Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

[Duby T]

Im planning on buying a relatively expensive item online off of a forum and I was wondering what the do's and don'ts are to protect myself from getting fucked.

Also, is their any other option other than paypal to send money securely? The stupid 3% paypal fee is gonna cost me $100 extra

Thanks

[R_Ethug]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

100$ then wheels you be buying i'm guessing.. really you have to just trust people.. i've bought and sold lots of stuff on audiworld, audizine, vortex and its always worked out..

[Red90]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

Yah, don't ship from the States via UPS. They are the worst thieves on the planet.

PayPal include fraud protection.

[RONDAL]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

yeah the bonus of paypal if is you get screwed you can at least get your $$$ back. otherwise if you trust the seller interac online email money transfers work great if you have online banking. direct deposit right to their account

[Jester B]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

From a forum? Based on my history (search on my "seat saga" from last year), I'd say "don't".

If you can arrange COD, do that.

Be sure you are comfortable with who you are buying from.

Do you know anybody local to where the part/equipment is who could do a pick-up for you? Or, at least verify quality?

I got burned bad off a buy from Vortex, so I'm somewhat jaded...

Be careful.

[Simon]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

I got sold a broken mk4 6-cd disc changer off the vortex once. "It worked when I sent it I promise..."

Tack it up as a waste of my money and a learning experience.

[Kor]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

You can use escrow services (I never have).

[nordex]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

I think $100.00 is a relatively good price to pay for a piece of mind. What if the guy didn't send the wheels? What are you going to do about?

[Kordain]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

If you pay by pay pal then use your credit card to put the money into pay pal then you credit card protection as well.

[DeanerF]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

Just talk to the guy lots, and talk to him on the phone.

all the big purchases I have made I just made I just made sure to actually talk to the guy on the phone. you can really get an idea if the guy is shady or not by actualy speaking with them i find.

[VWSM]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

don't even get me going on this topic.
it all sucks when dealing with people you don't know.
(buyer beware)

[Compton]

Re: Buying $hit online - do's and don'ts

Bought a set of headlights...."great condition, only one clip is broken" they come in and the better question is, what wasnt broken. the guy denied it all, and i ended up finding him through aim and talking to him....never saw my money again.

bought a few other things including wheels and had great experiences.