I would like to share some of my recent findings made while selling a pair of big high dollar ARC 610T amps. First, I can tell you there are a lot of BS folks out there placing low-ball bids from accounts with no feedback. I even ended up having to block several from bidding because they wouldn't stop when contacted. When you do penetrate a layer further (analyzing their email message header, etc.) on some of these folks you will find they are not who or where they claim to be. The anonymity the Internet, and that which Audiogon provides, unfortunately lends itself to this type of misuse. So, just be aware and try to know who you are dealing with. Additionally, I was horrified as I researched the many ways a seller can be scammed. PayPal is absolutely not on your side as a seller! If the buyer claims he never received a shipment, you may get charged back the full amount, even if you have moved the money out of PayPal and can show shipping paperwork. Cashiers checks are also apparently a big risk these days too. If the check is drawn on a bank besides the one where you are cashing it, the bank won't be able to tell if it's good until it goes to the clearing house, which may take a day or a week. Moreover, once the check clears the bank may still hold a portion of the money additional time per their internal rules, maybe weeks. If you receive a bad check and cash it, the bank will come back to you for the money once the check hits the clearing house and is returned and it could be up to you to prove you didn't do it on purpose. The safest way I have found to do business, is to establish a rapport with the buyer and know who you are dealing with as much as possible. Then, especially if the deal is high dollar, have the buyer obtain and over night a cashiers check from a national bank where you can go cash the check at a branch on your end immediately. I have accomplished this from start to finish in less than 24 hours.
Sellers Beware!!!
Folks,
I am wondering if anyone else here noticing the latest trend on Audiogon. I have been approached by buyers in Vietnam to buy my listings. I have gotten at least dozen offers in last month or so, they are pretending to be US based buyers, with US address and do not disclose their actual location until you have accepted the offer. I have already declined two confirmed offers as soon as I figured out their true identity. The US address being provided on Audiogon is either a local business shop run by Vietnamese native or a 'friend' address. I googled the address and called the local address listed on Audiogon. It turns out to be small business shop and the owner had no idea about the sale or the product he is about to receive in next 2-3 days.
The icing on the cake, the buyer gets bent of shape when you point out these last minute surprises and then try shift the blame on us that we are not very 'trusting'. Go figure!
I am outlining some of the things that were common in my dealings,
1. Broken English (sorry no offense)
2. 12-14 hour delay between communications
3. Start off with low ball offer and then agrees to pay within 10-15% off of your asking price
4. Unusual delay in receiving payments, they tend to apologize profusely and blame PayPal for delay
5. They will ask you to 'absorb' PayPal fee due higher percentage charged by PayPal on intl. transfers
6. Negative, neutral or no feedback
7. The address in their Audiogon profile will be either in west cost (CA) or east coast (NY).
This thread is not intended to target a certain race or nationality, the sole purpose of this thread is to create awareness against the 'sneaky' buyers. I welcome all buyers, domestic or international and wish them a hassle free buying and selling experience on Audiogon.
I am wondering if anyone else here noticing the latest trend on Audiogon. I have been approached by buyers in Vietnam to buy my listings. I have gotten at least dozen offers in last month or so, they are pretending to be US based buyers, with US address and do not disclose their actual location until you have accepted the offer. I have already declined two confirmed offers as soon as I figured out their true identity. The US address being provided on Audiogon is either a local business shop run by Vietnamese native or a 'friend' address. I googled the address and called the local address listed on Audiogon. It turns out to be small business shop and the owner had no idea about the sale or the product he is about to receive in next 2-3 days.
The icing on the cake, the buyer gets bent of shape when you point out these last minute surprises and then try shift the blame on us that we are not very 'trusting'. Go figure!
I am outlining some of the things that were common in my dealings,
1. Broken English (sorry no offense)
2. 12-14 hour delay between communications
3. Start off with low ball offer and then agrees to pay within 10-15% off of your asking price
4. Unusual delay in receiving payments, they tend to apologize profusely and blame PayPal for delay
5. They will ask you to 'absorb' PayPal fee due higher percentage charged by PayPal on intl. transfers
6. Negative, neutral or no feedback
7. The address in their Audiogon profile will be either in west cost (CA) or east coast (NY).
This thread is not intended to target a certain race or nationality, the sole purpose of this thread is to create awareness against the 'sneaky' buyers. I welcome all buyers, domestic or international and wish them a hassle free buying and selling experience on Audiogon.