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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. 

128x128lalitk

Showing 5 responses by lalitk

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,102 posts
 
dweller, I am concerned with the 'intent' of buyer and round about ways to obtain a merchandise with fictitious address. Why not be open about it and deal with International fees and paperwork.  

And who will be on the short end of the stick if buyer refuses payment for any number of reasons. Buyers as you know it, enjoy great protection from credit card companies and funding banks, in case of international transfers. 

As a seller, you have to protect yourself against the unscrupulous offers and deals. 


lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,102 posts
 
I am A-ok with shipping to buyers identifying themselves as international buyers and introducing their agent in US prior to the sale.  

The two transactions I dealt with, they did not identify themselves as international buyers nor did they identify local personnel as their agent.  


lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,102 posts
 
knghifi..... where is the problem?

The problem lies with people being not upfront and honest. How would you treat a 'business deal' where buyer is coming across as 'sneaky'.  This gentlemen i dealt with had different email addresses, negative feedback, 3rd party paypal account, the shipping addresse had no knowledge of the shipment. Not to mention the additional loss of 1% in PayPal international fees. 

1 + for jmcgrogan2. 

   
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,102 posts
 
Thank you all for your feedback!
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,102 posts
 
nguyenson123, 

Thank you for your feedback.  

"Music has no language barriers. It's just music, you could just listen to it and feel it"

The purpose of this post to create awareness against buyers that are not upfront and honest. The two individuals I dealt with did not disclose their true location nor they had any designated professional agent appointed to negotiate deal or facilitate shipment. So I end up absorbing high Paypal fees. On another instance I was given an address where the addresse had no clue that he is acting as an agent or about to receive an merchandise. Not to mention the time I spent haggling for price back and forth. 

To my point, it's only fair that all international buyers should disclose the logistics before entering into any negotiations with the seller. 

I just sold an item to a International buyer, he started off with, I live in .... interested in buying my item, would you be willing to ship the item if I take full responsibility of all the international shipping and custom fees. Guess what, It took less than 48 hours to complete the sale.  

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