New guy Question : online buying: PayPal: Escrow sevices etc:

[osage]

Like most of you, I work for my money and try to find a bargin when I can, and many good deals come up on the forums here and elsewhere as people upgrade tying to have the best and newest hardware. But more often than not the sellers won't consider using an escrow service.
As a buyer I want a good price, but can't risk being one of the many who send money and never see the item. Quite a few threads on this forum and others about these people. An email address is kind of like an address for your car, it can change anytime you want.
Granted using an escrow service may add a couple days to the trade, but both buyer and seller are safe. With no protection, most deal run several days as the parties spar back and forth trying to get a feel for the other. Just seem like using a reputable licenced service would make life a bit less stressful. And of course the fee,[ usually small ]can be paid by the buyer or seller, or both depending on how they choose to do it. I personally always state up front that I will pay the fee. Anyway just my thoughts on this matter. I'm new to this forum, but not new to this planet.
So some of you may have things for sale here on this site, would you use a service? If not, why not. Maybe I'm just looking at it from the buyers side, I would like to hear you comments.

I am not a crook. RMN

 

[PolaroidPaul]

Think twice about PayPal. It offers no protection at all. See the following link for an MSNBC article:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/434192

You may pay but you may get nothing for it.

 

[Yeeny]

Actually, I think alot of people here use Paypal to get their money faster and easier. I have used it and it seems pretty reliable so far for me.

 

[Croton]

just establish yourself and have a lot of references..
for instance -- go to heatware and check me out -- not a lot of references. now go check out compuwiz1 -- that's an established trader.

once you are established and respected, basically you can "demand" that they ship first, or whatnot...........

 

[osage]

As usual I was not very clear, I didn't mean to imply that PayPal was safe, at least not for the buyer. A lot of people want to be paid that way, but from a buyers view point you might just as well send cash in the mail. Someone here on this forum uses this as his signature : PayPal Banker To The Crooks, and that is about right. Not to say that everyone who used PayPal is a crook, but if you are a crook then it's a great way to operate.
An escrow service on the other hand has a measure of protection for both buyer and seller. If the seller dosen't send the item, or if it is DOA then they don't get the money. The buyer can't get the item till the money is in the escrow account, so no worry about seller getting the money.
As far a getting established and getting a good list of ref. at the rate I upgrade, maybe every 2-3 years I will be dead before I have much of a resume. Meanwhile I could lose my butt in a few bad deals. I don't know about the rest of you but $100.00 is not pocket change in my house.
Guess I'm just don't have that much faith in people. Some people I would, and have trusted with my life . Maybe I should just just place my trust in GOD and not worry about anything.
I'm sure there are many fair traders out there, I just don't know who they are yet, guess I just need to spend some time in a foxhole with them.

I am not a crook. RMN

 

[Chooie]

Hell, I use Iescrow more than paypal. Iescrow charges $2.50 for a transaction under $100, but it is an extremely safe way to sell or buy online. As for trading, it's a little tough (no services like Iescrow yet), but build a good rep buying/selling, and your rep will carry over to your trades with other reputable traders. I'm willing to pay $2.50, or $1.25 if buyer/seller split the cost, to ensure a positive review, and the receipt of my money or item.