I just sold an expensive PC to a
Vietnamese. Easy negotiations, fast pay and shipping address is a Vietnamese business in CA. As long as I get my $$, I'm good.
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.
Showing 5 responses by knghifi
When I sell, buyer feedback is not as important. I've sold to many with 0 feedbacks. I've had excellent transactions with many buyers but they just don't give feedbacks. As long as I get my $$, I don't care. When I buy, seller feedback is more important. I usually pay with PayPal to protect myself. People have to remember when you list an item for sale, it's a business activity so treat it as a business. As far as haggling, it's a culture thing. If you travel to Europe, Asia ... they expect you to haggle and nobody pays retail. |
I hate to say this but some people are just not business minded. They can't separate where hobby ends and business starts. |
lalitk OP115 posts02-12-2016 5:08pmknghifi..... where is the problem?With internet, there are no borders or clue who is behind the screen and on the keyboard. It's the new world so deal with it or stay off. I think it's great with a larger pool of potential buyers and sellers but have to more careful. I'm not advocating dealing with everybody including scrumbags. If you asked the right questions, suspicious of his representation and red flags, why did you deal with him?? Ultimately you made the business transaction so deal with it and learn from it. You can't blame global warming. Unfortunately sometimes we all have to learn from our mistakes. |
extravaganza205 posts04-06-2016 11:06amwell,not only audiogon,but on other hifi selling sites they are active.Sold speakers to them,after few days recieved offer on headphones:) As somebody mentioned they offer 10-15% less.They provide different name for shipmment address.I think they do that kind of thing to avoid custom taxes.They ask mark parcels as a 'gift' ,writte low value.I actually ask to do the same things sellers from USA,but not all agree,then custom ask provide proves,sites,paypal transactions, where it was bought and calculate 21% of price was paid,that is a lot You got nobody to blame but for yourselfs. Throw the clowns out of office and abolish the VAT, ... There are no free lunches and someone always has to pay. |