Buying Without Risk from an Independent Seller

[George]

Hello,

I am curious if any of you know how to buy without risk from a seller outside of amazon/ebay, etc? I recently corresponded with a seller from another message board who has a number of OOP CDs that I wish to buy, but the seller hasn't listed the items on amazon or any other site. As a result, he's offering a very good deal: 4 OOP CDs and an OOP 3CD set for $105 shipped. Originally, he wanted me to send a check but I have asked him to open a Paypal account and he has agreed, but he is having a bit of difficulty. I have also requested that he ship them Priority Mail, so that I have a tracking number. Am I correct in thinking that all Priority mail shipped gets a tracking number?

What I'd like to know is: is it safe to buy goods from independent sellers with Paypal? Meaning, if the seller doesn't come through with the goods, can I get a refund fairly easily/quickly from Paypal? Or is there a safer way to buy goods from an independent seller?

Thanks,
George

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, I've done it several times, and the only mishap I had was that fiasco with Classic 78 right here, which you already know about. I won my appeal with PayPal, but didn't get any money back because he didn't have anything in his account. They say that if he sells another CD they'll give the money to me instead of him. I'm not holding my breath...

Really, I don't know of a surefire, 100% way to protect yourself. In that particular deal you are describing, if he gets his PayPal account opened, I would do it. I have sent bank checks to people before, but they were not total strangers (at least not in the Internet sense), the problem being that if he just decides to cash it in, you are powerless. I think it boils down to either you are a risk taker or you aren't. You may be passing up the deal of a lifetime, or you might be passing up an opportunity to get screwed. No way to know, amigo...

[George]

Well, I've done it several times, and the only mishap I had was that fiasco with Classic 78 right here, which you already know about. I won my appeal with PayPal, but didn't get any money back because he didn't have anything in his account. They say that if he sells another CD they'll give the money to me instead of him. I'm not holding my breath...

So sorry to hear that, Gurn. How long did the whole appeal process take? I understand that Paypal requires some kind of proof? I wonder what they consider acceptable proof?

Really, I don't know of a surefire, 100% way to protect yourself. In that particular deal you are describing, if he gets his PayPal account opened, I would do it. I have sent bank checks to people before, but they were not total strangers (at least not in the Internet sense), the problem being that if he just decides to cash it in, you are powerless. I think it boils down to either you are a risk taker or you aren't. You may be passing up the deal of a lifetime, or you might be passing up an opportunity to get screwed. No way to know, amigo...

Yeah, I figured paying by check wouldn't be smart.

Too bad there isn't a way to send a delayed payment, one that can be created and shown top the seller, then activated once goods are received.

Strange that when you buy from amazon marketplace, you have to pay before they will ship, but if you return the CD you have to wait until they get it to get your refund. Everything seems to favor the seller.   

[karlhenning]

Of course, when the sellers are trustworthy businessmen, that's all fine . . . .

[Gurn Blanston]

Of course, when the sellers are trustworthy businessmen, that's all fine . . . .

Word.

(Most are, in my experience)

[Wilhelm Richard]

I have had good luck buying from independent sellers -- I figure most people these days will turn to more lucrative forms of crime than ripping off classical music fans selling them titles of albums they haven't really got.
EXCEPT for the afore mentioned Classical78 hubbub which STILL gets me going.   
Whenever I think of the two disc Beecham-Delius collection that ISN'T coming, I send him another email to ease the pain...perhaps I should go do that now. 

[George]

So sorry to hear that, Gurn. How long did the whole appeal process take? I understand that Paypal requires some kind of proof? I wonder what they consider acceptable proof?

Yeah, I figured paying by check wouldn't be smart.

Too bad there isn't a way to send a delayed payment, one that can be created and shown top the seller, then activated once goods are received.

Reposted, as I think Gurn missed the question the first time. 

[DavidW]

Just don't do it George, it's not smart.  Paypal or amazon only.  We just had a discussion awhile back about many, many people being scammed on ebay by sending checks or POs.  Most likely you are dealing with a fuddy duddy that's just not with it, but you can't take the risk that you really are dealing with a scammer.  You need to reset the rules.  Tell him that you'll pay him by paypal only or no deal.  Take no chances.

[Gurn Blanston]

Reposted, as I think Gurn missed the question the first time. 

It took about 3 weeks in all. You can't really prove a negative, but I had sent him a couple of messages through the PayPal system which he never answered, and I copied a couple of emails that I had sent him which were unanswered, and finally, THEY tried to get in touch with him for a week and he never answered them, either, which gave credibility to my claim. Kinda like when I asked YOU to write him and he didn't answer either, if you recall that.

Delayed payment would be great. I'm happy, you're happy. However, the whole system will collapse if no one trusts anyone. Just the way it is, I think.

[George]

It took about 3 weeks in all.

That's not bad at all. Thanks for the info. 

DavidW - I read you loud and clear. In fact, I am insisting on Priority Mail so that I get a tracking number (these are included in all Priority Mail transactions, right?) That way, after I make the payment, I at least get confirmation that something is being shipped to me.