Anyone ever do C.O.D.?

[SP33Demon]

I want to buy a $400 item in FS/FT, only problem is that the guy has no refs. He offered to ship it C.O.D., my question is, would there be any risk on my part? I figure I could just open it up since the item is sealed and new in box to make sure I haven't been ripped, and then pay up.

 

[Drakkon]

you have to pay up even before the driver will give u the box most of the time.

 

[TwiceOver]

I think the P.O. is going to want the money before you open it.

 

[mcvickj]

I highly doubt the shipping company is going to let you inspect the goods before they receive the cash. Dealing with an unestablished trader is a crap shoot. If he wants the deal to go through he should be willing to go through any hoops necessary to make you feel comfortable about the deal. Why not do it the normal way of him shipping first and then you send payment after. Always worked for me.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I highly doubt the shipping company is going to let you inspect the goods before they receive the cash. Dealing with an unestablished trader is a crap shoot. If he wants the deal to go through he should be willing to go through any hoops necessary to make you feel comfortable about the deal. Why not do it the normal way of him shipping first and then you send payment after. Always worked for me.

He doesn't want to ship first, b/c he claims he does have ref's (50 on ebay which I confirmed through his email), which I can understand. So basically he could put anything in the box, but I won't be able to inspect the contents until after paying. I wonder if there's a way he could put a note on it that would allow me to inspect the contents before paying?

 

[olds]

Use an escrow service

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I highly doubt the shipping company is going to let you inspect the goods before they receive the cash. Dealing with an unestablished trader is a crap shoot. If he wants the deal to go through he should be willing to go through any hoops necessary to make you feel comfortable about the deal. Why not do it the normal way of him shipping first and then you send payment after. Always worked for me.

He doesn't want to ship first, b/c he claims he does have ref's (50 on ebay which I confirmed through his email), which I can understand. So basically he could put anything in the box, but I won't be able to inspect the contents until after paying. I wonder if there's a way he could put a note on it that would allow me to inspect the contents before paying?

LoL ANYBODY could do that to you, not just this guy. Once you open the package most carriers take that as reception of the package and at that point you would have NO recourse whatsoever anyways and you wuld have to pay the COD since it has been "delivered". I say if hes willing to do a COD thats good enuff for me, but i'd rather fall under the paypal terms and agreements and just make sure details are noted in description of items/exchanges cause with a COD theres nothign saying what your getting only what the shipper will be recieving ($$$)

 

[crystal]

If he has 50s good eval on ebay, then it is not likely he is out to rip you. BTW, while I do have some heatware, I do think it is over rated.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: mcvickj
I highly doubt the shipping company is going to let you inspect the goods before they receive the cash. Dealing with an unestablished trader is a crap shoot. If he wants the deal to go through he should be willing to go through any hoops necessary to make you feel comfortable about the deal. Why not do it the normal way of him shipping first and then you send payment after. Always worked for me.

He doesn't want to ship first, b/c he claims he does have ref's (50 on ebay which I confirmed through his email), which I can understand. So basically he could put anything in the box, but I won't be able to inspect the contents until after paying. I wonder if there's a way he could put a note on it that would allow me to inspect the contents before paying?

LoL ANYBODY could do that to you, not just this guy. Once you open the package most carriers take that as reception of the package and at that point you would have NO recourse whatsoever anyways and you wuld have to pay the COD since it has been "delivered". I say if hes willing to do a COD thats good enuff for me, but i'd rather fall under the paypal terms and agreements and just make sure details are noted in description of items/exchanges cause with a COD theres nothign saying what your getting only what the shipper will be recieving ($$$)

So you would recommend an escrow type of deal through Paypal then?

Other notes I didn't mention that may lend credibility to his trustworthiness: We are supposed to meet this weekend and do the exchange in person. He already gave me his cell phone number too, in case we get split up and can't find each other. All in all, it's going to be an hour drive each way for both of us, so I'd much rather do this through the mail if possible.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
...Other notes I didn't mention that may lend credibility to his trustworthiness: We are supposed to meet this weekend and do the exchange in person. He already gave me his cell phone number too, in case we get split up and can't find each other. All in all, it's going to be an hour drive each way for both of us, so I'd much rather do this through the mail if possible.

$400?
Do it in person.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: crystal
If he has 50s good eval on ebay, then it is not likely he is out to rip you. BTW, while I do have some heatware, I do think it is over rated.

Heatware probably is overrated, but it's better than nothing. Also, once someone reaches 50+ refs it's highly unlikely that they would rip someone off. He does have one negative on eBay, but it was from over a year ago.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Use an escrow service

seconded

 

[Viper GTS]

Are you against using escrow.com?

How much is COD?

Agree to split the cost of escrow & it's cheap insurance for BOTH of you.

Viper GTS

 

[olds]

If you do it in person, be sure to take something to test the item.
A couple of years ago I was going to buy a monitor in person. He would only meet me at a shopping center. When I told him I was bringing a laptop and an inverter he suddenly realised that the monitor wasn't working and canceled the deal.

 

[Kyteland]

Use a trusted trader hese as escrow. Some of them will do it if you ask nicely. You send the trusted 3rd party the money (through paypal or whatever is convenient) you get shipped the package and when you OK everything the money gets sent on.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
Use a trusted trader hese as escrow. Some of them will do it if you ask nicely. You send the trusted 3rd party the money (through paypal or whatever is convenient) you get shipped the package and when you OK everything the money gets sent on.

Great idea as well. Where's Rossman!?

 

[dman]

Where are the two of you located?

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
If you do it in person, be sure to take something to test the item.
A couple of years ago I was going to buy a monitor in person. He would only meet me at a shopping center. When I told him I was bringing a laptop and an inverter he suddenly realised that the monitor wasn't working and canceled the deal.

Is this guy a trader here?

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: dman
Where are the two of you located?

I'd be in Philly, and he's in the Lancaster area.

 

[dman]

If you are both in philly then meet, a few hours driving each for a $400 deal isn't bad?

If you are somewhere else, post it. Then you can find out who trusted members are in each location and see if they'll vouch for the other or help out.