Audiogon is becoming the hub for scammers.

I am new to Audiogon and until now I have relied on it solely as an informative discussion forum for audio equipment owners and users to discuss the various pros and cons of THIS versus THAT brand of gear.

I have learned a lot here that I probably would not have ever found out about had I not discovered Audiogon.

I have audio equipment which I would like to sell, but until now I didn’t know Audiogon is also used as a venue for buying and selling used equipment.

I’ve always thought eBay was THE one-and-only go-to place for buying/selling second-hand items of any kind, be it antique silverware and chinaware, vintage clothing or old phonograph records, etc.

I like the idea of selling audio equipment here, because it’s being directed at a focused specific audience, rather than at the broad, generalized kind of audience that you find on eBay.

Seems to me anyone wanting to sell or buy equipment here must first register with Audiogon, same as we have to on eBay - as well as be a registered PayPal user, because PayPal is at present the best way to guarantee that neither the buyer nor the seller is cheated or scammed. A seller doesn’t get his money until the buyer has received his goods and is genuinely satisfied that he’s gotten what he was promised. Vice-versa, a buyer doesn’t get his goods until the seller has received his payment in full. This is the only fair and right way to do business with complete strangers.

It’s hard to be scammed if we abide by these rules and do our due diligence.

Never had an issue with either Audiogon or US Audiomart.  That said, I always did my homework on the sellers or buyers.  Also, if anything seemed a bit odd regarding the transaction, such as involving a 3rd party or something like that, I cut bait.   

 PayPal is at present the best way to guarantee that neither the buyer nor the seller is cheated or scammed. A seller doesn’t get his money until the buyer has received his goods and is genuinely satisfied that he’s gotten what he was promised.

It doesn't work that way, never has. What you are describing is an escrow service, which PayPal is not. As soon as the money is in your PayPal account you have access to it even before you ship. You can use it to buy other things or transfer it out to your bank.

The buyer can come back and file a claim if not satisfied and PayPal can take the money back, but PayPal does not hold it until the buyer states they are satisfied. 

I'm currently waiting for the buyers bank fraud investigation findings. (I sold the goods here in December).

Buyer claims that they did not make the purchase, this was after the buyer received the goods. The bank via Stripe took back the money, this cost me an additional $134. 

I'm down two thousand +/- and I don't have my goods. (Buyer does not respond).

Don't know if the bank will be impartial?

Audiogon and Stripe cant do much for me, its up to the bank.

The buyer was a member only a few weeks before the purchase, do we need to avoid new members?

I have had nothing but good experiences with buying (and selling) equipment here. I personally don't think that AudioGon has nor should take on responsibility for policing its members, other than to actively mediate a dispute if possible, and ban those who are involved in any sort of fraudulent conduct if satisfied that there was in fact fraudulent conduct and not some misunderstanding or dispute.  If they take on the responsibility for "policing" members, then they are exposed to liability if the make an error.  I, for one, always check feedback before buying equipment, make sure that I have a phone number and email that is really the seller's, see how they respond during the purchase process and use PayPal or even some escrow service for a high-priced purchase.  Even those with perfect feedback can go south, but it is much less likely.  I like AudioGon and I don't think that it is any more of a "hub for scammers" than any other online marketplace, and probably less so than most.