Stolen property

When you buy them or when you sell them?

Is there a specific circumstance you are referring to? 

If the seller knows little to nothing about them, is selling them well below market value, and can show no proof of purchase or ownership, I would be very cautious!

Check to see if they are still in your house?

@jastralfu  LOL!

I'm interested in buying.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist being snarky.  I don’t know how you could know but if you’re thinking there’s something not quite right then don’t make the purchase.  @bigshutterbug mentioned some possible red flags.

Don’t wire money. Stay in CONUS. 

I’m interested in buying.

@ptss 

This is your second somewhat paranoid post about a purchase today. Maybe it's best not to go through with it.

@ptss 

“I'm interested in buying.”

so…. Is the deal too good to be true?? It likely is a scam then. 
 

Ask for serial # s and email or call the company ,

if none is given you know something is not right.

How is the company supposed to know if they're stolen or not?

Did they come from the back of a white van?

 Sometimes I think half the items, at least, on ebay, craig's list. etc are being fenced. If a burglary was reported serial numbers and descriptions were recorded, that info is not going to travel far from the precinct. There is a national database for bicycles (privately run), maybe one for high end audio gear is called for. Any computer people out there know, or care to start one?     Like most things in life it comes down to your conscience, what does your inner voice say? And, how much do you care what your inner voice says?

I just bought a new bike seat post on ebay for $100 that typically sells for $300. I was the only bidder so it is not a high demand product. The seller joined eBay 6 weeks ago and listed about 200 new high quality bike items…some multiples, so likely not bought for use. Almost all have sold with maybe 10 now left. It crossed my mind, ‘how would someone get all these new items to sell?’ Manufacturer sponsors? Closed shop?

I realize that I don’t get a warranty as I didn’t buy my new post from a dealer.

I don’t know how you could tell if something was stolen. It could be someone flipping an item acquired legitimately. They may not have purchased it for their own use, or know anything about it.

I don’t think you can, at least not easily. Here’s a few things to consider:

1. The price is too good to be true.
2. The seller is claiming to be ‘selling on behalf of a friend’.
3. The seller’s description indicates a lack of knowledge about the product.
4. You do a search and find the same description and/or photos used in an older listing by a different seller and there’s no obvious connection between the two.
5. You frequent forums and there’s a post by someone who has had their gear stolen.

A while back I was contacted by a person claiming to have legally purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit, which happened to include Wilson Audio speakers and dCS digital gear, amongst others. He seemed fairly knowledgeable and his asking price for the items was consistently around Blue Book less 25%, so he appeared to have done research, if nothing else.

He seemed legitimate but it didn’t sit well so I passed on the deal. Some weeks later I saw where he had placed ads for the gear and someone had flagged them as stolen goods. I felt a little guilty for not being proactive in investigating him more thoroughly but also relieved at not having been scammed.

I thought speakers were supposed to be theft proof by being so heavy. I didn't realize there was a black market for stolen audio equipment. Although I am very concerned that I will wake up and find all the tubes missing from my gear these are much easier to steal.

And of course the cables could be stolen too very easily. 

Tubes and cables would be my choice since they are very difficult to prove whether they're stolen or not.

I’ve listed items that I know little about for friends before.  I’ve also had my descriptions of items I listed pasted onto listings by other people.  Sellers that see a good description feel free to use it.  Lack of knowledge of an item could indicate that an item was purchased for resale.

The best bet is to talk to the seller by phone before purchasing.

Some thoughts:
If they don't have the box that's a worry, but not a deal breaker. Ask about associated equipment, cables etc, and how long they've owned them and how much they paid for them.

Know who you are dealing with: email, phone number, physical address

And use PayPay but NOT f&f: pay the stupid 3% for the peace of mind.

@jastralfu I thought your comment was spot on. 

On the subject: doesn't sound like it should be your concern. Imagine if everyone on c2c sales were asking this question. On every listing on craigslist you would accuse people to be thieves.

Wouldn't that be crazy?

You should probably practice up on your interrogation techniques and only buy local where you can read body language and voice intonation. 

reminds me another funny aspect:

"how will you buy it?

"cash?"

"is the money yours?"

"?"

"I mean you could have just robbed someone on the subway?"

I would suggest that just the fact that it crossed you mind it probably is not a good deal.  Every dealing I've had there was not a red flag (let alone a pink one).

There is literally tons of equipment for sale...only deal with reputable dealers with a track record.

Just my 2 pennies.

Regards,

barts

Fingerprints?

Asking for advice on here is like looking for peace and quiet at a dental office. 

Honestly, what would it matter if stolen or not? Your never going to know the truth...so either buy and get a great deal, or pass. Unless of course the product is counterfeit...This equates to finding a 100 dollar bill on the sidewalk, and then questioning whether to pick it up and keeping it, but then feeling bad about whoever lost it. 

Because if ownership is established after the fact, you forfeit the goods.

Honestly, what would it matter if stolen or not? 

Because if ownership is established after the fact, you forfeit the goods.

that’s the case with cars for instance, but how realistic is it with stuff in your living room? Do I need to worry about everything I bought on craigslist?

Out of curiosity: does goodwill verify that donations were not stolen goods?

If you own them, take an electric engraving tool and carve your SIN (Canada) or SSN (US) on the plate that carries the speaker outlets on the back of the speaker. 

When buying speakers ask whether there are any marks like that on them, and decline to buy them if there are, and tell the seller that if they show up and do have previously undisclosed identifying marks you will seek redress.

This whole thread is ridiculous. The OP won't even give any details, so it's all a bunch of hypothetical nonsense.

Receiving stolen property is a crime. And failing to undertake sufficient due diligence can result in prosecution and conviction.  Failing to do due diligence also incentivises criminals to continue to steal and fence stolen goods.

I agree with Roxy. The OP has written only ten words and is totally unengaging or the least bit thankful for all of your advice. Move on from this one.

If the items are being sold as new for an unbelievably low price, that’s a screaming red flag. If the sell is new to the site, that’s a red flag.

Just take a look at all the Dewalt tools that are for sale @ half price or Ulta Beauty products are another example.

Dewalt tools at half price??!

Count me in!

Another time wasting thread

In my teens/early 20s, I had an acquaintance try to sell me a car amplifier from Orion.  Those things were beasts back in the early 1990s.  He brought me to his car but before he opened his trunk, I asked him if it was 'hot'.  Of course he said no and proceeded to open his trunk and show me.  I took a 2 second look and said, yep, it's 'hot' alright.  The dudes cut off the RCA leads right at the amp with the RCA connectors still attached to the amplifier :D  I literally could not stop laughing.

Thanks for the helpful comments. Saving a few bucks isn't worth dealing with a fraudster. I'd feel very embarrased to buy stolen goods. Just wouldn't look good to my son or friends. 

@ptss 

You never did say why you thought that it was stolen.

@roxy54 .  Here is my 'question'. How to confirm speakers not stolen.

I did not say anything was stolen..

@ptss 

Why would you even suspect it though? I have bought many and never even thought about it. You must have had a reason.

IF they offer to play “ Steal this Record “ to demo them…….