Suspicious interest on sales

[The Heretic]

Anyone else getting interest in purchasing an item from classifieds from very new accounts and then no response? I find it very odd and it seems like a scam or potential robbery setup with how they communicate in the inital message. Am I overthinking this and is anyone else experiencing this? I have got 2 this week. 1 here and 1 on waguns.org

One possibility is that someone posted something here and then sold it elsewhere and/or forgot to close the ad. Many forums don't have the ability to close an ad, or at least flag it as sold.

I get that a LOT of FB MP; I see stuff there that I would buy, ping them telling them I will buy it for their asking price, and then crickets - nothing. Happens about 20-30% of the time, moreso if the ad has been there for months (in which case I often don't even bother anymore).

Otherwise, if you suspect they will rob you - kind of foolish for a robber to try to rob someone who is very likely to show up armed.

 

[MacReady]

Literally just happened to me so I felt compelled to comment here...
A brand new member still in 'member probation' with not a single message or any post history on the opposite side of the country DM'd me. Asking if I'll ship an item that I clearly stated I won't ship (which means he didn't read my listing, 2nd red flag). One of the oldest internet scams IE you ship the item and the payment bounces. It's why I prefer FtF sales whenever possible, just to reduce the risk of Murphy striking.

Look I get it everyone is a newbie at some point. I'll give these people a chance as long as they don't throw up alarm bells. And I get that some people don't want to engage on forums and just use them to buy/sell. He could be legit... But if I'm selling an item I have final say on the circumstance of how that transaction goes down and I've bought/sold enough stuff to build up a pretty good BS radar. I'm trusting my gut on this one.

 

[Ma7Da7]

I have yet to find a carrier who will accept packages from me for delivery without compensation. People just don't understand, there is no such thing as "free delivery."

amazon intentionally loses money and overworks their staff in order to make "free delivery" work. If anything, the cost of the delivery is just worked into the coat of the item itself. I, personally, hate how that marketing trick has turned into the expectation for everyone else.

 

[The Heretic]

Literally just happened to me so I felt compelled to comment here...
A brand new member still in 'member probation' with not a single message or any post history on the opposite side of the country DM'd me. Asking if I'll ship an item that I clearly stated I won't ship (which means he didn't read my listing, 2nd red flag). One of the oldest internet scams IE you ship the item and the payment bounces. It's why I prefer FtF sales whenever possible, just to reduce the risk of Murphy striking.

Look I get it everyone is a newbie at some point. I'll give these people a chance as long as they don't throw up alarm bells. And I get that some people don't want to engage on forums and just use them to buy/sell. He could be legit... But if I'm selling an item I have final say on the circumstance of how that transaction goes down and I've bought/sold enough stuff to build up a pretty good BS radar. I'm trusting my gut on this one.

I had several people on SIGTalk say they would buy my 224 if I would ship it. They were all long time members with good feedback, and no worry about payments since I would only use Zelle anyway (no refunds/paybacks). But I just don't want to deal with shipping a firearm. It took a while, but found a local FTF buyer (although, it consumed most of my afternoon to drive to Vancouver and back).

I did buy a 226 from a long time well known NWFA buyer who shipped it to a local FFL. I paid with Zelle/PayPal after I took possession. I had to use PayPal for the balance as Zelle only allows ~$500 per day (IIRC) and $250/transaction (at least with my credit union it does). I no longer have PayPal - stopped using them when they enacted a social media policy (my daughter is trying to get a refund on a double charge, and then will drop them once they refund her).

I would say that about 90% of my NWFA transactions are FTF.

 

[Colt Carbine]

Asking if I'll ship an item that I clearly stated I won't ship (which means he didn't read my listing, 2nd red flag). One of the oldest internet scams IE you ship the item and the payment bounces. It's why I prefer FtF sales whenever possible, just to reduce the risk of Murphy striking.

The only way I'll ship anything to anybody is payment with a USPS Money Order. Absolutely, no electronic payments ever. If I offer shipping, it's stated how payment is to be made and I'll ship item once Money Order cashes.

 

[The Heretic]

amazon intentionally loses money and overworks their staff in order to make "free delivery" work. If anything, the cost of the delivery is just worked into the coat of the item itself. I, personally, hate how that marketing trick has turned into the expectation for everyone else.

I am fairly diligent about cross checking prices on anything I buy online, and it pays off. Usually Amazon has close to or better than the prices elsewhere. I almost never pay for shipping with Amazon, and I usually choose their Amazon Day shipping date so save them the time/expense of shipping soonest.

It is rare that I need something next day or soonest. It seems to me they could do a better job of scheduling deliveries as I still get a lot of deliveries that could have been consolidated into one delivery. But I assume they have their reasons - probably a cost to hold things while waiting for other stuff to be ready to ship.

I buy a LOT of stuff from Amazon because of free (Prime) delivery and refund policies. I get Amazon points on my Chase CC, and those more than pay for themselves; by July/August I usually have enough points that are equal to the cost of Prime. I also have Prime video, and the value of the content partially pays for the yearly Prime subscription.

 

[Xmark1]

I've had two potential buyers for my truck flake on me. I get a little grumpy when my whole day gets screwed up because to many people, their word is meaningless. My son was selling a pickup and met the potential buyer at a parking lot. The buyer came with two friends. My son was distracted long enough for one of them to pour oil into the radiator expansion tank. They then tried to get him to come way down on the price. He told them to FO and left. He only had one friend with him, and I know my son was armed.

Thats just nasty. The oil thing.

 

[Xmark1]

This is sadly just the way it seems to be now. Last two times we sold a car we just let the dealer have it for just this reason. Told Wife each time, yes we could make more than they are offering to sell it ourselves. Each time though I would weigh what I would be willing to take cash, vs what dealer was offering, and then the odds I would have to deal with the no shows from buyers. Was willing to take less to just not deal with idiots. Last few times I was giving something away free I would ask a small amount for it. Buyer would show up, want it, then want to pay. I have told them give it to your favorite charity. I only put a price on it because listing it free would get a parade of people who would claim they wanted it and never show up

About twenty years ago, I had a very nice-looking car with a bad tranny I did not want to fix. I listed it in the local classified. The ad clearly stated it was FREE and I had title & registration. Callers asked me how many miles were on it, amongst other things.

 

[The Heretic]

The only way I'll ship anything to anybody is payment with a USPS Money Order. Absolutely, no electronic payments ever. If I offer shipping, it's stated how payment is to be made and I'll ship item once Money Order cashes.

I have found Zelle to be pretty convenient and foolproof, as long as you trust the person you are paying. As for being a seller and accepting the payment, it is almost instantaneous and there is little to no chance of the payer rolling back a payment. Once you have it, you have it - they can't get it back. My only complaint is that it won't work with a credit card - i.e., you can't charge it to a CC. I suppose they do that to keep the fees low and reduce fraud (probably mostly due to fraud -- i.e., stolen CC numbers/etc.).

 

[Alexx1401]

I have yet to find a carrier who will accept packages from me for delivery without compensation. People just don't understand, there is no such thing as "free delivery."

The old "there is no free lunch" seems to never sink in to a LOT of people. The word free always sounds too good I guess

 

[Colt Carbine]

I have found Zelle to be pretty convenient and foolproof, as long as you trust the person you are paying. As for being a seller and accepting the payment, it is almost instantaneous and there is little to no chance of the payer rolling back a payment. Once you have it, you have it - they can't get it back. My only complaint is that it won't work with a credit card - i.e., you can't charge it to a CC. I suppose they do that to keep the fees low and reduce fraud (probably mostly due to fraud -- i.e., stolen CC numbers/etc.).

If I actually know and trust the person and need to send or accept payment via electronic funds, I'll use one of my son's as the vehicle.

Yeah, I know it's the way of the world these days but it's just something I've not been willing to conform to. I'd rather play it safe and if I miss out on a sale or purchase, oh well such is life.

 

[Member 45541]

The old "there is no free lunch" seems to never sink in to a LOT of people.

Because a certain mindset has falsely let them to believe they are entitled!

 

[Deavis]

I like to talk on the phone for deals. I'm wary of buyers who won't.

 

[militarycollec]

this site requires ten comments from new members as part of their on-boarding process. Yes-No?
I guess that includes thumbs up!

 

[The Heretic]

I like to talk on the phone for deals. I'm wary of buyers who won't.

There are those of us who are Aspies/Introverts, who dislike phone calls. For one thing, besides being an Aspie, I get scatter brained and forget certain important things when talking. Also, I am hearing impaired, which makes verbal conversation more difficult - especially with certain people's voices.

It isn't that I won't take or initiate a phone call, but I strongly prefer texting.

 

[Deavis]

I strongly prefer text as well but have had better luck in completing deals with people who talk on the phone, like the old days when you could buy used guns in the Nicke Ads no FFL required, and go to their garage, plunk down some cash and walk away.

Not suggesting that today of course, the politicians and computers have made us all safer.

 

[Xmark1]

I like to talk on the phone for deals. I'm wary of buyers who won't.

I feel that way about people who refuse to text.
Just this week a purchase was aborted by me because the seller refused to text.

I think I could write a long essay about calling or texting. Kind of like an attorney working for the prosecution as well as the defense.
However, it has been my experience that on most social platforms, people have short attention spans. You know - the KISS method.

 

[spookshack]

I too prefer text vs a call. I like to have written conversation that I can refer back to if needed (verify date/time of meetup, make and model of car, etc.).

 

[JohnnyMac]

I too prefer text vs a call. I like to have written conversation that I can refer back to if needed (verify date/time of meetup, make and model of car, etc.).

This for me as well. When you get to the meet-up and the guy says, "No, no, no, I thought we agreed on $500, not $600.".. With text you can refute that, but with just recalling a phone conversation, it is either a your word vs his word, or you have to just walk away and chalk it up to a waste of your time.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Phone calls are good....
I prefer text....old Army ears.....and don't hear so good any more....

I also miss and prefer the old days...
When you could buy and sell privately...and it was just that ...a private sale.

If BGC's stopped crime...then you would think that we would have noticed by now.
BGC's don't do a damn thing expect make a firearm owner spend more money , waste time...or pass on a deal.
BGC's do put a hardship on the firearm owner , who ain't the problem here.

Andy