no forum history' is vast and will be unsettling for quite a few individuals who have concern for their welfare.

Non Friends for the Seller - No Cash Reduces Risk - No Bogus Bills slipped into a Wad of Money!!! 

Non Friends for the Buyer - No Cash reduces Risk of Getting Robbed !!!

Non Friends for both Seller and Buyer - Bank Transfers are Instant - Monies are showing in accounts in seconds - A Transfer is as fast as counting the monies and feeling notes for texture and print fade.

Non Friends - Asks Females how Vigilant they are when in a Public Place where Drinks are part of the culture.

Individuals with an interest in self gain, have been spiking drinks with fatal potions and inebriant accelerants for Centuries.  

@allenf1963 Thank you. 

At the end of the day, I don't disagree with you. Arguably, the vast majority of the population are decent folks who don't present any risk to me, so I treat everyone accordingly, while looking for signs in the background telling me that maybe a particular person is the exception to the rule and I should be concerned.