2. misc-audio
  3. 123096-9095

Sellers Beware!!!

Folks, 

I am wondering if anyone else here noticing the latest trend on Audiogon. I have been approached by buyers in Vietnam to buy my listings. I have gotten at least dozen offers in last month or so, they are pretending to be US based buyers, with US address and do not disclose their actual location until you have accepted the offer.  I have already declined two confirmed offers as soon as I figured out their true identity. The US address being provided on Audiogon is either a local business shop run by Vietnamese native or a 'friend' address. I googled the address and called the local address listed on Audiogon. It turns out to be small business shop and the owner had no idea about the sale or the product he is about to receive in next 2-3 days. 

The icing on the cake, the buyer gets bent of shape when you point out these last minute surprises and then try shift the blame on us that we are not very 'trusting'. Go figure! 

I am outlining some of the things that were common in my dealings, 

1. Broken English (sorry no offense)
2. 12-14 hour delay between communications
3. Start off with low ball offer and then agrees to pay within 10-15% off of your asking price
4. Unusual delay in receiving payments, they tend to apologize profusely and blame PayPal for delay
5. They will ask you to 'absorb' PayPal fee due higher percentage charged by PayPal on intl. transfers
6. Negative, neutral or no feedback
7. The address in their Audiogon profile will be either in west cost (CA) or east coast (NY). 

This thread is not intended to target a certain race or nationality, the sole purpose of this thread is to create awareness against the 'sneaky' buyers. I welcome all buyers, domestic or international and wish them a hassle free buying and selling experience on Audiogon. 

128x128lalitk

Showing 1 response by ejr1953

ejr1953
895 posts
 
I have had two bad experiences, where a potential "buyer" communicates with me via Audiogon's "in mail", negotiates a "purchase price" with me either by "in mail" or by phone, the tune is always "cash & local pick up", but they decide to reduce their "offer" by several hundred dollars.

I think what I've learned about this is not to accept any "offer" unless its done by making a "formal" Audiogon offer.  If the "buyer" doesn't come thru, at least that's documented somewhere and you can leave negative feedback, so other sellers know who they might be dealing with.

One guy agreed on a price for buying an SACD player, arrives in my driveway and said on the drive up, thought about the amount he offered on the phone and decided he could "only afford" a price which was $600 less.  When I told him I wasn't interested in dealing with him, he still had the audacity to ask if he could see the unit...
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