p.9 #1 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
buschman068 wrote:
Is there a way to compile a list of known or suspected scammers list? As a member of 3/4 computer forums, they have a list of scammers for u to check.
This is a great idea.
p.9 #3 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
This is a great idea but having my personal ID stolen, I suspect it will NOT help. Dozens of accounts have/had/are being set up using my name & info and a few people were almost scammed! The financial portion of the fraud was resolved to date but it took months and still continues BUT the internet portion continues to this day and gets worse everyday!
It is a valid idea but the way the internet is today, uncontrolled-no privacy rights, I fear this would be for naught.
Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram(even though I am NOT on ANY social media sites-I still use a flip phone!)....all were notified by law enforcement/FTC/FBI to remove personal info. They SAID THEY WOULD...BUT IT IS STILL THERE!
As a pastor remarked in a sermon...."Evil will rear its ugly head, increasing tenfold everyday....evil comes as a lion...a load roar but fades into the night. What you lost will come back in some form." For me, it is too late.
Just my $.02 experiencing ID theft and personal ID fraud from seeming responsible, respectable websites. Once "they" have your info, that may be the end..only time will tell.
Dan
No need to respond please..Just FYI from experience.
p.9 #6 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
kcvideo wrote:
I received this pm from a buyer -
"Hi, I'm from Vancouver Canada but I make purchases from FM sent to Washington and then I go pick up. Are you okay with that?
Thanks"
Does anyone see a problem with selling to this buyer?
I don't know why they'd bring that up as a potential issue unless they want you to ship to an address different than what PayPal provides. In that case it's a problem and I'd avoid.
I've had some Canadian buyers who had things shipped within the US close to the border so they can save on shipping and duties. It's not totally unusual but I'd be a bit weary and refer to their feedback.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when receiving funds from accounts setup in currencies other than USD (I assume that's what yours is) the transaction fees are higher; IIRC 4.4% + $0.30, as opposed to the usual 2.9% + $0.30. Depending on how much you're receiving the difference can be quite substantial.
p.9 #7 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
Ayas wrote:
I don't know why they'd bring that up as a potential issue unless they want you to ship to an address different than what PayPal provides. In that case it's a problem and I'd avoid.
I've had some Canadian buyers who had things shipped within the US close to the border so they can save on shipping and duties. It's not totally unusual but I'd be a bit weary and refer to their feedback.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when receiving funds from accounts setup in currencies other than USD (I assume that's what yours is) the transaction fees are higher; IIRC 4.4% + $0.30, as opposed to the usual 2.9% + $0.30. Depending on how much you're receiving the difference can be quite substantial....Show more →
Yes be careful! I've heard of many recent scams of people asking the seller to ship to an address different than that on Paypal. Then the buyer claims they never received it. Because you didn't ship to the approved address, you automatically lose the case.
p.9 #8 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
Hello - first post here. I have no feedback and was looking to purchase an item (between 2k and 3k). I was told by the seller that since I have no feedback, I have to pay using paypal friends and family. I don't want to do that as I'm completely unprotected. This person has good feedback but I still don't want to do this.
If this is the only option for someone buying without feedback, please let me know and I'll have to look elsewhere to purchase. I'm hoping it's not, but I'd appreciate someone letting me know. Thank you.
p.9 #9 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
pulper11 wrote:
Hello - first post here. I have no feedback and was looking to purchase an item (between 2k and 3k). I was told by the seller that since I have no feedback, I have to pay using paypal friends and family. I don't want to do that as I'm completely unprotected. This person has good feedback but I still don't want to do this.
If this is the only option for someone buying without feedback, please let me know and I'll have to look elsewhere to purchase. I'm hoping it's not, but I'd appreciate someone letting me know. Thank you.
I did reach out to FredMiranda yesterday about what is the best way for a newbie member with no feedback and an establish member to conduct a secure transaction for both member.
And I was still having a close look to your thread here, unfortunately no one weight in yet.
p.9 #10 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
pulper11 wrote:
Hello - first post here. I have no feedback and was looking to purchase an item (between 2k and 3k). I was told by the seller that since I have no feedback, I have to pay using paypal friends and family. I don't want to do that as I'm completely unprotected. This person has good feedback but I still don't want to do this.
If this is the only option for someone buying without feedback, please let me know and I'll have to look elsewhere to purchase. I'm hoping it's not, but I'd appreciate someone letting me know. Thank you.
Not good advice and frankly, unusual advice from that FM member. You are right, you would be totally unprotected. My advice...do you have feedback from elsewhere that you could provide? I began here by providing my ebay feedback. Or, do you have a web address that would provide the seller with info about yourself and examples of your work? That could clinch the deal. It would for me. Good luck!
p.9 #13 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
davidrhorer wrote:
Not good advice and frankly, unusual advice from that FM member. You are right, you would be totally unprotected. My advice...do you have feedback from elsewhere that you could provide? I began here by providing my ebay feedback. Or, do you have a web address that would provide the seller with info about yourself and examples of your work? That could clinch the deal. It would for me. Good luck!
I can understand the rationale now that I have been put in a similar situation. I am selling a lens at the $1,100 price point, and I get a PM just saying "I’ll take it. Send PayPal ". I look at the buyer, 2 great feedbacks and one poor (very rare), all dating 10+ years ago. The person who posted the "poor" feedback states that he shipped the lens to this person, there was then some issues with PayPal, the sender complained, buyer asks to remove the complaint and will then make the payment, and that did not happen. Of course no idea where the truth lies but if you get this sort of red flag, pay attention.
This is the messy end of PayPal, that a buyer can get the goods, complain to PayPal, in effect either blackmail the seller or otherwise make the transaction messy. The 2 other Great feedbacks were dated the same day and hour, and one was with another name, not sure how that happened.
When in doubt, don't do it. I PM'ed the "buyer" and explained that these elements were disqualifying, sorry. The answer was "Hahahahahahahahahaha", which leaves me puzzled.
Long story short, if you are using the real PayPal, you are offered some protections but you are also open to some creative scams, and as a seller this is a real concern.
The only advice I can give people who want to participate in Buy and Sell is to build a good reputation trading in smaller items (flash units, accessories, smaller / cheaper / older lenses) priced in the lower hundreds. Once you have a number of those you can start looking at more expensive items with some credibility.
p.9 #14 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
pulper11 wrote:
Hello - first post here. I have no feedback and was looking to purchase an item (between 2k and 3k). I was told by the seller that since I have no feedback, I have to pay using paypal friends and family. I don't want to do that as I'm completely unprotected. This person has good feedback but I still don't want to do this.
If this is the only option for someone buying without feedback, please let me know and I'll have to look elsewhere to purchase. I'm hoping it's not, but I'd appreciate someone letting me know. Thank you.
My advice is to participate in the discussion forums here at FM, post some of your images, make some comments etc. So the members get to know you. Then after some time, try some small transaction or two, i.e. a $20 item. Establish some feedback this way. Then after a year or two, you should be good to go with a 2k deal.
If all this sounds too hard, well there is eBay...
p.9 #15 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
Hi guys, I really like the buy/sell section here, literally treating it like Ebay. quick question: I'm recently approached (via PM) by a member who has 0 posts, and asked if I'm still interested in an item.
Generally speaking, there is a high chance this is going to be a fraud right?
p.9 #16 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
zachfang wrote:
Hi guys, I really like the buy/sell section here, literally treating it like Ebay. quick question: I'm recently approached (via PM) by a member who has 0 posts, and asked if I'm still interested in an item.
Generally speaking, there is a high chance this is going to be a fraud right?
Thanks
I think the vast majority of people in general, and members here in particular (now or seasoned) are honest. Purely on account of a member being new with 0 posts, we cannot just assume that this is a fraud. So I would not call it a "high chance", however there is still a chance of course. So I would be cautious.
Personally, I have done a couple transactions with brand new members, but only after I had engaged them in some conversation, checked their background etc. When I'm contacted by a new member to buy an item I have for sale, my initial response is along the lines what I posted above (become a member of the community, be active in our forums, start with some small transactions etc). Usually I never hear from those members again. But on two occasions, the member got back to me, showed understanding of my concerns, shared their situation, pointed me to other forums where they are members etc. And then we ended up doing the transaction.
So bottom line, I would not automatically exclude new members from any deal, but I would certainly be cautious and prudent.
p.9 #17 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
Thorsten wrote:
I think the vast majority of people in general, and members here in particular (now or seasoned) are honest. Purely on account of a member being new with 0 posts, we cannot just assume that this is a fraud. So I would not call it a "high chance", however there is still a chance of course. So I would be cautious.
Personally, I have done a couple transactions with brand new members, but only after I had engaged them in some conversation, checked their background etc. When I'm contacted by a new member to buy an item I have for sale, my initial response is along the lines what I posted above (become a member of the community, be active in our forums, start with some small transactions etc). Usually I never hear from those members again. But on two occasions, the member got back to me, showed understanding of my concerns, shared their situation, pointed me to other forums where they are members etc. And then we ended up doing the transaction.
So bottom line, I would not automatically exclude new members from any deal, but I would certainly be cautious and prudent....Show more →
Really appreciate the input, I will engage and let everyone know the result.
p.9 #18 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
How can a new member then buy something? I have no time to post funny comments or "likes" to build my forum reputation...im here to buy gear for cheaper prices...
p.9 #20 · Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
Look at DavidRHorer's advice in post #6 on this page. That worked for me and obviously would work for him. Not everyone is going to agree with this advice, but it can and does work.
Alert: Uninsured payments and tips for safe transactions
