cross-country parts transactions

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str12-340

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
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Location
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So a recent exchange about buying a part from another member leads me to ask: How do you deal with parts transaction across the country with somebody you don't know? I found a part offered here that I wanted to buy, the other member and I agreed on price and then ended up in a chicken and egg discussion on payment - he wanted the money up front and then would ship the part, I wanted to figure out how to do the transaction COD so I could make sure I got the part. A couple years ago I send a money order for some trim pieces to New York, from Washington State. I got no trim and was out the money and it sure wasn't worth it to fly cross country to confront the guy. It's clear lots of parts are bought and sold here, how do folks balance both parties interests?
 
I've use Pay Pal , give you some recourse if there is a problem.
Been luck so far never had any problems .
 
I only used paypal to buy and sell parts via mail. I think it has risk but less than money orders or checks. Large dollar items have to be with in driving range or from a member with a big post count.
 
Paypal or Postal money order. You know the recourse for Paypal but Postal money orders have a bit more spine. Cashing the money order without sending the parts opens up the seller to federal mail fraud charges and the Postal Inspectors take that very seriously....
 
I had the same concern myself when I first considered making purchases on here from other members. You kinda gotta go with your gut feeling; I really think most people on here are 'stand-up' kinda guys, willing to do what is right. The only ones I avoid are the guys that come on here with their first post just to sell their item(s). I wouldn't risk that, unless it is an amount you are willing to possibly take a bath on.

This thread was a good read for me, and further states similar viewpoints from other members in regards to making such purchases... some good points are made here: http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=217103


BTW, I have since made several purchases here, totaling into several hundreds of dollars. So far, so good. Met some cool guys (online) that have similar interests. We're all good 'ole boys and gals for the most part. :cheers:


Mark
 
I have had pretty good luck here. I've done personal check, PayPal, and postal money order.
Seems to me most want payment up front, which quite frankly seems to be BS...No offense to the sellers but, why should the buyer always assume all risk? Also many guys that want PayPal want you to send as "gift", which gives you NO recourse...If they don't want to absorb the fee, they should bump their price by 5% in order to cover it up front instead of asking you to cover it or go with no protection to yourself.
Postal money order is probably your best bet.
Feel the person out...I tell'em up front full name, address, e-mail and phone#... If they're hesitant to give all info, that's a red flag.
I then Google their name...
That can bring up some interesting ****... sometimes more than they'd probably like you to know... I'm sure there's more than a couple of people here with some "entertaining" history, I've even come up with tv news clips on one...
That much said, I've dropped about a grand with people here, and can't say I've been bitten once. Sometimes you just gotta have faith!
 
I'm in a similar situation at this time. It is trust that we have to have until the bad happens. I am selling parts to a guy in PA. He is also new to the site. He also doesn't use pay pal. He is sending me certified funds and Ill provide a tracking number. He did not mention he was in a hurry but Ill prority mail the parts once check is in hand.

I guess my view, I have the part that I dont need to sell. They want the part to complete a project.

Trust. I know if I get burned I wont use the forums again. Its cool getting to know people via the forum and I am here to help if I can not rip people off.
 
I also dont pull that "gift" bs with pay pal. Buyer needs some protection.

I have bought and sold. Communication is key.
 
I try not to deal with people without talking on phone. Use your gut feeling by the answers you get from seller. I just bought brake parts from a member, but he wouldn't call me. I needed the parts. I pay paled and the parts were not as described. I sent them back and ate the shipping one way. Should have known better. But, I have wired over 4 large for a Duster. Happy shopping!
 
I have not had any issues buying parts off the forums. But if you feel the seller is not getting back to you in a timely manner or is not answering all your questions. Forget it and go on. Another, whatever, will pop up sooner or later.
 
Thanks for all the feedback! more is certainly welcome. I am surprised that there isn't more use of UPS COD. The fee is $11 over shipping, the buyer is sure that he at least received something from the seller, and the seller knows the package isn't released without payment and a postal money oder can be specified. It seems like the ideal win-win situation
 
Look at the date joined and the amount of post the seller has. A crook isn't going to last here very long. I have sent parts to members and only asked for shipping, most pay some don't. I just sent some parts to a member and only asked for the shipping, Then if he is happy with the parts he is going to send me the purchase price. I want and have to believe in the goodness of mankind. It's just the way I roll.
 
I bought some parts on here recently that were advertised as "Hardware included" and it was the mounting bolts made for use with the parts.
I immediatly paid what the seller was asking and got the parts with no mounting hardware.
I contacted the seller and was told, "they must have fallen out while the items were being packaged for shipping"
The seller told me that he would look around for them and get back to me.
That was days ago, so I am calling BS and will not buy from this seller again.

It's not a big loss, or even a big deal as I went out and found the hardware locally.
I'm not even going to ask the seller for a partial refund for having to buy the parts that were supposed to be included because the parts were still worth what he was asking without them.
It's just one of those clue's.
 
I've only been on the site for about a year and a half, have bought a few things here, maybe sold one or two... Currently have a set of 64/5 head light rings on their way to Maryland from California.... I saw them, wanted them, paid for them and simply trust the guy to send them.... FedEx shiiping tracker says they will be here Saturday... Ive read enough posts/threads on here to feel as tho I have nothing to worry about with this guy.... I typically run by gut feeling.
 
Call up any online vendor, say target, home depot, etc. and ask them to send you the item you want before you as buyer sends payment. See how far you get! LOL

Paypal is more of a convenience for the buyer than seller. Using paypal you don't have to go to the PO, get a MO, mail it, wait extra time for it to arrive, etc. Seller gets the money right away is the only benefit to a seller, wrapping the deal up right away. I'm still waiting on the payment for a part a guy just had to have from 3+ years ago... :(

I NEVER say I'll take paypal and if a BUYER asks, then they either get to pay the fees (upfront or built in w/ shipping) or go get a money order, their choice. Trust me, some people want to use paypal, pay only what the postage says and no more.

And if I want to use paypal on a purchase, I almost always offer to juice it the 3% to cover the fees.

Get a feel for who you are dealing with. I got burned on a set of cylinder heads a long time ago. He burned a lot of people, Michael Anthony Aviles big POS. If you get a weird feeling about who you are dealing with trust it. Another if you are unsure, get the old hostage photo of the parts with that days newspaper. I had one guy go ballistic because I had that feeling... yep he screwed the next guy!
 
we just bought 2 340's from south Carolina, we live in tennessee

before even talking about the sale

I looked at ALL the other posts, of seller (another site)
and his For Sale, past sales

then goggled his name/address
then decided to call and talk
not just about the engines
got a good feel for the deal

Sent a cashiers check- he called when it arrived
Called again, when engine got to freight depo
AND gave tracking info.

everything was as he said.


On another Note:BEWARE>> call if ya Dare
got a LOCAL guy selling a 408
that I guess I asked to many questions,
cause the day I was to look at the engine
(I wanted to pull a head, to check the stroke)
he said the eng was sold>> JAN 26

BUT YET, the eng is still listed????

http://nashville.craigslist.org/pts/3555981485.html

408 dodge engine just rebuilt - $2500 (murfreesboro)

iv got a 408stroker dodge engine i bought it for my 2000 5.9 r/t dekota wife wrecked truck so im stuck with this motor here are some things in it scat 4.0 stroke and 6.123" rods, it a 360 la stroker block .040 over bore 10-1 compression also j&e pistons,moly rings,balanced,hich vol oil pump,also alumium heads there edelbrock peformer heads with 202 intake valves and 160 exhaust valves,mopar air gap intake with mopar alumium valve covers....THIS MOTOR IS READY TO SET IN... call 615-631-6132 ... oh yeah this motor is 10k in jegs...
 
I'm one of the few humans left on the planet that does not trust paypal to my bank account information. I myself have sold and bought using postal money orders, Speedway motors gift cards, jegs gift cards, summit racing gift cards, and regular old checks. I send most items out the day I get a commitment from the buyer, maybe the next day if it's late. You will find the people who don't pay or don't ship quite quickly on here.
 
So a recent exchange about buying a part from another member leads me to ask: How do you deal with parts transaction across the country with somebody you don't know? I found a part offered here that I wanted to buy, the other member and I agreed on price and then ended up in a chicken and egg discussion on payment - he wanted the money up front and then would ship the part, I wanted to figure out how to do the transaction COD so I could make sure I got the part. A couple years ago I send a money order for some trim pieces to New York, from Washington State. I got no trim and was out the money and it sure wasn't worth it to fly cross country to confront the guy. It's clear lots of parts are bought and sold here, how do folks balance both parties interests?

Bottom line....Owner of the item for sale sets or accepts terms of a sale to his satisfaction. If the his/her terms are not satisfactory to the buyer, he has the option of simply walking away.
 
Bottom line....Owner of the item for sale sets or accepts terms of a sale to his satisfaction. If the his/her terms are not satisfactory to the buyer, he has the option of simply walking away.

Exactly...I use paypal both buying and selling. If you arent comfy with the "gift" button on paypal, then add a few $$ to cover the fees.
 
send $ first ive never been shadfted on this site as many other will say the same we are a trust family and if ytou do get screwed put up a bad guy alert post and it will prob get str8tend out real soon we all want our names and pride protected and be willing to help any time we can this is not fee pay this is fabo a country wide family to help each others keep old mopar running and looking new and wanna meet each other at meets and shows
we try to cover each others backs were not here to play games or sell junk or ripp people off i think we run about 99% or better i"ll let some 1 else give there opinion we are tight freindly and nation wide FABO something i am proud to be part of parts bought from fla to seatle to cali to texas and on and on screwed 0 times thanx every 1
 
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