nerve racking ebay transaction

[grantlandau]

Ok, I'm getting a stereo pair of distressors on ebay from a seller who only accepts Money Orders/Cashiers checks. The seller is located in the US and has 100% rating with 170 positive transactions, some for highend audio stuff. It's a lot of money so naturally it makes me very nervous. Here is my correspondence and please tell me what you think. Are money orders/cashiers checks traceable/recoverable if something goes awry>?

Thanks guys!

------------

Good Morning,

Looks like I won the auction for the Distressors. I had contacted you before regarding payment process. I would like to arrange a pick up, I would be able to bring cash ($1975). 1975 is a lot of money for me and I am a bit wary of sending a money order out without any Ebay Buyer Protection through Paypal. I live in NYC and driving out to South Plainfield would not be a problem. It would probably cost me less to drive than shipping. Please let me know where you'd like to meet.

Here's some links to my businesses/bands to let you know I'm not some sketchy person All of my ebay auctions as a buyer have been for high-end audio.

Welcome to Netlandau- Home of Landau and the Landau Orchestra
Landau Audio Design
MySpace.com - Landau - Brooklyn, New York - Electroacoustic / Soul - www.myspace.com/netlandau

Please let me know when/where it's possible to meet. That would be great.

Sincerely,

Grant Wheeler




Grant,
Thank you for your winning bid. I'm glad to know that your
willing to pick up in person, but unfortunately I am in Savannah,
GA on vacation and I had brought the Distressors with me
expecting to ship them. I understand that this may seem a bit
odd to you as a buyer, but I ensure you that I've sold several
high end music items with out any problems before. The last
time I sold a guitar while I was in Georgia I had the money order
sent to my office in Warren, NJ. My assistant informed me when
it had come in, upon which I shipped the item. This is the best
option for both yourself and I; I'm certain of that. If you are
willing to overnight a money order I will be happy to 2cnd day
air the Distressors for half of the auction's shipping costs.
Thank you again, if you would like to contact me please feel
welcome to call xxx-xxx-xxxx.
-Michael

[grantlandau]

I'm also waiting for a call back from him

[Electronique]

You didnt send the money did you?

[Kris]

Why wouldn't he just have his assistant ship the distressors?

Sounds sketchy to me...I'd tell him I've got no problem waiting to pick them up when he's back from vacation. If there's some other bs excuse... run away!

[grantlandau]

nope. but I talked to him on the phone. Seemed like a nice guy, his story and info seems pretty consistent. I have his business addy (which is a real estate agency), telephone number, full name, e-mail address, and he has an extensive ebay buyer and seller history at 100% which has some highend audio included. So what are the thoughts - is it a possible scam? How could he scam me without getting in trouble? Do have any way of protecting myself with Money Orders or Cashier's Checks?

[waveterm]

Wait until he´s back from vacation.

WT

[Animus]

Sounds like it could be a legit story. But I guess you should take any chance. Tell him you will cover Paypal fees if he will do it that way.

[T_R_S]

S C A M

[grantlandau]

so it seems his 'assistant' is very well advertised realtor from Jersey. I called and spoke to him and it turns out to be his dad (same last name) who says he's done this a few times for him. But it is rather odd that he called him his assistant.

here is also another auction from the same seller with positive feedback from a reputable buyer. that was done with money order only. the picture seems to be taken on the same table.

PRS Custom 24 Brazilian Rosewood Limited Edition Guitar - eBay (item 230258902925 end time Jun-08-08 18:28:49 PDT)

any less sketchy?

If I were to be ripped off with all of this information, do I have enough ammo to press charges?

Would recording a telephone conversation add extra insurance? e

I'm obviously trying to convince myself that this is legit.

[adpz]

Originally Posted by grantlandau

so it seems his 'assistant' is very well advertised realtor from Jersey. I called and spoke to him and it turns out to be his dad (same last name) who says he's done this a few times for him. But it is rather odd that he called him his assistant.

here is also another auction from the same seller with positive feedback from a reputable buyer. that was done with money order only. the picture seems to be taken on the same table.

PRS Custom 24 Brazilian Rosewood Limited Edition Guitar - eBay (item 230258902925 end time Jun-08-08 18:28:49 PDT)

any less sketchy?

If I were to be ripped off with all of this information, do I have enough ammo to press charges?

Would recording a telephone conversation add extra insurance? e

I'm obviously trying to convince myself that this is legit.

There are legit reasons why people want money orders. However, in this case you have very little leverage in case something is not right with the Distressors. I agree with the above post, wait until he gets back from vacation to pick them up from him in person. You have nothing to lose; if it is a legit sale, he's not going to pester you about what is a very reasonable request on your part. BTW - I've been selling on Ebay since 1999; with 235 feedbacks, 100% positive.

Even if it is not a scam, there is no reason you have to give all the leverage in a transaction over to this seller. Too, frankly, it just sounds like he doesn't want you to come pick them up - which is not the sign of a confident seller - a seller who believes in what they are selling. It is sort of ridiculous to think of a guy carrying around $2000 worth of Distressors with him on vacation.

If he was REALLY thinking of shipping them, he would have had them packed already, and then checked-in - which makes the scenario even more absurd.

Wait, meet him in person, test your units, and only then pay cash.

[grantlandau]

vacation = living at house a he owns down there and not really returning any time soon. Brought them down to his house with the intent on selling them and shipping, so not entirely rediculous. but yes, thanks for the input as well, I am encouraged to continue doubting and asking him more questions.

[waveterm]

If he´s not due back from vacation soon I´d suggest that he ships them back "home" to his dad/assistant and you pick them up there.

WT

[grantlandau]

ah ha! a good suggestion! I'll offer to pay like $100 as a money order to ship it to his office (will cover shipment back and some, in case I were to 'flake out') and then pay the difference in cash upon checking it out in person.

Thanks waveterm, quite a smarty, even though you aren't Maddog!

[The MPCist]

Ratings mean nothing on eBay. Some time ago, I bought some stuff from an eBay PowerSeller with very high ratings...

I ended up being scammed for a few thousand.

Always buy with credit card and if something goes wrong and it's a scam, file a chargeback with your cc company.

[The MPCist]

And yes, it's a scam -- too many variables going on. Who takes distressors on vacation?! hahahaah

[grantlandau]

Read above, not like a pack your bags for the resort kind of vaca. Regardless, I am going to offer to pay for shipping up to NJ and check it out for myself. If he declines, I will sadly walk away. Too good to be true.. grumble grumble

[grantlandau]

Alas! He is shipping the distressor to his office for pickup!! He is not requesting an advance for the shipping fees or anything. Hooray!!!!! Distressors!!!!!!!!! There's another moan zone case closed!!

[sahiaman]

Yeah, when I go on vacation I like to take my Lunch box and sit around on the beach and wait for someone with a microphone to walk by.

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by Kris

Why wouldn't he just have his assistant ship the distressors?

Sounds sketchy to me...I'd tell him I've got no problem waiting to pick them up when he's back from vacation. If there's some other bs excuse... run away!

Because there in GA with him..did you not read the response?

[Kris]

No shit. It just made no sense to me that he would bring his distressors on 'vacation' when he has an 'assistant' back the office. Sounded like b.s.

Wouldn't it have been a bit more logical to leave the distressors at the 'office' with the 'assistant' and have the 'assistant' send them out when the sale took place? Isn't that what an 'assistant' is for?

My comments were before we found out the the 'assistant' was really the dudes Dad, and the 'vacation' was really a move... Did you not notice that? Or just looking for an argument this a.m.? Maybe you were just being sarcastic? I can't tell!

[grantlandau]

No BS! Just picked them up . .. mint!!! I'm in love with em. HS they're awesome! Turns out his Dad was superrr loaded and living in Manhattan, I just went to his place in Battery Park and picked em up. Definitely goes down as the weirdest and most nerve racking ebay purchases ever.

case closed.

[Kris]