Paying with a cashiers check? Need advice!

"So either use PayPal goods and services or PayPal f/f and use your credit card to pay..."

Does PayPal Friends & Family give buyer any protection? I thought, probably erroneously, that main differences are no fee and no protection. What is the benefit of regular PayPal when compared to Friends & Family?

Billzame:  while the behind scenes mechanisms might be slightly different.  But from the purchaser of the fear, it is the same.  It will be nearly impossible to claw the money back if it is a scammer on the other end. 

If you are set on McIntosh take a look at the listings from Audio Classics. You might find something that might fill your needs. A reputable dealer without the hassle of payment method!
https://www.audioclassics.com/cat?cat=Preamplifiers&p=1

If he can not take a Postal mo or regular check i would pass on this turkeys deal.

Just a bit of advice. Frankly, I only accept either a personal check that I ship when the check clears or, - - - a certified bank draft or money order, in which case I ship upon receipt.  Why, - -  I have been screwed over by Pay Pal more than once and I  refuse to use them any longer.

Now from your prospective, the easiest way to protect yourself is to request, or demand all of the personal contact and employment information possible from the seller. This way you will be able to do a "credit check" of sorts on the person to determine if he is what he says and reliable. Secondly, what kind of a seller record does he have with AUDIOGON. If it's truly 100% for a few years, you should not have a problem, but check him anyhow. If he is a first time seller on AUDIOGON, I would be very cautious and due your diligence when checking him out. 

If he balks at all of this then tell him to take a hike and move on. 

Never ever never ever NEVER pay anyone for equipment new or used with a check or money order of any type...EVER. You as the buyer have no protection this way. Always use a payment method that uses a credit card so if the transaction goes south you can dispute the charge. So either use PayPal goods and services or PayPal f/f and use your credit card to pay so you have their protection.  It doesn’t matter what the seller says. Asking for check is a huge red flag. If they persist and won’t do PayPal, run away fast and report them to Audiogon or which ever platform this is pertaining to. 

I see it a bit differently. Using Pay Pal or credit card provides almost no protection to the seller as the buyer can state any reason and Pay Pal or Credit card will side with him. So I routinely buy and sell big ticket ($5000 to $50,000) items via Bank wire transfer (which is as cash except if you prove fraud). and I save Pay Pal transactions as a seller to where I can afford the loss, such as under $2,000 with people with great feedback history. When I am the buyer via bank wire transfer I deal only with major companies or buyers with impeccable current feedback. And I always talk to the person and have a good feel either as buyer or seller before transacting.

I followed the link in tvad's post.  The seller says this "Certified bank check only. Pick up cash only and save shipping costs from Lambertville, MI. Will also meet up to 50 miles for a safe transfer."  (I don't see anything about Escrow.com but perhaps tvad saw more than I do.)  When you agreed to the sale I think you agreed to the terms.  If you are uncomfortable with the terms now the first thing you should do is ask Audiogon: What will Audiogon do if you back out?  What will Audiogon do if the item never appears or doesn't work properly? 

I would _never_ buy an item online with a cashier's check. The service PayPal provides is not just transferring money; it is providing some insurance to the buyer: if the item never arrives the buyer can file a claim with PayPal.  The seller may think PalPal is a nuisance - because it is a nuisance for the buyer - but it is not a nuisance for the seller.

BTW: A cashier' check and a certified check are not quite the same thing.  For a cashier's check you give the bank the money and they write a check from _their_ account.  Fora certified check, you write a check on your account and the bank sequesters the amount from your account but doesn't take it out until the check is cashed.  

Nearly $2 billion in consumer fraud per year in the US.

I sold a McIntosh amp to a guy by cashiers check more than 15 years ago. Today I marvel at the risk that guy took and how his nerves must have been waiting on it. He just sent that check out into the ether. I would never take that risk, personally. There is way too much used audio gear to be had to screw around with anything less than the safest methods. 

Cashiers check means you covered the check no matter what.....no guarantee of anything.

A cashiers check is the same as cash.   Don’t do it.  

Most people are honest, have faith in humanity. He's ok. Think how clean your hands will be from all the wringing they'll do waiting to see if ya got ripped off.  LOL

You are right DeKay, however he says he doesn't want to ship and wants cash in his back & forth with Mike.

He’s probably legit but I would pass. Btw, there’s lots of fake cashiers checks as well. The kicker is that it takes 10 days for you to find out. If you ever receive a cashiers check for anything, wait 10 business days before shipping merch. 

OK, now that we have the details, the payment method is listed as Escrow.com. The seller needs to agree with the terms of Escrow.com. If he insists on a cashier's check sent directly to him, move along.

Dill:

Lists PapPal on his other listing.

DeKay

Well, he has more feedback than the buyer has. Also lists escrow.com as another  payment option.

It says (Escrow dot com )on the ad you  perhaps he wants the cashiers check to be put in the Escrow account. 

The steps for using Escrow.com are outlined below:

1. Buyer and Seller agree to terms
2. The details of the transaction are added to Escrow.com
3. Buyer pays Escrow.com
4. Escrow.com verifies the payment; the Seller is notified that funds have been secured.
5. Seller ships merchandise to Buyer
6. Buyer accepts merchandise
7. Escrow.com pays the Seller
8. Escrow.com releases funds to the Seller once all parties are satisfied

150 sales, he should have an account on more than one message board. Communicating that way would be another step in the process. 
Seems legit if the sales were recent. My biggest concern is someone else is using the account after it was left behind for whatever reason. 
Good luck

Definitely a hard pass. Too much negativity surrounding this one.

Asking for a cashier's check is a legitimate request. However, if that was not specified in the original ad, you have a legitimate right to back out if you're not comfortable with it. 

Don’t worry about his listing fee. Since the transaction was not complete he will get to relist it at no charge. Been there done that!

If he’s old school he should take a personal and ship when it clears. If that is not good for both of you pass.
If he doesn't poeesess the chops to get a PayPal acct. he will have to get out of the selling biz sooner not later. Has this time victim even heard of Zelle?
Maybe no bank account either.

Agreed that is the biggest bummer in the end. I do take my word serious but I’m not rich enough to take the risk just for my honor. The most I can think to do is offer to pay for his listing fee. 

Seller may be just fine and simply have his own ways. However, you obviously do not feel right about it so you should pass. How to deal with the promise you would buy and then walking away from it is a different question.

Most of us have been there. "If a deal seems too good to be true..."

So glad I asked you guys. Thanks so much for all your guys help. 

That’s the one

Anyone got one they want to sell for a bit over 2k? Lol 

The model is McIntosh c46. 

He can't give you a bad review since the sale was never done!

Walk away.

Bummer, but very glad you guys are available with sound advice. Would be bit of a nightmare if he scammed me. Am I kinda screwed as far as him being able to give me a bad review since I made him an offer accepting his terms? If so it’s better than being scammed I suppose.  And is there any truly safe way to deal with him if he is willing to accept payment differently. If there was I would like to give him the option I think. 

Tell him you’ll send the check after you receive the preamp and see that it works.

Pass.

Have sold some stuff here and on US AM and would never make a buyer do something that they were not comfortable with.

Don’t do it. I don’t think any legitimate A-goN user would have 50+ transactions and has not accepted PayPal. Read the feedback. If there is no mention of "he doesn’t accept PayPal" or "he required a cashier’s check", then there is your answer. Buyers would have at least mentioned it in feedback IMHO.

Move on. You are likely being scammed.

He would have to create an account I suppose. 

Lots of nice people go bad in the end. Don't do it. 
It almost sounds like you're trying to convince us to tell you it's okay. 

All the best,
Nonoise

I think I’m more concerned that he is who he says he is. But I could be crazy. Just know there are all kinds out there, and I’m nervous to drop 2k in the mail just on faith. But I do really want the preamp and the price is a bit below normal. Plus I impulsively already made him a official offer, if that really matters. I guess it does to me, but still nervous. 

If he doesn’t have an account how will he accept PayPal? Let it go!

You have the sellers phone number, name and address.  If he "breaks bad" he has a lot to lose reputation wise online or other for $2k...