Thinking of purchasing some things through FS/FT but...

[aphex]

Im a FS/FT virgin... Is there anything i should look out for and avoid?

Also, what kind of payments do people usually take??

 

[giguana]

Just check their heatware. You can get a good idea of what kind of trader they are from this.

Most traders take MO's or PayPal.

 

[minendo]

Always double check the Bad Trader list too.

 

[aphex]

<< Just check their heatware. You can get a good idea of what kind of trader they are from this.

Most traders take MO's or PayPal. >>



Cool... Thanks...

Think the'll be hesitant though cause im a first time trader??

 

[Legendary]

People usually accept Paypal or Money Order.
Things to look for: HEATWARE. If you're a FS/FT Virgin, you WILL have to ship first...since I assume you don't have any Heatware. He with lesser Heatware should always ship first. Also, if using Paypal, only shipped to a verified address so you're at least partially protected.

Also, you must have your Profile visible to all, and your email/PM. Check the rules first so your first posts don't get banned, not a good way to start. People on FS/FT are reasonable, but not stupid, so be smart.

If you're shipping stuff out, IMO, Fedex is a MUCH better shipper (ground at least) than UPS. If you send ANYTHING fragile, use Fedex.
Good luck.

 

[Geekbabe]

check their heatware references,if in doubt maybe email a trader or two listed on their eval's -get the seller's complete contact info
be clear on how you want your items shipped and insured. Keep good communication via pm and email, be pleasant, try not to be really obnoxious with lowball offers. Let the other trader knw as soon as you receive the goods and test them as quickly as possible. Be sure that the other trader follows up by leaving you a Heatware eval, you do the same for him. Most traders take Paypal or money order.

 

[minendo]

<< People usually accept Paypal or Money Order.
Things to look for: HEATWARE. If you're a FS/FT Virgin, you WILL have to ship first...since I assume you don't have any Heatware. He with lesser Heatware should always ship first. Also, if using Paypal, only shipped to a verified address so you're at least partially protected.

Also, you must have your Profile visible to all, and your email/PM. Check the rules first so your first posts don't get banned, not a good way to start. People on FS/FT are reasonable, but not stupid, so be smart.

If you're shipping stuff out, IMO, Fedex is a MUCH better shipper (ground at least) than UPS. If you send ANYTHING fragile, use Fedex.
Good luck. >>


I always use USPS with DC and Insurance. They have yet to let me down.

 

[aphex]

<< People usually accept Paypal or Money Order.
Things to look for: HEATWARE. If you're a FS/FT Virgin, you WILL have to ship first...since I assume you don't have any Heatware. He with lesser Heatware should always ship first. Also, if using Paypal, only shipped to a verified address so you're at least partially protected.

Also, you must have your Profile visible to all, and your email/PM. Check the rules first so your first posts don't get banned, not a good way to start. People on FS/FT are reasonable, but not stupid, so be smart.

If you're shipping stuff out, IMO, Fedex is a MUCH better shipper (ground at least) than UPS. If you send ANYTHING fragile, use Fedex.
Good luck. >>



Thanks for the great reply... Actually im more lookin at buying right now, but definately selling in the future as well....

 

[Ameesh]

i wouldnt bother, i read too many horror stories

 

[olds]

My $.02
Be very careful buying CPU, RAM, Video Cards and mobos. They can be damaged by overclocking and some not so nice folks will try to sell them after they damaged them. I learned that from personal experience.

 

[aphex]

<< My $.02
Be very careful buying CPU, RAM, Video Cards and mobos. They can be damaged by overclocking and some not so nice folks will try to sell them after they damaged them. I learned that from personal experience. >>



Good idea... Maybe i should just stick to newegg...

 

[minendo]

<<

<< My $.02
Be very careful buying CPU, RAM, Video Cards and mobos. They can be damaged by overclocking and some not so nice folks will try to sell them after they damaged them. I learned that from personal experience. >>



Good idea... Maybe i should just stick to newegg... >>


No. Just always ask if the component(s) has/have ever been overclocked. Then it is just a judgement call. Plus if there is a problem it is the seller's responsibility to make good on the deal. That is what the Troll Hunters are for.

 

[GooberPHX420]

Ive dealt with like 6 of 7 peeps on here and 5 or 6 on hard forums. I have been lucky and not had any problems except for lazy/late shippers. God I hate that. As stated before since youre a complete n00b and have no heatwares, you'll more than likely be forced to send first. Assuming they have a good heatware, its usally a pretty safe bet everything will run smoothly. Altho Aphex, since like everyone on here knows you, they may be a little more trusting, seeing how you're sort of an ATOT veteran..so you may be able to cross ship.

 

[aphex]

Hmmmm... Well maybe i'll start off with some small ticket items that i could find useful just to get the hang of it all...

 

[Geekbabe]

Try to do your first few trades with people who have a lot of Heatware, the really established guys will show y0u the ropes and you'll really minimize your risk.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Its easy. PM me if you need any help at all. I started with no tips or anything and just learned the ropes.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

BTW; how does that lightworkz website work out for you? How many systems are you building?

 

[minendo]

<< Its easy. PM me if you need any help at all. I started with no tips or anything and just learned the ropes. >>


As did I back in August of 2001 and it sure has been expensive for me since. I really need to stop buying stuff.

 

[Nocturnal]

<<

<< Just check their heatware. You can get a good idea of what kind of trader they are from this.

Most traders take MO's or PayPal. >>



Cool... Thanks...

Think the'll be hesitant though cause im a first time trader?? >>



They'll be hesitant of course. Even though you aren't new to the forums, you're still new to the selling/trading/buying dept. You'll of course have to probably pay first, or ship first to a trader who has at least 10+ heatwares. Of course no negatives! But that's how the fs/t works.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Yeah, better watch the people with neutrals or negatives.

Its is possible (and has been done many times) to get 400+ positives with no negs or neutrals. Those are serious red flags that go up, if they've got one of either, then I would make them ship first, even if you are a n00b. If they won't ship first, well then deal with someone else.

 

[Viper GTS]

<< Yeah, better watch the people with neutrals or negatives.

Its is possible (and has been done many times) to get 400+ positives with no negs or neutrals. Those are serious red flags that go up, if they've got one of either, then I would make them ship first, even if you are a n00b. If they won't ship first, well then deal with someone else. >>



That is much too stringent a requirement, especially for a place like this. Very, very few people have that many heatware evals, the ones that do were mostly dealers back when they were allowed.

I've been trading here for quite a while, & I'm just now at almost 60 (59+, no neg or neutrals).

I'd like to think that one negative or neutral wouldn't change the overall picture much.

Viper GTS

 

[Frosty3799]

<<

<< Yeah, better watch the people with neutrals or negatives.

Its is possible (and has been done many times) to get 400+ positives with no negs or neutrals. Those are serious red flags that go up, if they've got one of either, then I would make them ship first, even if you are a n00b. If they won't ship first, well then deal with someone else. >>



That is much too stringent a requirement, especially for a place like this. Very, very few people have that many heatware evals, the ones that do were mostly dealers back when they were allowed.

I've been trading here for quite a while, & I'm just now at almost 60 (59+, no neg or neutrals).

I'd like to think that one negative or neutral wouldn't change the overall picture much.

Viper GTS >>



yea, but wrongful negatives and neutrals can be taken care of by heat23 (i think thats his forum name, either that or heat43), so theres no real reason to have a negative or neutral.

oh, and also "Garaunteed NOT DOA" are good words
(DOA = Dead on arrival)

Good luck
Josh

 

[Yzzim]

I've been on the FS/FT forum for 3 years now both at AGN and here at AT. When I first started out I sucked at it and got a negative heat, from heat23 himself.
Since then I've racked up 50+ positive heatwares and haven't had a problem since...I have yet to be trolled too. I'm proud to get the package out the same day as I get the payment 95% of the time.
Just use common sense while trading and you'll be fine. Listen to what has been said above and it'll be a worse addiction than ATOT
Oh, and I did get heat23 his money. I ended up giving him $10 even though I only owed him $3...the negative heatware he left doesn't explain that. Definitely a lesson learned.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Yeah, $3? Geez dude you really did suck at it. LOL

I supose if you've got someone that has 20 heat and has one neg or one neutral from when he first started, he's probably just fine. But,,, when you've got someone with 8 heatware and one of them is negative, and hes only been trading for the past 2 months, then that's someone I would not deal with.

Common sense.

You don't wanna send money and never get the item of course.

There is a guy- herbal92; who nickled and dimed his way to legendary troll status. He would buy a $5-$10 item and have them ship first with the promise of paypal or a MO after he recieved the item. He did this about 20 times and never paid any of them. It didn't catch up with him for months cuz nobody made a big fuss over $5-$10. He would claim he shipped payment and tell the person to wait a bit longer-- something like that to delay them. Usually people either gave up due to it being not that big of a deal.

Eventually, someone posted a thread about him not paying up and at that point a whole bunch of people posted that the same thing happened between themselves and herbal.

This was a guy with over 20+ heat and no neutrals, no negs.

Once again, you must leave a lot up to your own judgement. If someone acts like a dick, then something is up and don't trade with em.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Herbal's heat

OK, maybe not 20+ but he had some ok references. Ncircle is a friend of mine, and he has never seen any money out of him for his cheap item (maybe $5-$15 not sure).