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October 2009
Posts: 78
Location: Keene, NH | Hey again everyone,
I'm working with new member "Dnc4eva" to buy his Ovation Adamas. Because I'm a very cautious cat and both he and I are very new to the boards, I was wondering if an older trusted member of this community would be willing to help mediate the deal. He is willing to ship the guitar to me so I can play it and test it out and return the money if I'm not satisfied (which seems unlikey). My question is is this something that someone would be able to help do? I would send the money to the mediator via PayPal preferably and they would hold the money until I get the guitar and check it out. Good communication is a must (not expecting that to be a problem - you guys have all been awesome so far).
If anyone is able to help or recommend someone else who offers to help that would be fantastic. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Chris,
Why not just pay the seller via Paypal and if it's not as represented, then use Paypal to repo your money? (I hate Paypal BTW.)
Someone has to trust somebody or nothing will move...
'Dawg |
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October 2009
Posts: 78
Location: Keene, NH | Yeah true. I guess I should just trust him. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | How far is he away from you? Maybe there is someone located part way between you that could host a OFC weekend gathering. That way you could perhaps try a couple different models out at the same time. Mitzdawg, don't you own a couple of these? |
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October 2009
Posts: 78
Location: Keene, NH | He's willing to do a full refund if I don't like it, so I'll just go with that. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Mitzdawg is also in NH and if he's close you could test drive one of his and get the low down on them. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | stay away from pay pal |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Originally posted by alpep:
stay away from pay pal Just curious - why? I've used it for years with nothing but success, including several transactions here with other OFC members. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Not sure using an intermediary is the best way. I've done similar deals for very expensive instruments with total strangers and what usually works best is "shared risk". You send the seller half the money - you are trusting that he will actually sent you the guitar. Once you get the guitar then you send the seller the other half of the money - he's trusting that you will actually send the money. Worst case scenario for either of you is that you lose half your money. If he wants to sell it bad enough and you want to buy it bad enough it's not a bad deal. |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | If the 2 of you want to meet halfway on a weekend day (Keene is what 1 1/2 hours, NYC 2 hrs)
I can offer up my Apt as a 1/2 way meeting point.
Bob |
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Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Originally posted by BT717:
If the 2 of you want to meet halfway on a weekend day (Keene is what 1 1/2 hours, NYC 2 hrs)
I can offer up my Apt as a 1/2 way meeting point.
Bob You may want to ask what Bob has in mind before you accept his offer. :p |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by kotadawg:
Originally posted by BT717:
If the 2 of you want to meet halfway on a weekend day (Keene is what 1 1/2 hours, NYC 2 hrs)
I can offer up my Apt as a 1/2 way meeting point.
Bob You may want to ask what Bob has in mind before you accept his offer. :p
No worries guys, I'm just livin by the OFC spirit of helping other members. |
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May 2009
Posts: 325
Location: Utica, NY | How about dealings through Craigslist? Do they offer any protection? |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | CL is a bulletin board of classifieds. There's no protection at all there. That's why most deals are done on a local basis. |
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Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 78
Location: Keene, NH | I'm taking Gallerinski's idea of shared risk and if all goes according to plan the guitar will be shipped on Monday. It's not the Autumn-colored Ovation Std Elite Prototype I originally wanted, but I'm coming around to it. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Face to face is best; but Gallerinski's idea is good, too. I tend to trust people, myself.
(Vince - I do have a Ruby 1597 and 1598 set and highly recommend them.)
I have another idea!
Send the guitar and the money to me.
That will even up the risk for both buyer and seller.
:-) |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by alpep:
stay away from pay pal Al, hows come?
I've used it because I never seem to be off work during "business hours" to purchase a money order either from the bank or post office.
What is the down side of using paypal? Am I causing problems for the folks I have been paying in this manner? |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Some folks don't like the PayPal fees or might have had a bad experience with them. Others (me) will go out of my way to use PayPal for as much business as I can. It's just personal preferences. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Some folks don't like the PayPal fees or might have had a bad experience with them. Others (me) will go out of my way to use PayPal for as much business as I can. It's just personal preferences. +1 |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | why burden the seller with pay pal fees?
why allow pay pal to be in charge of your transaction? |
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May 2009
Posts: 325
Location: Utica, NY | I too have had very good experiences with PayPal and as of late they seem to actually be improving. Their fee might be a bit high but for the ease and convenience for most things it's just fine. |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by alpep:
why burden the seller with pay pal fees?
why allow pay pal to be in charge of your transaction? I'm with you Al! Only 1 transaction as a Seller and it was not pleasant. :( |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Another happy PP user here. When given the option to use PP or a CC, PP it is. I've completed many hundreds of PP transactions with no issues.
As to PP fees, for on-line retailers, it's built into the price, just as for CC purchases. Plus using PP keeps my CC number out of the sellers possession.
Many times here on the OFC, I'll increase my payment to cover the sellers fee.
I use PP enough that I rarely have a balance in my account. |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by alpep:
why burden the seller with pay pal fees?
why allow pay pal to be in charge of your transaction? So, I've never been a seller in a PayPal transaction; what exactly goes on?
When I click on the PayPal website to send someone money, I assumed the funds were simply deposited in their PayPal account. I've asked sellers (and others I've sent money to) to let me know what additional funds I should send to cover fees, but I've always been told not to worry about it. I assumed it wasn't very much, but maybe I'm wrong making that assumption.
So, can someone take the mystery out of this for me and walk me through what it's like to be a seller using PayPal? I'm really beginning to feel guilty like I have been taking advantage of sellers simply because PayPal is easier for me. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1128
Location: NW Washington State | PayPal deducts about 3% of the total from the amount the seller receives. The seller also has some exposure because the buyer can dispute the charges through eBay, PayPal, or their credit card company. In some (rare?) cases, a dishonest buyer can steal the item and get a refund.
Some sellers hate PayPal because it was imposed on everyone by eBay- no more checks or money orders- so that eBay could increase their revenue. It's still possible for a vendor to accept credit cards directly on eBay. They have to have a regular merchant account with the credit card companies.
There are many anecdotes online about eBay freezing money in someone's account, making unauthorized withdrawals from bank accounts, etc. etc. Hard to tell how often this actually happens.
Al seems to like PayPal about as much as Behringer products. :)
-Steve W. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | FWIW as an ebay seller and otherwise, we ONLY accept paypal, average about 200 sales a month. Works just fine. As has been discussed before, it used to be that for the smaller local stores having a merchant account made you "legit" especially in the non-eBay world. Now it's just the opposite. Unless it's a known big-box (Amazon, Best Buy, etc).. if the vendor doesn't take paypal, they don't get my money.
One main attraction to PayPal as a buyer is not putting you credit card info online, and also having a separate account with one or more backup accounts, all without putting more info online.
This is NOT uncommon for those in Europe. There are several paypal-like ways to pay for things online there like PayPal... the Vendor asks for money, you authorize it... but your credit card number isn't entered into a form every time.
I'm really not sure why that hasn't caught on more here in the States.. There are services, but they haven't taken off as standards other than PayPal. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by numbfingers:
Al seems to like PayPal about as much as Behringer products. :)
-Steve W. add bulgera to the list also
I don't take pay pal never have never will.
the fact that they now want people to keep an average of available cash in their account per the transactions they do a month is just wrong.
sorry bit
call me
get me
talk to me
I order your item
I pack it
I ship it
no middlemen |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
FWIW as an ebay seller and otherwise, we ONLY accept paypal, average about 200 sales a month. Works just fine. Same thing with us. With all the problems we've had with ebay, we've had none with paypal.
It's the cost of doing business on ebay, and we don't do enough volume to warrant a merchant account. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | http://paypalsucks.com/ |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Al - AVG identified that link as a threat:
"Danger: AVG Search-Shield has detected active threats on this page and has blocked access for your protection. The page you are trying to access has been identified as a known exploit, phishing, or social engineering web site and therefore has been blocked for your safety."
Beware... |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by alpep:
they now want people to keep an average of available cash in their account per the transactions they do a month Haven't heard that one. Is that just for the business accounts?
I keep a zero PP balance except for the short period where I sell sumpin' without buying an item immediately. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Add my name to the PayPal clone list... Yeah, just another corporate patsy.
PayPal is convenient when paying for something.
You are not putting your Card number out there in the ether.
When I am selling, PayPal does take around 3%...
But any service is gonna cost you. It is a small price for instant access.
Even if I were to open a Merchant Account...
I don't like giving teeny-weeny companies my info, others feel the same way.
The online companies that I do shop with take PayPal.
If an online company doesn't take PayPal, I don't shop with them.
[Yes... That is basically what Miles said... I was just agreeing! :p ]
-- I have heard nothing about keeping a minimum balance, but I have a Premier account which is the middle level. Not a Merchant account. Sometimes my account is totally empty, except when I am working-up a guitar fund. :eek:
Once I get enough money collected, I spend it! |
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Mediating a Deal