The ongoing problem of buying & selling?

How about this as an idea? I cant claim it as mine, but it did come from me doing a deal with someone on here last week.

As a body there are loads of amateurs all over the place, its not always practical or possible to do a face to face deal. I think everyone agrees thats the safest way.

But what could be done is for us to check gear for each other. For example, I live in Preston, it would be no trouble for me to look at a piece of kit (even if it is only to confirm its exsistance) within (say) a 20 mile radius.

So if someone advertsies a radio for sale, but someone on the south coast want to buy it, they face a 6 or 8 hour trip or they risk posting money to a total stranger for a bit of kit that may or may not even exsist.

Instead of constantly repeating the same old guff about risk/face to face/paypal/ blah blah blah. Why dont we do something positive?

Ill start it off. If anyone wants to buy a bit of kit from someone reasonably local to me and wants me to go and have a look prior to sending payment. Ill happily oblige. No fees, no charge, just because I might need the same favour sometime in the furture!

There - anyone else?

or like most things on here, can we come up with a million problems rather than a solution?

Great idea!
After the fun and games I had recently. I wasted half a day and half a tank of diesel (not cheap in a Discovery), only to find no radio or seller.
If only there was someone that could have checked out the radio and seller for me before and saved me all the hastle.

I would certainly do the same for anyone interested in kit in the North Wiltshire, Swindon / Chippenham area.

I recall this being tabled before. In principle a good idea but comes with problems.

One being you agree to buy, select a guy to inspect test. It arrives at your qth and does not work. Who do you blame? The seller, 3rd party or postman pat. The point being, you are just building more blame and problems into the equation.

Dave

as expected

.......its easy to come up with problems, please dont post them here. Just solutions please!

Common sense needs to be applied. Im not going to go to someones house and do a full analysis on a radio, Im not qualified.

But I can say "Yes that is an FT817 and yes its cosmetically excellent"

Its down to the buyer to make all the chcks he or she wants. If you dont want to be involved fine - but dont just type problems in here for the sake of it.

My offer stands.

as expected

.......its easy to come up with problems, please dont post them here. Just solutions please!

Common sense needs to be applied. Im not going to go to someones house and do a full analysis on a radio, Im not qualified.

But I can say "Yes that is an FT817 and yes its cosmetically excellent"

Its down to the buyer to make all the chcks he or she wants. If you dont want to be involved fine - but dont just type problems in here for the sake of it.

My offer stands.

Great idea.

Re: as expected



Dear Josef,

First, Thanks for the advice, but I dont need you to tell me what to post.

Second, it was just an opinion. End of...

A member of this Parliamentary Democracy

Re: as expected



on second thoughts....i am out of here...i feel a flame war coming on!?!?!

Problems

One being you agree to buy, select a guy to inspect test. It arrives at your qth and does not work. Who do you blame? The seller, 3rd party or postman pat. The point being, you are just building more blame and problems into the equation
____________________________________________________

Quite right another person involved who risks getting slated on the forum if there examination is not up to scratch.

hahahah i dont think so (btw I did say please when I asked, Mr Stalin would have just shot you ) ;)




So thats you not willing Ian - fair enough, I hardly expected a positive reaction all round.



So as yet no-one in Inverness willing then. Move on - anyone else?

Good suggestion

"Why not make users do a minimum of ?? deals in person before allowing postal deals ? ."
____________________________________________________

You could of course gauge the seller by his feedback Paul.

Personally I would insist on seeing expensive kit first before paying for it or exchanging no matter who the seller is and I would suggest that propspective buyers should do likewise in order to take suitable steps to minimise the risk involved to an acceptable level.

However if I were to sell I would post out if the buyer so desired, there would be provisons attached regarding payment, method of carriage, risk and insurance etc.

Cheers Ian M0IOD

blah blah



this has been thrashed to death on numerous other threads. All this one is about is floating the idea that if someone is a long distance away, that someone local could stop by and just have a quick look see that the radio is as described.

No-one has suggested that anyone need to do any testing of the radio, no qualifications are needed (maybe a licence? ) no charge no nothing. No stress, no hassle.

Just helping out a fellow amateur to try to avoid someone sending cash to a conman.

??

Sorry Billy - I missed the bit where it says anyone picks the radio up for anyone.

ALL it is is someone local to call by have a look see and confirm what is being advertised. No more, no less.

I cant see how that can be any worse than what we have at the moment. Has it crossed your mind that the VAST majority of people arent crooks!

Nice to see you so positive Billyboy.
well at least i am willing to give it a go and maybe some of my time as well

and by the way MATE i smelt the coffee a long time ago.

Mark 2w0jmk

Its all a matter of taste /opinion really

It all depends on what your outlook is, no right or wrong answer for everyone.

Personally speaking I would not use the suggestion and would inspect and check out the equipment myself, no matter how well you knew or trusted the "good egg" who is happy to help you.. Simple really if the item was too far away for me to travel to or to meet halfway I would not consider buying it.......

As for just paying a cursory visit to confirm a radio is present and looks correct I would suggest that if anyone had any such doubts about the seller or his wares you should give him/her a wide berth and just pass on the proposed deal.

I am just not that desperate to risk a lot of cash on a shot in the dark, blind deal.

I really am surprised that there are so many people about who seem more than happy to take such a gamble.

No wonder there are so many horror stories of rip offs and cons reported when people are so trusting and gulliable.

................

M0IOD wrote .........



So you have said you are not interested Ian, message recieved, fine, no problem.

But simply repeating over and over and over again the same old reasons for NOT doing something isnt getting anyone anywhere and just clogs up yet another thread with the same old same old rubbish.

You wont do it - great. Anyone else willing?

.............

so thats you out then Rob. Thanks for letting us know.

Next

ok marcus


dont get me wrong im all for looking out for each other as far as crooks are concerned. as you stated terry, if its a case of simply having a b***hers hook at the advertised equipment and it was near me then YES i would do this for anyone..

on the condition that it was only that . a b***hers hook then report back with my thoughts , yes its a radio , as advertised , no scratches ect i had a go and it seemed to work. i met the guy in his house or where he said he lived and the equipment exists ect ect..

but as for any involvement in actually purchasing an item i wouldnt do that. unless of course it was an item that was advertised as broken in the first place..

billy

That is exactly what Im talking about Billy, that and no more than that. Anything else is asking too much, but doing that locally would help both buyers and sellers and may just put off the crooks, knowing that someone local was likely to be asked to check.

I cant honestly see why anyone wouldnt want to do this for a fellow amateur.

well then yes i would be willing to do this terry.. sorry i miss understood what you meant..

billy

could be a good idea but :( theres always a but
if theres a problem with the radio after its been tested who does the wrath fall upon :eek:
is the risk still with the buyer and would the person who checked out the equipment be free from neg feedback
after all they will be giving there time up for free ( no fee,s needed )

i would give it a go to help others :)

Oh come on Ian, for gods sake no-one is trying to tell people what they can and cant post. Just give the thread a chance without the repeating same negative crap thats on just about every other thread to do with buying and selling on here. Its about the message not the person.

Just dragging yet another thread ( that I started SEPERATELY from all the negative clap trap about paypal/face to face only/etc etc) over the same old dross isnt getting anyone anywhere. All it does is repeats the same old rubbish again and deflects the real point of the thread.

so back to the point. Its not about taking a spectrum analyser, scope,signal generator, cash or anything else. Its purely a way to try to help each otherwithout being ripped off by a crook. Its not fool proof but as Tesco say "every little helps". No more than that.

Its simply being available to check that a radio advertised locally to you is where it is advertised to be, its in the cosmetic condition its supposed to be and (if the seller has any sense) available to be seen working. Before someone else here sends a big wedge of money/other equipment or both to someone at the other end of the country.

Now I cant see why or what there is to be negative about that. If you can fine, dont offer up, but dont just s**g the idea off because you dont want to be involved. You have every right to post what you want. All Im asking is that this thread isnt dragged into a slanging match between those who will post stuff/accept/use paypal and those who wont. Its not rocket science.

:cool:

ok Ian

nice try, but the point of thread remains simple:-

Its not about taking a spectrum analyser, scope,signal generator, cash or anything else. Its purely a way to try to help each otherwithout being ripped off by a crook. Its not fool proof but as Tesco say "every little helps". No more than that.

Its simply being available to check that a radio advertised locally to you is where it is advertised to be, its in the cosmetic condition its supposed to be and (if the seller has any sense) available to be seen working. Before someone else here sends a big wedge of money/other equipment or both to someone at the other end of the country

anyone else interested in help one another?

I would like to partake however, I cannot due to lack of transport.

I am sure enough people will be willing to give it a go though.

:)

Again nice try Rob, take any number of words and select any context you like! You really do try hard to be such an arse - when really there is no need to try - you are a natural.

Anyway back to the point

I would be more than happy to take a look at a radio and make sure that the radio is were it says it is.

I understand that is all i am doing

I am not parting with cash or the owner parting with cash on my say so and forwarding on the radio

I am purley stating that the radio is at the address of the seller and that it is a radio that does not have a huge crack on the display or a dent you could fill with oil and cook chips in.

Sellers new to the site with no feed back need to get a foot on the feed back ladder.

providing the buyer is fully aware that i am only there to confirm that the adress they are sending there money to or they wish to travel too is real and will nopt be a wasted journey.

it is just a confirmation. that the radio exsists.

well thats my take on

:cool:

I think its a good idea terry , i may be selling one of my radios shortly and you are most welcome to come and check that it is exaxtly as ive described before anybody parts with any cash. but i still prefare face to face deals.

How about setting up a go between? there would be costs involved here mind , but how about someone extremely honest starting up a business type adventure here & they would act as a go between...

For example..

I am selling a radio, so i advertise it on here.. Now once a buyer has established that he wishes to perches the said item.. He sends his cash or cheque / pay pal payment first, to the selected go between..

Now that money is safe!! or should be..

Now the go between emails the seller to let him know funds have cleared & they can now forward the radio to the new owner..

Once the owner has emailed both the seller & the go between that radio is as described, & has arrived safely.. The funds then can be forwarded on to the seller..

Now i know this will cost a small amount of cash to set up & run.. But surely this is not a bad idea???..

Regards

Steve

Terry that is so true, unfortunately there is always someone out there going to take advantage of someones good nature..

I did not mean that everyone is a crook in fact if i am to be honest here.. I have never ran into such on either this forum or my own for that matter.. But have followed the stories as you all have with Kean interest.

Again it is a minority here spoiling it for the majority of any forum not just here...

Happy Days!!

To put this another way..

Something like a qsl manager but the only difference is, he would manage your cash!! nothing else.. Once he has contacted you reporting that he has the funds and they have cleared.. You could then forward on the radio..

There would be some small costs involved here, but surely this would be worth every penny rather than chancing it & loosing the lot..

I did write in an earlier post on here john, once all funds have cleared the item could then be sent to the buyer or viceversa.. ;)

Still seems loads of hassle. I myself wud sooner just meet the guy selling the item and deal face to face, and if you want the deal bad enough you will do that.I like a lot more have not the time or patience to involve a 3rd party in a deal when in most cases its hard enough to deal one to one ........just my opinion pal

Yes agreed, but something like that for the sort of deal.. Where it would out way the cost of meeting up.. I am sure it would work well.. However as you have pointed out.. It is a lot of responsibility to take on..

As i said John, it was just an idea or more to the point, a suggestion really.. ;)

Steve
I can see a slight flaw here with your Idea.

Let me give you the sencario.

I decide to Buy a radio from Gerry letss say an FT1000

I send you the cash £1000

You then inform Gerry that you have the cash from me and That he should now send the radio

Gerry being the good egg that he is send me the Radio

I get the Radio

yup fine and dandy it does all it says on the tin

Now i dig out my Ft1000 with a faulty board in it
I take out my faulty board and replace it with the one from radio Gerry sent me

I Put mine back together again and put it under the desk

I then contact you to say Look steve i have Just got the radio from Gerry and not being to clued up i think it has a problem with it.

I think the best thing for me to do is send Gerry his radio back.

I then send Gerry his radio back which we can assume may have developed the fault due to transit

only i know i am the bad egg here but it all comes out in the wash at some point.


And then when Gerry finds out he is kicking up a fuss and looking for some kind of retribution

just one of the problems I can see

on the whole i am sure 99.9% of transactions would be flawless but it is the 0.1% that would make you think ..."WHY DID I BOTHER"

Well the same could be said for other scenarios also..

Again it all boils down to trust .. No worries it was just an idea.. :D

Well you know what they say!! do not fix what is not broken..

Heres the thing with this idea, for some reason a few people have this mad idea that raadio hams are all jolly fine chaps and the salt of the earth.
I am afraid the reality is that unfortunately the ranks have been breached by certain undesireables that aim to make a fast buck by scamming people however they can and by means of selling duff gear or failing to send it full stop.
so now we have a scenario where somebody is selling a radio and a guy says i live close i can go have a look at it and mail the potential buyer my opinion, he goes round has a nice cup of tea a good look around the shack in question and after a chat leaves and goes on his way.
Week later chap comes home from work and finds his shack has been emptied and all his gear gone!
Reality check, i would not have anyone comming to my house who i had not dealt with before or knew somebody who had because thesedays the face of a criminal is so hard to spot.

It happens , how many people have been selling a car only to have a so called mechanic call to inspect it and the morning after its gone!!!!!!!

as predicted

What started off as a simple idea to possibly try and help others out, its developed into the usual slanging match. No-one is trying to force anyone to be involved, charge money, collect equipment, case anyones house, test equipment, send money, hold gear - nothing. Just a friendly offer of help if needed - no more no less.

What a shame

This is unbeliveable! all that terry wanted to do was help out. i still think its a good idea terry like i said you are welcome to come and have a look at my radio when it goes on the market no problem there mate its just about helping out isnt it terry thats all............

Re: Re: Re: Homework?



Here bloody here!! Well put that man.. :)

..........

He can look at my feedback Rob,

He can look at my eBay feedback (925 at 100% positive)

and you can tell him also, having done at least 4 trades/deals with you in the past year.

We may not see eye to eye on many things but we have exchanged cash and equipment both ways without a hitch.

Id be very happy for you to come and check anything I had for sale if someone wanted you to. Im sure you wouldnt be "casing the joint"!!

god, 50% of the people i know that have a licence would cut your head off if you had gold teeth.. and some without that would do it even if you didnt have gold teeth..

people living in bubbles need to realise that amateurs or not this is not little house on the prarie .. there are bad men out there who will pinch your sweeties and you cant tell by the way they look or talk on a forum...

m0csn makes some good points .. not only that if hes big im on his side :-)

i recon doing things the old way by meeting ,checking and buying or not as the case may be.. at someones qth if the seller wants to or on a road side where i have made a few purchases over time that all went ok..

billy

just making a point that in all walks of life and in all aspects of it not everyone can or should be trusted..

thats not to say i dont trust anyone , it just means i use my head .. which after reading some of the problems people have had over time implies they havnt..

billy