I had to walk away from a couple of deals lately

[Mike Hillis]

When you are buy or selling, if something doesn't seem right, don't let your desire for the object or the sale to replace your good sense.

A couple of things to keep in mind.

You always need to be able to reach out and touch somebody. That means no sending money to a P.O.Box unless you have a verifiable physical address. I was in the payment part of a deal where a guy wanted me to send payment to a P.O.Box. I couldn't indepentantly verify his actual address. It had been a couple of months since his last post on the forum, and his post numbers were not that high. When the request also included making the payment out to someone else.....all I saw was one red flag after another. I had to walk away.

Communication. If you are getting into a transaction where there is limited or sporadic communication when you are trying to buy or sell, imagine how the communication will be if the transaction ends up with issues. I was invited into a transaction like that. No communication to my buy offer, then a week later a feeler to see if I was still interested, then a few days later another feeler to tell me what I wanted was still available. I had to walk away.

Maybe those deals would have worked out ok. I just wasn't ready to take a chance and find out.

Felt like sharing.
HH
Mike

 

[oldbob55]

I know how you feel i had a guy wanting to buy my omega said he realy wanted so i said ok i gave him my address for payment said he would send it out never did over a week went buy no word e-mailed him a week later he said he have to back out
i understand things happen but at least he could have let me know with a e-mail. then he e-maild me again and wanted it sorry its gone so it went to richard good guy Backwoods detector hes making me a great deal


Bob

 

[Larry (IL)]

Great post Mike, better safe than sorry.

 

[Elton]

You just have to go with your instincts.. Better to walk away than be sorry !!!

 

[D&P-OR]

You made some VERY good points Mike.----If the red flags come up (either on the buy or sell side), it's "back off time".----Excellent communications is SO IMPORTANT in forum transactions.----I'll bend over backwards when a deal is going on but nothing irks me more than to have a person just "disappear" (go on vacation--whatever) right in the middle of a transaction.---I realize there can be (rare) justifiable reasons for this but in most cases it is very rude & un-businesslike (at best).-----Mikes excellent first sentence & listen to your "gut feeling" or instincts---if something just doesn't feel right--it may well not be.-----Bottom line--if you don't have a good feeling about ANY individual, can't get a physical address & can't get a phone #-----think VERY hard about doing ANY transaction.---------------Del

 

[Frank in NH]

This why i like to deal with the guys i know on the forums if at all possible. Been lucky so far, knock on wood!