Making a large purchase on the Forsale forum...

[PirateLove]

It makes me nervous. I see a lot of items for $500 plus. I have found a few that I am interested in but am super scared of getting ripped off. How do you know the sale will be safe? Reef Central states buy at your own discretion. Is there anything you can look for to make a safe purchase? Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks a lot.

 

[vhuang168]

Pay with PayPal. Do not pay with Friends and Family. Pay only with Goods and Services. Get a tracking number.


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[bif24701]

Pay with PayPal. Do not pay with Friends and Family. Pay only with Goods and Services. Get a tracking number.


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This, this is considered safe.


Aaron

 

[ryanremle]

Paypal

 

[Ron Reefman]

I've bought a few things from people here at RC and never had any problem. But it is a risk. Get a phone number and talk to the seller, ask for a lot of pictures, ask tough questions. And there is still a chance you could get screwed, but then isn't that the case with almost anything you buy used?

 

[Sapelo]

I agree with Ron. I've spent a good bit of money. I always check for seller reviews from other RC members and I stay away from first time sellers who might be perfectly good people but I'm looking for a solid track record.
If you're worried, you probably need to buy new - that's the only way to have real security.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

IMO, most people aren't out to get you. people on RC are in the hobby and seem to treat other hobbyists well. You will still find a bad egg once in a while, or get unlucky and have an honest person give you bad equipment without knowing it was bad or something like that. I think buying used is worth the risks. You save so much money in this hobby buying used, if you use your due diligence, the savings will far outweigh the occasional bad buy cause by used.

 

[CafeReef]

If you use PayPal, ensure that the items are shipped and not picked up in person. If the items are picked up in person, then there is no protections under PayPals buyer or seller protection agreements.

Another good practice would be to write up a buyer's agreement, this would protect both the buyer and the seller, it would outline what is being purchased, what the expected condition of each item is etc. This way if you receive an item that is not listed, or is not in the condition that it is listed, then you have written protection. He said, She said does not hold up in any type of a recourse situation, (claims with paypal, bank, credit card, court, etc.) written proof is what is always asked for.

 

[Gaxmode]

I agree with Ron. I've spent a good bit of money. I always check for seller reviews from other RC members and I stay away from first time sellers who might be perfectly good people but I'm looking for a solid track record.
If you're worried, you probably need to buy new - that's the only way to have real security.

If everyone thought this way all would be first time sellers. PayPal offers a good protection program. Try googling it to make sure you do the transaction the correct way to be covered. Good luck.

 

[Greg 45]

If I sell or purchase a high dollar item / I prefer to get it local where I can see it before the purchase. If not I will get it as a new item.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Paypal is the only safe way to go. Always pay as good or services option. Friends and family you have no recourse. Granted there are no Paypal fees using the friends and family but the seller should figure the cost in the sale.

Then if someone insists that they be paid with Paypal as a friends and family, RUN FOREST RUN!

 

[offdapeggs]

I think the buyer is more protected through pay pal than the seller

 

[A sea K]

I have bought and sold many items through the sale forum and have never had any issues on any of the purchases I have made and quite a few of them have been in the several hundreds of dollars purchases.

I will typically do a search in the buyer/seller feedback section on the seller, ALWAYS use paypal and NEVER pay with the friends and family option as their is no protection for you if there is an issue, and lastly I will typically avoid new sellers or those with a low post count(though not always). Other than that just make sure both yourself and the seller are 100% clear on the details and you should be good to go.