So I put a notebook for sale on ebay...

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: fleshconsumed

Originally posted by: BriGy86
for people that don't use ebay what are some good tips for starting to sell?

-don't except money orders
-don't mail out of the country
-don't except anything from western union

etc?

What's wrong with money orders and western union?

from what i'm told those are some of the more common ways that scammers try to get people

maybe there isn't anything wrong with them, that was the entire reason for asking that question

and ElFenix, i will admit i am guilt of not reading my post before hitting submit 🙁

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
What do you want for it? I'm looking for a cheap lappy.. Live in the Netherlands, though 😛..

Sorry, I dont like shipping across seas, package gets lost much easier and its pretty expensive...

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: teddyv
There are really two ways the scam works. The first is the simpler, they send you a forged/counterfeit check/money order and you send the item. You find out a few weeks later the check/money order is bogus and by then the buyer is long gone (and your laptop is most likely being used in a Nigerian Internet Cafe to scam even more people.) The second is a bit more devious. The buyer tells you he has a money order/certified/cashiers check already filled out and it is for more than the item you're selling. He will send you the check, and you should Western Union wire him back the excess followed by the item you are selling. You get the check, wire him back the extra, then find out two weeks later the check is bad and you are out the "extra" you sent. A derivation of this is the shipping scam - similiar as above but the buyer wants you to handle the shipping for him. You guessed it, he adds the shipping to the check and you are to wire it to the "shipping agent". The check comes back bad and you are out the "shipping expense", really just another way to get you to send cash to him.

They are getting better and better at it too.

But remember that guy here that string some guy alone.. had him send payment to 1400 penn ave or something.. should I do the same for a while?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: BriGy86
for people that don't use ebay what are some good tips for starting to sell?

-don't accept money orders
-don't mail out of the country
-don't accept anything from western union

etc?

Actually, 2 out of those 3 are bad advice.

You can accept money orders. Just make sure they're USPS MO, and you confirm that they are authentic with the USPS instead of trying to cash them at a bank.

You should accept Western Union wire transfers. Just make sure you go ahead and confirm, and then pick up the money before shipping.

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Actually, 2 out of those 3 are bad advice.

You can accept money orders. Just make sure they're USPS MO, and you confirm that they are authentic with the USPS instead of trying to cash them at a bank.

You should accept Western Union wire transfers. Just make sure you go ahead and confirm, and then pick up the money before shipping.

I think in the 10+ years I traded online, I heard of 1-2 usps mo scams... but since thats the federal government, they'll come at you hard !! these are the guys you do not want to rip off

 

[doze]

Originally posted by: BriGy86

Originally posted by: fleshconsumed

Originally posted by: BriGy86
for people that don't use ebay what are some good tips for starting to sell?

-don't except money orders
-don't mail out of the country
-don't except anything from western union

etc?

What's wrong with money orders and western union?

from what i'm told those are some of the more common ways that scammers try to get people

maybe there isn't anything wrong with them, that was the entire reason for asking that question

and ElFenix, i will admit i am guilt of not reading my post before hitting submit 🙁

USPS and most other money orders are ok because you can verify the funds upon receipt. Western union and mailing out of the USA are too much hassle for the seller anyway.

 

[pookguy88]

so for these africa scams, what if you waited until the payments are all cleared before you ship?

 

[Shadowknight]

Here's a cool story on scamming a scammer http://www.p-p-p-powerbook.com/

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: pookguy88
so for these africa scams, what if you waited until the payments are all cleared before you ship?

nooo even if it clears, 30 days from now, they'll be knocking on your door again.. its fake money order.. even if they verify it OKAY.. since they take your drivers license or ID..