A thread to check the trustworthiness of members?

[Lazyafpanda]

The problem:
I’m currently in a situation where I’m negotiating a purchase from a seller on the buy/sell.
I want to pay on pickup but the seller wants me to pay now to secure the sale.
That’s fine with me, the sellers profile looks pretty legit (decent amount of posts. Been here for a while)
However, transferring large amounts of money to a bank account and a promise that the seller will be there still seems a bit sketchy to me.

The solution
We should have a thread dedicated checking the reputation of sellers with the rest of the community

For example:
User123: Hi I’m dealing with Lazyafpanda anyone dealt with him before?
Userabc: yes he’s good, packages well, ships fast.
User789: I agree.
Etc. etc.

I believe if we implement this idea we can deal with each other on the buy/sell with confidence and peace of mind.

[blip]

Made me think about a comment in another thread I read last night

[Jhon]

Maybe pay a good faith deposit, balance on pickup?

[Barry the hunter]

not good to see everyone elses financial business all over the forum PM messages okay just my thoughts

[Cordite]

That FAL holders are certified "Fit and Proper" carries weight.

No offense but I think the problem @Lazyafpanda, is that you are a relative newcomer and so you don't have the advantage of knowing that many folk on the Forum, even if just online.

We're all far more likely to be f*cked over by someone through the big yellow site, except again by people who are FAL holders.

FAL holders need and value reputation and for all the faults we have (and which get tolerated), cheating someone is a big no-no.

Have a look at the pay-it-forward thread and lose any remaining cynicism. Good bastards are everywhere.

[Jhon]

I've had nothing but good on this forum. Actually been well treated on yellow site too by and large. No one who is a reasonably visible (posting) member on here is going to want to be outed as a shamster. We might disagree and even call each other names occasionally but shady stuff would get you promptly cast out and probably widely known. But, caveat emptor.

[Snap 4T]

Some new member (I'm not saying its you) could be just a tire kicker, time waster and just plain hassle,
My guess seller see you as a new member and don't want the hassle and asked for payment 1st.

[timattalon]

The problem:
I’m currently in a situation where I’m negotiating a purchase from a seller on the buy/sell.
I want to pay on pickup but the seller wants me to pay now to secure the sale.
That’s fine with me, the sellers profile looks pretty legit (decent amount of posts. Been here for a while)
However, transferring large amounts of money to a bank account and a promise that the seller will be there still seems a bit sketchy to me.

The solution
We should have a thread dedicated checking the reputation of sellers with the rest of the community

For example:
User123: Hi I’m dealing with Lazyafpanda anyone dealt with him before?
Userabc: yes he’s good, packages well, ships fast.
User789: I agree.
Etc. etc.

I believe if we implement this idea we can deal with each other on the buy/sell with confidence and peace of mind.

I do not think this is a smart move at all. If you really value feedback re a seller or a buyer then that is what trademe is set up for. The big problem for what you suggest is that EVERY story has two sides. And often it ends up as a slanging match when in reality it is usually miscommunication or disagreements which could so very easily end up as a slanging match or worse and that is not what anyone wants on a forum. What person A might think is "as new" maybe what someone else calls "good cond" hence good pictures are required so the buyer can see exactly what the selller has.

For dealing with someone who has only been a member a short time and low post count such as yourself then that is sort of feedback in a way. Look at some of the post counts and membership length on this thread alone (2000+ posts and several members since 2017. This tells you that they are members that have gotten to know other fellow members etc.

If you are really keen, see if you can contact the seller by phone and have a chat. He may have legitimate reasons for asking for payment up front. Its all good that you are a new member and you are welcome but please remember that with new members, most of us wont have got to know you yet, and this is where they are possibly coming from. Put yourself in their shoes- If you were an established member and were dealing with someone who only joined recently, would you be caustious? I suspect yes as you are showing caution already....

I apprecite the suggestion you made- I think we are mostly open to ideas that could improve the forum, but in this case I dont think this suggestion will work as you suggest.

[Jukes]

Some new member (I'm not saying its you) could be just a tire kicker, time waster and just plain hassle,
My guess seller see you as a new member and don't want the hassle and asked for payment 1st.

Totally agree.
If their membership is less then 6 months old I'd be very cautious, personally.

[blip]

every one Ive delt with on here has been top notch

[308]

Also the trade section is a bonus and not the main point of the forum IMO

Look at the people paying forward and giving stuff away, offering free transport to here and there

While I understand the concern that some people would like to see that they get vouchsafed, the other glaringly obvious option re the trading portion of this site is that you don't HAVE to sell or buy anything cos hey, that's not the main reason you joined, is it?


Edit to add - duh, should have thought - why not just ask the mods?

[Codeman]

I'm on the fence with this one.

To be honest I think it is a little OTT for the seller to ask for full payment before viewing if you intend to pickup with cash.
I can understand a deposite to hold, but you are the one buying the firearm so it's not like you can rip them off.
I guess they may have been mucked around or are just playing hard ball to see if you are genuine.

I myself wouldn't have a problem if someone put a post up asking for their experience with me.

Unfortunately it does seam like scammers have ruined it for us newbies. Most of us have decades of experience in the outdoors hunting/fishing etc but have to wait for our L plates to be removed.

[Jhon]

I'm on the fence with this one.

To be honest I think it is a little OTT for the seller to ask for full payment before viewing if you intend to pickup with cash.
I can understand a deposite to hold, but you are the one buying the firearm so it's not like you can rip them off.
I guess they may have been mucked around or are just playing hard ball to see if you are genuine.

I myself wouldn't have a problem if someone put a post up asking for their experience with me.

Unfortunately it does seam like scammers have ruined it for us newbies. Most of us have decades of experience in the outdoors hunting/fishing etc but have to wait for our L plates to be removed.

Tricky one. I've bought firearms, and other stuff, on TM and this forum, where I have either met the asking price or made an offer and paid up front with an arrangement to pick up sometimes a couple of months later. Yes, its a risk. But I don't expect someone to wait very long for their $$$ on a sale where there are or are likely to be other interested even keen parties. When I'm selling I expect to get my money within 3 days unless prior arrangements made. If I don't get it by then the item is back on the market to the next person who can front the dosh. If it was hi ticket item I'd consider a deposit to hold to accommodate a buyer especially if the item does not have a large or fast market.

[Zedrex]

I can see both sides of this scenario, you don't want to be stung, seller doesn't want to be mucked around.
Easy solution, agree on a non-refundable deposit, that shows serious intent on your part, pay balance on collection, easy peasy

[Micky Duck]

Definitely a good idea to do cash on pick up...both parties can see for themselves all is legitimate and back out if not happy. Yes a part payment could be asked but if foldy stuff coming tomorrow with buyer...why on earth piss around with electronic banking??