Do you think this is legit?

[MrMikeB]

There is a guy here on RC that PMd me off my post in the WTB section (looking for an AC3). Here is the thread ID:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1003532

He says he can get the AC3 with DC8/probes for $600 shipped and gave me his PayPal address. Being new here, I am a bit leery just sending PayPal money around to folks (especially out of town). Has anybody had a bad experience doing this, and should I just take my chances with a storefront? $600 is a bit of $$$ to be screwing around with to save $50-$75, but $50, well thats like 3 frags!

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Reefugee]

Personally - for the $50 saving on a $600 item, I would buy from a merchant that accepts credit card. That way if anything goes wrong, at least you have your credit credit company to help you resolve your dispute. Remember - if you pay with Paypal - there is very little you can do.

With that said - Zapata41 is been on RC for a while, so I don't think he's trying to pull a fast one over you. I would still order it on an online store where I can use a credit card.

Minh

 

[MrMikeB]

Minh,

Thanks for the advice. I did not think he was a scam, in fact he seems genuine. I just did not know what was the 'right' protocol for doing exhanges within RC and I did not want to make a newbie mistake with my first out of town large transaction.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[miracles38]

hey Guys,
I have had paypal get my money back for me, but you have a short amount of time to file a claim (30 days I think). Also, you can pay with your credit card through paypal and you have double coverage!

 

[Elite]

Zapata41 is a great guy. We purchased several thousand dollars worth of stuff from him before. He does accept CC through paypal but you might have to pay the fee which is pretty little.
I ordered from thereefstop before and it wasn't great but seem like a lot of people like him. I guess they didn't have problem like I did.

 

[Reefugee]

Kim,

It doesn't always work that way. Let say that you PayPal me some money for goods that I am supposed to send you. As soon as you PayPal it to me, I pull the money out of my PayPal account and don't send you the good. You call PayPal to dispute the transaction. Unfortunately - I don't have an money in my PayPal account, so PayPal can't pull any money out to give back to you. You can go to your credit card company and try to dispute it, but it won't do you any good. You paid Paypal for a service, and they delivered that service.

So don't think that using PayPal protects you against fraud. It may protect you under very specific circumstances, but not always.

BTW - just another tip. I get really nervous ordering online from "unknown" businesses with my credit cards (especially the ones with really high credit limits). Some of my credit card companies offer a "one time use" credit card number generator. It's great because I can specify the max amount for that single use number. Also - the number can only be used once! Check to see if your credit card company has that feature.

Minh

 

[MrMikeB]

Thank you all for the help in this. I think I will order from him after all - great deals are so hard to find for these items. I did not mean it as being disrespectful by questioning things, but after being burned via a large online action site, I am a bit more cautious. Your feedback has been most valuable.

 

[miracles38]

hey Minh,

I have actually had to do both version of what you were talking about. I believe the paypal dispute, the guy must then have had money, because I got that money back. I had bought a heater from him that exploded within one hour of plugging it in.

I also had one that the time had expired with paypal to file a claim, so I filed with my credit card (it was actually over their limit also - it had been like 7-8 months) but they still fought the guy and got my money back. I had saved all the pm's through RC and submitted those as my proof and they did it. I was really impressed and happy that they took care of me, their customer.

 

[MrMikeB]

I bank with Citi and amazed on how liberal their policy is on the refunding of ill transactions. Although not through PayPal, I have used them for other like transactions and they typically come out on top as long as I keep a paper trail. I figure they got the big attorneys on retainer and can spend some of my interest $$$ to go after deals gone bad.

One of the nice perks is that they also refund the $$$ and interest accrued up front, then settle the problem. If the seller simply does not respond (which happens in most cases when you get burned by folks who are less than honest), they just chalk it up as cost of a $bln business and you keep the refund.

 

[Nu2SW]

Paypal is slick.....

One experience Ive encountered was that if the person you paid, sends you anything at all. Then you have received a item. Paypal wouldn't refund, because I received a empty box, But I Still got the "BOX"

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Also you have to consider warranty on these things. If you get a defunt unit or damaged contacting a regular merchant will be a lot easier to deal with ( usally at lest.