has anyone used another member in another state to buy something used?

[bcguy]

In this day and age, fraud, misrepresentation and other issues makes it difficult to buy something from afar based on some ones words. This of course, never used to be a problem 20 year ago.

I am looking at plunking down between 1-2 grand for a automotive scanner and thought of the idea of using a trusted member of the church who may live next to the seller to check out the item, see it run, then hand them a money order in exchange for the item. Then take the item, and wrap and ship it for a small fee.

I am looking at a scanner in Rialto CA and trusting the persons words.

Thanks

:)

[pam]

This trusted person is it someone you know or are you thinking of using some random person from the internet to check it out for you?

[bcguy]

There may be something you want to buy, and you could be shelling out 1 thousand or more dollars. But at the same time, because of distance between you and the seller, you cannot see it for your self for example, if it is in the next state. You want to make sure you are getting what is offered instead of the seller cashing the check and disappearing.

One way to find out the trustworthiness for example is eBay feedback profile if it is a Ebay sale. It is very reliable. Case point, wife did not dig into the persons profile after getting a movie dvd from the person. We latter found out, the movie was not even on dvd yet. We dig into his profile, and at least two occasions the buyers accused him of pirating.

I'm talking about bigger ticket items costing thousands. I would be comfortable having a trusted members of the church to check out the item, make sure it works, then have the seller box up the item, and exchange it for the money order that I send to the member of the church. That member then would have a shipping company wrap it, then send it. I reimburse the member for time and shipping cost.

Unless there is a more trusted way of doing this, I think this is the best option I know of.

Does anyone here know of anyone in the Anchorage Alaska Stake? This is where the item is

Edited April 14, 2011 by bcguy

[pam]

So you would have some "trusted" random person check something out for you that could cost thousands of dollars? And as part of this, send them a money order to pay for that item?

I don't care if the person is LDS or not...I would never trust someone I do not personally know with that kind of money.

[Bini]

Pam, I was going to sing the same tune on this thread yesterday. I wholeheartedly agree. Being LDS doesn't guarantee a more "trusted" individual. We'd like to think so but it just isn't the case or reality.

[bcguy]

In this day and age, you can get anything from anywhere but there is the question "will I get what I paid for" from a private party.

[Dravin]

In this day and age, you can get anything from anywhere but there is the question "will I get what I paid for" from a private party.

If you are really worried I'm sure a lawyer could set something up but it's probably not worth the cost. Likewise you could travel (or pay for someone you trust) to travel but there is the cost issue (and time). With some things you are just taking a risk and have to decide if it is worth it and factor it into your decision on if you are going to make the purchase or not.

[NeuroTypical]

Go eBay or amazon.com. You can usually trust someone with higher than 95 or 97% positive feedback. (To be specific, you can expect a 95% chance of a positive experience with someone with 95% positive feedback :))

[bcguy]

Problem is, this is a specialty item. Ebay is now no where a bargain anymore and this item gets LOTS of bids there. Economy in his area sucks, and is isolated. The shop he works at is online, nice shop, I called it, and thay got him to the phone. He is upgrading and wants to take the funds from this to buy a better product.

[bcguy]

He said he is going to get a picture of him self, and his drivers license plus more pictures of the item so that's good news. We will be doing the transaction via pay pal "pay pal does not expose your credit car number to the seller" so it seems good to go one more pictures roll my way.

[bcguy]

Hire a security company, a locksmith or a retired police officer for half a day and have them represent you. Then rest assured, if the product matches the description, not stolen based on serial number, then the transaction can proceed between the proxy buyer you hired, and the seller.

[bcguy]

He concurred that he was to get a picture of him, and his drivers license sent to me.

Something sounded kind of fishy when his shop said he was sick, yet, he broke his hip. That is a big difference. The only other reason he may not have called back was possibly sent to the hospital due to his hip issue and thus, could not return my call.